Casio Exilim EX-P505 Digital Camera Review

Value (6.5)
The value of any digital camera is largely dependant on what it will be used for. Casio is banking on its consumers using the P505 as both a digital camera and camcorder; it is definitely a lot cheaper than buying both technologies. It is difficult to compare the Casio P505 to other compact digital cameras because it has such a unique feature set. In terms of still imaging, this model offers 5 megapixels and manual and automatic functionality. It has a 5x optical zoom lens, which is more than what many compacts offer. The major hindrance this model has as a still imaging device is its lack of usability. It is so difficult to navigate menus and find controls that some photographers may junk it in the first hour of using it. In terms of movie modes, the P505 goes above and beyond. It has four great movie modes with great resolution. As an average digital camera and as a great camcorder hybrid device, the Exilim P505 retails for $399.99. It's a good value, if that kind of hybrid functionality is what you're looking for.

Comparisons
Canon PowerShot A95 – The Canon A95 is a very popular digital camera with its similar 1.8-inch LCD monitor that folds out and rotates. With 5 megapixels, this model offers automatic and manual functionality like the Casio EX-P505. The PowerShot A95 has 12 scene modes including an Underwater mode to be used with its optional underwater housing. There are fewer picture effects and a shorter 3x optical zoom lens, although the A95 does have a larger maximum aperture of f/2.8. The A95 has a single movie mode that shoots in three different sizes, but with pedestrian frame rates. The highest quality video from the A95 shoots 640 x 480 at 10 frames per second. The A95 runs on four AA batteries which are much heavier and less efficient than the P505’s power source. The Canon PowerShot A95 was announced in August 2004 and retails for $399.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 – If the Casio P505 is just a touch overboard or overpriced for your liking, check out the LZ2. This digital camera still has the 5 megapixel resolution, but comes with image stabilization. It has a 6x optical zoom lens and a 3-frame-per-second burst mode. The back houses a 2-inch LCD screen, but it doesn’t fold out like the P505’s. The Panasonic LZ2 simplifies everything by offering Simple, Economy, Auto, and Movie modes. There are hardly any manual controls and the movie mode is limited. It shoots 320 x 240 pixels at 30 or 10 frames per second. These features are not as flashy as the Casio EX-P505’s and the body certainly isn’t very flashy either. However, if you’re on a budget the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 is as good of a still imager as you'll find at its $299 retail price.

Kodak EasyShare Z740 – This 5 megapixel model comes with a large 10x optical zoom lens that accepts wide and telephoto conversion lenses. Its housing has a similar pop-up flash, but also offers an electronic viewfinder and a 1.8-inch LCD screen. This monitor is smaller and doesn’t do flips, but it does have much more resolution with 134,000 pixels. The camera’s movie mode is inferior to the P505’s, as its frame rate creeps along at 13 fps at 640 x 480 pixels. However, the camera is extremely easy to use. The menus are intuitive, buttons are positioned correctly, and there is even an on-camera Share button for streamlined printing to ImageLink or PictBridge compatible printers. The camera produces richer images with deeper color than the P505. The Z740 retails for $379 alone or $499 when bundled with the Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock.

Canon PowerShot S2 IS – This digital camera should compete in the hybrid market, as it offers some excellent functional still and video features. The S2 IS has 5 megapixels and offers manual, priority, and automatic modes. Its LCD is similar to the Casio P505’s in that it can flip outwards and rotate to just about any angle. The monitor is smaller at 1.8 inches, but has 115,000 pixels of resolution. The Canon’s movie mode shines, as it can record 30 fps of full 640 x 480 video with stereo audio. The audio is also manually adjustable and adds a wind resistance feature. The S2 has a long optically stabilized 12x zoom lens that can operate while capturing video, like the EX-P505's. The S2's main feature is its image stabilization system, which the Casio does not have. The image stabilization keeps video clips from appearing shaky, and gives off a nice smooth image, while adding roughly 2 more stops of flexibility to shooters who don't use tripods. There is a Movie Snap function that photographers can use to extract still images from their movie clips. The Canon S2 IS is a little pricier at $499, but comes in a more serious package with image stabilization to complement its fine movie mode.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – The Casio P505 is for the point-and-shoot user who wants a digital camera with a little something extra. It has an automatic mode and flatters users with extras like sounds and movie features.

Budget Consumers – This model is not built for this demographic. It has 5 megapixels and some cool features, but its basic offerings are still similar to cheaper models. But I guess if you’re looking for a Past Movie mode on a budget, this is your camera.

Gadget Freaks – The Sounds menu will remind you of your Nintendo days and the Past Movie mode will keep you fascinated. The interesting functions and features will keep mild gadget freaks attentive. However, there is no Wi-Fi or touch screen monitor for those hardcore gadget freaks.

Manual Control Freaks – There is a nice selection of manual control available on the Casio Exilim EX-P505. Manual and priority modes are available with manual focus on a sliding bar and manual white balance accessible from several places.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists – Serious hobbyists and professionals will only laugh at this model. Perhaps they would buy one for their kids to play with, but wouldn’t count on its imaging capabilities to compare with their fancier models.