Eastman Kodak has announced today the smallest digital camera with 10X optical zoom (38 - 380 mm, 35 mm equivalent), its thickness being less than 2.5 centimeters (1 inch).

The Easyshare V610 comes almost four months after Kodak announced the first dual lens camera (V570), fixed focal length (23 mm) lens and one with a focal range between 39 and 117 mm, giving it a total 5X zoom.

The new product incorporates a six-megapixel sensor and image stabilizing technology, advantages which give users unrivaled benefits.

Additionally, V610 is one of the first digital cameras to incorporate Bluetooth wireless technology, making it easier to instantly share pictures with people nearby. Easyshare V610 camera owners can effortlessly send their pictures to other Bluetooth technology enabled devices up to 30 feet away (9 meters), mobile phones, PDAs, computers, Kodak Picture Kiosks, and even other V610 cameras.

Packing advanced video performance, the Easyshare V610 camera records TV-quality (VGA) video with 10X optical video zoom at 30 frames per second (fps), using advanced MPEG-4 compression for optimal quality and storage size. Built-in, video-specific image stabilization technology reduces on-screen shaking from unintentional hand and camera movement.

So far, the title for the smallest 10X optical zoom digital camera was owned by Panasonic's TZ1, but V610's double lens allows it to crush any competition.

The Kodak Easyshare V610 zoom digital camera will be available in the UK in May 2006 for a recommended price of £349.99.