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Casio Exilim EX-Z3 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom and Dock

Casio Exilim EX-Z3 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom and Dock

List Price: $419.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fabulous
Review: I've owned a digital camera for several years but had difficulty viewing the screen especially under well lit conditions. The Casio solved that issue thanks to its crisp 2 inch monitor! With glasses, I have had no difficulty using the viewfinder. The camera responds quickly. I'm very pleased with the shots I have taken in the past month utilizing many of the features (they are a lot of fun). There is no need for an owner's manual thanks to the graphical display of information on the screen. The movie function is a fun addition although the resolution is somewhat weak.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Always LOOK first..
Review: If you wear glasses and plan to frame your shots with the viewfinder, you will want another camera. The Casio is UNUSABLY deficient in this essential feature.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: great value
Review: It is just so simple but so powerful camera, with easy handling, and small size and mass.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: similar to pentax optio S, but slightly bigger
Review: pros:
- the main selling point of this camera is its small size: 3.4 x 2.6 x 0.9 in, weighing in at 5.1oz.
- 3MP resolution, 3x zoom in a very compact package.
- average three megapixel resolution.
- low image noise at low ISO settings.
- allows manual white balance.
- has 21 scene modes!
- good reliable metering.
- low image noise at low ISO settings.
- wide range of focus options including manual focus!
- histogram display in live view and play modes.
- solid build quality.
- fast startup time.
- cool feature: while in its cradle, pushing the dock's photo button turns the EX-Z3 into a small digital frame: the display shows the images it currently holds, displaying each for several seconds.

cons:
- no video out capability at all.
- some chromatic aberrations.
- some vignetting visible.
- average photo quality with soft edges.
- images noisier than competition.
- no buffering means a longer wait before you can take your next shot.
- no AF assist light.
- high redeye occurrence.
- no image parameter adjustment.
- blue cast when using flash.
- the LCD is a full 2", but is low resolution.
- metal body scratches easily.
- only JPEG format is supported.
- below average auto focus speed.
- longest shutter setting is 1 second.
- only 10MB of built-in memory provided so add $$ to your budget to buy external memory.
- proprietary battery - again, a few more bucks for a spare.
- you need to remove external memory in order to access images saved in internal memory.

the casio ex-z3 is very similar to the pentax optio S with the optio being even more compact than the casio. as such, they share most of the same strengths as well as issues. my biggest complaints are the soft images at the corners and the lack of buffering. a camera with better photo quality (but bigger and only has 2x zoom) is canon's sd100.

i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great camera
Review: there may be a way to recharge the battery on this camera w/o using the docking station but I have yet to determine it - due to this limitation I give this camera three stars as it takes much of the flexibilty away - which is exactly why you'd buy a camera this small...

other than that, the interface is solid, the optics great and the size and weight make it fun to play with.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: solid optics, hate the docking station
Review: there may be a way to recharge the battery on this camera w/o using the docking station but I have yet to determine it - due to this limitation I give this camera three stars as it takes much of the flexibilty away - which is exactly why you'd buy a camera this small...

other than that, the interface is solid, the optics great and the size and weight make it fun to play with.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's GREAT!!
Review: This camera is great! I got it from Wal-Mart online for 398.00 w/ free 128 MB SD card! The docking port is very handy and so easy to use. The movie feature is great too. The only bad thing is the battery life. It's a bit short compared to other cameras. The quality of the picture is very nice. I recommend buying this camera!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Truly fun for point and shoot photograher
Review: This is truly a fun camera to play with. Here's the deal: you get 3.2megapixil pictures from a machine thats the size of your credit card. What else can you want? It's true that the camera's viewfinder is a bit awkward, but the 2" display helps a lot. There's a little bit of noise in the pictures but I find the colors come out very well, even in dark settings. The size of the camera makes you want to be delicate with it, but it is made of sturdy materials. The control menu is straightforward, pretty much dummy-proof. Admittedly, the D-pad is small, but one will get used to it in hours. You can see that Casio had to make everything small for the 2" LCD screen.
The Best Shot feature will save you time with adjusting settings. At the same time, there are a couple of manual settings that you can fool around with (the EV shift and ISO settings). The video recording is decent, but it only lasts 30secs - then you'll have to make a new file.

All in all, this is not for the photography enthusiast, but instead for fun snapshooters. Definitely the Canon S-series or the Panasonic Lumix are better candidates if you want the "camera feel", but the casio is more of a fashion statement. The looks and design is remarkable. Watching the Pentax lens expand out boggles my mind every time I turn it on. If nothing else, it's the greatest conversation starter. Nothing compares to it (not even the Optio-S). Just take it out in public, people WILL turn heads.


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