Casio Exilim EX-Z1050

Value (4.0)
The Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 originally retailed for $299 in March 2007, but the price has been dropped by the manufacturer to $269. The camera is less expensive than almost all other 10-megapixel point-and-shoot models. Unfortunately, there are reasons for that. The LCD screen has poor resolution and a limited viewing angle. The 3x lens isn’t very high-quality and at times causes chromatic aberrations. The auto focus system doesn’t seem to work well as most pictures are blurry or simply lacked detail. The processing time is atrocious and caused plenty of missed opportunities. Sure, the camera has 10.1 megapixels but it doesn’t have much else. While it’ll save buyers a little money, it’s probably not worth the $269.

Comparisons
Casio Exilim EX-Z75 – This is a budget model released alongside the Z1050. It costs $229 and has a similar design. It is a little thinner but a little taller at 3.8 x 2.4 x 0.77 inches and weighs about the same at 4.3 ounces. The Z75 has the same 3x optical zoom with the same 38-114mm equivalent specs, but a smaller max aperture of f/3.1. The Z75 doesn’t have the massive resolution of the Z1050; it has 7.2 megapixels on a smaller 1/2.5-inch CCD instead. It has 34 Best Shot scene modes and fewer editing features in the playback mode. Its shutter speeds and focus modes are the same, but its ISO sensitivity tops off at a meager 400. The two cameras have the same wide 2.6-inch, 115,000-pixel LCD screen. The Casio Z75 has a more powerful flash unit that fires to 11.48 feet and a less powerful battery that gets only 230 shots per charge. The Z75 has less internal memory at 8 MB but can still accept SD media. For most users, this digital camera is just as good because 10 megapixels honestly isn’t necessary.

Canon PowerShot A640 – The A640 has a thicker body that is easier to handle but doesn’t fit as well in a pocket. The 10-megapixel digital camera has a longer 4x optical zoom lens that has max apertures of f/2.8 and f/4.1. It has a 2.5-inch LCD monitor that folds out of the camera body and rotates to almost any angle, but it has the same disappointing 115,000-pixel resolution. With 21 shooting modes ranging from manual to automatic, there is more substance here for users to advance their photographic skills. There are 13 scene modes and a host of picture effects that rival the Casio Z1050’s. The Canon PowerShot A640 has a better 15-1/2500 shutter speed range and a flash that reaches 14 feet. It has the same 80-800 ISO range and the same standard 640 x 480-pixel video resolution, but at a slightly better 30 fps rate. The Canon A640 has a 1.5 fps burst mode and runs on four AA batteries that add some serious heft to the camera. The A640 originally retailed for $399 but now sells for less than $300 online. It is one of few compact digital cameras that offers 10 megapixels and still provides decent manual controls.

Olympus Stylus 1000 – This digital camera originally retailed for $399 but now sells for less than $250. The Olympus Stylus 1000 has 10 megapixels in an all-weather body that is certainly sturdier and better-sealed than the Casio Z1050’s. The Stylus has a 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5-inch LCD screen with much smoother 230,000-pixel resolution. The wedge-shaped camera body comes in four colors, including orange and blue, and measures only 0.89 inches across. There are 20 scene modes including a panorama mode, although it only works when an Olympus-branded xD-Picture card is inserted. There is a guide mode that has pages and pages of tutorials on how to fix the exposure and such. Its 10-megapixel resolution was often compromised by features like the burst mode and the ISO sensitivity. The camera could shoot 3.6 fps, but only at 3 megapixels. It had an extensive 64-6400 ISO range, but anything at or above 1600 was at significantly reduced resolution. The Olympus Stylus 1000 is another 10-megapixel option, but not a very good one.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 – This digital camera has 10.2 megapixels on a larger image sensor that is 16:9 formatted. It has a wide 2.8-inch LCD screen and it shoots widescreen movies and pictures. The LCD has a bit more resolution at 210,000 pixels, but that’s still not crystal clear. The widescreen movies shoot at 1280 x 720 pixels, but only at a choppy 15 fps. The standard 640 x 480 resolution is available too. The Panasonic LX2 has a 4x optical zoom lens coupled with a great optical image stabilization mode. It has 18 scene modes including 2 "baby" modes that save the exact age of the child in the file information. It performed respectably in testing with its 60-1/2000 shutter speed range and 3 fps burst mode. At 4.2 x 2.3 x 1 inches, the LX2 is slightly bigger than the Z1050 but can still fit in pockets and is very portable. The Panasonic LX2’s ISO reaches to 3200 and its flash to 13.5 feet. It has 13 MB of internal memory and can accept SD, SDHC, and MMC media. It originally retailed for $499 but can be found for at least fifty dollars less now.

Samsung S1050 – The name almost makes these two cameras twins. The Samsung S1050 has 10.1 megapixels but that’s about where the similarities end. The S1050 has a 5x optical zoom lens and a larger 3-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels. It has a matte black metal body that looks like a retro film body and it measures 3.9 x 2.5 x 1 inches. The buttons on the camera aren’t intuitively labeled. There is a nice set of manual, priority, automatic, and scene modes. There is even a movie mode that shoots 800 x 592 pixels but at 20 fps. The smoother 30 fps is available with the more common 640 x 480-pixel video. The Samsung S1050 has face recognition technology, an 80-1600 ISO range, and a 2 fps burst mode. It originally retailed for $349 but sells for less than $200 .



Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – 38 scene modes. 0.95-inch thick body. 3x zoom. 2.6-inch LCD. And only one finger needed to take a picture. The Z1050 is a point-and-shooter’s dream.

Budget Consumers – This digital camera costs $269, which probably isn’t within reach for many budget consumers.

Gadget Freaks – It has 10.1 megapixels, but that’s its most alluring feature. Now that every manufacturer has a 10-megapixel camera, this is almost boring.

Manual Control Freaks – The Z1050 will only frustrate these consumers. This camera tries to automate everything in every situation possible. It’s almost scary.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists – It may have more advertised megapixels than most digital SLRs, but the Casio Z1050 won’t replace them in pros’ camera bags.