20 Most Recent Kodak EasyShare C180 Digital Camera Questions & Answers

Kodak's advice is disinformation & damage control: this is actually a product defect--it's a firmware bug that affects most Kodak Easyshare cameras, but Kodak will probably never admit it. The problem usually starts after you change the batteries or connect the camera to the computer. Google for "Kodak easyshare wont turn on" - there are more than 8,000,000 results. Just returned my new camera to the store because it locks up every time I change the card or transfer pictures via the USB port. Thought I was getting a good deal, but now I know why this was the cheapest camera they sold. What a waste of my time & money. So it's usually NOT the batteries fault--the real problem here is Kodak's low quality engineering.

Look in the menu for something like ' erase all images from card'

You may view/download the User Guide at Owners Manual User Guide for Kodak EasyShare C180 Digital Camera and the Extended User Guide at Owners Manual User Guide for Kodak EasyShare C180 Digital Camera

Using the zoom requires the motor which pulls more power than the camera when idle. If the battery is close to exhausted it will shut the camera off when you zoom. If this isn't the case your zoom may be stuck and the camera shuts down to prevent damage.

go to menu and turn on flash.

One source for the replacement part is http://uscamera.com/c180.htm

Remove the memory card from the camera, go into menu and locate format, follow the prompt to remove all pictures from the internal memory, when completed install the memory card for normal operation.

Consider NOT connecting your camera to your computer.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use iPhoto or any other photo cataloging program.

Please excuse me if it sounds like a stupid question, but have you checked that you placed the batteries in correctly with the correct polarities i.e. + up where it should be as indicated?

That depends on the club. Are there any instructions or links on the club's web site?

Here's a video summary of troubleshooting steps for this problem

I won't say the camera is usable as a webcam because you will definitely severly shorten the life of the camera by using it as such. Firstly the camera is designed to take photos and short videos, NOT being left on continuously for use as a webcam. The heat generated by doing so could damage the delicate CCD (the part which collects light from the lens and converts it into electrical signals) Secondly most cameras are deigned to switch themselves off after a certain period of non use. Not handy for webcams.

Next there's the power issue. Unless you are using an external power supply for the camera you will be forever replacing batteries and for what an external power supply costs you could buy a proper made for the job USB powered WebCam complete with focus and sometimes zoom.

Next there's the mounting issue. Where will you mount the camera to give a well lit and steady picture of your face. Definitely not on top of the monitor due to extra heat generated by the monitor itself. Mix that with camera's heat and hello, and too soon, goodbye camera.

Webcams cost $20 if ou shop around maybe cheaper. OK your cmera will give a better picture but at the distance you're talking it won't matter. Plus you will need software to generate the webcam picture. MSN is a good webcam program. Plus depending on the output of the camera, usually only video. You may need a video capture card for your computer. The camera will give you a full screen image of what it's pointed at but you need a box to put a smaller picture in on the screen otherwise all you will see is one big face, yours.

So do you really want to wear your camera out prematurely simply because you can't afford a $20 webcam. The made for the job unit is cheap, will stay on all day and the power comes from the USB port. Everything you need and cheap. I think you know which way to go.

Good luck

Yes, you can recover deleted files from camera with camera recovery program like asoftech data recoveryhttp://www.asoftech.com/adr/You have to use a card reader either on your computer or an external USB card reader. Put the card in the card reader, open the recovery program, then select the drive where files are deleted, then press "Next" and wait for it to do it's magic.

It doesn't matter to the camera what operating system you run on your computer.The best way to download pictures from your camera to your computer involves removing the memory card from the camera and plugging it into a card reader (either built-in to the computer or connected via USB or FireWire). This is likely to be faster than connecting the camera to the computer, and won't run down your camera's batteries.Once the card is plugged in, it will appear to your computer as a removable drive. You can use the operating system's drag&drop facility to copy pictures from the card to the computer's hard drive, the same way you copy any other files. Or you can use any photo cataloging program such as Picasa.