Kodak Pixpro AZ528 Kodak - Review 🏆

Kodak is a historic American technology company that dates back to the late 19th century. They are best known for pioneering film photography and popularizing the handheld camera. In recent decades, Kodak has worked to transition into the digital photography era.

The Kodak Pixpro line represents their bridge and compact digital cameras aimed at the entry-level consumer market. Pixpro cameras are designed to be easy to use while still offering features like optical zoom lenses and manual shooting modes. The AZ series sits in the middle of the Pixpro lineup with AZ400, AZ401, and AZ528 models currently available.

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 is a mid-range bridge camera released in 2022. It offers a 16MP sensor, 25-700mm equivalent lens, full HD video, and a host of creative modes and effects. The AZ528 is designed to balance image quality, zoom range, manual controls, and simplicity for hobbyist photographers.

Design and Build

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 has a sleek DSLR-style design with a large handgrip for secure and comfortable handling. The body is constructed from high-quality plastics which feel durable yet lightweight.

At the front is the lens barrel which houses the impressive 40x optical zoom lens. When powered on, the lens extends outward quite far, adding to the camera's DSLR-styling. Build quality feels solid with no creaks or flexing.

The AZ528 has a textured coating on the handgrip and rear thumb rest which provides extra grip. All the physical controls are within easy reach of the right hand. There are also ample rubberized pads on the rear and side to enhance grip stability.

Overall, the camera has a robust yet portable build that feels great in the hand. The sleek DSLR-styling sets it apart from typical superzoom bridge models.

Image Sensor and Resolution

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 has a 16-megapixel 1/2.3” BSI CMOS sensor, which is a fairly standard sensor size and resolution for bridge cameras in this price range. The 16MP resolution allows you to produce detailed prints up to 13 x 19 inches in size.

While some competing models may have higher resolution 20MP+ sensors, the image quality from the AZ528’s 16MP sensor is very good for a bridge camera and will meet the needs of most users. The backside illumination technology helps improve light capture and low light performance. Overall the sensor produces sharp, colorful images with good dynamic range.

The 16MP resolution hits a nice sweet spot between providing enough detail for large prints while not producing excessively large file sizes. The images have enough resolution for cropping flexibility as well. Unless you need to make very large prints on a regular basis, the 16MP sensor provides sufficient resolution for most amateur photographers.

Optics

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 has a versatile lens that covers a broad focal range for everything from wide landscapes to telephoto shots. The lens has a 35mm focal length equivalent of 24-480mm, going from a wide angle to a long telephoto zoom. With the 24mm wide angle, you can capture expansive landscape scenes and group portraits. At the 480mm telephoto end, you can zoom in on distant subjects like wildlife and sports action.

The lens has a maximum aperture range of f/3.1 at 24mm to f/5.9 at 480mm. This lets in a good amount of light for the zoom range. The wider f/3.1 aperture at the 24mm end is useful for low light shots. The lens incorporates optical image stabilization to minimize blur from camera shake. This optical stabilization provides up to 3 stops of stabilization, letting you shoot at slower shutter speeds and still get sharp images. Overall, the versatile zoom range plus image stabilization make this a great all-purpose lens for anything from landscapes to portraits to sports and wildlife.

Video Quality

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 can shoot full HD 1080p video at 30 fps. This allows you to capture crisp, detailed video footage. The camera also has a dedicated movie button, making it easy to start and stop recording.

Some key video features of the AZ528 include:

• 1080p HD video recording at 30fps
• Dedicated movie button for quick access
• Optical zoom available while shooting video
• Stereo microphone for audio capture
• HDMI output for viewing videos on an HDTV

The 30 fps frame rate provides smooth, natural-looking video that is suitable for everyday shooting. Fast action may exhibit some motion blur at 30 fps, so 60 fps would be better for sports and fast movement. Overall, the video quality and features of the AZ528 are decent for a bridge camera in this price range. The full HD resolution gives you plenty of detail, and the optical zoom allows you to get closer to distant subjects while recording.

Connectivity

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 has decent connectivity options for a bridge camera in this price range. It has a micro USB port for charging and data transfer, as well as a mini HDMI port for viewing photos and videos on an external display.

For wireless connectivity, the AZ528 has built-in WiFi which allows you to transfer images to smartphones and tablets using the Pixpro app. It also supports NFC one-touch connections to NFC enabled Android devices. The WiFi works fairly well for basic image transfers, though the range is limited.

The camera lacks more advanced wireless connectivity options like Bluetooth or GPS. There's no remote control connectivity either via infrared or Bluetooth. The ports and wireless capabilities are fairly basic but get the job done for a casual user. More demanding photographers may want additional wired and wireless connectivity options.

Battery Life

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 has a decent battery life, allowing for around 300 shots per charge according to Kodak's specifications. This is fairly typical for a bridge camera with a smallish battery. 300 shots per charge should be sufficient for a day or two of casual shooting. However, photographers who plan on using the camera heavily, especially when recording lots of video, may want to invest in a spare battery. The AZ528 uses a rechargeable Li-ion battery that charges via USB, so it's easy to keep a backup battery charged and ready to go. Overall, while not outstanding, the battery life is solid and in line with competing models in this class. Just be aware that heavy use will require carrying and swapping out spare batteries.

Features

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 has a good range of features for a bridge camera in this price range. It offers a variety of shooting modes including manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, program, and full auto. This allows you to take full control over exposure settings or let the camera choose settings automatically.

For creative shots, the AZ528 has panorama and timelapse modes. The panorama mode stitches multiple images together to create a wide panoramic photo. The timelapse mode captures a series of images over time and compiles them into a video, which is great for capturing sunsets, traffic, or other motion over time.

Some other handy features include HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode to bring out details in high contrast scenes, face detection, smile detection, and blink detection. The AZ528 also has built-in WiFi and NFC for wirelessly transferring photos to your smartphone or tablet.

Overall, the feature set of the Kodak Pixpro AZ528 is very good for a bridge camera at this price point. It provides ample options for creativity and control in different shooting situations. Most casual users and enthusiasts will find the features more than adequate.

Pros

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 bridge camera has received positive reviews for several of its features and capabilities:

• Image Quality: Reviewers have been impressed with the 16MP sensor and quality of both still photos and video, especially considering the price point. The images are sharp with good color reproduction. Low light performance is also decent.

• Versatile Zoom Lens: The 28-588mm equivalent lens provides a very wide 20.7x optical zoom range, allowing you to capture everything from wide landscapes to far away subjects. The optical image stabilization helps counteract camera shake.

• Manual Controls: There are full manual controls for shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and more. This allows you to take creative control over exposure settings. The camera also has a good range of scene modes for beginners.

• Build Quality: The camera has a solid plastic body that feels sturdy in the hand. The handgrip provides a secure hold. Overall, reviewers found it well-built for its class.

• LCD Screen: The 3-inch LCD is sharp with good color and can tilt for flexible viewing angles. This is great for shooting from high or low perspectives.

• Connectivity: Built-in WiFi allows easy sharing of images to smartphones and tablets. NFC makes the pairing process simple.

• Value: At its price point, reviewers found the AZ528 provides very good bang for your buck with its combination of image quality, zoom range, features, and manual controls.

Cons

The Kodak Pixpro AZ528 bridge camera has received some mixed reviews, with certain cons noted by users.

• The LCD screen is fixed and cannot tilt or swivel, which reduces flexibility when shooting from high or low angles. The lack of articulation is disappointing for a bridge camera in this price range.

• The electronic viewfinder (EVF) has a lower resolution than competing models. The EVF image can appear pixelated, making it harder to compose shots.

• Autofocus performance is inconsistent, especially in low light conditions. The contrast-detect AF system struggles in dim lighting.

• The maximum burst shooting speed is only 2 fps, which is slow compared to other bridge cameras. This makes it harder to capture action shots.

• The small sensor size of 1/2.3-inch leads to mediocre low-light performance. Images get noisy at higher ISO levels.

• Battery life is below average. The camera uses 4 AA batteries which drain quickly during a day of shooting. Carrying spare batteries is recommended.

• There is no mic input for external microphones, and audio quality from the built-in mic is mediocre.

• The plastic body feels cheaper than competing metal and polycarbonate designs. The build quality could be more robust.