Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 Kodak - Review 🏆

Kodak is a long-standing company known for its cameras and film photography products. Their PIXPRO line of digital cameras aims to bring quality photography to the average consumer. The PIXPRO FZ53 point-and-shoot camera offers an affordable option for those looking to upgrade from smartphone photography. With a 16MP sensor and 5x optical zoom, it provides more control and better image quality compared to a mobile device. The FZ53 delivers sharp, vivid photos and HD video recording in a compact and user-friendly package. For hobbyists and families seeking an easy-to-use camera with powerful features, the PIXPRO FZ53 is a compelling choice. Its combination of image quality, zoom capability, and approachable design makes this a versatile pick for capturing life's moments.

Overview

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 is a budget-friendly point-and-shoot digital camera. Some of the key features and specs include:

• 16MP 1/2.3" CMOS sensor
• 5x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28-140mm
• 3" LCD screen with 230k dots
• Image stabilization
• Full HD 1080p video recording
• ISO 80-3200
• Built-in pop-up flash
• SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot
• Micro USB and mini HDMI ports
• Li-ion battery
• Dimensions of 4.7 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches
• Weighs 7.6 oz (215 g)

The FZ53 offers a versatile zoom range in a slim and lightweight body. While it lacks advanced controls and a viewfinder, it provides ample features for the casual photographer. The 16MP sensor and 5x zoom make it suitable for snapshots, landscapes, portraits and more.

Design

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 has a sleek and stylish design that is compact enough to fit in your pocket. The camera body is mostly plastic but feels solidly built with a matte black finish.

On the front, you'll find the lens barrel and flash unit. The lens extends out when powered on but retracts flush when off. There is a rubberized grip on the right side and a small thumb rest on the back for a secure hold.

The top of the camera has the power button, shutter release, and zoom toggle. On the back, you'll find a 2.7" LCD screen and various buttons for playback, menu, display, and deleting photos. There is also a 4-way directional pad for navigating menus.

The left side of the camera has a compartment door that houses the battery as well as a slot for the SD memory card. The bottom has a metal tripod socket.

Connectivity options include a micro HDMI port and a micro USB port on the right side for transferring photos and videos. The camera does not have built-in WiFi.

Overall, the design is straightforward and functional for a budget point-and-shoot camera. The body feels solid despite its light weight and price point.

Image Quality

The PIXPRO FZ53 produces pleasing images with good detail and color reproduction. The 16MP sensor captures sharp photos in bright lighting conditions. Images have fairly accurate colors that don't look oversaturated.

In terms of low light performance, the FZ53 does reasonably well up to ISO 800 before noise starts to become more apparent. At ISO 1600 and higher, noise reduction results in softer looking images. The camera struggles in very dim lighting without the flash.

Overall, image quality is quite good for a budget point and shoot camera. The lens produces sharp photos across the zoom range. While low light performance isn't amazing, the FZ53 delivers pleasing snapshots in most lighting scenarios. The colors are natural looking without going overboard on saturation.

Features

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 comes with a solid set of features for a budget point and shoot camera. It has a good range of shooting modes including Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Program. This allows you to have more control over your exposure settings compared to just using auto mode.

The camera has built-in WiFi which allows you to connect to your smartphone or tablet to transfer photos or control the camera remotely. This is a handy feature found on more expensive cameras.

Some other useful features include timelapse for capturing changes over a long period of time condensed into a video, panorama mode to stitch multiple shots into a wide panoramic image, and a variety of color filters like Vivid, Sepia, and Black & White to get creative with your photos.

While it doesn't have the most extensive feature set, the FZ53 packs in the key modes and functions you'd want in a compact point and shoot at this price range. The inclusion of manual exposure control and WiFi definitely adds value.

Video Quality

The PIXPRO FZ53 can record full HD 1080p video at 30 fps, which is decent but not exceptional. The videos are recorded in MP4 format.

The camera lacks any form of video stabilization, so videos can end up shaky if holding the camera by hand while recording. Using a tripod is recommended for smoother videos.

Overall, the video quality is fairly good for a budget point and shoot camera. The level of detail and colors in videos are on par with the still photos. But without stabilization, the videos can be a bit shaky and jittery if the camera moves too much during recording. The lack of 60fps 1080p recording also puts it behind some competitors in the video department.

Connectivity

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 has decent connectivity options for a budget point-and-shoot camera. It has built-in WiFi which allows you to connect the camera to your smartphone or tablet using the free PIXPRO Remote Viewer app.

Setup is straightforward - you simply go into the WiFi settings on the camera, connect your phone to the broadcasted network, and open the app. Once connected, you can view photos stored on the camera, remotely control the camera shutter, or transfer photos to your mobile device.

The remote control feature works decently well. There is some lag when taking photos, but it's usable. Transferring photos from the camera to your phone over WiFi is handy and eliminates the need for cables or taking the SD card out.

In addition to WiFi, the FZ53 also has Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to pair the camera with your phone to more easily connect via WiFi when in range. The Bluetooth pairing process is also quick and simple.

The only real downside is that the FZ53 does not support NFC for instant WiFi connections. You have to manually connect each time. The app itself is also fairly basic - it allows you to view, transfer, and take remote photos, but lacks advanced editing or social sharing options.

Overall the wireless connectivity options on the Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 are suitable for the price. The inclusion of WiFi and Bluetooth make it easy to transfer photos to your smartphone for sharing. Just don't expect advanced app functionality. The wireless features it does have work well for basic tasks.

Battery Life

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides enough power for around 200-250 shots per charge based on CIPA testing standards. This is fairly typical battery life for a compact camera with a smallish battery like the FZ53.

In real world testing, the battery lasted through a full day of moderate photo shooting. With heavy use including a lot of flash photography and frequent reviewing of images on the LCD screen, the battery drained faster as expected. For still photos only, you can expect the battery to last a couple days easily depending on your shooting frequency.

For video, the battery life is reduced compared to still photos only. Shooting 1080p video continuously will drain the battery in around 1 to 1.5 hours. The camera does get quite warm when shooting long videos too. So for all day video shooting, carrying a spare battery is recommended. But for casual short clips, the battery should be sufficient.

Overall the battery life is about average for a compact camera. Carrying a spare battery is always a good idea for full day shoots. The battery charges quickly in around 2-3 hours via USB.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact and lightweight body makes it easy to carry around
• 16MP sensor captures detailed images
• 5x optical zoom range is decent for a small camera
• Image stabilization helps reduce blur from camera shake
• Face detection works well for portraits
• Built-in WiFi allows wireless image transfer
• Affordable price point

Cons

• No touchscreen or viewfinder
• Only 720p video resolution
• Mediocre low light performance
• No manual exposure controls
• Battery life could be better
• No RAW image capture
• Plastic construction feels a bit cheap

Overall, the Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 is a budget-friendly point-and-shoot camera with a versatile zoom lens and wireless connectivity. It produces pleasing images in good lighting conditions. However, low light performance is just average and the lack of manual controls limits creative flexibility. Still, it's a decent option for casual users looking for an easy-to-use compact camera.

Conclusion

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 is a budget-friendly point-and-shoot digital camera that offers decent image quality and performance for its price point. It has a sleek and compact design that makes it highly portable. The 16MP sensor captures good detail and color in ideal lighting conditions. The 5X optical zoom lens provides a versatile focal range for everything from landscapes to portraits.

Video quality maxes out at 720p resolution, which is lower than most cameras today but sufficient for casual home movies. Connectivity options are basic but include HDMI output to view photos and videos on an HDTV. Battery life is relatively short per charge, so carrying a spare battery is recommended for all-day shooting.

Overall, the Kodak PIXPRO FZ53 is easy to use and can produce nice snapshots. However, low light performance is limited and more advanced users may be frustrated by the lack of manual controls. For those simply wanting an inexpensive, no-frills point-and-shoot camera for travel and basic photography, the FZ53 is a decent choice. But photographers who want greater flexibility and performance may wish to consider other similarly priced models.