My Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS problem is with the batteries. I'm using the Kodak Digital Batteries and they will only last about 30 minutes..even when I just use the viewfinder instead of the LCD. My son can use his batteries about 20 days - when I put his batteries in my camera they only last about 30 minutes. Any help??????

I've had the exact same problem with mine. My wife was ready to buy a new one, but I didn't want to giveup the nice optical zoom on the Z712 IS. Checking out the web and a friend of ours with the same camera, it appears to be a common problem. My last time to try the camera, I took 19 pictures on brand new batteries and they died. The Kodak site doesn't really acknowledge a problem with the camera, but I found the latest firmware (1.06) and just walked around the house taking pictures with flash. At 25 pictures, I'm still going strong. Definitely worth a try to see if it fixes your problem: http://www.kodak.com/global/mul/service/downloads/DownloadFile.jhtml?locsvcsEntryPath=10807&product=EKN033025&operatingSystem=windows_xp&lang=en&type=firmware&downloadId=dln00179_file1&variant=false&pq-path=14091

Hi guys,
z712 needs 3volts. lithium ion rechargeable uniross crv3 has a voltage of 3.7 v when fully charged. use this batt it will give u min 250 shots or 1hr video. i am using it since one year no problems

larny.

Aha! ! ! I had the same problem with mine. Had previously used lithium ion batteries with excellent results but even they started being short lived. And then I cleaned the battery contacts with a pencil eraser. So far, problem solved !

Same problem here with batteries. Rechargebles won't work as most are 1.2v and the camera really wants 1.5v. I found the disposable Duracell Power Pix work and the Energizer e2 Lithiums last even longer, 50-75 pictures.
The camera uses the batteries even when off. So if the camera sits you will probably find the batteries dead.
I may go with a Sony next time.