The newest, and smallest Kodak Digital Camera, the Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 offers a 3x optical zoom and an ultra compact body...
| Kodak Easyshare Mini in Compact Cameras
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Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
The Kodak Easyshare Mini, or M200, to give it it's full name, is one of Kodak's smallest ever digital cameras, and it makes a refreshing change to see a camera with one aim in life: to be small. In that sense it features a small 3x optical zoom lens, a small 10 megapixel sensor, and a "small" 2.5 inch screen. Oh, and it fits in your pocket, handbag, or anywhere else small... but how does it perform? Find out here...
These pictures of the camera are larger than life-size, and do little to convey how small the camera is. The Kodak Easyshare Mini, makes the Canon Powershot S95 (a relatively small camera) look like a large camera in comparison.
The back of the camera features a 2.5inch screen, zoom control, delete, menu, info, flash, four-way controller, middle OK button, playback, and the Kodak share button - this lets you share to facebook, twitter, youtube, and a whole host of other photo sharing sites. The sharing process starts when you connect the camera to your computer, the Kodak Easyshare software automatically detects the camera and starts the upload process, assuming you've already configured where you want the photos to go.
Key Features:
Here are a number of photos of the Kodak Easyshare Mini next to other cameras, designed to show you how small this camera actually is.
The design is rather minimalist, but in a good way, it features a neat design, with all the usual features, plus a handy self-portrait mirror, perfect for taking shots of you and your friends.
The top of the camera features a shutter response button, on/off switch and mode button as well as a speaker. The front has an LED, self-portrait mirror, flash, microphone, and the small 3x optical zoom lens.
Perhaps the following shot will give a good idea of the size of the camera, as we put it next to the Kodak Easyshare Max Z990. Mini vs Max if you will.
Menus: The mode is changed using the button in between the shutter response and on/off button, and lets you choose between Smart Capture, Video, Program (P), and Scenes. The reason why I've included this information in a paragraph titled "Menus" is because the amount of options you get in the menus is directly related to the mode you're in.
The menus are split into Capture, Setup, and in playback: Review, Edit, and Setup.
In the default mode, Smart Capture, there are two Capture menu options: Picture size and self-timer. The Picture size lets you choose from 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratios, with 10 megapixels to 3 megapixels being available.
In Program mode, the full menu is available with the following options available: Picture size, exposure compensation, ISO speed, Long time exposure (upto 4 seconds), Self-timer/burst, Colour mode, White Balance (does not feature manual), Focus mode, Focus / Exposure, AF control, and Sharpness.
Video menu options are: AF control (continuous, or single), and self timer.
In the playback review menu the options available are: Select all, Tag people, Keyword tag, Print, Favourite, Protect, Slideshow, Properties. Edit options are "Perfect Touch Tech", Crop, Add date stamp, and rotate picture.
Battery Life: The camera will take 200 shots according to CIPA standards. I managed to take over 200 shots and the battery still had 1 bar showing (out of three).
Speed: We tested the Kodak Easyshare Mini's performance below:
The shutter response is very good, and assuming the camera is ready to take the next shot, the focusing is very quick as well. There is a slight delay if the camera is still writing the previous shot to the memory card. Shot to shot times are good, and the continuous shooting is also good for a budget camera, although the camera will only take 3 shots at the fastest speed.
Here are several sample photos, just click to view full size images.
ISO and Noise Performance
ISO80-ISO100 - lowest noise. ISO200 noticeable noise. ISO400 noticeable noise, and softer results, with some loss of colour. ISO800 noise becomes quite damaging to the image quality, both in detail, and colour. ISO1000 produces the worst results, and is best avoided.
Noticeable pincushion distortion in these shots, 12mm focal distance, note the curved edges on the shots above.
The Panoramic mode on the Mini differs slightly from other cameras with built in auto-stitching - with the Mini you take three separate photos, and then they camera will merge them together into one image, as shown below. A lot of the new models with CMOS sensors, simply let you pan the camera, and the photo will be recorded and put into an image automatically.
The camera, when used on the default settings (Full colour), produces quite washed out colours, so it may be worth switching to Vivid colour to get better results.
The colour modes are: Full colour, Vivid, Sepia, Black and White, Basic. There are three settings for sharpness: Soft, Normal, Sharp. Several scene modes: Portrait, Sport, Landscape, Macro, Sunset, Backlight, Candle light, Children, Bright (snow, beach), Fireworks, Self-portrait, Night portrait, Landscape, High ISO, Panoramic left-right, Panoramic right-left, Blur reduction.
Unfortunately the Mini does not feature the Kodak film modes such as Kodachrome, as featured on the Max.
White Balance Performance:
Auto white balance does a good job in both lighting conditions, and the preset auto white balance did little to change the output in these conditions.
Macro Performance: The camera allows you to be roughly 3cm away from your subject, and in smart auto mode will automatically switch to the macro mode when the subject is very close.
The portrait shot came out well, red-eye was reduced by using the portrait scene mode.
Video Mode
The Mini records VGA video, at 30fps with mono sound. Quality is not particularly good, although the camera does have an interesting playback mode that lets you watch the video at 4x/8x speed. The compact size makes it easy to use the camera in small places - mounted on a dashboard or with the tripod socket other places.
Value for Money
The Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 is available for around £70, making it very competitively priced for an ultra compact camera, with the majority of alternative ultra compact cameras aiming for the more premium market and featuring metal bodies, they are often priced higher than this. Other budget cameras include the Canon Powershot A800, and Nikon Coolpix L23, but none are as compact as this. Other stylish compact cameras you could look at include the Panasonic Lumix S3, priced at around £100, the Pentax Optio S1, priced at around £110, or the Pentax Optio RS1000 with changeable faceplates and a low price of around £70.
Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 Pros:
Very small
Easy to use
Sharing button built in
Good value for money
Have I mentioned how small it is?
Excellent value for money
Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 Cons:
Image quality could be better
Default colour and noise performance poor
Only VGA video recording
Lacks focus assist lamp
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
The Kodak Easyshare Mini, or M200, to give it it's full name, is one of Kodak's smallest ever digital cameras, and it makes a refreshing change to see a camera with one aim in life: to be small. In that sense it features a small 3x optical zoom lens, a small 10 megapixel sensor, and a "small" 2.5 inch screen. Oh, and it fits in your pocket, handbag, or anywhere else small... but how does it perform? Find out here...
Kodak Easyshare Mini M200: Features
These pictures of the camera are larger than life-size, and do little to convey how small the camera is. The Kodak Easyshare Mini, makes the Canon Powershot S95 (a relatively small camera) look like a large camera in comparison.
The back of the camera features a 2.5inch screen, zoom control, delete, menu, info, flash, four-way controller, middle OK button, playback, and the Kodak share button - this lets you share to facebook, twitter, youtube, and a whole host of other photo sharing sites. The sharing process starts when you connect the camera to your computer, the Kodak Easyshare software automatically detects the camera and starts the upload process, assuming you've already configured where you want the photos to go.
Key Features:
- 10 megapixel CCD sensor
- 3x optical zoom lens (wide 29-87mm equivalent)
- 2.5inch screen
- VGA video, 30fps, max length 24 minutes
- Available in black, red, or white
- Scene modes
- Auto scene modes (Smart Capture)
- ISO80 - ISO1000
- Macro - roughly 3cm from the front of the lens
- Facebook, Youtube, Kodak, Twitter, Email, Flickr, Orkut sharing (plus more)
- Ultra compact body
Kodak Easyshare Mini M200: Handling
Here are a number of photos of the Kodak Easyshare Mini next to other cameras, designed to show you how small this camera actually is.
The design is rather minimalist, but in a good way, it features a neat design, with all the usual features, plus a handy self-portrait mirror, perfect for taking shots of you and your friends.
The top of the camera features a shutter response button, on/off switch and mode button as well as a speaker. The front has an LED, self-portrait mirror, flash, microphone, and the small 3x optical zoom lens.
Perhaps the following shot will give a good idea of the size of the camera, as we put it next to the Kodak Easyshare Max Z990. Mini vs Max if you will.
Menus: The mode is changed using the button in between the shutter response and on/off button, and lets you choose between Smart Capture, Video, Program (P), and Scenes. The reason why I've included this information in a paragraph titled "Menus" is because the amount of options you get in the menus is directly related to the mode you're in.
The menus are split into Capture, Setup, and in playback: Review, Edit, and Setup.
In the default mode, Smart Capture, there are two Capture menu options: Picture size and self-timer. The Picture size lets you choose from 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratios, with 10 megapixels to 3 megapixels being available.
In Program mode, the full menu is available with the following options available: Picture size, exposure compensation, ISO speed, Long time exposure (upto 4 seconds), Self-timer/burst, Colour mode, White Balance (does not feature manual), Focus mode, Focus / Exposure, AF control, and Sharpness.
Video menu options are: AF control (continuous, or single), and self timer.
In the playback review menu the options available are: Select all, Tag people, Keyword tag, Print, Favourite, Protect, Slideshow, Properties. Edit options are "Perfect Touch Tech", Crop, Add date stamp, and rotate picture.
Battery Life: The camera will take 200 shots according to CIPA standards. I managed to take over 200 shots and the battery still had 1 bar showing (out of three).
Speed: We tested the Kodak Easyshare Mini's performance below:
| Kodak Easyshare Mini |
|||
| Shutter Reponse | <0.1 | ||
| Wide - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.1 | ||
| Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.2 / 0.6 (Smart Capture / Program) | ||
| Switch on Time to Taking a Photo | 2.7 | ||
| Shot to Shot (without flash) | 1.1 | ||
| Shot to Shot with Flash | 1.2 | ||
| Continuous Shooting (full resolution) | 1.5fps (3 shots) |
The shutter response is very good, and assuming the camera is ready to take the next shot, the focusing is very quick as well. There is a slight delay if the camera is still writing the previous shot to the memory card. Shot to shot times are good, and the continuous shooting is also good for a budget camera, although the camera will only take 3 shots at the fastest speed.
Kodak Easyshare Mini M200: Performance
Here are several sample photos, just click to view full size images.
 |
 |
| Rape Seed Field | Building |
ISO and Noise Performance
 |
 |
 |
| ISO80 | ISO100 | ISO200 |
 |
 |
 |
| ISO400 | ISO800 | ISO1000 |
ISO80-ISO100 - lowest noise. ISO200 noticeable noise. ISO400 noticeable noise, and softer results, with some loss of colour. ISO800 noise becomes quite damaging to the image quality, both in detail, and colour. ISO1000 produces the worst results, and is best avoided.
Noticeable pincushion distortion in these shots, 12mm focal distance, note the curved edges on the shots above.
 |
 |
| Wide-angle | Full 3x optical zoom |
 |
 |
| 3x + full 5x digital | Water |
The Panoramic mode on the Mini differs slightly from other cameras with built in auto-stitching - with the Mini you take three separate photos, and then they camera will merge them together into one image, as shown below. A lot of the new models with CMOS sensors, simply let you pan the camera, and the photo will be recorded and put into an image automatically.
The camera, when used on the default settings (Full colour), produces quite washed out colours, so it may be worth switching to Vivid colour to get better results.
The colour modes are: Full colour, Vivid, Sepia, Black and White, Basic. There are three settings for sharpness: Soft, Normal, Sharp. Several scene modes: Portrait, Sport, Landscape, Macro, Sunset, Backlight, Candle light, Children, Bright (snow, beach), Fireworks, Self-portrait, Night portrait, Landscape, High ISO, Panoramic left-right, Panoramic right-left, Blur reduction.
Unfortunately the Mini does not feature the Kodak film modes such as Kodachrome, as featured on the Max.
White Balance Performance:
 |
 |
| Auto white balance - tungsten lighting | Tungsten preset - tungsten lighting |
 |
 |
| Auto white balance - fluorescent lighting | Fluorescent preset - fluorescent lighting |
Auto white balance does a good job in both lighting conditions, and the preset auto white balance did little to change the output in these conditions.
Macro Performance: The camera allows you to be roughly 3cm away from your subject, and in smart auto mode will automatically switch to the macro mode when the subject is very close.
 |
 |
| Macro Flower | Portrait with flash |
The portrait shot came out well, red-eye was reduced by using the portrait scene mode.
Video Mode
| Sample Video. |
The Mini records VGA video, at 30fps with mono sound. Quality is not particularly good, although the camera does have an interesting playback mode that lets you watch the video at 4x/8x speed. The compact size makes it easy to use the camera in small places - mounted on a dashboard or with the tripod socket other places.
Value for Money
The Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 is available for around £70, making it very competitively priced for an ultra compact camera, with the majority of alternative ultra compact cameras aiming for the more premium market and featuring metal bodies, they are often priced higher than this. Other budget cameras include the Canon Powershot A800, and Nikon Coolpix L23, but none are as compact as this. Other stylish compact cameras you could look at include the Panasonic Lumix S3, priced at around £100, the Pentax Optio S1, priced at around £110, or the Pentax Optio RS1000 with changeable faceplates and a low price of around £70.
Kodak Easyshare Mini M200: Verdict
The Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 has a number of key selling points and features that it is going to be bought for, these are 1) it's size 2) it's price and 3) it's ease of use, and possibly 4) it's ability to share photos, although not necessarily in that order. If you want an ultra compact, easy to use camera, that's very good value for money, and aren't too concerned about image quality, then this camera is worth looking at. Particularly if you simply want a camera to take everywhere with you, and then upload the photos to facebook anyway, especially when facebook's photos only show up at 720 pixels wide the majority of the time! The most lacking feature is the VGA video mode, it would be great for videos if it recorded 720p, as it's size makes it very useful for mounting in small spaces.Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 Pros:
Very smallEasy to useSharing button built inGood value for moneyHave I mentioned how small it is?Excellent value for moneyKodak Easyshare Mini M200 Cons:
Image quality could be better Default colour and noise performance poorOnly VGA video recordingLacks focus assist lamp| FEATURES |  |
| HANDLING |  |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| VALUE |  |
| OVERALL | |
Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 Specification
| Price | £69 |
| Contact | www.kodak.co.uk |
| Lens | 3x optical zoom lens (29mm - 87mm equivalent) |
| Resolution | 10 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 1/3 |
| Sensor type | CCD |
| Max. Image size | 3640x2736 |
| Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Monitor | 2.5inch |
| Shutter speed | 1/4 - 1/1400s upto 8 seconds (long time exposure) |
| Focusing system | TTL-AF (through-the-lens auto focus) |
| Focusing modes | Multi-Zone, Center-Zone, Face Priority. |
| Focus distance | 0.5 m (1.6 ft)–infinity @ wide, normal 0.8 m (2.6 ft)–infinity @ telephoto, normal 5–80 cm (2–31.5 in.) @ wide, Macro mode 0.5–1 m (1.6–3.3 ft) @ telephoto, Macro mode |
| File types | JPEG |
| ISO sensitivity | ISO100 - 1000 |
| Metering modes | TTL-AE; Face Priority, Multi-Zone, Center-Zone |
| Exposure compensation | +/-2.0 EV with 1/3 EV step |
| Continuous | 1.5fps, 3 shots |
| Image stabilisation | No - Digital Only (Blur Reduction scene mode) |
| Movie mode | VGA, 30fps with mono sound, 23minute / 2Gb limit |
| Media type | SD/SDHC |
| Interface | USB 2.0 high speed (PIMA 15740 protocol); via KODAK Camera USB Cable, Micro B / 5-Pin |
| Power | KODAK Li-ion Rechargeable Digital Camera Battery KLIC-7006; 5V AC-to-USB battery charging; USB charging via computer |
| Box Contents | M200 Camera, getting started guide, USB cable, Lithium Ion battery, Plug-USB-socket wall charger, Wrist strap |
| Size | 85.5 x 51.5 x 19 mm |
| Weight | 130g including battery and card |
Buy Now
We don't have the latest price however the link below will take you to the most relevant items. Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 SEARCH |
We don't have the latest price however the link below will take you to the most relevant items. Kodak Easyshare Mini M200 SEARCH |
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Photographs taken using the Kodak Easyshare Mini
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