Kodak Pixpro AZ653 review: a bridge camera that punches above its weight with a massive 65x optical zoom

The role of the Bridge camera used to be a more defined one. Sitting between the compact camera at one end of the digital camera spectrum and the interchangeable lens system camera at the other, it was positioned to combine elements of both.

Today, we’re firmly in the mirrorless camera generation, with the entry-level models providing a similar handling experience but with a generally larger sensor size; it is more of a challenge to see the benefits even the best bridge cameras can bring to the table.

That is before you look at the lens on the Kodak AZ653. The range is huge! There are spotting scopes which might struggle to provide the magnification of the 1560mm equivalent focal length. Mirrorless lenses might be a lot smaller and lighter than their DSLR counterparts, but an APS-C or full-frame-based lens with this kind of range would still be prohibitively cumbersome and expensive.

Therefore, while it may seem that the market for the AZ653 is a lot smaller than it might have been ten years ago, it should still appeal to photographers who want magnifying power on a budget or are considering a superzoom companion for a Safari trip.

Replacing the earlier AZ652, the new model has a very familiar specification; however, so the question is: has enough been changed, improved, or upgraded over the previous model? And can a camera with a tiny 1/2.3in sensor really be taken seriously for advanced photography assignments?

Kodak Pixpro AZ653: Specifications

Kodak Pixpro AZ653: Price

The Kodak Pixpro AZ653 is available in most regions, priced at $449 / £349 / AU$ 750. This positions it as a good alternative to many entry-level mirrorless cameras or smartphones, while providing the same focal range as multiple standard zoom lenses rolled into one.

Kodak Pixpro AZ653: Design & Handling

I’ve always had a soft spot for the design of a Bridge camera, and the AZ653 is no exception. It is like a miniature DSLR. I say that since it was ultimately the DSLR format that influenced the design of most cameras meant for high-end enthusiasts and professionals that came after them.

The Kodak features a pleasantly deep and sculpted handgrip, which allows a firm hold of the camera even if working single-handed. In fact, there are mirrorless cameras around today that are less comfortable to operate than the AZ653.

Despite it being a small camera body, it’s possible to fit all fingers of the right hand onto the grip, without the little finger left hanging. I did feel tempted to allow my little finger to slip under the camera to support it a little better; however, because it’s such a lightweight product, this wasn’t uncomfortable.

Other than the zoom range itself, a standout feature is the control ring around the lens barrel. This not only gives the camera a more professional look, it also allows tactile control of major camera settings, speeding up operation. It works well for the most part, not least because of how familiar it felt coming from an interchangeable lens system. Out of the box, the ring on my sample camera was set to control the aperture value; however, I didn’t find this especially useful, given the limited F-stop range available.

In the case of this camera’s biggest selling point – that mammoth 65x zoom – it made sense to have the ring control the zoom setting. The downside here is that, because the focal length range is so massive, it takes a long time to actually move through it from 24mm to 1560mm. The ring itself is quite stiff, while the electronic zoom mechanism is at times painfully slow to move the lens elements.

It also has a tendency to stop at intervals through the range, often necessitating a pause before resuming the turn of the control ring to kick-start the zoom once again. This really slows down operation, making the setup unsuitable for ultra-fast subjects.

Since the rotary zoom switch around the shutter button is connected to the same electronic zoom motor and works more quickly, there is sadly much less sense in using the physical ring as a zoom control.

The build quality might not win awards, but the AZ653 still feels well made. It’s reassuringly solid, and while it is quite plastic-y, this is in much the same way as many mirrorless camera bodies and lenses do these days, even the higher-end types. As far as sub-$500 cameras go, the AZ653 is decidedly premium in appearance and finish. I particularly like the rubber coating around the viewfinder, which makes it more comfortable when placed to the eye, and the rubberized material wrapped around the handgrip.

It is disappointing that there is no articulated LCD screen. The fixed monitor adds a dated look to the camera, especially since a flip or twist style screen is now seen as a standard feature of most mid-range cameras. To make matters worse, it’s also not touch-sensitive.

I get it, Kodak is trying to keep costs down, but using features like touch focus, touch shutter and even image and menu scrolling have become muscle memory for many photographers, all of whom will be frustrated by being stuck with the scroll wheel and rocker if they are anything like me.

On a more positive note, all of the buttons are well placed, as is the PASM-style mode dial on the top right of the camera.

Kodak Pixpro AZ653: Performance

Ok, so we have to be realistic when setting our expectations regarding the maximum possible quality. In good light, outdoors, the camera is able to produce some reasonably good images. While 20MP isn’t high-resolution by today’s standards, it’s more than enough for A4 prints and social media use. Kodak has also been wise to limit the pixel count on the tiny sensor. The photosites are small enough already, so cramming on 30MP or more just to satisfy the headlines would have likely pushed the image quality too far.

As it is, fine detail starts to suffer above ISO400, especially once the ambient light levels fall outdoors or when shooting in dimly-lit interiors. By ISO3200, files are pretty mushy, although more texture can be extracted from the Raw files than out-of-camera Jpegs, which are subjectively bad across the board, even at the lowest sensitivities.

The integrated zoom lens does actually perform impressively well. I liked the general levels of sharpness, which stayed consistent throughout the (admittedly limited) aperture range. The optics are sharpest in the center of the frame and resolution does fall off heading out towards the corners. There was also a noticeable decline at the longest reaches of the 65x zoom, with blurring of critical detail creeping in from about the top third of the focal range.

Chromatic aberration and distortion are fairly well controlled, as is corner vignetting. This is where the advantages of an integrated lens become clear; many long zooms designed for interchangeable mounts don’t speak so efficiently with the host camera’s digital contributions to aberration correction.

Video fares similarly well. The AZ653 understandably can’t compete with larger sensor cameras like the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, or Nikon Z8, which are now favored by many professional filmmakers over traditional video cameras.

There is the limited depth-of-field control to contend with, introduced by the small sensor, leaving shots with a lot of background detail you must be mindful of when composing your footage. There is also noticeable grain even at modest ISO settings.

You’re also limited to Full HD (1080p), with no provision for 4K. This is likely to bother hybrid content creators who want to capture both still images and B-roll for reels on Instagram and TikTok, particularly those searching for a do-everything camera to take with them on their travels.

The stuttery zoom and autofocus also become a problem when shooting video. On several occasions, the AZ653 lost focus altogether in the middle of a clip, and failed to find it again despite being outdoors in good light, with plenty of contrast to lock on to. Irritatingly, audio is disabled while zooming during recording, most likely to remove the noise created by the motor.

However, with no audio jack or accessory shoe to plug in an external mic, this basically renders the camera useless for video when the subject matter requires reframing mid-footage. There is a USB-C port, so technically you could plug in a wireless receiver such as the one provided with the DJI Mic Mini, but this would also make it impossible to hold the handgrip, located just in front.

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Kodak Pixpro AZ653: Verdict

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The Kodak Pixpro AZ653 is not a bad camera. As far as entry-level cameras go, it actually represents reasonable value. For less than $500, you’re getting a feature set big enough for most beginners, enough resolution for online use, a sharp lens with an incredibly versatile focal range, and a premium handling experience.

As long as you’re aware of the limitations of the small sensor area, and are willing to accept the poorer low-light performance in exchange for an ultra-lightweight build and form factor, the AZ653 will tick most of the boxes for a reliable travel companion.

That said, some fairly major compromises have clearly been made to keep the cost down. The LCD screen is disappointing, both in the preview quality and the lack of touch sensitivity and articulation. These can be seen as essential features in a camera made for 2026 audiences, and their omission is hard to ignore.

This is also not a camera I’d recommend you buy for video features. It is almost like video was included as a token rather than as an integrated part of the specification. It’s a shame as with provision for external accessories to be used, namely an external mic, the AZ653 would have been a near-perfect vlogging camera: small, discreet, and able to cover almost all subjects you might encounter in an average day.

As it is, the AZ653 seems like a bit of a relic of the 2010’s that has managed to live on well beyond its expected shelf life. However, if you can look past the obvious shortcomings, there is very limited competition for the balance of price and lens reach.

Alternatives

Nikon Coolpix P1100

Another 1/2.3in sensor is equipped with a modest 16MP resolution, but this super-sized bridge camera comes accompanied by a massive 24-3000mm (equiv.) f/2.8-8 zoom lens: both longer and brighter than the AZ653's lens. Other benefits are 4K video, 7fps burst shooting and an 3in articulating, 921k dot screen.

Panasonic Lumix FZ80D / FZ82D

Sharing the same 1/2.3-inch sensor as the AZ653, this Lumix bridge camera offers a similar 18MP resolution and 60x optical zoom (20-1200mm equivalent). It also boasts a higher-resolution 1.84 million-dot LCD screen.

Check out our full guide to the best bridge cameras for other options