Introduced in 2006, this is the Kodak EasyShare V570, the first mass-produced twin lens digital camera. It’s clean styling is reminiscent of Nokia brick phones, in a good way, and shows that even though late to the commercialization of digital, Kodak could still design iconic cameras.
This is not to say they didn’t blunder massively when it came to digital, especially as they developed the Kodak DCS, a very early example of which I had a chance to examine first-hand when visiting the George Eastman House Technology collection in 2018.
Build quality and tactile feel are excellent on the V570, as is the feature set, especially given its age. The retractable lens(es) cover is extremely fast and seemingly sturdy, though I think it may end up being the camera’s weak point if it sees a few knocks.
| Make | Kodak |
|---|---|
| Model | Easyshare V570 |
| Year | c2006 |
| Format | Digital (SD card, not SDHC, <4GB in size) |
| Sensor | 1/2.5 inch (5 MP) |
| ISO | 64-800 |
| Lens | Dual (Schneider-Kreuznach C.Variogon) |
| 23, 39-117mm equivalent | |
| Focus | 1ft – ∞ (macro mode, telephoto lens) |
| Max Aperture | f3.9-4.4 |
| Optical Zoom | 5X |
| Special Features | dual lens, timeless aesthetic |
The transition between the two lenses is not linear, there is a distinct jump as seen in the images below. The ultra wide lens is on the left, minimum zoom of the telephoto in the middle, and maximum zoom on the right.
The V570 can also do panoramas, stitching together up to three images, though not at full 5MP resolution.
Macro shots are surprisingly good with the telephoto lens activated.
The B&W emulation is also pretty good, though not as immersive as what is found on Fuji cameras such as the X-T1 and X-E1.
It’s a good looking camera at least!
This was one of my most used digital cameras for quite a while. Nothing comparable for wide angle at the time