Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD camera is waterproof.It’s a pocket camera with quality image,low-light performance,digital zoom, and many other thing…….Enjoy the waterproof pocket camera.
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We have plenty of gripes with the current crop of pocket cameras, most of them to do with image quality: grainy footage, poor (laughable) low-light performance, a lack of autofocus, digital zoom, gimmicky 1080p, and so forth. The new Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Video Camera solves none of those problems. But you can put it underwater.
As the name suggests, the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 is a ruggedised camcorder that is geared up for outward bound pursuits.
The coloured back panel – a glorious purple on the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 we had to review – is a soft, grippy rubber while the front has an array of four selection buttons splayed around a navigation wheel. These allow direct selection of different video recording modes, playback, delete and settings.
At the very bottom are a tripod jack and a wrist strap so the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 can be used by climbers or attached to the outside of a rucksack.
This might be our favorite pocket camera hardware design yet, for the sheer drop-ability of its build. Kodak has almost completely done away with hard, glossy plastic (outside of a bit near the top, surrounding the lens) and has a soft-touch exterior across most of this camera that screams “drop me on the sidewalk, I promise not to break.” We restrained ourselves, but it’s still a nice confidence booster. The camera also feels better in hand ergonomically than most of these shooters, though we must put in our old person two cents and mention that we still find the process of holding a camera upright in one hand rather awkward for doing video.
The Kodak PlaySport Zx3 is a heavy-feeling 144g, with a removable lithium-ion battery. It’s primed with an HDMI output (and comes with an accompanying cable) for hooking up to a TV to show off your video footage.
Kodak walks the line between the dumb-as-dirt Flip and the overly complicated (for most) Toshiba Camileo S20, with fairly a simplistic and obvious operation, but enough options and buttons to confuse some. Our least favorite part remains the 4-way d-pad, which offers a mystery meat way of operating camera zoom, changing resolution, and switching to stills mode.
When you dive into the settings menu you’ve got about a 50 / 50 chance of figuring out what an icon means, since Kodak has forgone putting words next to the graphics, but luckily there’s really not too much to change from the default.
Remember when we said nothing’s new here? We meant it. The camera offers basically the exact same 1080p image quality of the Zi8 (which Kodak will be keeping around for sale), since it’s built around the same sensor. The biggest difference between the cameras is the macro mode on the Zi8, which we really would have appreciated, and the line-in jack — another big plus for that camera, but which would’ve been a tough fit on a waterproof number like this one.
The other distinguishing feature is that the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 can be used in watery environments. We gave it an initial test by setting it to record while placed in a large jug of water. Even while we paraded around the office, sloshing water around, the footage was all but unmarred. A later splash around the local swimming pool also proved the Kodak’s waterbaby credentials.
Overall, you’re getting this camera for its rugged and waterproof aspects, and at those points the camera performs wonderfully. Eventually we hope Kodak starts to innovate in the image quality arena as well, and we sure hope they can manage to avoid the sort of form factor misstep the Flip Slide HD turned out, but for now the company is putting out an impressive streak of wallet-friendly pocket cameras, and the Zx3 is no exception.
resources :
pcadvisor.co.uk
engadget.com
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Had this camera for 3 months of light usage, no water, no dropping it on the floor, etc …
… now it won’t power up.
As an update, I sent the camera – under warranty – back. They sent back a refurbished unit.
What did I learn?
Wait 3 months and buy a refurb at 1/2 the price of a new one. Also has a 90 day warranty, I not only save half the cost of the camera …
… but the $14 it cost to ship the unit.
Same here
same here
Junk. First time I recorded for more than 20 seconds it froze up on me. Wouldn’t respond to any buttons and couldn’t turn it off. It got VERY hot. Got home, read the book, did the reset. Waited 5 minutes and took some more video. Same thing. I’ve had it 2 weeks!
I have a Kodak playsport Zx3 in Vietnam, serial No. KCTMK02124599. It cannot power up normally, LCD display just flashes shortly and turns off immediately. This happened before expiring one year warranty. Now it likes a brick.
My Zx3 was working great for about a year, no water, no dropping. Suddenly it will not charge. Don’t even want to know what Kodak will charge to repair or if it’s even worth it. Piece of junk!!
Same won’t charge… my power light stays on and I got a refurb from kodak… when I sent in mine for repair. THANKS KODAK. I wonder if we’ll see a class action… this is BS.
Just took a picture with my Kodak “Play Touch” and it won’t turn off. The button is not stuck but the camera won’t respond to anything…The screen is lit up white. I’ve had it less than 1 week!! Does anyone know how to “reset’?
I have had the same problem, all of a sudden it will not charge. Is there any solution to this or am I just out a camera?
YOU CAN REBOOT YOUR KODAK PLAYSPORT CAMERA! Open the side door that has the USB port and the HDMI port, in between then is a small reset hole (perfect for a small unfolded paperclip). Press reset and cross your fingers!
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