Summary: Better than expected

Comment: I was tired of the 3x zoom on my Canon digital and found this camera for $189 and thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did. It has one of the best lenses I've seen on this type of camera. The response time is better than my other camera too-there isn't a long delay between photos.
I had some issues with powering off/on or the lens appearing to get stuck like others have mentioned, I switched from the Lithium AA's to Lithium CRV-3 and the problem ended. The CRV3's last longer anyway and like others have mentioned you can purchase them as rechargeables.
After 5 months of using the camera I found the little button to the left of the view finder to make the view finder functional and turn the screen off-this will save battery life. Silly me, I thought the view finder was for looks only!
I'm very pleased with the crisp color in the photos, the fact that it has sound on the videos and the many modes you can shoot in although I tend to just use Auto. To shoot video you hold down the button as long as you want to record and release when done. I'm not sure how long it records, it depends on the capacity of the SD card.
This is my first Kodak digital and I would purchase one again.

Summary: Could Be Better

Comment: It would be a great camera if every feature worked. It won't take video, which is not why I bought it, but don't tell me about it if it won't actually work. It tends to "lock up" quite frequently and the only way to "unlock" it is to open the battery cover and "reboot" so to speak. I have lost several non-repeatable shots because of this. I shouldn't have to ship it back to correct the problem which I feel is an unnecessary hassle.

Summary: Popup flash stops popping up

Comment: The popup flash is a big issue with camera like this. The popup flash stopped popping up for my camera and the camera is basically useless. The camera also shuts down every once in a while for no reason and I miss precious shots. I loved the camera initially because of all the features it has but now I hate it.

Summary: Great Camera

Comment: Many people have complained about the camera...most particularly battery life. I bought these batteries Energizer - e² AA Lithium Battery and used one pair for a week in the mountains in Switzerland (extreme temperatures) with absolutely NO PROBLEMS!

Great pictures!

Great Zoom...made a friend with a Canon SLR jealous of the quality of picture I was taking. It's not an slr, but it sure takes a good picture!

Summary: A very nice camera, but not without it's flaws

Comment: For the price, the Kodak Z712IS is a very valuable camera. It can be had as low as $140 depending on the sellers that come across here on Amazon, which is amazing. The 712IS's auto mode has a pretty accurate focus, and it is quite snappy (fast) at doing so. The auto mode is probably what the vast majority of consumers will use on Z712IS, and I can say that the auto mode works quite well.

Additionally, if you're that budding photo hobbyist (like me) who isn't quite ready to jump to DSLR, this camera is for you. On top of the image stabilized 12X zoom, the Z712IS has Aperture, Shutter and Full Manual modes - plus a nifty jog dial to navigate through these settings. You can take some dazzling photos if you fully understand this camera's features.

Keep in mind though, these settings can in no way replace the flexibility of a DSLR. To me, it's more like getting a taste of how a DSLR may or may not function.

Pros:
-12X Zoom, Image Stabilizer
-Manual Modes
-Very quick and snappy
-Electronic Viewfinder, perfect for sunny days when you can't see the LCD
-"Perfect Touch" option improves a lot of dark photos
-Solid & well constructed for the most part.
-Cheap!!!

Cons:
-Lens MUST be exposed if you turn it on... even just to review pics!
-Door for the SD memory cards is a bit flimsy
-Battery life is sub par. But please note that this camera only operates correctly on lithium batteries! It even says so on the battery door. For those of you rating this camera low because you're using NiMH batteries, try reading the instructions! Personally, I bought 3rd party rechargeable batteries right here on Amazon, and they work great.
-A minor con, but the lens cap must be laced through the neck strap.

All in all, this camera is worth it if you can find it cheap (below 200), which isn't difficult. I've used it for about 2 months now, and have taken about 900 photos. I am very happy with it!