Casio Exilim EX-Z60 First Impressions Review

Auto Mode
The Casio EX-Z60 operates in full auto mode only, as befits a camera for the beginning shooter. However, you can make certain shifts in the program. You can shift the white balance off Auto to fixed preset settings; you can bias the exposure; and you can force a higher "action stopping" shutter speed. ISO can also be moved away from its Auto position to fixed values.

The auto settings worked well, as far as could be tested in an informal setting. As with all systems of this type, you can trick the program into giving you a blurry image, for example, by deliberately trying to stop action in a low light image, but you have work at it. Most of the time the images looked well exposed.

Movie Mode
Three movie modes are available: 640 x 480 (HQ) at 30 fps; 640 x 480 (Normal) at 30 fps; and 320 x 240 at 30 fps. We were unable to get a close check of focus performance in the low light environment of the exhibit hall where the camera was previewed, though we can say that strong backlighting will darken the foreground. In the exhibit hall environment it was not possible to test the audio recording functions. The camera includes a trimming editing function for video clips.

Drive / Burst Mode
The camera offers a normal burst mode, a high speed burst mode, and continuous flash bust mode. Normal speed takes images about 1.5 seconds apart. The high speed burst with flash operates at 3 fps.

The self-timer offers three modes: 10 seconds, 2 seconds and a triple self-timer.

Playback Mode
Playback options on the Casio Exilim Z60 include enlargement to 8x, trimming, movie playback, movie edit, motion print, 9-print display, rotate, calendar display and slide show. White balance and brightness are adjustable in playback. This is not a particularly great set of options; however, with most Exilims, the cameras themselves—and not the played back images upon them—are what’s meant to be seen.

Custom Image Presets
There are no less than 33 shooting presets available in the so-called "Best Shot" mode, obtained directly by pressing the BS button on the back of the camera. The usual settings for Auto, Landscape, Portrait, Sports, Night scene, and others are present, shown as icons and in words. But then we take a plunge into more exotic settings as Splashing Water, Twilight, Business Card, White Board, Soft Flowing Water; the list goes on.

Exilim cameras are unique in that they actually include too many shooting presets. It may take you longer to sort through them all and find the "right" one than is practical in a shooting situation. And really, do we need a setting for Autumn Leaves? And what does it really do to the image? Loading up on these presets is becoming too cumbersome to utilize and seems pretty silly.