Customer Reviews

Casio Exilim EX-Z3 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom and Dock

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

pros:
- the main selling point of this camera is its small size: 3.4 x 2.6 x 0.9 in, weighing in at 5.1oz.
- 3MP resolution, 3x zoom in a very compact package.
- average three megapixel resolution.
- low image noise at low ISO settings.
- allows manual white balance.
- has 21 scene modes!
- good reliable metering.
- low image noise at low ISO settings.
- wide range of focus options including manual focus!
- histogram display in live view and play modes.
- solid build quality.
- fast startup time.
- cool feature: while in its cradle, pushing the dock's photo button turns the EX-Z3 into a small digital frame: the display shows the images it currently holds, displaying each for several seconds.

cons:
- no video out capability at all.
- some chromatic aberrations.
- some vignetting visible.
- average photo quality with soft edges.
- images noisier than competition.
- no buffering means a longer wait before you can take your next shot.
- no AF assist light.
- high redeye occurrence.
- no image parameter adjustment.
- blue cast when using flash.
- the LCD is a full 2", but is low resolution.
- metal body scratches easily.
- only JPEG format is supported.
- below average auto focus speed.
- longest shutter setting is 1 second.
- only 10MB of built-in memory provided so add $$ to your budget to buy external memory.
- proprietary battery - again, a few more bucks for a spare.
- you need to remove external memory in order to access images saved in internal memory.

the casio ex-z3 is very similar to the pentax optio S with the optio being even more compact than the casio. as such, they share most of the same strengths as well as issues. my biggest complaints are the soft images at the corners and the lack of buffering. a camera with better photo quality (but bigger and only has 2x zoom) is canon's sd100.

i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.

Don't be fooled becuase it is a Casio. This camera is absloutely excellent. It has numerous special features (double exposure, night, fireworks, and portrait sessions to name a few). I charges quickly, the time between shots is quick as is storage. The viewing function has numerous options, slide shows caledars, zoom, and the movie with sound tops it all off. My previous digital camera cannnot even come close to how great this is. And yes, its really the size of a credit card.

This is truly a fun camera to play with. Here's the deal: you get 3.2megapixil pictures from a machine thats the size of your credit card. What else can you want? It's true that the camera's viewfinder is a bit awkward, but the 2" display helps a lot. There's a little bit of noise in the pictures but I find the colors come out very well, even in dark settings. The size of the camera makes you want to be delicate with it, but it is made of sturdy materials. The control menu is straightforward, pretty much dummy-proof. Admittedly, the D-pad is small, but one will get used to it in hours. You can see that Casio had to make everything small for the 2" LCD screen.
The Best Shot feature will save you time with adjusting settings. At the same time, there are a couple of manual settings that you can fool around with (the EV shift and ISO settings). The video recording is decent, but it only lasts 30secs - then you'll have to make a new file.

All in all, this is not for the photography enthusiast, but instead for fun snapshooters. Definitely the Canon S-series or the Panasonic Lumix are better candidates if you want the "camera feel", but the casio is more of a fashion statement. The looks and design is remarkable. Watching the Pentax lens expand out boggles my mind every time I turn it on. If nothing else, it's the greatest conversation starter. Nothing compares to it (not even the Optio-S). Just take it out in public, people WILL turn heads.

I liked the Exilim much better than the Optio S. I am a current Pentax Optio S owner but had the Exilim previously. I used the Exilim extensively for my honeymoon and loved it! The only 2 cons I experienced with the Exilim is 1)the flash is not powerful so not ideal for taking pictures in dim light and 2) the docking station broke after the first month. If Dell, the reseller, wouldn't have hassled me about replacing the docking station I would not have returned it.

I found the Exilim to be much more user friendly and better designed ergonomically. The 2 advantages of the Optio S is that it performs better under dim lighting and is slightly smaller. My primary gripe with the Optio is with its super slow shutter speed. My goal was a simple point and shoot camera to conveniently 'capture the moment' after I have my baby. Adults can't even sustain a genuine smile/pose long enough for me to take a good candid shot let alone expect an infant to. I feel like I keep missing the moment vs capturing it. The downside outweights any potential advantage to me, unless your primary targets are still lifes in dim settings.

Though in most respects both cameras are very comparable, I still think the Exilim is a superior camera overall. In retrospect, I would've reordered another Exilim.

there may be a way to recharge the battery on this camera w/o using the docking station but I have yet to determine it - due to this limitation I give this camera three stars as it takes much of the flexibilty away - which is exactly why you'd buy a camera this small...

other than that, the interface is solid, the optics great and the size and weight make it fun to play with.

I'm not really a very good reviewer, so instead here are links to the two best digital camera review sites around.

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/ex-z3.html

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/casioexz3/

If you are comparing this camera to the Pentax OptioS, you probably already know the cameras are very similar, but in the end both reviewers above gave the Casio Exilim Z3 a slightly higher rating.

I have hunted for months a digital camera that is, within this price range, small, light, elegant, user friendly and gives good natural looking shots without the nasty flash effect.
what i found is Amazing shots with this camera, can use it in dim daylight without a flash, can change the modes to b/w, sepia filter, magenta filter, enhance flesh tones and increase saturation.
3.3 mega pixels which gives u amazing results both on and off screen.
Zoom lens and 3x Optical Zoom.
what i extremly like about it is the manual focus and the ability to capture dim daylight like it is, without a blur and without the nasty flash.

I've owned a digital camera for several years but had difficulty viewing the screen especially under well lit conditions. The Casio solved that issue thanks to its crisp 2 inch monitor! Even though I sometimes wear glasses I have had no difficulty using the viewfinder. The camera responds quickly. E'm very pleased with the shots I have taken in the past month utilizing many of the features (they are a lot of fun). There is no need for an owner's manual thanks to the graphical display of information on the screen. The movie function is a fun addition although the resolution is somewhat weak.

This camera is great! I got it from Wal-Mart online for 398.00 w/ free 128 MB SD card! The docking port is very handy and so easy to use. The movie feature is great too. The only bad thing is the battery life. It's a bit short compared to other cameras. The quality of the picture is very nice. I recommend buying this camera!!

I have tried several digital cameras over the years, as I consult for a digital photography developer. My criteria for selecting this camera as my favorite is (1) small size, (2) great pictures (esp. with the flash), and (3) video option. This camera has performed great -- I've taken over 600 pictures in the month that I have owned it. It is very easy to use, and prints developed by Ofoto.com and Sacko.com have been unbelievably sharp.