Customer Reviews

Casio QV-R40 4 MP Mini Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

(...)P>Well, for starters I'm not an expert on digital cameras (I've owned them for awhile, but I'm a casual pic taker); however, I did a great deal of online reasearch before purchasing this one. I felt this model gave me what I needed in the price range I could afford. I was a little nervous though - as I couldn't find user reviews anywhere (just the pro reviews - which were very helpful).

First off - Bad News.... there is virtually no paper user's manual. The GOOD NEWS though is they include a digital users manual on CD ROM with the camera (it's very in depth). The REALLY GOOD NEWS is you can download the user's manual before you even buy the camera from www.casio.com!! (I did this, and by the time my camera arrived - I felt like a pro using it).

The camera is not "chinzy" feeling (like some others - Fuji for example) - it's solid built and just feels like quality. It's small, but not to tiny that it's difficult to use. The LCD screen is a good size (and you can zoom to view pics magnified from the LCD.

The camera does everything it promises. I adore it.

The bells and whistles are fun (though many of them not necessary for someone like me). I love the 10 second delay shot. This way I can get in the pic myself.

Regarding battery life: Keep in mind - I always use the LCD screen and flash (so my batteries wear down faster than other people's might). I'm getting about 50 or so pics per charge from the Sanyo Batteries that come with the camera. I'm getting about 24 pics per charge from the Kodak 1700 batteries I purchased. I'm happy with this. The batteries charge rather quickly - and with 3 sets - I'm never stuck. These NimH AA's are pretty inexpensive - so it's really no big deal. I do wonder if my lack of pictures per charge wouldn't be improved with a "better" charger (the one that came with the camera is fine....but I bet it isn't top of the line).

Here is something someone might want to know (particularly someone unfamiliar with digital cameras). They say you MUST (MUST MUST) use an AC adapter power whenever connecting the camera to the computer to transfer pics etc. This is NOT included with the camera. So - add about $30 to the price of this camera pretty much since you must buy this "accessory" :) (The camera is STILL WORTH IT).

I used my camera to take a full week of pictures in an extremely dim lit setting (halloween theme week). (...))

Yes - another tip: In really really dim lit settings (almost dark) your camera might give the "red" sign (meaning it's not focused) - take the pic anyway (all mine came out in focus when this happened to me)

The camera is great - I'm very glad I purchased it!!

I spent hours researching digital cameras at ZDnet, epinions, and Popular Photography and I finally decided on this one. I have NOT been disappointed in my choice in the slightest. I normally use this to take pictures of my two young sons, but I have taken some scenery shots as well. The pictures always come out beautifully.

Unlike the previous reviewer - I use batteries to download my pictures and have never had a problem. My understanding from the manual was that it is recommended, not required. Batteries are quick to run down when I use the LED readout to take pics, but the charger is quick and I'm up and running again in about 3 hours.

I would definitely recommend this camera to anyone looking for good value for the money.

I bought this camera in early September when it first came out, and I love it!! This little camera does everything and it is so compact that I carry it in my purse. I have 2 little kids and this camera is wonderful for catching all the milestones that they reach.

Some other reviewers have mentioned the batteries, well I have only had to charge mine 3 times the entire time I have owned it and I take alot of pictures with the LCD screen and the flash. I also just use the batteries when I am downloading the pictures and so far I haven't had any problems.

My only concern with this camera is the red eye. I have a baby and it seems as though every picture I have to edit to get that out. I never had this problem with my Kodak digital, but it is easily fixed with decent picture software.

All in all this is a wonderful camera and I have enjoyed it.

The feature that I like the most is the fast startup time (about 1-2 second from pressing the ON switch to taking the first picture w/o flash.) The shutter lag (the time from pressing the shutter till the time the camera actually records the picture) is very small also. Casio advertises the lag time as 0.01 second and I couldn't feel any lag time so I tend to believe them.

I bought this camera mainly to photograph my 4 month-old son, so the short startup time and small lag time is very important to me. So far, I'm very happy with this camera.

The package contains two NiMH batteries and charger. No SD card is included but the camera has 10 MB built-in memory. The camera can use AA alkaline batteries (in emergency situations) but the batteries would not last long. At the default 4 mega-pixel resolution, each image takes about 1.3 MB, so you should definitely buy SD card to store your pictures.

The size of the camera is also very compact and light. Very suitable for spontaneous shooting.

I will not reiterate what other reviewers have said, however, I would like to add or clarify that the manual says avoid using regular "AA" batteries as they only last 10 minutes. They are right. What it needs are the rechargeable NMH (2 come with it) and they last a very long time. Another point (that another reviewer complained about) is that the default mode of movie is easily changed to picture mode. I purchased mine from Sam's Club for $197 and they are including a 32meg. SD card. Greatest Value Ever. Soon to be available though is a QV-R41 with 2" LCD instead of 1.6".

This is a very good camera for the price. It comes with handful of features which we may not find in this category of cameras especially in this price range. It takes very good pictures too.

Things I like:
1. Very fast response in power on and autofocus
2. Amazingly, it supports AA sized batteries (which we cannot find in compact size cameras)
3. Sleek and Compact metal body
4. 20 programmed best shot modes. Especially, I like the coupling shot(combining shots of two people in to a single image) and pre-shot(recording a shot on to an existing background). It also supports user-setup best shots (up to 999).
5. Album creation from the camera itself.
6. Calendar, World time and Alarm

Things I don't like:
1. Pictures look noisy on flat surfaces such as wall or sky(though the prints came out well even on 8x10)
2. No voice for video recording.
3. No video out for viewing pictures on TV.

This is an absolutely AMAZING little camera!!!! I have owned several 35 mm cameras in my day, from SLR to point-and-shoot, from high-end price to disposable. This Casio camera outperforms them all. You can just take it out of the box and start taking pictures, or you can take pictures with features in this camera that otherwise only a professional could attain. The clarity on the photos is great - better than any 35 mm I've ever seen. The camera is the perfect size...small enough to take everywhere, and big enough that you don't lose it. I am so thrilled! The only downside is that you have to download the complete operation manual from a computer, and it's MANY pages long. But really, I was able to play with it pretty quickly without the instructions, and when I did download the manual, it only confirmed what I'd already figured out on my own. The screen is small but really shows the true colors of the final print. I can't say enough good things about this little camera.

This is a stylish, compact, well made camera at an excellent price point. Its simple to use and provides enough creative control for the great majority of people. For those of you dipping your toes into digital photogrpahy for the first time and who generally use a compact camera this is the ideal choice. Operating it is very intiutive and you will pick it up within just a couple of hours of play. Use it; abuse it it; learn fronm it over the next 12-18 months and if at the end of it your interest in photography/digicams grows then go for something with a few more bells and whistles. And in 18 months time the digicam market will have made great strides in both functionality and price.

The camera feels solid and produces excellent quality prints. It uses 2 AA batteries and SD cards and is therefore the ideal choice for travellers and those on a tight budget. (incidentally, I've found the battery life very good). It comes with its own internal memory but I recommend you get a couple of 128Mb SD cards as soon as you are able. Typically at the highest resolution about 65 shots can be stored on a 128Mb card. I find that this is plenty for say a weekend away or for a special occasion.

It doesn't come with a case, but i recommend you buy the Tamrac 5690, which will carry 4 extra rechargable batteries and 2 additional SD cards

I don't own a computer and so have not used the software that comes with it, although I have heard it is just average and doesn't match the quality of the camera. I simply go to my local photography store and download the images onto a CD or print the ones I want at a very reasonable price.

In summary: a great camera that won't become out of date in the near future.

This is my sixth digital camera over the past five years. Although I use a professional digital camera for special events, I wanted a pocket size camera for convenience.

It' fast! Let me tell you - the autofocus speed is faster than most other point and shoot cameras. It also displays photos without delay. Turn it on - the lens is ready in less than a second!

It's solid. The body is all metal. The LCD and the optics are recessed (protected). It's easy to hold.

It's easy. The controls are minimal and smartly laid out. No fancy bells and whistles.

The image quality is surprising. Exposure and color are accurate. Pictures are sharp and clear.

Is it the ultimate digital camera? No. Is it the best pocket sized digital camera? For under $350, I think it is.

I received this camera as a Christmas gift and I have been very pleased with its performance and features. First, it is a very small camera that is easy to use and carry around. I was slightly disappointed with its boxy thickness but the camera's great looks made up for it. Secondly, the 3x optical zoom on a camera of this size is very impressive. (However, don't take my word on it, technology changes so fast these days.) Finally, the camera's sophisticated in-built software and electronic sound effects is almost reminiscent of some special 'Bond' gadget. That alone should be enough for some people to get it!