Happy SUNday!

March 6, 2022March 6, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

Testing my new to me Kodak EasyShare Z1015 IS 10-megapixel digital bridge camera with a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 28-420mm (equivalent) AF 15X Optical Zoom lens. Wow, what a mouthful!

The all-glass Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon Optical Zoom Lens provides powerful zoom combined with precision optics. Its fast aperture range (f/3.5-5.4) and 15x zoom range (28-420mm equivalent) offer extraordinary creative performance and sharp images.

It was rather late in the afternoon when I gave the camera a bit of a test so the images are quite contrasty. I am surprised at just how sharp the lens is even fully zoomed at the 420mm handheld.

Here are some late morning images a few days later.

Close-up “macro” setting with fill-in flash.

I didn’t know this about the camera until just now doing some background research – The EasyShare Z1015 IS comes with a rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery (KLIC-8000) but is also compatible with disposable CRV3 Lithium batteries, and it can use AA-size batteries (Lithium & Alkaline) as well. Plus, the camera includes an AC adapter/charger, that utilizes the camera’s USB port to provide power. With all of these power options; you’ll always have the means to power your camera available to you. Frame your shots with the high-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) or with the 3.0″ indoor/outdoor color LCD, and then verify the exposure of your pictures using the histogram feature with highlight clipping. The LCD display lets you view your pictures right-side-up with auto picture rotation and in review mode, quickly magnify images up to 8x to confirm focus and details, fast scroll through pictures, or view multi-up images. I’m impressed.

Overall a smaller and more compact 15x bridge camera.

As best as I can tell the camera was released around 2008 and all things considered, it had some impressive specs for the time. I’m very impressed with the performance of this vintage digital camera here in 2022. At the moment I think this one is a keeper. Thanks for stopping by! – Chris

Comments are always welcomed as I’ve learned quite a bit from reader feedback. As always, thanks for stopping by, and while you’re at it, feel free to visit my camera shop at http://www.ccstudio2380.com (CC Design Studios hosted by Etsy). – Chris Whelan

Please respect that all content, including photos and text, is this blog’s property and its owner, Yashica Pentamatic Fanatic, Yashica Sailor Boy, Yashica Chris, Chasing Classic Cameras with Chris.

eBay is funny (but they don’t make you laugh)

March 2, 2022March 2, 2022Chris and Carol Leave a comment

I’ve been on eBay since 2003 and a regular seller since 2008. During this time I’ve been a “Top Rated Seller” and in the old days, a “Power-Seller”. What’s the advantage of being a top-rated seller? Well, they place a little logo next to your seller ID, you get a reduction in some of your final value fees, and you get to be compared and judged against other sellers with higher sales figures and often higher negative feedback ratings. In order to qualify, you must maintain at least 100 sales during a twelve-month period with a minimum of at least $1,000 in transactions. So, if you have 99 transactions and $5,000 in sales and no negative feedbacks you wouldn’t qualify because negative feedback isn’t really that important to them in the long run. But let’s say you have 3,000 transactions, $20,000 in sales, and a bunch of negative feedbacks from your customers you could still be “Top Rated”. Here are a few recent messages I’ve received from eBay –

**This is crazy – why tell me that I had no cases and still need to improve?**

**How’s this for a roller coaster ride?**

To say the least this is a confusing mess. I was Top Rated and then I wasn’t with no defects and no negative feedback comments. I sold 99 items (over a 12-month period) with just under $5,000 in sales. eBay charges about 12 to 15% so they made a nice profit from me.

**These numbers only reflect feedback received – many buyers don’t take the time to leave feedback**

**Positive feedback is a good thing but not necessarily in eBay’s eyes.**

I’ve started to list fewer items for sale on eBay and as I have a majority of my cameras and lenses on Etsy (www.ccstudio2380.com) and on my Mercari site. BTW, Etsy charged only 5% but will start charging 6.5% in April. It’s still a deal compared to eBay’s 12-15%.

Here is how Etsy rewards sellers (below).