Casio Exilim EX-Z700 First Impressions Review

Value
The Casio Exilim EX-Z700 is fairly priced at $299. This is about the going price of a point-and-shoot digital camera these days. Its pricier features include the 7.2-megapixel imaging chip, the extensive Best Shot modes, long lasting battery and the bright LCD screen. Casio cut some corners on the 3x lens and the included software though.

Comparison to Casio Exilim EX-Z750 – The Z750 was released about a year and a half ago, but still has many of the same features that are included on the new model. Both cameras have a 7.2-megapixel imaging sensor and a 3x optical zoom lens. The Z750 has a similarly sized body that is 0.9 inches wide but the control interface is completely different on this model. Instead of a square-shaped multi-selector, there is a circle with a joystick in the center to navigate. The boxy aluminum body also has an optical viewfinder and a large mode dial on the back where the right thumb rests. This makes mode changes much simpler than the menu setup. The Casio Z750 has 29 Best Shot modes; the list has ID Photo, Cross, and Pastel Illustration modes, but does not have the For eBay, Auto Framing, and two Layout modes that are included on the Z700. The old Casio Z750 has manual control over the shutter speed and aperture and adds more movie mode options, including a Past Movie mode that records five seconds before the shutter release button is pushed. The camera's burst mode shoots a little slower at 2 fps, but it lasts longer with 6 frames. The Casio Z750 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen that has less resolution with 115,000 pixels. It also comes packaged with a camera dock. When it first hit the market, the Z750 retailed for $449 but now sells for about the same price as the Z700.

Who It's For
Point-and-Shooters – The Casio Exilim EX-Z700 has all the right features for this audience. With vast amounts of scene modes, point-and-shooters will never really need to enter the recording menu – although the option is certainly there.

Budget Consumers – At $299, the Z700 is reasonably priced for what it is. Its ultra-slim nature and vast amount of shooting modes make this Exilim a decent candidate for the money-minded consumer.

Gadget Freaks – There aren't any great innovative gadgets or features on the Casio Z700. There are interesting features like a 3x self-timer and supposedly a keystone fix (strangely accessed by the color correction option), but there's not much beyond that.

Manual Control Freaks – After searching vainly for a mode dial, these consumers will discover that there are only a handful of manual controls but a vast number of automatic modes. This will be enough to scare them away from the Z700.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists – For the same reasons this camera works for point-and-shooters, it will not work for professionals and serious hobbyists. It is considered a mid-tier camera.