Picture Quality / Size Options (7.0)
The Casio P505 shoots JPEG image files in three different compression modes in six different sizes. Fine, Normal, and Economy compression modes store pictures at various storage capacities. The following still image sizes are available: 2560 x 1920, 2560 x 1712, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, and 640 x 480. This is a decent variety of sizes and should satisfy users’ printing needs. At the highest resolution, there are 4:3 and 3:2-formatted options, so users can get crystal clear 4 x 6-inch prints or large 11 x 17-inch prints.
Picture Effects Mode (8.5)
The Casio P505’s recording menu includes a Filter option with a nice list of picture effects. The typical Black & White and Sepia options are there, in addition to six digital color filters. The color filters don’t completely overtake the image; they simply add a slight hue. Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink and Purple are available. There is a small box in the menu that shows the live view, which is a nice touch. The menu also has sharpness, saturation, and contrast options from +2 to -2 in whole steps.
While many digital cameras have basic picture effects, the Casio P505 has several more color filters than most and also lets users add them in recording mode rather than in playback mode. Photographers will either love or hate this setup. Some love it because there is less work to do in postproduction; others hate it because once you add the color, you cannot undo it properly – even with computer software. The Casio Exilim EX-P505 is marketed for point-and-shooters, so they’re counting on that demographic loving the idea that no computer is necessary to achieve cool picture effects. Like some of the manual controls, some of the picture effects are repeated in menus. The lengthy list of scene modes includes Monochrome and Retro scenes, which are more or less Black & White and Sepia modes.
