Kodak preps cameras with touchscreen, IS

Kodak was ready for CES on Monday with a major refresh to its EasyShare cameras. The V1273 is Kodak's first touchscreen camera and uses a 3-inch display as its main control for setting up and retouching the point-and-shoot's 12-megapixel images. It also claims hardware image stabilization, a 3X optical zoom, and outputs images closer to their original quality using the company's existing EasyShare HDTV dock. The V1273 ships in February for $280 and will be accompanied by the similar but 10-megapixel V1073 in March at a $250 price.

In the long zoom arena, the Z1085 IS drops the touchscreen in favor of 5X stabilized soom for its 10-megapixel shots; a V1285 parallel will up the resolution to 12 megapixels without image stabilization, while the Z8612 IS adds the feature back. All claim ISO sensitivity up to 3200 at full resolution and will be ready for prices of $200 (Z1285) and $250 (Z1085 IS and Z8612 IS) when they ship in January and March respectively.

The more straightforward M1033 is designed for casual shooters. It goes without the touch input or image stabilization but shoots at 10 megapixels and includes an extra-wide 3-inch LCD to adequately reflect the environment of the shot. It appears in March for $200 but will be accompanied by the 7.1-megapixel M763 ($130), 8.2-megapixel M863 ($150), and image stabilization-ready M893 ($180). The starter models ship in February while the M1033 appears in March; the M893 appears in April.

V1273

Z1085 IS

M1033