Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ521 16 MP Digital Camera with 52X Opitcal Zoom, 1080p Video Recording and 3" LCD Screen (Black)

This is an amazing camera. I had a Kodak DX6490 that I purchased 10+ years ago. It was starting to malfunction and I spent over a year looking for a replacement. My husband bought a Sony ... I hated it, takes crappy pictures even in the best possible settings. I won a Nikkon at a benefit auction ... didn't make the cut ... I could rarely get this camera to focus on a subject much less focusing when there was movement even in the sport setting.I got this camera as a Christmas present. Best present ever ... since my previous Kodak camera. Rarely need to use the flash, focuses beautifully. Love the wide angle lens. I was able to take our extended family pic (25 people) in our living room with the timer setting. Worked perfectly even with the camera sitting on the back of our recliner! Mother's day wishlist ... tripod stand and extra battery.

For still shot photos it does a great job but during our kids basketball game for action shots, about 90% of them came out very blurry. It wasn't what I expected at all.

Excellent zoom capabilities, and multiple settings for different types of photos.

After using this camera for a few months (too long to return it) I became annoyed by the inability of the auto focus to focus on the subject in any zoom setting. It would consistently focus behind the subject unless the subject was large enough to mostly fill the screen. Granted, I don't expect perfection from auto focus cameras so I poked around for a way to pre-set the focus which I thought might work in the CS, Custom Settings, screen. When I would rotate the dial to CS it would go into panorama mode and no menu items pertaining to CS were available. The top rotary dial sometimes seems a little uncertain but works ok most of the time. Overall it just feels delicate. Picture quality is pretty good but once again it's a cheap auto camera so my bad. Bottom line is that I can't recommend this camera, for a point and shoot camera my 10 year old 7mp pocket Sony works better.

Camera came with only one re-chargeable battery with instructionsindicating no other type should be used. I attempted to secure a back up battery by going online (accessed numerous websites to no avail). No one seems to carry this type of rechargeable battery. If the one I have fails or is lost for some reason, I will be unable to use the camera.

I am still getting used to my new camera. It replaced a Kodak Z712is that I really liked. I like the wide angle lens. I also like it because it takes good pictures in light without the flash where my other camera would have to use the flash or would take fuzzy pictures without the flash. I have not taken many long range shots but I have a new tripod coming to help with that. I have taken lots of movies and they are very good using my old tripod. I take movies of the grand kids while they are in sports and they come out fine, whereas my old camera got kind of fuzzy if you moved it too quick. The controls are easy to use although I use the automatic setting most of the time. The Zoom feature can be a little tricky until you get used to it but the lever is in a good spot.A couple of things I don't like. First, I take lots of closeup pictures and the strap and lens covers is always in the way. I can get used to that. Second, some pictures turn out very white. Other times when taking people pictures or movies in uneven lighting, like a gym, some of the people will look good and some will be white in the same picture. I have not figured that one out yet.Overall, I like the camera.

I'm really sorry I bought this camera, I had one before and got dirt in it on an outdoor trip. Once you use the zoom the image allows too much light in and the clarity of the image is unusable. It is really a great camera but without the great zoom, it doesn't work much for me. :(

Super pictures, zoom is HUGE. Great price for a super camera.