You can achieve up to 6x zoom by multiplying the 3x zoom lens and the 2x digital zoom, giving you the surest shot from any distance. The multimode autoflash includes slow-shutter sync and automatic white balancing. Reviewing your shots is quick and easy using the 1.6-inch LCD. Operational settings can be seen at a glance, and deleting unwanted pictures are a snap. The KD-220Z offers an 8 MB internal memory, and is expandable via Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory cards.

The KD-220Z comes ready to use right out of the package. Simply install the two AA alkaline batteries that are included, attach the strap, drop the camera into its included case, and you are ready to shoot. The KD-220Z is also packaged with a USB cable and AV cable, for connectivity to your PC or Mac.

Here are the results so far.
1. It takes a long time for the camera to settle on an image and allow you to take a photo. That's no good in a fast moving situation like a kids birthday party.
2. It takes too long for the flash to recharge, danger being that you miss photo opportunities.
3. As others have said, it eats batteries. You have to buy the lithium pack to get any kind of longevity. And then, you shouldn't use the view screen if you can avoid it.
4. Photo quality is very poor, even on the highest resolution. Any disposable plastic 35mm will give you just as good or better on film.
5. On high resolution there are very few photos, so you need to buy a card to get additional storage.
6. The movie option requires really good lighting, so I have only really got it to work in daylight out of doors.

On the positive side it is cheap and pretty easy to learn to use. It is very easy to transfer images to the computer, but I suspect that is due to the quality of my Dell, not the camera. The digital 2X3 zoom option only works on high resolution shots, but it does work pretty well!

The movie clips only play in Quicktime, so don't bother trying to load them onto other media players.


3 MONTHS LATER LOOKING TO BUY A REPLACEMENT   December 1, 2003
L. mcgivern (N.Ireland)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

...this camera eats batteries like nothing else I've ever experienced. Cant think of anything in its favor.. its bulky and ugly.. and I feel embarrassed asking someone to take a picture for me, because it's difficult to use and very tempermental! Just arrived back from Chicago where I took 25 pictures.. and had to buy 4 new batteries along the way.. already searching online for a good replacement


Absolute Junk   September 18, 2003
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

I bought this camera for my 6 year old son's B-Day. Before giving it to him I tried it out to make sure that it worked fine. Here's the result:

Pro:
- Simple to use.
- Inexpensive.

Con:
- Very mediocre quality pictures.
- After taking about 3 pictures, you have wait about 10 seconds between taking pictures (none of the buttons will work until it recharges itself).
- Eats batteries like crazy. After using it for about 20 minutes taking 10 pictures it was nearly out of battery power.

Returned it immediately and got a Sony.


This is a battery eater   September 8, 2003
Tim (san francisco)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Bought the kd-220z at Frys for $120 with a $20 rebate and tried it for about 15 photos until the two new alkaline batteries went
dead. When I opened the package there was an insert from the factory which recommended use of a lithium CRV3 battery which came with the camera, even though the camera is touted as working with 2 alkaline batteries. The camera worked ok and the pictures were of good quality, though it took a second or two or three to actually take a picture after pressing the button. The menues and operation were effective but crude and slow - have to keep turning the display button on and off when switching from display to shoot. I returned it because it took so few photos with the alkaline batteries. I get the feeling the factory knew of this shortcoming and now includes the more expensive (to replace) lithium package. But then the cost is only $100.