Casio Exilim EX-V7

Connectivity
Software
The V7 will come with Casio’s software CD-ROM that includes specials like Photohands, the editing program that incorporates koala bears and is insulting to one’s intelligence.

Jacks, ports, plugs
Like other skinny Exilim digital cameras, the Exilim EX-V7 comes with a camera cradle. The digital camera has a USB connection on its bottom that sits directly atop the cradle; the camera doesn’t have jacks on the body, but the cradle has jacks to USB, AV, and DC-in cables. This Casio supports USB hi-speed 2.0 format, and is PictBridge compatible. The AV-out function can be set to NTSC or PAL output in 4:3 or 16:9 format. The power adaptor cable comes with the camera and dock so that the battery can recharge while transferring photos or playing video on a television.

Direct Print Options
The Casio Exilim EX-V7 is PictBridge compatible, but there is no dedicated print button or even print menu. Instead, the DPOF Printing option is buried within the playback menu. The V7 has still image editing options like trimming and even Best Shot modes like ID Photo that are created with direct printing in mind.

Battery
When the camera is tired, it has a comfy dock to rest in. It can transfer photos while the battery is recharging. The V7 comes with a skinny lithium-ion NP-50 cell that can snap about 240 shots before needing another recharge, according to Casio’s specs.

Memory
There is a smidgeon of internal memory in the Casio EX-V7. 11.6 MB doesn’t go very far. At the top 7.2-megapixel resolution, it can only hold about three pictures. There are more Best Shot modes than that! SD, SDHC, and MMC memory cards can also be used.

Other features
Voice Memos – In the playback menu, users can opt to record stereo audio up to 30 seconds with each image.

Audio Snap – This feature can be turned on and off in the recording menu. When it is activated, the camera records up to seconds of audio when the shutter release button is pressed down (after snapping the picture).

Dynamic Range Setting – This feature isn’t seen on earlier Casio digital cameras. This new feature supposedly captures a bit more shadow and highlight detail, but not enough that we can see it on the LCD screen on the show floor. This is something we would look at more closely in a full review. The following options are available in recording and playback modes: Off, Expand +2, and Expand +1.

Portrait Refiner – Another new feature to Casio’s digital cameras, this may try to make up for the lack of a wider aperture. ND Filter +2, ND Filter +1, and Off can be chosen in the recording menu. I tried it, but really couldn’t tell a difference just on the LCD screen. Subtle differences may be seen in the final image though, which cannot be seen until this camera is fully reviewed.