Model Design / Appearance (7.0)
The EX-Z1000 is much plainer and more appealing than previous Casio Exilims. Casio dropped the chrome lumps on the front that were ineffective as a hand grip and the chrome bolts that looked incongruously automotive. The mix of curves, rounded corners, flat faces and right angles remains, and it's a winning combination without the extra ornamentation. The satin metal finish shows fingerprints too readily, but other than that, the EX-Z1000 has a simple, clean and winning look.
Size / Portability (6.5)
At 3.62 x 2.3 x 0.88 inches, the Z1000 will fit in pretty small pockets, pouches and purses. Its metal skin seems more durable than the plastic that dominates other cameras, but this Casio is poorly sealed against dust and moisture. That's a problem for nearly all cameras with telescoping lenses, but the EX-Z1000 adds an exposed data port for its dock and an unsealed battery/SD card door. The poor seals mean that the camera should be protected in a case when transported.
Casio lists the Z1000's weight as 4.9 ounces, without battery or SD card. The card and battery don't weigh much, so users won’t need a neck strap or anything to tote it around.
Handling Ability (6.25)
It's comfortable to hold the Casio Exilim EX-Z1000. The right-hand grip feels good – there is a good spot for the user's thumb, and there is plenty of room for the middle and ring fingers on the front of the camera. The camera is not too tall for most users to hold the top and bottom with the left hand's thumb and index finger. The EX-Z1000 can be a slippery camera, because its surface is smooth metal, except for the textured metal text on the face. It would be wise to use the wrist strap.
 Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (5.75)The EX-Z1000 has small buttons, which seem to be more of an esthetic choice than a practical one – there's room for bigger ones. The EX-Z1000 has a push-button power control, a choice that seems to leave designers ambivalent – the camera should be easy to start, but the button shouldn't power up the camera accidentally when something bumps it in a pocket or backpack. Casio's designers went tiny with the power button, but didn't recess it, a common choice designers use to protect power buttons. This Casio is not as easy to turn on as it should be, and it is too vulnerable to being accidentally powered up.
The four-way control is very responsive. It's easy to hit the right quadrant, and the assembly seems durable.
Menu (6.0)
Because the EX-Z1000 has relatively few buttons and mechanical controls, its menus are proportionately more important to its operation. In general, the menus are clumsy. They aren't divided into natural categories, and the user can end up in a guessing game, trying to figure out where to look for a particular control.
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Shooting Menu
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Focus
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Set focus mode
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Continuous
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Set burst mode
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Self-Timer
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Delay exposure by 2 or 10 seconds
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Anti-shake
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Activate mode for steadier shots, which boosts shutter speed by raising ISO
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AF Area
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Set autofocus pattern
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AF Assist Light
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Turn amber beam on in low light
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Instant Zoom
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Activate the digital zoom instantly
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Digital Zoom
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Extend zooming range, but decrease image quality
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L/R Key
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Set left-right quadrants on the 4-way controller to operate custom function
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Quick Shutter
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Speed up shutter response
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Audio Snap
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Record sound to associate with still image
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Grid
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Show grid lines for lining up square shots
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Review
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Set EX-Z1000 to display images after they are shot
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Icon Help
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Activate help system
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Memory
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Set camera to save settings for individual menu items and other controls, including zoom and focus
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Setup Menu
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Sounds
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Set alert sounds
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Startup
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Set startup graphic
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File No.
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Set image numbering
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World time
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Set time zone
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Time stamp
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Show time and/or date on image
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Adjust (Time/Date)
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Set date and time
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Date style
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Set order for day, month, year, etc.
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Language
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Set language for menus and alerts
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Sleep
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Set power-saving mode
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Auto Power Off
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Set interval for automatic shutoff
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Rec/Play
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Set to allow record and play buttons to power on the EX-Z1000
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USB
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Set USB mode
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Video Out
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Set analog video format
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Format
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Reformat memory card
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Reset
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Return camera to factory settings
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Quality Menu
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Size
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Image pixel dimensions
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Quality
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Set JPEG compression amount
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Video Quality
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Set video compression
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EV shift
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Adjust exposure +/- 2 EV, in 1/3 EV steps
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White Balance
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Adjust to match lighting
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ISO
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Set sensitivity
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Metering
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Set pattern for light measurement
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Filter
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Set color effects
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Sharpness
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Increase edge sharpness of images
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Contrast
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Set contrast
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Saturation
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Set intensity of colors
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Flash intensity
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Adjust flash brightness
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Flash assist
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Brightens images digitally when the flash is too dim
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A separate menu comes up in Playback mode.
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Playback Menu
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Slide show
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Display images in sequence
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Calendar
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Navigate to images via a calendar interface
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MOTION PRINT
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Create a montage image, made with video frame grabs
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Movie Editing
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Cut parts of video clips
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Keystone
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Adjust perspective
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Color correction
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Adjust tints
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Favorites
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Save images to camera memory
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DPOF
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Print images
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Protect
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Prevent images from being deleted from memory
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Date/Time
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Change date and time in image data
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Rotate
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Switch image to horizontal orientation
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Resize
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Shrink image dimensions
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Trimming
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Crop image
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Dubbing
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Add sound to existing image
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Copy
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Copy image from SD card to internal memory, or vice-versa
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Ease of Use (5.75)
The basic functions of the EX-Z1000 are accessible and clear. Users who understand the basic parameters of photography will have an easy time using the camera, as long as they want an automatic camera. It's harder for two other groups: absolute novices and users who want manual control. Novices may get in trouble because even the most automated modes allow the user to set ISO and to lighten or darken the image, among many other parameters. There is no “foolproof” mode that sets everything, and prevents the user from making obvious mistakes. The user who wants manual control will be frustrated because there is relatively little manual control, and what's available is cumbersome to use.
The Casio Exilim EX-Z1000 comes with a manual on CD-ROM. A print manual was converted to PDF, and it doesn't function as well as an electronic document should. A paper manual isn't necessarily better than an electronic one, but when the manufacturer doesn't adapt the manual to the digital format – improving search function, formatting pages to fit onscreen and so on – then the digital version is inferior. That's the case here.
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