I purchased the Kodak Z740 to replace my Kodak DX4330 (sadly, my 4330 was nicked from me whilst in Maui). The larger lens means no more through-the-microscope macro shots, but the 10x zoom has proven invaluable in a variety of situations. The camera does not make use of image stabilization, and I am not in the market for image stabilization in my camera (something to keep in mind, however). I have currently had my Z740 camera for almost a year, and it has travelled all over the Pacific Northwest of the US, as well as all of Turkey (and in every type of weather).

The Z740 uses SD/MMC memory cards, but can also be connected directly to a computer for image downloads (tested on Linux kernel 2.4+ and 2.6+). Most computer operating systems see the camera as an external storage device. I use a thumb sized USB card reader to download my photos which helps to extend the camera battery life.

There are three, easily-accessible buttons for controlling the flash mode, the macro/landscape mode, and for setting the shutter delay to 2 seconds or 10 seconds. These controls are nice to have at-hand when in Auto mode and when shooting in macro mode (close-ups).

The 10x zoom is best used with a tripod, even in the brightest of light. Really, any camera lens over 200mm could almost always benefit from the judicious use of a tripod. However, I use my camera in urban forestry and environmental horticulture, so the macro (close-up) abilities of the camera are of primary importance to me. To date, the camera has proven to be extremely flexible and capable in capturing close-up shots.

The EVF (electronic view finder) may seem a bit cheesy (of mixed quality), but for framing shots and controlling camera functions it is certainly suitable for nearly every task. The EVF, however, is not "pretty" to look at, merely functional, and it works surprisingly well in complete darkness (which is nice when you are framing night shots). I use rechargeable batteries, and don't typically use the LCD screen, and in this scenario, the EVF dramatically improves battery life.

The lens cover does tend to come off much too easily, so do carry lens cleaner and a suitable cloth for those times it needs a lens cleaning.

Overall, this camera has been an excellent compromise between a digital SLR and a digital point-and-shoot. It can easily be your first digital camera and still grow with you as your skills/abilities increase.

Overall the Kodak Easyshare Z740 has a good quality picture and an easy to use camera, but battery life could be improved.

The Kodak Z740 was bought to replace my ageing Kodak DX3900 digital camera, which had seen a lot of use and was slowly giving up the ghost (I found out on Snowdon when I had to keep adjusting settings that shouldn't need to be changed).
Having moved from a 3 Mega-pixel camera to a 5 Mega-pixel camera, I noticed the increase in picture quality immediately. This makes a difference when out hillwalking and you see a scene that is in desperate need of capture!
I also like the manual setting, where photographers can adjust the exposure metering, shutter speed etc to get creative with their shots, rather than the bog-standard "auto" setting that users get a bit too comfortable with.
The Z740 also has pre-installed settings, like "Beach" (obviously for shots in bright sunlight), "Night Landscape" (slow shutter speed), and a number of other settings that save the need to experiment when you're in a hurry!

While I'd like to take credit for my slowly improving photography skills, it looks like Kodak can take some credit, thanks to the Z740!

I bought the Kodak EasyShare 740 digital camera simply because of the great results I obtained from a DX4320 I had had for a couple of years.

This camera is great! It copes with macro shots to motor sport. It's light, and the buttons are big enough for my sausage like fingers.

Forget the Kodak software! It's best left on the CD. I use a card reader and just drag and drop the pictures onto my HDD.

I would recommend this camera to any budding photographer on a budget.