The Easyshare V610 adds a new Ultra-Zoom model to Kodak's Easyshare line using Kodak RETINA Dual Lens Technology. It compliments its sibling, the Easyshare V705 with a big 10X Zoom instead of the V705's Ulta-Wide angle. This camera is designed to have a point-n-shoot simplicity but with its 22 scene modes, there is a lot of creativity. With features like Ultra-Zoom 10X optical Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens, 6.1-megapixel imager, KODAK PERFECT TOUCH and Anti-blur Technologies, Bluetooth wireless technology, and in-camera panorama stitch mode makes the V610 an innovative and user-friendly camera.

The V610's slim stylish black metal body is attractive yet fits into your palm with ease, and its compact size will fits most pockets or purses. Measuring less than an inch wide, it is one of the worlds smallest 10X-Zoom digital cameras. On top you will find buttons for power, flash, smart-mode, movie, and favorites, but I did have a bit of trouble using these since they are so small and need a good push to operate. On the back are buttons for scene, delete, menu, review, and share along with the zoom control and 4-way controler.These back buttons are well placed and easy to use. The V610 provides a large and bright 2.8-inch LCD that is very usable outdoors in sunlight, and provides an auto gain-up to be used indoors or in low-light conditions. The wide angle display is easy to view while in playback mode and when using exposure compensation it will show the results before you shoot your picture. There is no optical viewfinder on the V610, an apparent victim of the wide-ranging focal lengths of its two lenses and diminuitive body.

The dual Schneider-Kreuznach C-Variogon lens system combines a 38-114mm and a 130-380mm zoom lens, each with its own 6.1-megapixel image sensor. The camera's internal control does a good job selecting between the two lenses though a slight pause was detected during this shift. By combining these two lenses the user can have the benefits of a total of 10X zoom in an incredibly small camera. Adding to the 10X zoom is a 4X digital zoom for a total 40X zoom which had surprisingly little drop off in quality. Another creative feature is the Panorama Scene mode. This allows an in-camera process to stitch a sequence of two or three shots into a single panoramic image. After you take the first shot, the V610 provides a guide to composing the next shot in the form of an overlay from the first picture. The panoramic sequence is ended by depressing the OK button, or continued by taking the third shot; the stitching process then begins automatically. The in-camera process is both easy to use and effective for shooting panoramic images of up to 180-degrees field of view. The use of a tripod is recommended for best results, but surprisingly good images can be obtained hand-held. See our Sample Photos for an example of a 180-degree hand-held panorama.

The shooting performance of the V610 was on par for a digital camera in this category. Power up to first image captured measured 1.6 seconds. Shutter lag measured 1/10 of a second when pre-focused and 2/10 of a second including autofocus; those times include the approx. 1/10 second delay in the live image of the LCD viewfinder. Rapid shooting in single shot mode captured 4 images at 1.2 second intervals, with subsequent shots coming at 2 second intervals. With flash, the capture interval ranged from 1 to 8 seconds depending on subject distance, but subsequent shots could be taken even though the flash was not recharged and ready. Burst mode captured 8 images in 3.1 seconds, which filled the memory buffer. The LCD viewfinder displays the last captured image during burst image capture, helping you follow a moving subject, but some will miss the presence of an optical viewfinder in this mode. All test were done using a Transcend 60x 512MB SD card, using 6MP image size. Times may vary depending on lighting conditions, camera settings, media, etc.

The V610's image quality is quite good for an ultra-compact digital. Outdoor shots have good color saturation, with the standard zoom being softer than the telephoto. There is minimal purple fringing, and at low ISO settings, images had average noise. At higher settings, (ISO 400 and above), noise can be found.

With indoor shooting you are limited to a flash range of 11.2 feet. With the wide-angle lens there is enough light for a mid-sized group to be covered but the flash will not illuminate a large room. Although the 10X-Zoom is great for zooming in from across the room the flash will not keep up with it much beyond 10-15 feet. The red eye reduction flash mode was effective on most subjects, but there is a delay when using it. The AF system worked quite well with the lens in low light conditions, and is helped by its focus assist lamp. At close range the flash performs well, making it good for portraits and individual objects.

Movie mode captures QuickTime video at 640x480 or 320x240 including sound, with a frame rate of 30fps. The length of a clip is limited by the amount of space left on your SD card or the internal memory. Movie quality was good and the camera performed well while indoors. The optical zoom works well while filming, however you will be able to hear the zoom mechanism at work on the sound track. There is a pause in the zoom while the camera changes lenses. This can be a bit frustrating unless you are prepared for it. The on-board microphone does pick up subject area sounds with good clarity. Review mode offers several useful movie editing features, including creating a single still image, setting up action prints, and creating smaller file size videos for sharing with the on-camera video trim feature.

Power for the V610 is supplied by a KODAK Lithium-ion Rechargeable Digital Camera Battery (KLIC-7001), and it used this small battery efficiently, capturing about 135 shots before a low battery warning, a bit under its competitors. Because the V610's Li-ion battery is a proprietary design, I suggest that you obtain a spare, keeping it fully charged to avoid the disappointment of finding a dead battery during a unique photo opportunity.

Bottom line - The Kodak Easyshare V610 is a unique Ultra-Zoom in a stylish compact case and has a street price of $250 or less. I really liked this little digicam for all the zoom power packed into such a small size. 40X zoom is in the range of spotting scopes yet the V610 is much smaller and fits just about anywhere. With its easy to use controls, Kodak's PERFECT TOUCH and Anti-blur Technologies, the V610 will make a great first digicam for newbies and is also a good choice as a second camera for those with a bag full of dSLR equipment. Since this camera is part of the Kodak Easy System you can easily edit your pics with the included software, share your pictures over the Internet, or dock with an Easyshare printer and print your photos at home.