Kodak PIXPRO AZ405-WH Kodak - Review 🏆

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405 is a superzoom point-and-shoot digital camera designed for hobbyist photographers looking for an affordable all-in-one camera with a huge 40x optical zoom lens. With a 20MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor, 40x 24-960mm equivalent lens, and full 1080p HD video recording, it packs some impressive specs into a compact and lightweight body.

Some of the key features of the AZ405 include:

• 20MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor
• 40x optical zoom lens, 24-960mm equivalent
• Aperture range of f/3.1-6.8
• 3" 460k-dot LCD screen
• 1080p full HD video recording at 30fps
• ISO range of 100-3200
• Built-in pop-up flash
• SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot
• Li-ion battery

With its extremely versatile zoom range, the AZ405 is designed as an do-it-all camera for travel, events, family photography and more. Its compact size makes it easy to carry around, while the huge zoom lets you capture everything from wide landscapes to distant details. Overall, it provides an attractive option for hobbyists seeking an affordable, feature-packed superzoom camera.

Design and Build Quality

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405 has a very compact and lightweight body that makes it highly portable for travel and outdoor use. Despite its small size, the camera has an ergonomic grip and well-placed buttons and dials that make it easy and comfortable to hold and operate.

The body is made of high-quality plastics which are durable enough for regular use but keep the weight down. The smooth matte finish resists scratches and fingerprints. There is a raised handgrip on the right side that is coated in a textured rubberized material for extra stability when holding the camera.

All of the main buttons are clustered on the right side of the LCD screen, including the zoom rocker, shutter button, mode dial, and dedicated video record button. This places them within easy reach of the thumb and index finger when holding the camera in shooting position. The buttons have a responsive feel when pressed. On the top plate, there are well-spaced buttons to access the different shooting modes and settings.

Overall, the AZ405 has a smart control layout that doesn't feel cluttered. The compact body construction makes it a great choice for travel photography and everyday casual shooting. The camera feels solid and durable enough for regular use without being too heavy or bulky to carry around.

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 also offers exceptional portability with its sleek and compact design. It incorporates a 5x optical zoom lens and 16.1MP image sensor, making it ideal for capturing detailed photos and videos on the go. The FZ55 has a 2.7-inch LCD screen and easy-to-navigate menus, ensuring users have no trouble accessing different shooting modes and settings. Its user-friendly interface and lightweight build make it a great choice for everyday use and travel photography.

Image Quality

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405 has a 20MP CMOS sensor that delivers good image quality for a budget long zoom camera. The sensor resolution allows for large prints up to poster sizes.

In good lighting conditions, images show very good sharpness and detail in the center of the frame. However, there is some softening around the edges. Color reproduction is quite accurate and pleasing. The dynamic range is decent, capturing highlights and shadows relatively well.

Low light performance is just average, as expected for this class of camera. Noise becomes more visible at higher ISO levels and there is a loss of fine details. But the camera remains usable for casual shooting up to ISO 1600. Beyond that, noise and processing artifacts can negatively impact image quality. Enabling noise reduction helps but results in some additional softening.

Overall, the image quality is very good for everyday shooting and snapshots. The camera excels in bright daylight conditions. But low light shooting is limited due to the small sensor size. Even so, the image quality should satisfy most casual photographers.

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405-BK offers a robust set of features in addition to its image quality. It also includes built-in Wi-Fi for easy sharing and remote control functionality through the PIXPRO Remote Viewer App. The camera's 40x optical zoom lens allows for versatile shooting, from wide-angle landscapes to close-up details. Additionally, the AZ405-BK model is available in a sleek black finish, adding a touch of style to its practical design. For more information, visit the Kodak PIXPRO AZ405-BK page.

Zoom Capabilities

The Kodak Pixpro AZ405 has impressive zoom capabilities thanks to its 40x optical zoom lens. This allows you to get very close to distant subjects without much loss in image quality. The lens has a focal range of 24-960mm in 35mm terms, going from a wide angle to super telephoto.

At the full 40x optical zoom, you can capture close up shots of objects far in the distance. Image stabilization helps keep shots steady at such long zoom lengths. While image quality understandably decreases a bit at the maximum zoom, photos are still quite usable for sharing online or printing at standard sizes. Enabling the digital zoom can extend the zoom range to 80x, allowing even tighter framing on distant subjects. However just be aware this will reduce image quality further.

Overall the 40x zoom gives you great compositional flexibility. You can capture wide landscape shots, tightly framed telephoto shots, and everything in between - all without having to change lenses. This makes the AZ405 well suited for travel and situations where you want an all-in-one camera with a huge zoom range. The optical quality holds up well through the zoom range too, giving the AZ405 an advantage over smartphones and other cameras with smaller optical zooms.

Video Recording

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405 can capture full HD 1080p video at 30 frames per second. It offers decent video quality for a budget-friendly superzoom camera. The maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels is relatively sharp for casual home videos. However, more advanced users may find the quality lacking compared to 4K video recording available on higher-end cameras.

In terms of frame rate options, the AZ405 provides 30fps at 1080p resolution. There is no ability to shoot at higher frame rates like 60fps for smoother motions. The videos are recorded in .MOV format using the H.264 video codec, which is standard for this class of camera. H.264 provides reasonably good compression to balance video quality and file sizes.

One helpful feature for video is the optical image stabilization system. It uses gyro sensors to detect and compensate for camera shakes. This results in smoother handheld footage by minimizing shaky motions. The stabilizer works quite well for moderate movement and vibration. However, it may struggle with faster panning or walking shots. Overall, the video stabilization can help improve usability for casual home movies.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405 has decent autofocus capabilities for a budget superzoom camera. It offers autofocus modes like face detection, tracking, and 9-point area select to help you capture sharp shots.

In good lighting conditions, the autofocus is fairly quick and accurate. It can lock focus in around 0.5 seconds, which is good enough for casual shooting. The tracking autofocus works okay for moving subjects, but can struggle with erratic or fast motion.

The shutter lag is minimal, so you don't miss photo opportunities waiting for the camera. Shot-to-shot times are also quick at around 1 second between photos. This allows you to capture sequences of shots when needed.

Low light does slow down the autofocus somewhat, but it remains usable in indoor and moderate low light situations. Overall, while not as fast as higher-end cameras, the autofocus and shooting speed is sufficient for a superzoom in this price range.

Display and Viewfinder

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405 has a 3-inch LCD display with a resolution of 460k dots. The screen is decently bright and visible in most lighting conditions, though visibility deteriorates in very bright sunlight. There is no option for an electronic or optical viewfinder on this camera. The rear LCD is the only way to compose photos and videos.

The 3-inch display is fairly standard for an entry-level superzoom camera like this. While a higher resolution screen would be better, the 460k dot screen gets the job done. I would have liked to see a vari-angle display that can flip out and rotate for easier selfies and overhead shots. Overall, the fixed rear LCD screen is functional for basic use, but more advanced photographers may want a higher quality display.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Kodak Pixpro AZ405 has a good range of connectivity options and additional features for an entry-level superzoom camera.

For ports, it has a micro HDMI port to connect to TVs for playback, as well as a micro USB port for charging and data transfer. The AZ405 also has a dedicated external mic port, allowing you to enhance audio quality by using an external microphone.

Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC make sharing images and videos seamless. You can connect the camera directly to your smartphone or tablet wirelessly and transfer files. This allows easy uploading to social media on the go.

There are a variety of special shooting modes beyond just auto and manual modes. The AZ405 includes panorama shooting, letting you stitch together multiple shots in-camera for expansive panoramic images. Timelapse mode is also available, condensing extended time periods into short videos by capturing images at set intervals.

For creative effects, the AZ405 has modes like fish eye, drawing, and neon color for adding interest to images. It also offers decent built-in editing capabilities like cropping and filter effects.

Pros and Cons

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405 has a number of strengths as well as some weaknesses that are worth considering.

Pros

• Impressive 40x optical zoom range, from 24mm wide angle to 960mm super telephoto
• Effective optical image stabilization helps reduce blur from camera shake
• Large 3" LCD screen with 920k dot resolution
• Good image quality in bright light
• Full HD 1080p video recording
• Numerous shooting modes and filters
• WiFi and NFC connectivity for easy photo sharing

Cons

• Image quality suffers in low light conditions
• Autofocus can be slow, especially at the telephoto end
• No viewfinder
• No RAW support
• Build quality feels a bit cheap and plasticky
• Battery life could be better

Overall, the AZ405's extremely versatile zoom range is its standout feature. Image quality is decent in good lighting, though low light performance is a weakness. The wifi connectivity is also handy for social sharing. But the plasticky build and lack of a viewfinder hold it back as a more serious long zoom camera. Still, it's a decent affordable superzoom for those wanting high magnification in a point and shoot form factor.

Conclusion

The Kodak Pixpro AZ405 is an affordable ultra zoom camera that packs a ton of zoom power into a compact and lightweight body. It's ideal for beginners, casual photographers, and anyone who wants an inexpensive point-and-shoot with massive zoom range for travel and outdoor adventures.

The 40x optical zoom lens provides tremendous versatility, allowing you to capture wide landscapes and zoom in on distant details. Image quality is decent though limited by the small 1/2.3" sensor size. Overall photo quality is good enough for casual snapshots and sharing online.

Video is limited to 1080p resolution but the powerful zoom can capture unique perspectives for home movies. Autofocus can be slow and inconsistent at times but acceptable for the price. The lack of manual controls and RAW shooting will limit more advanced users.

At around £150, the AZ405 provides excellent value if you need an affordable ultra zoom camera. Beginners will appreciate the simple operation and point-and-shoot nature. The massive 40x zoom range is the highlight, providing a Swiss army knife of focal lengths to capture any scene. For casual photographers wanting an inexpensive, compact mega-zoom camera, the Kodak Pixpro AZ405 is a great choice.