Kodak AZ252 Kodak - Review 🏆

The Kodak Astro Zoom AZ252 is a bridge digital camera that combines aspects of basic point-and-shoot cameras with more advanced DSLR-style cameras. Released in 2016, it features a 25x optical zoom lens to get you closer to the action as well as a 16MP sensor for detailed images.

With its bridge camera design, the AZ252 sits between compact cameras and interchangeable lens cameras in terms of price, features, and image quality. It offers the versatility of a large zoom range in a body that you can easily take anywhere. The Astro Zoom also provides manual controls and RAW shooting capabilities not typically found in basic compact cameras. At the same time, it provides a fixed built-in lens that covers wide-angle to super telephoto, avoiding the need to swap lenses like on a DSLR.

Overall, the Kodak Astro Zoom AZ252 appeals to photographers who want an affordable all-in-one camera solution with long zoom reach, without the bulk and complexity of a DSLR system. Its combination of portability, zoom power, manual controls, and approachable operation make it a versatile choice for travel, day trips, sports events, and general everyday use.

Design and Build

The Kodak PixPro AZ252 has a sturdy plastic body with a matte black finish. Despite its plastic construction, the camera feels solidly built with no creaking or flexing. The grip is quite deep which allows for a secure one-handed hold. The camera is on the larger side for a bridge camera, measuring 5 x 3.1 x 4.1 inches and weighing 17.6 ounces. While not pocketable, the size and weight are reasonable for a camera with such a long zoom lens.

The AZ252 features a fairly simple and straightforward control layout. The mode dial sits on top of the camera with the power button, shutter release, and zoom toggle surrounding it. On the back is a 3-inch LCD screen that can tilt up 180 degrees. To the right of the screen are buttons for menu navigation, playback, deleting photos, and accessing camera settings. Overall the button placement is intuitive and easy to locate by touch after some initial use.

The AZ252 has a smooth matte black finish that looks sleek but does attract fingerprints easily. The mostly plastic construction helps keep the weight manageable but does not feel as premium as metal bodied cameras. The deep grip provides a very secure and comfortable single-handed hold. While not the most compact, the AZ252's size and weight are reasonable for a 25x zoom camera.

In addition to the AZ252, another notable model from Kodak is the Kodak PIXPRO FZ55. The FZ55 is a compact point-and-shoot camera that features a 16MP sensor and 5x optical zoom. It is designed for ease of use with intuitive controls and a lightweight, portable build, making it perfect for everyday photography. The FZ55 emphasizes convenience and quality, capturing sharp, vibrant images with minimal effort.

Image Quality

The Kodak AZ252 has a 16MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, which is fairly standard for bridge cameras in this price range. The sensor resolution allows you to print high-quality images up to 13 x 19 inches.

Overall image quality is quite good for a camera in this class. Images show decent sharpness and detail in ideal lighting conditions. However, noise starts to become visible at ISO 800 and gets quite aggressive at ISO 3200 and above. The camera does apply noise reduction processing, but it can result in loss of fine details.

The AZ252's image processor does a nice job producing pleasing JPEG images straight out of the camera. Colors are vivid without being oversaturated. Metering is also accurate, with good dynamic range. The camera handles high contrast scenes reasonably well.

Low light performance is fairly average. Images get noisy and lose detail as ISO rises. Sticking to ISO 800 and below will provide the best results. The camera's optical image stabilization helps keep images sharp by compensating for hand shake.

If you're looking for an alternative, the Kodak PIXPRO AZ405-WH is another solid option. This model features a 40x optical zoom lens, which allows you to get closer to your subject without sacrificing image quality. With a 20MP sensor, it provides greater resolution, enabling larger prints and more detailed images. The AZ405-WH also includes advanced shooting modes and enhanced optical image stabilization, making it a versatile choice for hobbyists and casual photographers alike.

Performance

The Kodak AZ252 offers decent performance and speed for a bridge camera in this price range. The autofocus is relatively quick and accurate in good lighting conditions. In low light, it can struggle and hunt more, but that's expected.

Shutter lag is minimal, allowing you to capture the moment reliably. Shot-to-shot times are fast enough for most purposes. The continuous shooting burst mode can capture around 3 frames per second, which is good for this class of camera. This allows you to shoot short bursts of action shots or capture fleeting facial expressions and moments more easily.

While not the fastest bridge camera, the AZ252 delivers good performance that will satisfy most casual photographers looking for a versatile all-in-one camera. The speed is sufficient for family events, vacations, and everyday shooting scenarios. More advanced users may want a faster DSLR, but the AZ252 hits a nice sweet spot of performance versus price.

Video Quality

The Kodak AZ252 can record full HD 1080p video at 30 fps, which is fairly standard for bridge cameras in this price range. It also offers 720p HD video at 60fps for smoother motion capture.

The optical image stabilization helps reduce shakiness when recording handheld videos while moving around. This is useful for capturing video while walking or during other motion. The stabilization works fairly well to keep videos steady without too much jitter or blurring.

You can zoom in and out while recording, thanks to the 25x optical zoom lens. The autofocus also does a decent job at keeping subjects in focus when zooming or as they move closer or further from the camera. Overall, the video quality is good for casual home videos and YouTube footage. Just don't expect professional, cinematic-looking results.

Features

The Kodak AZ252 has a good range of useful features for an affordable bridge camera. It offers several shooting modes including Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Scene Modes, and Custom Modes.

The Scene Modes allow you to quickly optimize settings for common situations like Portrait, Sports, Sunset, Night Portrait, and more. There is also a Panorama mode to stitch together shots for wide panoramas.

For creative effects, the AZ252 has options like Toy Camera, Sepia, High Contrast Monochrome, Selective Color, and Painting effects.

The camera has a built-in timelapse mode that lets you create cool timelapse videos by taking a series of photos at set intervals. You can choose intervals between 1 second to 60 minutes.

WiFi connectivity allows wireless image transfer to your smartphone or tablet using the free Kodak App. This lets you easily share your photos online.

Overall the Kodak AZ252 packs an impressive range of features considering its affordable price point. The shooting modes, effects, timelapse, and WiFi make it versatile for different types of photography and sharing.

Lens

The Kodak AZ252 has a 25x optical zoom lens with a focal range of 24-600mm, which provides an extremely versatile range for both wide angle and telephoto shooting. The maximum aperture is f/3.1 at the wide end and f/6.8 at the telephoto end, which is fairly standard for a bridge camera lens.

The lens features optical image stabilization, which helps reduce blur caused by camera shake when shooting at slower shutter speeds or long focal lengths. This is important for getting sharper handheld shots, especially when zoomed in. The optical stabilization provides around 3 stops of compensation, allowing you to shoot at slower shutter speeds and still get sharp images.

Overall, the 25x zoom lens gives you tremendous flexibility in framing your shots. The optical stabilization also helps you capture sharp images even when zoomed in and shooting handheld. It's a versatile lens well-suited for travel, wildlife, sports, and general photography needs.

Battery

The Kodak AZ252 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides enough power for up to 290 shots per charge, according to CIPA testing standards. This is decent battery life for a bridge camera with a large zoom lens.

Charging the battery is easy - you just plug the included USB cable into the camera and then into a USB port or AC adapter. A full charge from empty takes around 3 hours. There is no separate battery charger included, so charging has to be done in-camera.

The battery level is clearly displayed on the rear LCD screen so you can monitor it. Overall the battery performance is fairly average for a camera in this class. The battery life allows you to shoot all day on a single charge, but you may want to pack a spare battery for longer trips or if you plan to shoot a lot of video.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 25x optical zoom lens provides a wide range for both wide angle and telephoto shots

• Decent image quality for a bridge camera in this price range

• Large 3-inch LCD screen makes composing shots and reviewing images easy

• Excellent image stabilization helps reduce blur from camera shake

• Full manual controls and RAW shooting for advanced photographers

• Shoots 1080p HD video

• Good value for money considering the zoom range

Cons

• Image quality struggles a bit at higher ISO levels

• No viewfinder only LCD screen for composing shots

• Autofocus can be slow at times, especially in low light

• Limited controls and settings compared to higher-end bridge cameras

• No mic input or headphone jack for video

• No wireless connectivity features

Overall, the Kodak AZ252 offers a lot of zoom range for the price, making it a decent budget friendly bridge camera. Image quality is fairly good but not on par with more expensive models. The lack of a viewfinder may be an issue for some. Still, the AZ252 is a capable camera for travel and day-to-day use if you want an all-in-one zoom camera but don't want to spend a lot.

Conclusion

Overall, the Kodak PixPro AZ252 bridge camera is a decent option for hobbyists looking for an affordable superzoom with a wide focal range. It delivers good image quality and performance for its price point. The 25x optical zoom lens provides a ton of versatility, allowing you to shoot wide landscapes and get very close to distant subjects. Video quality is also solid, able to record 1080p clips.

Some of the highlights include the nice vari-angle LCD, good ISO range, and array of shooting modes. The camera handles well and has an intuitive button layout. Battery life is also above average for its class. On the downside, it lacks some more advanced features like RAW support, NFC, and a touch screen. Low light performance is just average.

For the price, the AZ252 packs in a well-rounded feature set and delivers pleasing photos and videos. It's a great choice for travel, events, and everyday shooting if you want an affordable bridge camera with a powerful zoom lens. Novices and casual users will find it easy to handle. Overall, the Kodak AZ252 is recommended for budget-conscious buyers looking for a capable and versatile superzoom camera.