In my honest opinion, after several other digital cameras and much research, the P712 is the highest quality point and shoot camera at 12x optical zoom and 7.1 MP. It was also the easiest to use, which made it VERY attractive. I recently upgraded it by purchasing the telescopic and wide angle lenses and was exremely pleased! I also love the rechargeable batteries used in the P712, they have very long life, 2 of them last over 500 pics at full zoom over a long weekend, which means I don't have to worry about recharging them for the entire vacation!!

Bought the Kodak P712 but have not seen it yet as I sent it to the USA for my Husband to pick up for me when he visits there (we live in Mexico). I was concerned as I did not want to buy the adaptor (was not going to purchase any other lens, just filters). I could not find out if the camera did indeed accepts filters with out the adaptor. I received conflicting reports about it. The PDF manual stated that it had lens threads, but did not specify the size. A Kodak forum said that the thread size was 53mm, but after about four emails back and forth to Kodak they were very sketchy about answering my question about filters being able to attach 'directly' to the lens. They told me there were no lens filters available for the camera. Then they stated that, yes, a 55mm would fit DIRECTLY onto the camera and told me that the P850 lens adapter is the compatible lens adapter for the camera. This still was not clear to me if it definitely needed the adaptor for just the filters alone. I emailed them again only to receive an even more sketchy reply with no direct answer to my question. I emailed still again and received this reply (words misspelled). Still didn't answer my 'filter' question.

'For a better use of the camera and for evit any kind of issue wiht the
lens that your are trying to use, we recomended to buy the exactly lens
that you see in our web site and do not listen to the other that are
making invents with his or her camera. This is only for your benefits
and for a great perfomance of the camera.'

I was fortunate enough to find someone who lives here in Mexico that had the P712 and was able to check his camera out. Sure enough, there were threads in the lens. Only thing was that if you actually purchased the 55mm size that they claimed fit right onto the camera, they would not have fit at all. If I had purchased the lens thread size stated 53mm on the forum, the lens would have popped the filter right out when turning the camera on and would had caused irreparable damage to the camera and motor.

However, I thought I would mention this as I have not seen any clear answer to this anywhere else. It is very difficult, if not impossible to get the accessories here and wanted to order them before my Husband's trip.

I rated the camera a 5 as it looked good when I saw the one my friend owns.

I could hear a noise coming from the camera -- unlike any of my previous Kodak EasyShare digital cameras and could also feel the gears grinding in my hands.
The noise was much louder when coming through crystal clear with each zoom in or out of the lens.
So I called Kodak's Product Support to find out. Kodak's Customer Service Associate put me on hold, and when he came back on line, told me that he and his supervisor shot videos with zoom on three P712 digital cameras, checking the results on their computer, with NO sound problems.

He said I had a defective camera and suggested to send to the Kodak to repair it. So I did it, they send the camera to your workshop and is supposed to be repair but, unfortunately, the problem continued.

I want to know is this normal or what wrong

This Kodak P712 is an awesome camera, kodak did it Right!!
The auto focus is really great, and takes some awesome pictures!
Since I just received this camera, I just took it out of the box and started shooting pictures, the 12X Image Stabilized is fantastic!! I highly recommend this camera for anyone!!

The KODAK EasyShare P712 features a 12X (36 - 432 mm equiv.), image-stabilized, f2.8 - f/3.7, SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON optical zoom lens that delivers exquisite detail and sharpness. Its 7.1 megapixel sensor is paired with KODAK's Color Science image processer for highly accurate color -- shot after shot.

Optical image stabilization provides a two-stop advantage over non-image stabilized systems. This will allow users to capture better shots of subjects in low light, wheather they're shooting stills or recording video. It also minimizes handheld camera shake at longer focal lengths, which is ideal while photographing sporting events and during everyday picture taking, when carrying a camera supporrt like a tripod is impractical.

The P712 offers many advanced elements like its large 2.5-inch, high-resolution LCD and electronic viewfinder used for framing, reviewing and sharing pictures. TV-quality, 30 frames- per-second VGA video with sound (MPEG4) is always available with the turn of a dial. Convenient on-camera video editing includes functions such as split, cut, merge and trim, plus the ability to create single-frame or multi-frame "storyboard" still pictures.

Other features include a hot shoe for using more powerful flash units; PASMC and extensive preset scene modes; multiple burst modes for action shooting; three-shot in-camera panorama stitching; a live histogram; 25 selectable AF points; custom white balance with selectable compensation; highlight/shadow clipping displays; RAW/TIFF/JPEG support; and lithium ion battery. It is compatible with EASYSHARE Camera and Printer docks, the IMAGELINK print system, and PICTBRIDGE direct-print technology.


Kodak P712 Features

* 7.1 megapixel imager for photo quality up to and beyond 30 x 40"
* 12x optical 36-432mm super zoom with image stabilizer
* Selectable JPEG, TIFF and RAW file formats
* TTL-AF hybrid autofocus system with external passive sensor
* High-resolution electronic color viewfinder
* 2.5-inch TFT color LCD, indoor/outdoor type
* TTL Multi-pattern, center weighted, center spot metering
* ISO Auto or 64-400 in PASM, 800 at 1.2MP
* Adjustable color modes, image contrast and sharpness
* White balance with compensation, presets, custom settings and one-push
* Auto, Program AE, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual, Custom and 17 Scene modes
* AE Bracketing with 3 or 5 frames
* 1.6fps Burst mode, up to 14 frames in JPEG/Standard
* Shutter speeds from 16 - 1/1000 second (in Shutter priority mode)
* Flash hot shoe for optional Kodak P20 zoom Flash
* 640x480 movies w/sound at 30fps up to 80 mins.
* 32MB internal memory, SD/MMC card slot
* Kodak high capacity Li-ion rechargeable battery pack and charger
* USB connectivity for PC and Mac users
* Audio/Video Out (NTSC or PAL selectable)
* Optional EasyShare Camera and Printer Docks

I love everything about this camera!! I am not a good picture taker, but this camera is easy to use. My pictures are GREAT!!! LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!!!!!!

This is a great digital camera. It's light weight and the 2.5 LCD screen is a super size for me. I don't know a lot about digital camera's, but I know that I really like this one. I enjoy taking a lot of pictures, and I mainly take them in 'auto' mode. But this super camera has so many optional modes. I'm a little shaky so I really like the fact that it has the 'stabilizer'. I also bought the 'wide angle zoom' lens and had to buy the Kodak Adaptor for it. I wanted to zoom a little further than the impressionable 12x zoom aloud me. This is quite a unique camera and I truly enjoy using it.

I own the P712 and have had mine since July 2007. This camera is rugged and a real performer. I originally started with a Z740 Kodak point and shoot and moved up to the P712 because of the good results I had with my Z740. The accessory lenses (55mm) I had purchased for the Z740 worked just fine with the P712 and I've been doing a huge amount of macro photography with the new set up.

I do note that in movie mode, the motor noise of this camera is very noticeable, but luckily, that is a rare mode I select with this bridge camera. The battery life is somewhere around 250 - 270 shots per charge and I did buy a second battery to keep me shooting for extended day photo shoots.

The menus are easy to understand and I've been pleased with the image stabilization. I do recommend that you get a nice tripod set and beanbag for macro work, since even the image stabilization is overcome by camera shake at the magnification levels needed for macro shots.

I did purchase the flash attachment specifically for this camera and was very pleased with the results. All in all, a very good purchase and one I have no regrets about. My only wish is that Kodak will bring back it's professional line and focus on building high-end DSLR cameras since I've become loyal to the brand and think the world of the cameras I have purchased from them.

I recommend the P712 for the user who isn't quite ready for a DSLR and who wants enough control over photographs to do interesting work and yet still has the benefit of automation of exposure working for you.

The P712 is a good camera and worth every penny! Buy it!

Yes I bought this one too. Then sold my P850 very soon after. Read my review for the P850 http://www.amazon.com/review/R18JLYOTY8JU4U/ref=cm_cr_rev_detup_redir?%5Fencoding=UTF8&cdPage=1&newContentID=Mx2CXEXVNFXORIW#Mx2VXWDT72Y2HQF
then double it. That's how I feel about this camera. Superb picture quality, faster focus, better low light performance and Raw burst mode. An overal better camera than the previous model. I just wish that the internal buffer was larger and the write speed was faster. But