The new Kodak PixPro AZ901 is a superzoom compact camera with an astounding 90x optical zoom lens and an effective focal range extending from 22 to 1980mm.
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), five frames-per-second burst shooting, 3.0″ articulating LCD screen, VGA dioptre adjust electronic viewfinder, support for JPEG and RAW file formats, 1080p Full-HD video capture, Wi-Fi connectivity, and wireless control with your iOS or Android device are also included in the AZ901’s feature set. The Kodak PixPro AZ901 may be purchased right now for something in the neighborhood of £400 or $450.
See: Best Memory Cards for Kodak PIXPRO AZ901
Kodak PIXPRO AZ901 Build Quality
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The Kodak license holder JK Imaging has recently released the PixPro AZ901, a bridge camera in the form of a DSLR with a resolution of 20 megapixels and a massive 90x optical zoom as its primary selling feature. This camera was initially revealed more than a year ago.
It comes with a launch price tag of £449.99 at the time of writing, which puts the Kodak branded model into close competition with the likes of Nikon’s 83x optical zoom CoolPix P900 for a similar price and Canon’s PowerShot SX540 HS, the latter of which offers a more modest but in some ways more manageable 50x zoom.
Higher priced alternatives for those in the market for a photo enthusiast-targeted all-in-ones also include the Panasonic DMC-FZ2000, a higher-end bridge camera with a higher-end price tag – yet relatively modest 20x optical reach by comparison – as well as Sony’s well-received RX10 IV, a 25x visual zoom behemoth of a camera at almost twice the price again of the Panasonic. Both of these cameras have received positive reviews.
The optically image-stabilized lens of the Kodak begins at an ultra-wide setting comparable to 22mm in terms of 35mm film. It goes up to 1980mm equivalent at the telephoto end of the zoom, with selectable apertures ranging from f/3.1 to f/6.8.
The Nikon P900 comes near to matching this, with a range that begins at a respectably broad equivalent of 24mm and extends to 2000In addition, the LCD screens on the back of both cameras measure 3 inches and can be tilted. When it comes to taking still photos and watching videos, the Kodak furthermore provides an eye-level electronic viewfinder; nonetheless, we failed to notice that it does not come equipped with an eye sensor that is placed beside it.
As things are, to switch between the LCD and the eye-level finder, you need to hit the dedicated button that is located next to it. This caused a disruption for us in what could have otherwise been a continuous flow of compositional ideas.
Kodak PIXPRO AZ901 Image Quality
Even if the lighting and environment were ideal, the Kodak Pixpro AZ901 did not provide consistently positive pictures for us, and we have to admit that this is the however. It did make it possible for us to obtain some photographs that we would never have attempted to take in any other circumstance, such as a close-up of a skittish squirrel perched on the trunk of a tree, which is one of our favorites; however, far too frequently, there is an apparent fall off of focus towards the edges of the frame, making it appear as if someone has smeared Vaseline around the lens’s periphery.
Forgivable if your attention is on the subject in the center, but for wide vista-style landscape shots, it’s a little frustrating to witness the corner details blurred at the maximum wide-angle setting. This is visible not only when zooming in and checking closely for any aberration but also when viewing the image. Forgivable if your attention is on the subject in the center. For wide vista-style landscape shots.
Kodak PIXPRO AZ901 Specs
| Sensor Resolution | Actual: 21.14 Megapixel Effective: 20.68 Megapixel (5184 x 3888) |
| Sensor Type | 1/2.3″-Type CMOS |
| Image Stabilization | Optical in Integrated Lens |
Lens
| Focal Length | 3.9 to 351mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 22 to 1980mm) |
| Optical Zoom | 90x |
| Digital Zoom | 4x Maximum (360x Combined Zoom) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/3.1 to 6.8 |
| Focus Range | Normal 1.64′ to Infinity / 49.99 cm to Infinity (Wide) 16.4′ to Infinity / 5 m to Infinity (Telephoto) Macro 1.97″ to Infinity / 5 cm to Infinity (Wide) |
| Optical Design | 18 Elements in 14 Groups |
Exposure Control
| Shutter Speed | 1/2000 to 30 Seconds |
| ISO Sensitivity | 100 to 3200 in Auto Mode |
| Metering Method | Artificial Intelligence AE, Center-Weighted Average, Face Detection, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority |
| Exposure Compensation | -3 to +3 EV (1/3 EV Steps) |
| White Balance | Presets: Auto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Daylight, Fluorescent, Fluorescent CWF, Incandescent, Manual |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 5 fps at 20 MP |
| Self-Timer | 2/10-Second Delay |
| Special Options | Fireworks, Landscape, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Panorama, Party/Indoor, Portrait, Snow, Sports, Sunset |
Still Image Capture
| Aspect Ratio | 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Image File Format | JPEG, Raw |
Video Capture
| Internal Recording Modes | MOV/H.264 1920 x 1080p at 29.97 fps 1280 x 720 at 29.97/59.94 fps 640 x 480p at 29.97/119.88 fps |
| Broadcast Output | NTSC |
| Audio Recording | 2-Channel LPCM Audio |
Interface
| Media/Memory Card Slot | Single Slot: SD/SDHC |
| Internal Memory | 8 MB |
| Video I/O | 1 x Micro-HDMI Output |
| Audio I/O | None |
| Other I/O | 1 x Micro-USB (USB 2.0) Data Output |
| Global Positioning (GPS, GLONASS, etc.) | None |
Monitor
| Size | 3.0″ |
| Resolution | 920,000 Dot |
| Display Type | Articulating LCD |
Viewfinder
| Diopter Adjustment | -3 to +1 |
Flash
| Built-In Flash | Yes |
| Flash Modes | Auto, Fill In, Off, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync, Slow Sync/Red-Eye Reduction |
| External Flash Connection | None |
General
| Battery Type | 1 x LB-070 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.4 VDC, 1020 mAh |
Packaging Info
| Package Weight | 2.8 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 9 x 7 x 5.6″ |
Kodak PIXPRO AZ901 Conclusion
The fact that Kodak is still one of the most well-known names in the photographic industry is undoubtedly a positive for the company. But, sadly, that’s probably not going to be the case if the company’s reputation was initially built on cameras like the AZ901. Despite the long wait between the model’s announcement in early 2017 and its eventual appearance for review in 2018, our impression is that it is not quite “ready” yet, or at the very least, leaves something to be desired in terms of the overall image quality.