Kodak EasyShare M1073 hands-on with photos

We've no problem with manufacturers sticking 'IS' in the names of cameras, because we're pleased they're including optical image stabilisation. But it does mean that when we write things like 'The Kodak EasyShare M1073 IS is a 10.2-megapixel point-and-shoot', it kind of reads like we're stuttering.

M-m-m-moving on, the M1073 sports a 3x optical zoom with a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 32-96mm. As well as optical image stabilisation, it also includes digital blur reduction in its relatively-svelte frame.

Features include the option to combine up to three shots into one with panorama stitch mode. Images can be tagged with sound clips or text tags, which you can enter yourself or select from generic presets. Kodak's perfect touch technology is designed to pick out detail in darker and lighter areas, while face detection is also in the house.

In the current favourite marketing wheeze, most camera manufacturers are trumpeting high-definition stills. Given that a 10-megapixel camera takes pictures much bigger than the video standard of HD anyway, this is clearly a fudge. While some cameras do shoot HD video, most, like the M1073, make do with VGA resolution video of 640x480 pixels. The M1073 shoots at 15 frames per second with sound and on-camera editing. You can also print frames from your videos, contact sheet-style, with a choice of one, four, nine and 16-up prints.

The Kodak EasyShare M1073 IS is available now for around £140 in a choice of silver, red, black or pink colours. -Rich Trenholm

Update: Read our full Kodak EasyShare M1073 IS review here.

The screen is a 69mm (2.7-inch) LCD. Next to it, you have the mode wheel and clickpad, as well as Kodak's trademark red sharing button. This marks images to print or email later. Here we see the M1073 sat in its bundled cradle, which stops it falling over and helps it sit in Kodak's range of printers.