Back in 2010, the "megazoom" war was hitting its peak. Manufacturers were desperate to shove as much focal length as possible into bodies that didn't require a gym membership to carry. The Kodak EasyShare Z981 was Kodak's big swing at the bridge camera market, landing right as the company was starting to feel the heavy pressure of the smartphone revolution. It’s a weird, chunky, lovable piece of glass and plastic that honestly feels like a relic from a different era of photography. You might find one at a garage sale for thirty bucks today, but don't let the dated "EasyShare" branding fool you into thinking it's a toy.
It was bold. While everyone else was chasing 20x zooms, Kodak dropped a 26x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens into this thing. That gave users a reach of 26mm to 676mm in 35mm equivalent terms. Think about that for a second. To get that kind of reach on a modern mirrorless full-frame setup, you’re looking at a lens that costs more than a used Honda Civic. The Z981 did it in a package that fits in a small shoulder bag.
The Schneider-Kreuznach Factor
Most people look at the 14-megapixel sensor and scoff. We live in an era where phones have 48 or 100 megapixels, so 14 feels tiny. But megapixels are mostly marketing fluff once you get past a certain point. The real magic of the Kodak EasyShare Z981 is that Schneider-Kreuznach lens. Kodak partnered with the legendary German optics manufacturer to ensure that even at the long end of the zoom, the chromatic aberration didn't make your photos look like a 3D movie without the glasses.
It isn't perfect. If you push it to the full 676mm, you’re going to see some softness. That’s just physics. But in the middle of the range, around 100mm to 300mm, the clarity is surprisingly punchy. It has that specific "Kodak color" that enthusiasts still rave about—warm skin tones and blues that don't feel over-saturated or artificial.
The lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the wide end, which is actually quite fast. It drops to f/5.0 as you zoom in. For a bridge camera from the late 2000s, that’s respectable. It allows for a bit of background blur, though you have to work for it because the sensor is a small 1/2.33-inch CCD.
Vertical Grips and Weird Ergonomics
One of the most polarizing things about the Kodak EasyShare Z981 is the vertical shutter button. It’s a feature usually reserved for high-end professional DSLRs like the Nikon D-series or Canon 1D. Kodak included a secondary shutter button and a chunky grip on the bottom for portrait-orientation shots.
It feels bizarre on a camera this light.
💡 You might also like: The iPhone 5c Release Date: What Most People Get Wrong
Most people use it once and then forget it exists. However, if you're out birding and trying to track a heron taking flight vertically, it actually becomes a godsend. It changes the center of gravity in your hand. Most bridge cameras feel "front-heavy" because of the glass, but the Z981's extra grip helps balance the weight.
The build quality is... well, it's very "2010 Kodak." It’s plastic. It creaks a little if you squeeze it too hard. But the buttons are huge and clicky. You don't need to dive into four sub-menus to change your exposure compensation. There’s a physical dial. There’s a dedicated button for the flash. It’s tactile in a way that modern touchscreens just aren't.
Battery Life and the AA Solution
Here is a hill I will die on: AA batteries in cameras are superior for travel.
The Kodak EasyShare Z981 runs on four AA batteries. If you're halfway through a hike in a National Park and your proprietary lithium-ion battery dies, you’re done. With the Z981, you just pop in some Energizers from the gift shop.
Honestly, though, don't use alkaline batteries. This camera is a power hog. It will chew through a set of Duracells in about forty minutes of active shooting. You absolutely must use high-capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries (like Eneloops). If you use the right rechargeables, the recycle time on the flash improves, and the camera feels much more responsive.
Real World Performance: What to Actually Expect
Let's get real for a minute. This camera is slow by modern standards. When you hit the power button, you can hear the motors whirring as the lens extends. It’s not a "fast-action" camera. If you’re trying to shoot a professional basketball game, you’re going to miss the shot. The autofocus hunts in low light. It’s a contrast-detect system, so it needs edges to lock onto. If it’s getting dark, the Z981 starts to struggle.
📖 Related: Doom on the MacBook Touch Bar: Why We Keep Porting 90s Games to Tiny OLED Strips
But in broad daylight? It’s a beast.
The image stabilization (Kodak called it "Optical Image Stabilization") is surprisingly effective. You can hand-hold a shot at 600mm if your hands are steady and the shutter speed is high enough. Most people forget that the Z981 also shoots 720p HD video. By 2026 standards, it looks "vintage." It has that grainy, nostalgic look that Gen Z is currently obsessed with on TikTok. It’s not 4K, it’s not sharp, but it has character.
The CCD Sensor Magic
The Z981 uses a CCD sensor rather than the CMOS sensors found in almost everything today. There is a massive cult following for CCD sensors right now. Why? Because they handle light differently. CMOS sensors read data line-by-line (which can cause rolling shutter "jello" effects), whereas CCD sensors capture the whole frame at once.
Photography nerds argue that CCD sensors have a more "film-like" look and better global shutter characteristics. Whether or not you believe the hype, the Kodak EasyShare Z981 produces files that look very organic. There’s a certain "thick" quality to the RAW files (yes, it shoots RAW!) that allows for decent post-processing in Lightroom or Darktable.
Common Issues and How to Fix Them
If you're buying one used, you need to look out for a few specific things. The Z981 has a known quirk with the battery door. The latches are plastic and under constant pressure from those four AA batteries. Over time, they can crack. If you find one where the door won't stay shut, a simple piece of gaffer tape fixes it, but it’s annoying.
Another thing: the SD card limit. The Z981 was designed around the SDHC standard. It generally handles cards up to 32GB just fine. If you try to shove a modern 128GB SDXC card in there, the camera will likely give you a "Memory Card Error" or just refuse to turn on. Stick to 16GB or 32GB cards and you'll be golden.
👉 See also: I Forgot My iPhone Passcode: How to Unlock iPhone Screen Lock Without Losing Your Mind
- Lens Flare: The lens is big. It catches stray light easily. If you don't have the original lens hood, try to shade the lens with your hand when shooting toward the sun.
- Slow Write Speeds: Even with a fast card, the internal buffer is small. If you're shooting RAW, expect to wait a couple of seconds between shots while the red light blinks.
- The "Share" Button: It’s basically useless now. The software it was designed to talk to is long dead. Just ignore the big red button.
Who is this camera for in 2026?
It’s for the person who wants to learn the fundamentals of focal length without spending a fortune. It's for the hobbyist who wants to take photos of the moon or birds in the backyard but doesn't want to carry a ten-pound tripod setup. It’s for the "digicam" enthusiast who wants something more capable than a tiny point-and-shoot but more soulful than a smartphone.
The Kodak EasyShare Z981 represents the last gasp of Kodak's innovation in the consumer digital space. It was an "everything but the kitchen sink" approach. You get a massive zoom, a vertical grip, RAW support, and a world-class lens for the price of a couple of pizzas.
Is it a professional tool? No. But it’s a fun tool. And sometimes, in a world of perfectly sharp, AI-enhanced smartphone photos, having a camera that makes you work a little bit for the shot is exactly what you need to fall back in love with photography.
Actionable Steps for Getting the Best Results
If you've just picked up a Z981, don't just leave it in "Smart Capture" mode. That's the quickest way to get mediocre results.
- Switch to Aperture Priority (A) or Manual (M): This allows you to control the f-stop. If you're zooming in, keep that aperture as wide as possible to let in light.
- Use the RAW format: Kodak's internal JPEG processing can be a bit aggressive with noise reduction, which smears fine details like bird feathers or leaves. Shooting RAW lets you handle the noise yourself in software.
- Buy NiMH Batteries: Seriously. Don't even bother with standard alkaline batteries. Get a set of four Eneloop Pros and a decent charger. It changes the entire experience of using the camera.
- Mind the ISO: Try to keep the ISO at 100 or 200. Once you hit 400 or 800, the small sensor starts to show a lot of "grain" or digital noise. If it’s dark, use a tripod instead of cranking the ISO.
- Steady your reach: At 600mm+, even a tiny vibration will blur your shot. Use the electronic viewfinder (EVF) instead of the back screen; pressing the camera against your forehead acts as a third point of stability.
The Z981 isn't going to win any speed awards, and it certainly won't beat a modern mirrorless flagship. But for anyone looking to explore the world of long-distance photography on a shoestring budget, it remains one of the most interesting "sleepers" on the used market. It’s a reminder of a time when Kodak was still trying to prove they could dominate the digital world, one massive zoom lens at least.