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Manual Control Options
Exposure on the EX-Z1000 is automatic, with indirect control available via the exposure compensation. Other parameters, including ISO, white balance and focus, can be set manually.
Focus
Auto Focus (5.75)
The Casio Exilim Z1000 typically settles on a focus point quickly, even in low light, and given the extremely short focal length of the lens, it's not surprising that it's usually well-focused. Oddly, though, the focus mechanism can be erratic. While shooting part of our suite of tests, we took multiple frames of a target with the EX-Z1000 mounted on a tripod. The camera didn't move and the bright, contrasty subject didn't move either. All that changed from shot to shot was the ISO and the exposure compensation. Still, sometimes the EX-Z1000 couldn't focus on the target at all, and sometimes it got it just right. Multiple trials at the same settings gave varying results.
The EX-Z1000 also offers a macro setting, for close-ups as near as a couple of inches from the lens, infinity focus, and “Pan Focus,” which adjusts the camera for a compromise shooting distance, so that as much as possible is in focus. The Pan Focus setting changes as the lens zooms.
Manual Focus (5.0)
The EX-Z1000 magnifies the center of the frame in the manual focus mode, and the four-way controller provides the user interface. The control is accurate – it doesn't overshoot the focus point by continuing to adjust the lens after the button is released. Overshoot is a common problem on small cameras, and Casio deserves praise for avoiding that problem. The enlarged view is jagged and grainy, though, making it a little tough to judge focus on the screen.
Exposure (6.75)
The user can adjust the EX-Z1000's exposure by up to 2 stops above or below the metered setting, in steps of 1/3-stop. Two stops is a useful range for overcoming backlighting and other tricky situations. Though other cameras offer wider ranges, most users won't need more than what the Casio Z1000 offers.
Metering (7.0)
The Casio Exilim EX-Z1000 offers the typical metering choices for digital cameras – even the fanciest, most complicated ones. The choices are “Multi,” which takes a number of readings all over the frame, and compares them to set exposure; “Spot,” which measures a very small area of the frame, right in the middle; and “Center-weighted,” which measures the whole frame at once, but gives preference to the middle.
Snapshot manufacturers have labored mightily to get their “Multi” patterns to work reliably, and it's the best choice on the Z1000. Nearly all of the time, it produces the best result. “Spot” is appropriate for users who operate cameras manually, an option not available on the EX-Z1000.
White Balance (7.0)
The Z1000 has a functional Auto white balance setting, plus presets for Sun, Cloudy, Shade, two fluorescent types and Tungsten. The settings err on the side of flattering color, which suits the target market for this camera. The EX-Z1000 also has a manual setting for taking custom white balance settings. It's accurate, but it allows only one setting to be saved.
ISO (6.75)
The EX-Z1000 has ISO settings of 50, 100, 200 and 400. In its low-light and anti-shake modes, the camera will increase the ISO to 800, 1600 and 3200, but the user can't set these manually. The higher settings produce an enormous hit on image quality.
Shutter Speed (0.0)
Shutter speeds from a 1/2 second to 1/2000th of a second are par for the course on a pocket camera like the EX-Z1000. The night scene mode extends the range to 4 seconds. Most users can't hand-hold the camera below 1/30th of a second unless they're using flash or the picture will turn out blurry.
Aperture (0.0)
The EX-Z1000's maximum aperture varies with its zoom setting, running from f/2.8 to f/5.4. The minimum aperture runs from f/5.6 to f/10.5. With such a short focal length, aperture doesn't have a big effect on depth of field, so the minimum aperture is not a big problem. The very small maximum aperture at the telephoto setting will probably limit low-light and flash zoom shots.
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