Product Description

The EX-Z750's 7.2 megapixel CCD imaging element delivers superior picture quality with remarkably high definition, while the optical 3X zoom lens and large 2.5-inch liquid crystal display assure enjoyable operation. In addition to manual operation, an extremely versatile array of shooting functions enables a variety of photo effects. Using MPEG-4 format, high quality movies can also be taken in VGA size (640 x 480 pixels) at 30 frames per second. Of course, longer battery life enables the shooting of approximately 325 shots (CIPA standards)* on a battery charge. When set in its cradle, A/V signal output allows the user to view the photos or movies taken on an external video monitor such as television. The EX-Z750 is ideal for consumers who are looking to create superior images in challenging lighting conditions. Photographers can select aperture priority, shutter priority, or simply select from several unique Best Shot modes to enhance the images. The 0.9-second continuous shooting mode and low light assist, help capture sharp images such as fast action or low light scenes. The pre-record or Past Movie mode continuously captures 5 seconds of video automatically into buffer memory to ensure that the user records the critical video prior to pushing the shutter. Consumers can also select from several different Movie Best Shot modes and do simple video editing within the camera. ... Read more

Features

• Super-life battery enables up to 325 shots on a single charge
• Powered by Lithium-ion rechargeable battery (included, with charger); stores images on SD cards (camera features 8.3MB of internal memory)
• 7-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom; large 2.5-inch LCD display
• High-speed start-up enables shooting approximately 0.9 seconds after the power is turned on

Reviews (3)

A pocket camera for people who appreciate photography
I have been giving less and less credibility to the so-called digital camera reviewing websites lately as cameras get past the gee-whiz-gadget stage and become true instruments of photography.The sites are ok when they talk about their interpretations of published specs but they leave me cold when it comes to how good a digital camera is at making a memorable photograph.Things like start-up time, internal memory capacity, and battery life are good to know because if a camera scores really badly on certain specs it can become a chore to use.

I have preached the mantra that "more megapixels doesn't mean a better picture" for years and I still believe it, but I also believe that some of the newer high megapixel cameras are also giving us better lenses and processors, which are the two main things that makes one digital camera better than another.And I've resisted getting suckered into the thing about some manufacturers putting exotic-sounding names on their lenses.All that means is that they paid to license the lens name, it doesn't mean each lens is hand made in the Black Forest by old bearded craftsmen.

Those same review sites mentioned above seem to kiss the feet of anything with the name Canon on it to the point of putting their independent review status in severe jeopardy.Yes, Canon makes some good cameras but they really don't have any more real experience in the business than most other DIGITAL brands and in my estimation they consistently fall just short of the mark.Yeah, most people buy them, but then again most people eat at McDonalds.

So what do I think is the very best all around digital camera on the market?To me it's the Nikon D70S - priced right, near perfect design, and slightly more accurate at capturing images than the Canon counterpart.But I don't want to lug a huge camera and a bag of lenses around with me all the time, that's why I was so excited when digital cameras were invented, so I could leave my old Nikon SLR on the shelf and be prepared to make good photographs wherever I happened to go.

Since I put the old film cameras into semi-retirement, I have had digital cameras from Panasonic, Canon, Olympus and HP and they were all adequate but suffered from that "chore" syndrome mentioned above with their horrendous shutter lag, dismal startup time and wretched battery life.This time I wanted a camera I could truly carry in my pants pocket, yet has a good (no make that great) lens, excellent battery life, as many manual features as I could get in a tiny package, and something that didn't feel like a plastic toy.

I considered Panasonic Lumix, Canon, Nikon and Sony.The other brands had some good stuff but didn't seem to fill my desire for a true photographer's quality instrument.Sony got the boot fairly fast.They are such a fine company, why can't they make a camera that actually takes a great picture?

I am intrigued by Lumix, the quality of the pictures seems first-class, I love the image stabilizer, and they are very feature-rich, but most of the pocket-size models feel just a little cheesy.Canon makes pocket cameras that take good pictures, but I feel Canon is resting on their reputation instead of trying to build a product that's worth the asking price.

And Nikon would have come in a strong second, just missing first place in the area of weak ergonomics.I never seriously considered Casio, ok maybe for a watch or calculator, but I asked myself what they would know about photography.Turns out they know a lot.They've actually been making digital cameras longer than almost anyone, and when it comes to the right buttons in the right place they are geniuses.I'll go further than that, the whole concept of the Exilim EX-Z750 is genius.It you total up all it offers I would have to give it the honor of being the only perfect pocket-size digital camera on the market.

As soon as I touched on I was impressed by its quality.It feels like it's machined out of block of solid aluminum (its not).The controls give you nearly everything you will every want using buttons that make sense and don't require you to go many levels deep in the menu.I love the HUGE 2.5" LCD screen but no LCD screen is fully useful in direct sunlight no matter what anyone says, so Casio thoughtfully brought back the optical viewfinder.

It seems 9 out of 10 reviewers who mention the optical viewfinder say they hate it because it's so tiny.Who cares?It's there when you need it, and it's sharp and clear.If it makes the difference between getting a priceless picture or missing it, I'll take a tiny viewfinder anytime.

The EX-Z750 starts up and is ready to shoot by the time I get my finger from the off/on switch to the shutter release.Can't be any faster than that.I have still not found any instance where shutter lag has caused me to miss what I wanted to capture, in other words there really isn't any shutter lag in real life.

Rather than go into every detail of the camera, I'll mention a few of the biggest high points that sets this camera apart from every other one in the category.

1. The EX-Z750 remembers the zoom position when you turn it off and back on again.I have dreamt of a feature like this!There are so many times I have had the camera all set up and had to turn it off to wait for something to be ready, only to have to turn a camera back on and make several readjustments.With the EX-Z750 I can turn it back on and EVERYTHING is set exactly the way I left it.

2. Some cameras have some limited function to remember favorite settings, the EX-Z750 seems to have the ability to remember nearly everything without having to commit it to a special "favorites" position on a switch or dial.So if I like -1 saturation (and this camera is slightly oversaturated in its default position) I can leave it at -1 forever.

3. You can turn the camera on and off with the on/off switch, or you can turn it on and off using the "record" "play" buttons to go directly to that mode.How cool is that?

4. The EX button makes it possible to very quickly adjust four of the most important shooting parameters without ever going into the menu mode.

5. The movie mode is incredible, and offers several unique features including a unique pre-movie that's already recording before you push the record button ... kinda like the way TIVO works ... it's weird and insanely brilliant.After seeing the quality I wonder who in their right mind would lug along a camcorder no matter how small it is on those trips to Disneyland when the EX-Z750 can take outstanding still pictures AND decent video in a camera you can hide in the palm of your hand.

6. Live RGB histogram?On a camera the size of a deck of cards (smaller actually)?WOW!

7. Battery life is one of the best in the industry.

8. 30 scene modes!Yeah I know I said I wanted something to take professional quality photographs and I wanted manual overrides, but sometimes you don't want to spend 10 minutes setting the camera like when the sun is setting in 30 seconds.I can't believe how versatile the scene modes are.

Last but not least, the picture quality is shocking.I compared two pictures taken at the same time of the same scene with the EX-Z750 and the $1300 Nikon D70S.I showed them side-by-side to several people who should have been able to tell the difference.Nobody could.

The negative side?Slight oversaturation as it comes out of the box.For snapshots it may help most people make a blah picture look a little more exciting.For someone more critical, just set the new default to -1 and you've got yourself a low-price, pocket-size D70S.To the reviewers who can't figure that out, get over it and go get a job at McDonalds.

The other small negative is that I love panorama assist.I take a lot of panorama pictures and I can't figure out how Casio missed putting in this one obvious feature.Must be some fear they have of absolute total perfection ;-) I rate the Casio EX-Z750 a 10 out of 10

Great Technological Marvel!
Pros: Movie mode, easy to use, compact, great battery life!

Cons: Included software is not great. Can't convert to Casio's M4S2 video format (MPEG-4 codec)

Question: What great name brands do you think of when you hear "digital cameras"?Certainly Kodak, Sony, Canon, Olympus... but Casio?I didn't even know Casio made digital cameras until I bought this camera!

In early May 2005, I was looking into purchasing my first digital mini camcorder from Panasonic. In fact, I had already ordered it when I came across this gem. I immediately returned the camcorder and ordered this camera.

The video quality is awesome at HQ mode 640 x 480 30 fps. Yes, it may not be as good as DV quality but who really wants to work with DV or mini-DV tapes (the whole concept seems so primitive). Anyway, working with SD cards is so much faster and easier. A 1GB SD card can store over 30 minutes of video at its highest setting, and twice that amount at its standard setting. So, I went ahead and purchased a 2GB to give me over an hour of high quality video recording.

Along with its digital video features, I also got a 7.2 megapixels digital camera which has now officially replaced my Sony P52. This camera is easier, faster, slimmer than my Sony and I love the quality of the pictures. I also love that I can actually put it in my shirt pocket and take it anywhere.

In addition, I like the dock station since I have it plugged next to my TV and watch the videos and pictures on my TV. And yes, you can transfer pictures and videos via a card reader which most people already have (so you don't need the dock to transfer videos and pictures if you have a card reader for your PC).

At eBay I purchased an extra battery charger and battery for about $25 and those generic brands work just as well (just type "NP-40 battery").Amazon also sells the generic NP-40 battery for less than $14.00 vs $39-$49 for the Casio brand.

The only drawback has been the M4S2 video MPEG-4 codec that Casio used. Some video editors can't read the format without a video conversion.Ulead VideoStudio 9 and Adobe Premiere Elements reads M4S2 codec without any trouble.

Likewise, it would have been great if Casio had included a video converter (like Panasonic's MediaStage and MovieStage software) so that you can transfer your PC videos or edited videos back to the camera for easy viewing on its whopping 2.5" screen or TV. In fact, if this was possible, the Casio EX-Z750 could even become a portable video player as well (a la Archos or Creative Zen Player).I understand that AVS Media and VideoCharge will be working and updating their software to convert to M4S2 format. I can't wait!

Overall, this is a great digital camera and mini video recorder for a great price! Casio is going to make a lot of money on this camera and will become well respected for its digital cameras.... and rightly so!

Features abound without compromising the ease of use
People might go to Cannon for camera expertise, but Casio once again proves to be a leading authority that I prefer over other top companies for digital cameras.I bought a 4 megapixel Exilim 2 years ago and it's still impressing me even past its initial excitement and facilitation of a segway for me into the world of photography. This Exilim improves upon this line of camera's already easy interface with countless new features.Whether you're a beginner or a pro, this camera will quench your photography cravings on the spot and capture any type of scene the way you remember it.

On first glance you'll notice its miniscule size.Its display is a huge 2.5" and crystal clear.The new bestshot picture mode has over 30 presets and there is also a new bestshot video mode with several cool effects for video.On the video bestshot mode there is a setting so your movies will look like old Silent Films.A monochrome filter is set and the speed is slightly faster so it looks like an old time movie.Other new presets to this camera are Soft Running Water, Sports, Anti-Shake in addition to the others that cover any picture opportunity right when it happens.

The response time in all aspects of the interface is blazing fast.The selector wheel is a good new touch for the Exilim and it's large enough to manuever well while not compromising the camera's tiny size.There are many ways to access the menu from buttons on the side and back.The speed, aperture, etc are all able to be manually selected so this camera is perfect for a first timer as well as an avid photographer.The only downside is the price, but for 7.2 megapixels?I'll take it.

Some might say there is no use in getting a 7.2 megapixel pocket sized camera, but I mean to tell you that the pictures this Exilim takes are absolutely stunning.Not only are almost double the size my 4mp takes but the clarity and definition creates a world that's worth a million words.You can't lose with this camera if you've got the cash.And if you don't have the cash, pick the Exilim within your budget and you'll still be thrilled. ... Read more

Features

• High-resolution images captured by the CCD with 5 million effective pixels for photo-quality prints up to 13x17 inches
• 3X optical zoom in a compact body
• Large 2.5-inch digital interface TFT LCD screen
• High quality lightweight aluminum body with comfortable handgrip

Features

• 5-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 13-by-17-inch enlargements
• Pentax SMC 3x optical zoom lens with 4x digital zoom
• 2-inch LCD display; movie mode with sound; PictBridge compatible
• Store images in 9.3 MB of built-in flash memory or on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards (memory card not included)
• Powered by rechargeable Lithium-ion battery pack (included with charger)

Features

• A 3.2-megapixel CCD for superior high-resolution imaging and photo printing up to 10 x 14 inches
• Only 16.7 millimeters thin with a stylish stainless steel body that's the size of a business card
• Large 2.0-inch digital interface TFT LCD screen for easy viewing
• Rapid start-up allows pictures to be taken approximately 1.4 seconds after the power is turned on (with the flash off)
• All-metal construction from body and lens down to the screws for a true feeling of high quality

Product Description

The EX-Z57 EXILIM Zoom for brilliant picture viewing - The extra-large 2.7-inch liquid crystal display represents an astonishingly easy-to-view screen for brilliant picture viewing without compromising its compact?s stylish design. The EX-Z57 features a 5 megapixel CCD and an optical 3X zoom lens to take photos of remarkable picture quality. Extra-long battery life of approximately 400 shots (CIPA standards) on a single battery charge assures users that they can enjoy shooting and looking at their pictures over and over again without ever worrying about the battery life. EX-Z57 EXILIM Zoom Features High Performance Operation in an Easy-to-Use, Compact Design Equipped with a large, easy-to-view 2.7-inch digital interface TFT liquid crystal display that brings out the true brilliant quality of the pictures. High-resolution images captured by the CCD with 5 million effective pixels. Optical 3X zoom lens in a very compact design Sleek, stylish lightweight aluminum body with a comfortable grip Super Life Battery For Extended Shooting on a Single Battery charge Same battery life as the EX-Z55 - but with a larger 2.7 inch LCD - Approximately 400 shots can be taken on a single battery charge (CIPA standards). Quick Response Thanks to High-Speed Design The camera automatically selects fixed-focus Auto Pan Focus mode for instantaneous response when the shutter is depressed at one push. Direct On function for one-touch operation of either picture taking or playback modes ... Read more

Features

• Powered by Lithium-ion rechargeable battery (included, with charger); stores images on SD cards (camera features 9.3MB of internal memory)
• 5-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom; extra-large 2.7-inch LCD display
• Fast shutter speed--images are recorded approximately 0.01 seconds after the shutter is released
• Approximately 400 shots per battery charge

Reviews (4)

A Quality Product
I purchased this camera to replace my old and bulky Dimage S414. The dimage used to take a few snaps on a single charge. This camera has a marathon battery life. I used it for my whole graduation ceremony, and coupled with a 1GB card, it served as a great digital video camera too. The profile is slim with an excellent form factor. This does not compromise on the image quality however as it does not use the new type lenses like the Canon T33, T1. (The technology is beta).
Finally, the LCD truly makes the viewfinder obsolete.
A camera from Casio thats better than anything from anybrand short of a digital SLR.

Great camera, loaded with features
Despite reading positive reviews, I initially hesitated before buying this little camera -- I wasn't sure how a Casio would stack up against brands like Canon and Nikon. But a local shop strongly recommended this model, and I decided to give it a try. I'm glad to say that I've been very pleasantly surprised by the EX-Z57's excellent performance and features.

The reason I was buying a new digital P&S in the first place was that my old Nikon Coolpix (a 775) was really, really slow; I missed way too many perfect moments or expressions waiting for that thing to actually take a picture. (In all other respects, I love the Nikon.) My other camera -- a Canon Digital Rebel -- is absolutely awesome, but it's too big and heavy to take with you without a definite reason. For day-to-day shooting around town, I wanted something we could toss into a pocket or bag. (The best way to take good photos is to actually have a camera with you when the opportunity comes up!!!)

So I was looking for a fast, small, high-quality camera. The Casio is fast -- very fast -- when starting up, shooting, and displaying images or menus. The size is perfect. And the quality of the images and performance has been very high.

While researching the Casio, I wondered about the lack of a viewfinder. Again, I've been pleased. The huge LCD is entirely sufficient for shooting pictures -- I haven't missed the viewfinder at all -- and it's great to have such a large screen to work with when you're scrolling through the various features. For example, if you want to check out the "best shot" pre-set modes, you can scroll through screens that have a title, a sample photo, and a one-sentence description of the settings/purpose. It's a lot of useful information that you simply can't display on cameras with standard screens.

The menu and controls are inuitive and easy to learn. The manual provides next to no information, but once you know what the features are -- the Casio site describes them in detail -- it's easy to become proficient.

The image quality has been great -- even for indoor photos. The "docking station" is cool, too -- you can simultaneously charge the battery and transfer images.

So while we've only had this for a few weeks, we've already taken a few hundred photos, and we're really pleased with this little camera. It's loaded with features, easy to use, and seemingly very well made. With the 5 megapixel capacity, I think it's a great buy, especially compared to comparable big-name brands.

Great product
I purchased the EXZ57 and found it to be excellent. The large digital viewer is fantastic and the overall functions is easy to use. The long life battery is a plus and the picture quality is perfect. Highly recommend!

Largest LCD in a digicam, but no more optical viewfinder
My local camera store just got their first shipment of Casio's new Exilim EX-Z57 super-slim digital camera, and I eagerly hopped over to check it out.

The EX-Z57 is a very slight upgrade (and one downgrade... read on) of the very popular EX-Z55 model.The Z55 had a 2.5" LCD screen that was considered "huge" just a year ago, but now that so many other digital cameras also sport a 2.5" LCD, Casio decided to release a 2.7" LCD model, hence the Z57.Amazingly, the overall physical size hasn't changed, and the EX-Z55's industry-leading amazing battery life (over 300 even with flash on and LCD on full-time) has been retained, making the EX-Z57 another battery life champ.

As far as I can tell -- and from what the sales clerk told me -- the internals of the EX-Z57 are identical to those of its immediate predecessor.This means very good image quality from such a small camera.Three important issues to keep in mind as you shop for this camera or a similarly ultracompact model:

1. The tiny lens and tiny sensor necessarily limit the sharpness of the picture.If you shoot at the maximum 5MP and print out at up to 5x7", you probably won't be disappointed by the sharpness of the picture.However, as you print larger pictures, you'll see the pictures tend to be softer and noisier than from larger cameras.This is simply a result of the law of physics, and it's a trade-off between size and quality.

2. The small camera also means a small, limited-power flash, so your indoor pictures when the ambient lighting is dim will not come out very satisfactory.Again, this is entirely due to the small form factor.If you want to use this camera to shoot a small group of friends at a dinner party, it's okay.But you should know that as you near the flash range and go beyond, you'll get horrible-looking pictures.

3. A camera this small makes it very hard to hold it steady.Many people with tiny cameras like this complain about blurry pictures.This is because as you press the shutter button, you'll move the camera ever so slightly.With a larger camera body (e.g., a digital SLR), the much heavier camera body requires more effort to hold which has the side benefit of providing a counteracting force to the shutter-pushing force.Hence, with a small camera like the EX-Z57, you must remember to hold the camera very steady as you press the shutter.

Whereas the older EX-Z55 had an optical viewfinder, Casio opted to remove it in order to accommodate the enlarged LCD screen without changing the overall size of the camera.Yes, the Z55's optical viewfinder was tiny and hard to use, but at least it was an option -- and looking through the optical viewfinder instead of at the screen actually helps steady your shots because you hold the camera close to your body (think the principle of leverage).Also, when you are really low on battery, switching to optical viewfinder can squeeze out a few more shots.For a camera purish like myself, it's a pity that the optical viewfinder is no more on the Z57, but for most casual photographers (the Exilim's target audience) this will likely be a non-issue, since they probably would never use the optical vewfinder to begin with.

In summary, the Z57 provides an unbeatable small form factor yet a crowd-pleasing huge LCD screen, amazing battery life and very good image quality (for a camera this size).You can also record movies (albeit only at a stuttering 15 frames per second) as well as sound.It's very intuitive to use, and my friends who have the Z55 are all very happy with it (once I gave them the tip about holding the camera super-steady or on a tripod to avoid blurs).While I don't have money to buy another digital camera at the moment, but if I had some extra spare dough, I would definitely buy this just for the HUGE 2.7" LCD.To a gadget freak like me, it's priceless to be able to impress my friends with something this cool.:) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Keep shooting picture after picture without worry of losing battery power with the Casio Exilim EX-Z40, which features a new imaging processor that saves on power and increases battery life. The 4-megapixel EX-Z40 also features a docking cradle for image transfer and battery charging, a quick start-up time of 1.6 seconds, an approximate 0.01-second release time lag, a 3x optical zoom, 2-inch LCD screen, 9.7 MB internal memory (compatibility with SD and MMC memory cards), and a movie mode with audio.

Optics and Resolution
The Exilim EX-Z40 has a 1/2.5-inch square pixel primary color CCD that captures up to 4 megapixels of detail (2304 x 1728). It also offers the following resolution modes: 2304 X 1536 (3:2), 1600 X 1200 (2MP), 1280 X 960 (1MP) 640 X 480 (VGA). The lens uses a three-segment telescoping mechanism that makes it possible to provide 3x optical zoom capabilities in an amazingly thin camera configuration. The Pentax aspherical lens (6 lenses in 5 groups) has a focal range of 5.8-17.4mm (equifalent to 35-105mm in 35mm photography).

Video and Audio
A multimedia multitasker, the Exilim EX-Z40 operates as a digital voice recorder in addition to capturing video with audio. The camera's movie mode records video in AVI (motion JPEG) format at 320 x 240 pixels and 15 frames per second (fps). The internal 9.7 MB memory can hold approximately 30 seconds of video or 40 minutes of audio recordings.

More Features
The Exilim EX-Z40 incorporates the Casio Exilim Engine, a newly developed compact image processing module with a 3-layer stack LSI that achieves high picture quality and speedy response using a 1.8V low-power system and makes the camera's compact dimensions possible. This camera has a battery life 2.5 times longer than the previous model (the EX-Z4), allowing up to 360 photos to be taken on a single charge.

Other features include:

• 2.0-inch digital interface TFT color LCD, 84,960 pixels (354 x 240)
• Best Shot mode provides sample images, allowing you to choose the photos you want
• 7-point multi-auto focus for automatic selection of the optimum focus point location
• Built-in flash with auto, flash on, flash off, and red-eye reduction modes (approximate range - 0.5 to 3.4 meters)
• Calendar function shows thumbnail images of photos on the day they were taken; World Time function lets you select one of 162 cities in 32 time zones as your home or destination time

Direct Printing
The Exilim EX-Z40 offers PictBridge functionality, which enables you to transfer pictures from your digital camera to a compatible printer without a PC or image-editing software. Images can be viewed and selected for printing right on the camera's LCD, with menus for print quantity, date, and index print.

Storage and Transfer
Images can be stored in the built-in 9.7 MB memory, or on optional Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards. The internal memory can store approximately 4 Fine and 6 Standard 4-megapixel images. A docking cradle is included with the Exilim EX-Z40, which charges the battery and transfers images to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1 connectivity.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included), which provides power for approximately 360 snapshots or approximately 5 hours of voice recording. It measures 3.43 x 2.24 x .91 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 4.27 ounces (excluding battery and accessories).

What's in the Box
This package includes the Exilim EX-Z40 digital camera, docking cradle, USB cable, AC adapter, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, wrist strap, and CD-ROM with image editing software. ... Read more

Features

• 4-megapixel sensor (2304 x 1728) captures enough detail to create photo-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical zoom plus 4x digital zoom for 12x total
• Includes docking cradle for charging battery/connecting to PC; 2-inch LCD; long battery life
• 9.7 MB internal memory; compatible with Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery; connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

Reviews (18)

Features are great.. Pics are good...
I had 6 criteria when purchasing a new digital camera.

1st was ultra-compact size. The casio is perfect. Small as can be. Only pentax smaller but battery, speed are better on casio.

2nd. Battery life can not suffer due to size. This battery lasts forever. I started and stopped this camera a dozen times taking 10 pictures at a time, half with flash, all with LCD, and it still has power left. I am amazed by this power management.
One important point. If you battery runs out you are done. You must put camera on usb docking station to recharge. Battery is proprietary. Casio offers a rapid charger for those who need it. Battery normally takes 190 minutes to fully charge.

3rd. Simple to use.. I understand all the settings of manual mode but implementing them can be too difficult. The casio was easy plus it has the BEST SHOT feature. Pick your scenaio. For example PORTRAIT, SCENERY, CANDLELIGHT, etc... It automatically sets the basic settings (ISO, Exposure, White Balance, Focus) based on the BEST SHOT selection you make.

4th Speed. I'm tired of missing things. I want fast finger to snap shutter speed. This camera is great. Even shot to shot is very good.

5th. Picture Quality. This is highly debateable. Without comparison I though the pictures were good. Next to a high quality camera I noticed issues with sharpness and graininess. But before comparing I thought pictures were good.

6th. Low light. Does very good compared to other cameras at this size. Not as good as Larger.. But I was pleasantly suprised.

One big bonus. If you host your own website this camera during usb connection can not only copy the pictures onto your computer, but it will also design web pages with your pictures on it. I really liked this feature.

I was seriously looking at Canon SD-110, Canon's Picture quality is better. Also SD-110 does 640x480 movies. Casio only does 320x240. But I wanted a really small camera. And though the Canon is compact it is not ultra-compact like the casio. Overall I recommend this product.

Love My Casio!
I love my Casio. This is the second digital camera that I have owned, my first being a Sony Mavica. The size on this camera makes it so convenient to bring anywhere. It is very easy to use, especially with the accompanying camera dock to upload your pictures to the computer. Battery lasts forever. I can't find a bad thing to say about the Casio Exilim.

Great Little Camara!
If your looking for a good, pocket type camara with a lot of features, look no more. This camara is great. I love the quality and the awesome size. The battery is great, it lasts for 360 shots! The controls are great to, and the LCD is huge. Its bigger than most camara LCDs. Is shoots great movies(for a digital camara) and it can also has a recording voice feature. I love all the shots i've taken, they are alot better than my previous camara(Konica Minolta XG). The camara has a good grip for such a compact camara. You can put it in your pocket and take it anywhere. If your looking for a small, take it anywhere camara, with good photo quality and long battery life this is the camara for you.

Poor Quality, worst under low light
We bought this camera thinking we could take nice pictures in night events, sports, etc, because it has multiple ISO and shutter speed settings.

But you can't control speed or exposure, and we can't have good night shots, unless it's just an scene.

I'd rather buy a Canon or Sony the same price, not this fancy but useless Casio.

Normally a canon lover, but this camera is AWESOME
I have been a Canon user all my life, and often recommend my customers to the Canon name (I work for a major electronics store in the camera department). So initially I was a little leary at purchasing a Casio camera... but I am not at all disappointed in the quality. Granted, I purchased it only two days ago, but I have taken over 70 pictures... and I am extremely impressed. The macro mode is phenominal, better then that of the Canon S400, allowing me to get practically on top of a flower with a clear picture. The other shooting modes on the camera are remarkable as well, even though I haven't had much of an oppurtunity to play with them. For instance, there is a sunset mode, which adds a reddish filter to the image, there is a portrait mode which blurs the background adding an effect to the subject, a landscape mode, and some other fun tools that allow you to take pictures of fireworks, to stitch yourself into a picture if there are only two people, and a black and white as well as sepia filter. The best part is the ease at accessing all of these modes.

Some of the best features I have seen from this camera are the battery, allowing the user to take over 300 pictures with one charge with the LCD running , the memory which by using SD allows the speed of taking pictures to be incredible, and of course, the lens quality which is made by Pentax . The actual size of the camera is what sets it apart from the rest- it's thin and compact, perfect for throwing into a shirt pocket, or a purse.

The only drawbacks I can see are the LCD in REALLY low light conditions tends to be a bit grainy, and the actual view finder itself is tough to use- especially for those who have vision problems- but since the camera is more or less designed to solely use the LCD, it works out. The only other recommendation I have is don't use the camera on normal mode- use it on fine if you want amazing quality pictures. Otherwise you may notice a grainy quality.

The bottom line is whether you are a new user, a novice, or a professional, you will be impressed with the sleek style and professional quality this camera has to offer. The average user will be impressed with the bonus features, and the person without a computer will be impressed with the editing abilities on the camera itself. I can not speak enough about this camera, its docking cradle, or the features it contains (if you couldn't tell). Its so intuitive- so user friendly, you have to wonder why other camera manufacturers haven't made it this easy. I am glad to see that Casio is getting back into the market, and the Exilim Z40 is definately a phenominal product. I hope if you purchase it, you enjoy it as much as I do. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The slim, lightweight, and overall compact nature of Casio's Privia PX-100 digital piano means you can pack it just about anywhere. When you're not tickling its full 88 keys, you can stash the polyphonic keyboard in a closet, under a bed, or in other compact locations where most digital pianos refuse to fit.

The scaled hammer-action keyboard offers touch sensitivity for beautiful piano tones and a feature called New Sound Source which is said to give the PX-100 sound quality to rival that of an actual grand piano. Auto-accompaniment provides exciting, dynamic, and realistic background arrangements for pop, jazz, rock, and a range of the other genres. The PX-100 can provide complete orchestral accompaniment on command, too.

Other primary tones (voices) include strings and pipe organ, with 10 total tones. A layer feature allows simultaneous sounding of 2 tones, while a split feature lets you split the keyboard between 2 different tones. Lesson assembles functions that enhance your practice sessions, which you can devote to right-hand part only, left-hand part only, or both hands--whatever requires the most practice. You can also record songs for playback at a later point (up to 5,200 notes).

An onboard metronome offers adjustable tempos and beats. Adding effects makes notes sound richer and deeper, and the PX-100 includes 8 effects: 4 reverbs and 4 choruses.

Use the built-in music library to learn songs and develop coordination. There are 30 preloaded tunes plus memory storage for 10 downloadable songs. The PX-100's 30 preloaded piece include Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu Op.66, Satie's Gymnopédies 1, Beethoven's "Für Elise" and Sonata Op.27-2 "Moonlight" (first movement), as well as classic songs like "Over the Rainbow," "Someday My Prince Will Come," and "Let It Be."

What's in the Box
Keyboard, a user's manual, and warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• 88-Key Scaled Hammer Action keyboard with touch sensitivity
• Sound Source rivals the sound quality of a grand piano
• Auto-Accompaniment provides exciting dynamic and realistic background arrangements for pop, jazz, rock, and other genres
• Complete orchestral accompaniment on command
• Also includes strings, pipe organ, and other tones, 10 in total

Product Description

Image resolution up to 2816 x 21124x digital zoomDirect On function for one-touch recording and playbackRecords movies in AVI formatCompact aluminum body with high-quality rounded finishBestShot Mode accesses 23 camera setups in an instant: select a samplescene similar to the image you want and exposure compensation whitebalance and other settings are configured automatically Advanced image noise reduction processing for improved image quality especially when shooting at nightHigh-speed playback scrolls at 0.1 second per image for faster and easier image searchesPictBridge compatible3 1/2 W x 2 2/5 H x 1 3/10 DUses SD or MMC memoryUses two AA alkaline or Li-Ion batteries or AC adapterIncludes 9.7MB built-in flash memory two AA alkaline batteries USB cable strap and software ... Read more

Features

• Powered by AA-size batteries, nickel metal-hydride battery included
• 6-megapixel sensor captures enough detail for 2,816-by-2,112-pixel images
• 3x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom
• 2-inch TFT LCD scratch-resistant screen
• Store images on 9.7 MB flash memory, or using SD/MMC memory slot

Reviews (1)

Good camera for daytime photos; not so good for night photos
This is a compact camera with solid metal construction.Startup times and shutter lag are extremely fast for a digital camera.Daytime and flash pictures are excellent.Macro pictures of flowers are pretty sharp.I'm also happy that the camera runs on AA batteries. Low light focusing is very good.Nightime pictures illuminated by street lights are okay when the camera automatically chooses a shutter speed of 1/8 sec and ISO of 250.However, anything darker than that requires the use of the nighttime scene best shot mode.Under nighttime scene best shot mode, the camera chooses a shutter speed greater than 1/8 sec.Often it may chose between 2-4 seconds, which means that one absolutely needs a tripod to avoid image blur caused by camera shake.It would have been nice if the camera offered manual control of the shutter and aperature settings because I can take reasonably shake-free photos up to a shutter speed of 1/2 sec and sometimes I don't want the camera to automatically chose a shutter speed longer than I think is necessary.Another annoyance is that the noise reduction system takes on average about ten seconds to process long exposure pictures. I suppose this frustration made me to return the camera and get a Canon A85 camera with manual controls instead even though the Canon A85 operates slower than the Casio QV-R62. ... Read more

Product Description

The EXILIM PRO EX-P505 is a stylish digital camera equipped with a 5.0 megapixel imaging element and a 5X optical zoom. It not only takes superbly detailed digital photos, it is also capable of shooting extended video scenes with high-image quality. All this from a camera that will sit in the palm of your hand! The EXILIM PRO EX-P505 is a high-performance digital camera with an amazing high- quality video capability. The EX-P505 features a 5X optical zoom, an imaging CCD with 5.0 mega effective pixels, Casio's EXILIM engine , and a large 2-inch TFT color rotating screen that makes angle shots a snap. It offers the same manual operation made famous by the EX-P600, as well as high-quality video shooting capability of 30 frames per second, in VGA size, thanks to the incorporation of MPEG-4 technology. Authentic manual operation puts the user in control - With a CCD imaging element with 5.0 mega effective pixels, along with the advanced Exilim engine, remarkably detailed images can be taken with ease. The 5X optical zoom lens has macro capability down to 1 cm, as well as aperture priority or shutter priority automatic setting, along with manual exposure mode for completely manual operation. High quality video shooting - The adoption of MPEG-4 technology enables full-scale high quality video shooting in VGA size (640 x 480 pixels) at 30 frames per second. Movie BEST SHOT allows the user to select from sample scenes for a wide range of shooting styles. ... Read more

Features

• Aperture priority, shutter speed priority, and manual exposure modes; MPEG-4 format for long-playing video shooting
• Powered by Lithium-ion battery; records images on SD or MMC cards
• 5.0-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 5x optical zoom with macro focusing as close as 1 centimeter
• High-speed start-up enables shooting only 0.8 seconds after the power is turned on

Reviews (2)

Almost perfect!
I'm very happy with this purchase. I've had it for a month now and it has worked flawlessly.It takes great stills, on par with other 5mp cameras, but that's not why I got it.I wanted something that could do decent stills & videos - so I wouldn't need my camcorder anymore. The vids are not quite as good as a DV camcorder, but I'll settle for 90% of dv camcorder quality for the joy of leaving the camcorder at home. Another thing - tape sucks! It takes forever to get a movie on tape into my computer for editing/burning.Saving movies on a SD card rocks!

My only gripes are the included software and camera computer interface.
Each time you take a movie clip, it is saved on teh SD card as a seperate mpeg4 file. That's OK, except Casio doesn't include an easy way to link the clips together again. The included Movie Wizard software will let you link together clips, but you must save them as dv or mpeg1/2 files which are much bigger and the conversion process is very slow. I searched the net and found a program called avi joiner to quickly splice together mpeg4 clips.
As for the camera computer interface, I have had trouble moving large video files from the camera to my HDD. The process errors out and I get a message that the connection to the camera is lost. I have to cycle power on the camera and try again. I always get them off eventually, but it is a pain. I haven't tried it with a different computer, so it might not have anything to do with the camera.

But overall I am very happy with the EX-P505

No business like.....CASIO....business


PROS:
Me...with this camera! Casio, I'm ready to be assimilated!
(preferably as creative consultant?) I KNOW you're watching..

CONS:
Also me, if I divulge any of the results of my 'reverse engineering' efforts....(gulp)


There I was, minding my own business....faithfully taking my 'meds' for years.Having seemingly 'conquered' my 'paranoia' that had given rise to the rather melodramatic "Alien consipiracy" phase I went through in the mid to late nineties.

Well...now ALL bets are OFF!

I just HAD to do it....I just had to go and satisfy my curiosity....that's just like me. When will I ever learn!

Crap! I don't have much more time.

I wish I had time to share everything I have learned....the alien/govt/megacorp collusion has produced amazing technologies.After being puzzled over several freakishly innovative aspects of the Casio Exilim Ex-p505, and upon closer examination of the camera, I began to make a startling realization....Now I have the PROOF I need!

It's all there, Crap! They are definitely on to me. I've been at this public IP terminal too long...

Great, just great. Now I'm gonna get alien probed and interrogated, and for WHAT!Just so probably a few schmoes will see this.

They probably won't believe a word of my storrrrrrfv ... Read more

Features

• With a 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor, create brilliant images that can be printed up to poster size
• Features an ultra-fast Canon 4x optical zoom lens
• Innovative functions and fully adjustable manual settings
• With a high-performance Super Life battery, approximately 260 images (according to CIPA standards) can be taken per battery charge
• Extraordinary performance is complimented by an exceptionally attractive design

Amazon.com Product Description

Casio's 61-key CTK-496 has everything a beginner needs on board: 100 tones, 100 rhythms, 100 songs. The familiar CD player control buttons (stop, play/pause, rewind, fast forward) make child's play of song bank operation. The on/off buttons for the right and left hand--as well as the button for activating the chord book function--are located just beside the song-bank controller. The instrument offers 12-note polyphony, which means up to 12 keys or voices may be sounded simultaneously.

The song book included in the package yields insight into notes and lyrics. Once you've rehearsed the tunes, the next job is waiting: Sing Along via the top-panel microphone input and dedicated volume control. Other features include MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) in/out, auto-accompaniment, assignable pedals, a headphone jack, and 2 speakers powered by 2 watts each.

Power the unit using an optional AC/DC adapter (model AD-5) or with 6 AA batteries (not included).What's in the Box
Keyboard, song book, music stand, a user's manual, and registration/warranty information. ... Read more

Features

• 61 keys with 100-tune song bank
• MIDI makes for great sound
• Headphone jack for private listening and microphone jack to sing along with the song
• 100 preset tones and 100 rhythms
• Auto Accompaniment to give a deeper sound to your songs

Amazon.com Product Description

This stylish and convenient stand accommodates Casio's PX-100, PX-300, and PX-500 digital pianos. The stand's wood-grain finish provides an earthy complement to your keyboard's silver sheen. ... Read more

Features

• Attach the Piano Stand to your PX Series Digital Piano and play like a professional
• Stylish and convenient keyboard stand
• Accommodates Casio's PX-100, PX-300, and PX-500 digital pianos
• Elegant Wood-grain finish
• Perfectly fits Casio's PX-100, PX-300, and PX-500 digital pianos

Features

• QWERTY keyboard for standalone operation
• USB connection for easy hookup to a PC
• 12-character by 1-line LCD
• 6 fonts, 1,055 symbols, step-by-step instructions and templates
• 8 AA batteries included, optional AC adapter

Reviews (8)

An ingenious device...
I have found this disc title printer to be quite useful. As long as you buy blank CD/DVD's that have little preprinted writing on the front, you will have absolutely no problem printing quality, professional-looking labels on your discs. I rarely use the PC interface with the printer, instead opting to use the built-in screen for formatting my discs. Regardless, I have had no problems with this unit, and have found it to be very useful.

Good Printer. Highly Recommended
The printer does what it is designed to do - Print text and simple graphic labels on 2 rectangular areas (top and bottom) of a CD or DVD.

The print quality is good provided that you use the right kind of CD/DVD. As most of the reviewers have pointed out, you must use media with smooth shiny areas for the label. The CD does not have to be totally blank. It just needs to have enough smooth surface for your label to print on it. Disk with matted surface is not going to work. I use the SONY CD-R and the TDK DVD+R with good results. Both of them have manufacture's logo on the surface but they also have plenty of smooth blank areas for top and bottom labels.

The easiest way to explore the printer's features is to use the Disc Printer software (download the latest version from Casio's website). One of the things that the software allows you to do is to import a Windows Media Playlist (.asx) file. Once the file is imported, the software can automatically creates labels for all the song titles in your playlist. I have tried that feature and it works great.

Very Pleased, This Product Works Great!
This product works great! I read some of the negative statements and was a little reluctant to purchase it...but when I came across it at BJ's for $89 (after rebate) I figured I'd give it a try. Some of the negatives I've read was that you could only print on top and bottom of the cd or dvd...NOT TRUE!! Use your heads people. If you wish to print on the left or right middle of the cd (eg: a compact disc logo) simply import the graphic you want to use...rotate it so that after it prints the logo will be upright when the disc is turned to the left or right....then simply print on the top and bottom of the disc keeping the logo to the left or right depending on which side you want it. It's very easy to do. The templates and print options included in the software gives you almost unlimited options...you just need to use your head. After searching the net i was able to find cartriges in bundles of ten for $58. (5.80 a cartridge) @20 CDs per cartridge the cost is a mere 29 cents per cd or dvd. Not bad considering the professional results. You can also mix colors (not on the same line) if you're patient enough to print one line, change cartridge, then print another line. The unit needs a fairly smooth surface for best results...and quite frankly..the bare silver cd's look the best, even though it print on Memorex DVDs that are not completly smooth and have the memorex logo on them. Don't condem a product because you fail to follow directions. The Casio CW-75 does what it advertises and does it well...if you shop around it's cost effective..and if you have some patience and foresight you can get this to print almost any label you want on any part of the disc. Great Job Casio.

Not Quite What I Expected
I recently received a Casio CW-75 as a gift (after dropping a hint that I'd seen one in a store).

The picture on the box shows a CD-R coming out of the printer, and even though no manufacturer's name or logo is visible, the markings on the CD-R bear a striking resemblance to the markings on the Sony CD-Rs that I had sitting on my desk. I immediately tried printing onto a few of the Sony CD-Rs, and the results were terrible.

After consulting the troubleshooting section of the manual, I tried adjusting the print density to its maximum setting. The results were better, but still unacceptable. Finally, I tried the test CD that came with the printer, and got much better results. The test CD had an absolutely smooth surface, whereas the Sony CD-R had a subtle texture to it.

The printer documentation mentioned a website address for information about the type of media recommended for use with the printer, but when I visited the website, I was greeted with a "sorry, now under construction" message. No help there.

I ended up buying some inexpensive Imix CD-Rs at a local office supply store. They have a perfectly smooth surface, and I've just printed a batch of 30 CD-Rs with very good results; only one disc came out less than perfect.

I also found it interesting that batteries ARE included with this printer, but NOT an AC adapter. The included batteries haven't died yet (after 30 good discs and about 10 test discs, each with 2 passes of printing on each), but I don't know how much life is left in them.

Incidentally, why does this thing run on batteries, anyway? Does Casio think people are going to be printing discs while they're out jogging or something? Before you get any ideas, let me point out that moving the printer while it's printing gives poor results. For best results, put this printer on a flat, stable surface and don't bump into it while it's in use.

The ribbon ran out after about 20 discs or so, which (as someone mentioned in another review) translates to about 50 cents per disc for labeling. In this case, that's more than DOUBLE the cost of the discs themselves, but the results really do look quite professional with the right combination of media and gentle care.

Using this printer as a standalone device was a little awkward, but the included software installed itself without a hitch, and it makes it MUCH easier to see what you're doing when laying out a label. I'd strongly recommend using the computer connection unless you have a very good reason not to do so.

Only time will tell if this labeling mechanism has any long-term adverse side effects. I was using paper labels for a long time before I discovered that after many months, they apparently shrink just a bit, which warps the CD-R into a slight bowl shape, and causes readability problems. I'm thinking that this Casio device is a much better idea than paper labels, if only for that reason.

Does what it says; flawless software interface w/computer
The software install was very fast and went without a hitch. Loaded the batteries, installed the print cartridge, and connected to the computer with the included USB cable. Turning the printer on then prompts Windows XP to recognize the new hardware and load the drivers which you previously installed from the CD-ROM. This took 30 seconds.

Once that was done, I opened up the software and after clicking around a bit to see some of the formatting options, it took me less than ten minutes to put together a label for tomorrow night's MONK second season finale episode which I will burn onto DVD-R, with MONK at the top print area, and the episode name and original air date on the bottom print area. I used TDK brand DVD-R media which has a nice, large, smooth printable surface at the top and bottom.

Then I used the sample CD-R which comes with the machine, to burn a copy of a music CD. My results and observations of the machine's performance:

1. The software is pretty slick, and so far it works flawlessly. Depending on the type of disc you are printing (e.g. music, data, photos, etc.), it presents you with a variety of formatting options for the two print areas. With all formatting options, you can change the font name and size to whatever you have installed on your computer. All text formatting changes are immediately shown in the on-screen depiction of your label, so you can see right away if your text will fit into the print area the way you want it to appear. If you are printing in both print areas of the disc, the software prompts you to first align the disc in the tray for the top portion of the label...click print and it goes to it. Then the tray opens again, and the software prompts you to turn the disk so that it can print the lower print area.

2. I have not yet used the printer as a stand-alone...I will eventually try it out, but why bother with all those buttons and keys when I can easily get what I want much more easily on the computer?

3. The print quality is Pretty Darn Good. Larger, bolder and straighter fonts come out better than smaller, thin and curvy fonts, but in all cases you'll notice a slight "pixelization", or slightly rough edges. To my eye, it's only obvious if I hold the thing right up to my face. You can change the print density but I haven't played with that option yet, to see if it makes a difference. Overall, I'm happy with the print quality.

4. I'll be interested in seeing how the printing on the CD holds up from use in my car. The instructions say that use in such players causes wear on the print surface from the CD player's rollers that load the CD, which could cause the printing to eventually get worn off. Also says not to keep printed CDs where they'll get very hot, and not to store them in plastic-sleeve storage devices...I guess the ink can come off on the vinyl if it's in contact with it for very long.

5. Cost per print raised by others...bah! Definitely no comparison to the almost-zero cost of just writing on a disc with a marker, but my handwriting and printing looks like crap. Labels and ink jet ink aren't free, but probably cheaper than using this...but so what? And I'm starting to see some of the labels I've been using (Stomper and Avery) come up a little around the edges over time.

6. Power options: the battery power is great for me, because I don't have to find an empty outlet in my gaggle of power strips, and I can just pick the thing up and put it in a drawer when I'm done. On the other hand, I think Casio could have sprung for a measly A/C adapter instead of making it an option.

7. The CW-75 is not built like a tank. The drawer has a flimsy feel and does not close as precisely as it should. The unit is lightweight and...well, just think of your last Casio calculator or adding machine to get an idea of its general construction, fit, and finish. ... Read more

Features

• The perfect complement for your Casio keyboard
• Circular locking mechanism makes the stand adjustable to a half dozen heights for greater playing comfort
• GSDX styling has been designed for maximum stability
• Works with most Casio keyboards and electric pianos
• Fast assembly, no extra tools required

Reviews (9)

Is there only one?
Mine showed up in the same condition - ripped on both ends and pieces missing. Maybe the same one is just making the rounds? UPS is supposed to pick up tomorrow. Be on the lookout!

Be aware of shipping damage via UPS
I ordered mine but when I got it from UPS, some parts were missing already since both end of the Casio box were damaged, some of the h/w already felt out and could not be found.
UPS/Amazon needs to put the Casio stand box inside of another box while shipping, or use lots of extra tape on it.
Also, when I went to Amazon's "return center", I could not find that item on the list since it was shipped to me already, so I had to send another note to Amazon to see how I can obatin a shipping lable to return that item. I am still waiting to hear back from Amazon.
Those are extra work that is not expected. I have been buying from Amazon for many years, I even had wedding registry with them. I was a happy customer until now.

rediculous
I ordered this stand from amazon.com new and it showed up in a TAPED UP box and MISSING screws and TWO of the support bars! I've never had an item delivered that was missing 1 peice before, but this had multiple peices missing. All I can say is that if you do order this, GOOD LUCK, its clearly a risk based off everyone else's reviews too.

Perfect
This was a great buy. Very easy to put together, adjustable height, and very strudy. Not much to it but that is what makes it good.

Most Bizarre Purchase ever
Like everyone else I got a taped up open box that I was convinced had parts missing in shipping. When I got it opened on the floor and started to assemble I thought *&%# the screws are missing. My son was disappointed as he was all excited to get this for his keyboard. Then something told me to look at the ends of the poles and voila! there were the screws! So nothing was missing and I put it together in about 10 minutes (not including the hour it took me to find my wrench for the one nut near the height adjuster) All in all it was well worth the low, low price and it got shipped for free so double bonus. My son is so happy with his stand he's actually practicing more in his Schaum books. Which I also got free shipped from Amazon. I just love this little shop. ... Read more

Product Description

TITLE PRINTER/LABELMAKER ... Read more

Features

• Extensive selection of fonts, effects, styles
• One printer for 2 label purposes
• QWERTY Keyboard
• USB Connection
• Auto-cut with half cut

Features

• 4-megapixel resolution for photo-quality 11 x 14-sized enlargements
• 3x optical zoom lens; audio playback and voice recording
• 2-inch color LCD screen; 0.01-second shutter lag; built-in lens cover
• Store images in either 10 MB built-in memory or on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards (memory card not included)
• Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included with USB docking/recharging station)

Reviews (52)

Conveniently Usable
PROS - Digital convenience, 'pocket' size, battery life, 4.0 MP, 2" LCD, Movie Feature, great macro

CONS - problematic color reproduction, lag, intense flash, cradle

BOTTOM LINE - I recommend this camera to all who want a very compact digital for convenience, don't mind correcting color & are willing to pay the price.

I'm writing this review in March 2004 on my first digital camera, the EX-Z4 purchased in December 2003. I bought the gray market non-USA (not Z4U) version on eBay because I wanted the 1-minute movie feature. The 1-minute movies with sound are excellent. They look clear and natural at 14-fps only limited by the 320x240 pixel size. You can shoot as many 1-minute clips as you have room on the memory card. The manual says you can have longer movies with a larger SD card but I haven't seen that with my 256MB card.

I use a 256MB SimpleTech ProXTM Secure Digital (SD) Flash Memory Card, with write speeds up to 10 megabytes per second. I was hoping the fast write speed would reduce the lag between shots. Not sure if it has but I sometimes miss shots in quick situations. This is usually due to auto focus lag and write speed lag for 2nd shot. I read that it's fast but is it fast enough? IMHO, Yes for the casual user, no for more serious needs.

The color reproduction is not always very accurate. I was a professional photo developer for 5+ years and acquired a very good eye for color balance. (A tip for noticing correct color balance is to look at shadows. They don't reflect as much color as white and usually should be colorless.) Most always noticeable as blue in flash situations the color in normal daytime use is also inconsistent. It's nothing that Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro can't correct with ease. Although not convenient when you want to run over to the local drug store and print a few right off the SD card. I think you might be able to correct the color at the print kiosk.
I also just downloaded the firmware update on the Casio web site in hopes to fix the poor color reproduction. I will update this review when I have a chance. Also the flash is very strong sometimes causing people to blink or have red eye.

The only other inconvenience is that you need the cradle to charge the camera as well as transfer via USB. Not that big of a deal to me. This camera gets used a lot because it's so small it fits in the front pocket of my jeans. It starts up quickly and is ready to shoot on a whim. You can put a lot of pictures on a 256MB card and you can quickly erase ones you don't want. The battery seems to last so long that I don't even realize it uses a rechargeable. So basically the camera is very convenient and therefore a good value for most of your point and shoot needs.

The 4.0 MP picture quality is sharp and with the highest setting 2304x1728 on fine you can print even larger than 20"x 30". You get good creative ability with the zoom which is 3X optical (35-105mm) and 4X digital for 12X combined zoom ability. I notice the digital zoom requires a solid tripod or lots of light to maintain sharp clarity and focus. There is even a limited form of depth of field (aperture) control with the custom shots settings. The macro feature allows you to focus as close as 6cm and has awesome clarity. I also wouldn't want to have a smaller LCD viewer than the 2" on this camera, which does a very nice job. You also get a self timer, audio recorder, alarm clock, nice calendar sorting feature and a bunch of programmable custom shot settings.

I couldn't hold out for the Sony DCS-T1 5.0 MP at the time I got the EX-Z4. I would guess the Sony is better, because of the resolution, a Carl Zeiss Vario compact optical zoom lens, 2.5" LCD viewer and superior movies. Hopefully better color reproduction too.

Great value for your money
This is my third camera (second digital) and I think you should grab this one for the price.
This camera has a lot of options, so it may take a while to get used to it. Don't give up, patiently try out the options and once you get used to it, you'll appreciate each of the options.

I'll first talk about the plusses.

The obvious ones are 4M pixels and 3x optical zoom, ultra sleek design (by far the best looking camera I've seen), dock availability, super fast startup and capture time. Here's a brief mention of other features.

1) Large LCD screen for its size. This really helps for focus and also for previewing the pictures.

2) Best shots mode: Though it takes a while to get used to different modes to figure out the best possible setting, once you remember that, you're in tune to take great pics. I got fantastic pics of my campus on a cloudy day. The scenary mode allows you to capture intricate landscape details even in the borders.

3) Long exposure: You can take night pics with the long exposure mode (upto 4 seconds), the picture quality was awesome.

4) Fits in my shirt/coat pocket, no bulky stuff to carry around, can travel with your hands free.

5) The superimposing feature, where you and your buddy can take pics of each other with a scenary and merge the pic with both of you in it, sounds like a cool feature (if you're not an Adobe pro). I haven't had a chance to try it though.

After mentioning the coolness factor, please read this also.

For indoor pics, the flash is not powerful enough for objects that are say about 10ft away, but for closer objects it's good, or if the room is well-lit also, its good.

Make sure you choose the correct white balance. OK, this is a feature you'll have to test out if you're not a pro. Especially, if your room has fluorescent lamps, there is a special setting and I did not get good quality pics with the default setting.

The US version of the camera does NOT have MOVIE mode. I don't care for it, if you do, you should look for other cameras. There are cameras which have movie mode for this price.

And yes, if you're planning a long trip you have to carry the dock for recharging (you save on battery costs though).

The 10M memory bundled is inadequate, additional memory is a must, I bought a 256M SD card which costed me about 80 dollars.

Handy product with big LCD, but NO VIDEO RECORDING
I bought this product from Amazon which at the time still adverticed video capability as well, which this product is really lacking. As I was only visiting US soil at the time, the offering from Amazon to return the product was not applicable.

Otherwise the product has proven to be handy - but this lack of camcorder feature is really a handicap.

It's a good camera!
This camera is a great camera. The only bad thing is the zoom... it's blurry. But I love it. And I don't leave my house without it.

Great value - recommended
Couldn't disagree more with some of the other reviews. We bought this camera as our second digital on the recommendation of the salesman at the local Apple store. We went to buy another Nikon Coolpix for my wife, but the size and quality of this camera blew us away. I have taken hundreds of photos in the last month or two - indoor and outdoor weddings, museums, family trips, professional shots for websites, etc. Indoor photos are great, if you remember the basics of flash photography (film or digital) e.g. long distance + small flash = crappy picture (No surprise here.) One of the best tricks to use is to turn the auto flash off indoors. You'll be amazed at how good the shots come out using ambient light.

The only two criticisms we can think of are the digital zoom is not much use, but that's true for about all the other digital cameras I've used. The other is that manual does not describe the Movie record function that is advertised. But hey, if it's that important, buy a camcorder.

Do yourself a favor and buy a 256MB SD card at Costco, Staples or Office Max for ~$60 and you'll be happy. This camera fits in a pocket or purse (even an evening bag), battery has great life, photos are great - can't ask for much more, especially at this price.

Highly Recommended!!!! ... Read more

Features

• Lets you enter equations using traditional textbook format
• Pen Touch operation, including drag-and-drop
• 3-D graphing trace, zoom, rotate functions
• Expression processing, text statements, and eActivity functions
• 160-by-120-pixel display with iconic menu interface