Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

The Exilim EX-Z57 is yet another Casio addition to the point-and-shoot market, following market trends of increased slenderness and aimed at consumers searching for both style and convenience. This 5-megapixel digital camera definitely tops the charts for portability and style. Its thin, flat profile makes it easy to pitch in a shirt or pants pocket. The camera is incredibly light, but the aluminum frame gives the body some substance and credibility. This Exilim is comfortable to handle and easier to use than many previous Casio models, although some of that can be attributed to the automatic nature of the camera. The Z57 stocks a 3x optical zoom lens with a 5.25-megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD behind it. The Exilim EX-Z57 has the same interior configuration as last year’s Casio Z55, except the newer model has an enormous 2.7-inch LCD screen and no optical viewfinder. The Casio EX-Z57 will be available worldwide for $399.99 in late March or early April.
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Picture Quality / Size Options
This digital camera has six image sizes for still shots: 2560 x 1920, 2560 x 1712, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, and 640 x 480. As you can tell, there are size options in 4:3 and 3:2 aspect ratios, optimizing the camera for the popular size of 4 x 6-inch prints. Each resolution size includes three compression settings: Fine, Normal, and Economy. For example, the Fine mode on the highest 2560 x 1920 size records a 2.2 MB file while the Economy mode records the same resolution in a 1.3 MB JPEG file. At the highest resolution and in the Fine mode, users can capture four pictures to the internal memory. A memory card will definitely be necessary.

Picture Effects Mode
The picture effects are mixed in with the scene modes in the Best Shot menu. Users of the Casio Z57 can shoot in black and white or sepia. Note that on this model, sepia is called Retro and black and white is called Monochrome. These color modes can be switched on and off and act like recording modes, in contrast to the post-recording added color modes that some compact digital cameras utilize. The camera changes everything in view to the selected black and white or sepia, so users can view how their composition will truly look, rather than guessing and adding colors in the editing process.

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