KODAK
The Kodak PixPro AZ653 is a new bridge camera with a robust 65x optical zoom
Today's Kodak – as in the third party who has licensed the legendary name — specializes in blast-from-the-past tech. Case in point, the 'new' PixPro AZ653 bridge camera, which follows the PixPro AZ652 from 2019.
(Most of) its specs look too good to be true — a stabilized 65x optical zoom that covers everything from wide-angle landscapes to distant wildlife, 1cm macro focusing, 20MP stills, DSLR-style handling and an articulated screen — all for just $450 / £350.
This is an affordable do-it-all camera, except for one important part — quality. Like most bridge cameras (with few exceptions such as the Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 IV), it packs a tiny 1/2.3-inch sensor — the type you get in cheap smartphones, which means image quality is lacking.
That said, the overall package, especially considering the price, could be worth it for general use. And now Kodak has released this newer version which adds USB-C charging to bring the series up to date, even if the other features are now considered dated.
I'm a little disappointed there are no other upgrades — for example, the PixPro AZ653's video recording tops out at Full HD (so no 4K), while burst shooting is only up to 5fps.
For sure, it's the 65x zoom lens, spanning 24-1560mm focal lengths, which is the big sell, and along with the price I expect it'll be a popular camera.
So-called bridge cameras are named because they 'bridge' the gap between compact cameras and DSLRs. They are bulky do-it-all 'compact' cameras with one important catch — a compromise in image quality.
They very much had their heyday in the 2000's, but 20 years later the market is a shadow of its former self – my best bridge cameras guide now has just three entries, one of which was recently discontinued.
That said, when Nikon relaunched its own take last year, the Coolpix P1100 with its 125x zoom, it got plenty of interest, despite its much steeper price tag.
Panasonic got in on the act in 2024 by refreshing its own affordable bridge camera, the Lumix FZ80D / FZ82D, which also modernized the series with USB-C charging, but otherwise features dated tech.
The surprise for me is how close the Lumix model is in price to Kodak's, and given it shoots 4K video (albeit with a lesser 60x zoom), it feels like the better pick of the two. For context, we gave that underwhelming Lumix camera a 2.5 star rating. Kodak says its PixPro AZ653 will hit stores in April.
The AZ653 targets an audience looking for an "all-in-one" camera without breaking the bank. Its main highlight is the 65x stabilized optical zoom, covering an equivalent focal length of 24mm to 1560mm, ideal for photographing everything from landscapes to distant wildlife. In addition, the camera offers:
Macro focus at 1cm
20MP sensor
Articulated screen and DSLR-like body
USB-C charging (the main upgrade compared to its predecessor, the AZ652)
Despite the versatile lens, the AZ653 suffers from the main drawback of inexpensive bridge cameras: the 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, a size already easily found in affordable smartphones. With these characteristics, the model tends to capture little light, compromising performance in low-light scenarios, and struggles to handle very bright areas well.
Other aspects that complicate the life of the Kodak device are the limited recording to Full HD at 30 FPS, without 4K support, and continuous shooting with a range of only 5 FPS. For those planning to record unique trips, such as a safari, the savings on hardware may come at the cost of the best memories.
Considering that similar rivals, such as the Panasonic Lumix FZ80D/FZ82D line, at least offer 4K videos, and that advances in smartphones, especially from Chinese brands with robust sensors, guarantee better specifications, choosing the AZ653 may be difficult. Still, the price may be the most attractive factor.
by mundophone
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