Kodak FZ43 Kodak - Review 🏆

The Kodak FZ43 is a budget-friendly point-and-shoot digital camera that offers a nice balance of features, performance, and value. As an entry-level camera, the FZ43 packs a surprising amount of versatility into a compact and lightweight body. Key features include a 16MP sensor, 4X optical zoom lens, 720p HD video, and a 2.7” LCD screen. While it lacks some of the bells and whistles of higher-end cameras, the FZ43 provides solid image quality and ease of use at an affordable price point. It's a great option for casual photographers looking for an all-purpose camera for travel, family events, and everyday shooting scenarios. The FZ43 offers good image quality for a budget camera along with point-and-shoot simplicity in a pocketable form factor. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the design, features, image quality, and performance of the Kodak FZ43.

Design and Build

The Kodak FZ43 has a compact and lightweight design, making it easy to carry around. It measures 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches and weighs 5.9 ounces. Despite its light weight, the camera has a solid build quality thanks to its high impact plastic body. The matte black finish gives it a stylish look. There are also rubber grips on the front and back to provide a secure hold. The camera is small enough to fit into a pocket or purse. Overall, the FZ43 has a simple yet functional design optimized for portability.

Image Sensor

The Kodak FZ43 has a 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor with 16 megapixels resolution. This is a relatively small sensor size compared to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors found in higher-end cameras. However, the 16MP resolution still allows for printing high quality photos up to poster size.

The main advantage of the smaller sensor is that it enables more compact camera bodies and zoom lenses. The tradeoff is that image quality is not quite as good as larger sensors in terms of dynamic range, low light performance, and depth of field control. But for casual photographers, the 16MP 1/2.3-inch sensor in the FZ43 will deliver pleasing results in most conditions.

Overall, the sensor size and resolution combination is well-suited for this class of budget-friendly point and shoot camera. It's capable of capturing plenty of detail and producing sharp images as long as lighting conditions are favorable. Just don't expect the stellar image quality of a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a bigger sensor. But for social sharing and prints up to 8x10 inches, the FZ43's 16MP 1/2.3-inch sensor gets the job done.

Lens

The Kodak FZ43 has a 4x optical zoom lens with a focal length range of 27-108mm, which is quite standard for a budget point and shoot camera. The maximum aperture range is f/3.2 at the wide end and f/6.9 at the telephoto end. This is fairly narrow, especially on the telephoto side, meaning you may struggle to get nice blurred backgrounds and low light performance will be limited. Still, the 4x zoom range should be versatile enough for general use, landscape shots, group photos and some closer portraits. It covers the key focal lengths without being overly complex for a beginner-friendly camera. The lens components have 12 elements in 9 groups, with 4 aspherical elements to help improve sharpness. Overall image quality is decent but don't expect professional-level performance from this basic lens. It's good enough for casual photographers and those new to digital photography.

Features

The Kodak FZ43 has a good range of features for an entry-level camera. Some of the key features include:

Flash - The FZ43 has a built-in flash that can be popped up when needed. It has a range of around 4 meters at wide angle, making it useful for both indoor and outdoor photography. There are also flash modes like auto, fill-in, and slow sync.

Viewfinder - In addition to the rear LCD screen, the FZ43 has an optical viewfinder. This can be useful when glaring sun makes it hard to see the LCD screen. The viewfinder provides a basic framing reference without any exposure information.

Screen - The FZ43 has a 2.7 inch LCD screen with 230,000 dots of resolution. The screen is fixed and doesn't tilt or swivel. It provides a decent preview, but isn't the brightest or sharpest display.

Ports - For connectivity, the FZ43 has a USB 2.0 port and a mini HDMI port. The USB port allows charging the battery in-camera as well as image transfer to a computer. The HDMI port can be used to view photos and videos on a high definition TV.

Video Recording

The Kodak FZ43 can record full HD 1080p video at 30 fps. It also offers 720p HD video recording at 30 fps. Lower resolution options are also available, like 480p at 30 fps and 240p at 30 fps, which are suitable for sharing online or sending smaller video files.

For the frame rates, the FZ43 sticks to 30fps across its video modes. 30 fps provides smooth enough motion for casual home videos while keeping file sizes manageable. Fast action may exhibit some motion blur at 30fps, so a higher 60fps option would have been nice to have. But overall, the 1080p 30fps and 720p 30fps modes will work well for basic videography needs.

Slow motion modes are not included, so capturing high frame rate video for slow motion playback later is not possible with this camera model. But the core 30fps frame rate in HD resolutions covers what most users will require for everyday video shooting.

Battery

The Kodak FZ43 runs on a rechargeable Li-Ion battery that provides enough power for around 200 shots per charge according to CIPA standards. This is decent battery life for a compact camera.

The battery is charged internally using the included USB cable. A full charge takes around 3-4 hours. There is no separate battery charger included, so charging has to be done in-camera via USB.

One downside is that there is no battery level indicator, so you have to guess when the battery is running low based on the number of shots taken. Extra batteries are available to purchase separately if you need extended shooting time.

Overall, the battery life is fairly average for this class of camera. Having a spare battery is recommended for all-day or travel use. The lack of an external charger is inconvenient, but charging via USB is common for compact cameras nowadays.

Connectivity

The Kodak Pixpro FZ43 has decent connectivity options for a budget point-and-shoot camera. It has built-in WiFi which allows you to wirelessly transfer photos and videos to your smartphone or tablet using the Pixpro app. Setup is straightforward - you scan a QR code displayed on the camera's LCD using the app and it will connect.

WiFi transfer speeds are reasonably fast and it's a handy way to quickly share shots without having to mess with cables or SD card readers. The FZ43 doesn't have NFC or Bluetooth though, so the WiFi has to be manually turned on each time you want to transfer something.

For wired connections, the FZ43 has a micro HDMI port to allow viewing and playback on HDTVs. It also has a micro USB 2.0 port which can be used for charging and transferring files to a computer. There is no external battery charging unit - the battery must be charged in-camera via USB.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• 16MP sensor provides decent resolution for a basic point-and-shoot camera
• 4x optical zoom gets you closer to the action
• 2.7" LCD screen is sufficient for framing shots and reviewing images
• Easy to use - great for beginners who want a simple, no-frills camera
• Low price point makes it very affordable

Cons

• Image quality is just average, especially in low light
• Minimal manual controls limit creative flexibility
• Lack of WiFi connectivity is disappointing
• 4x optical zoom doesn't provide a huge amount of reach
• Plastic body feels a bit flimsy and cheap
• No viewfinder - must rely on LCD screen for composing shots

In summary, the Kodak FZ43 is a very affordable and simple point-and-shoot camera. While it lacks many advanced features and manual controls, it provides decent image quality and an easy shooting experience. Just don't expect stellar low light performance or a ton of creative flexibility. The FZ43 is best suited for casual users who want a basic, no-frills digital camera on a tight budget.

Conclusion

Overall, the Kodak Pixpro FZ43 is a decent budget point-and-shoot camera for casual users looking for an affordable option with basic features. The 16MP sensor and 4X optical zoom lens provide sufficient image quality and versatility for everyday snapshots. The camera is compact and lightweight, making it highly portable. Key strengths include the low price point, ease of use, and HD video recording.

On the downside, image quality is limited compared to higher-end cameras, especially in low light. The small sensor struggles with noise and lacks dynamic range. The lens also exhibits softness around the edges. Serious photographers will be better served by a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

For the casual user who just wants a no-frills camera for vacations and family memories, the Kodak Pixpro FZ43 represents a cost-effective choice. It covers the basics well given the low price tag. Just don't expect stellar image quality or advanced controls and settings. Overall, it's a solid entry-level camera if your needs are simple.