The CX4230 Zoom is equipped with a Kodak Retinar 3x optical 36-108mm (35 mm equivalent) f/2.7-5.2 aspherical zoom lens. To further extend the focal range there is a 2x digital zoom.

The autofocus range is 20 in. to infinity in normal mode and in macro mode it covers from 3.9 to 23.6 inches.

The built-in flash has Auto, Fill and Red-eye reduction modes and a useable range of 1.6 to 12.8 ft. in wideangle and 1.6 to 7.5 ft. in telephoto.

The optical viewfinder is large and bright with framing marks and autofocus target but it has no dioptric adjustment. The LED on the side indicates power, flash and autofocus status. The color LCD is automatically turned on when you switch the camera into macro mode to avoid parallax problems with the optical finder at close range.

The 1.6-inch color LCD can be used for preview, review and menu operations. The refresh rate when used as a live viewfinder is realtime (30fps).

Across the top is the MENU button, the FLASH mode button and the Share button which is used to quickly print or email photos, more on this later in the review. The large silver 4-way selector navigates menus, it is also used to select images in Review mode. The right and left side operates the zoom lens in capture mode. The SELECT button accepts menu and setup options. The Delete button is used to erase images. The Review button puts the camera in Playback mode.

The only thing on located on top is the shutter release button.

The CX4230 Zoom has a Video Out (user-selectable NTSC or PAL) port on the side. The USB 1.1 port works with the Kodak Picture Sofware to make image downloading fast and easy even without the use of the optional Easy Share camera dock. And there's a DC IN plug for an optional AC power supply or external battery pack.

When the camera is placed in the optional dock the USB cable is connected to the port on the back of the dock.

The CX4230 Zoom comes with 16MB of internal memory and is equipped with an expansion slot that accepts any capacity Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia card (MMC).

Power is supplied by two AA type batteries - Kodak does not recommend the use of alkaline type and supplies a CRV3 one-use lithium battery with the camera.

The optional EasyShare camera dock II includes a rechargeable NiMH battery pack.