Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 (black)
Manufacturer: Casio Inc. Part number: EXZ1200B
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Though hardly perfect, the Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 produces some very nice, very large pictures.
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Where to buy
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/02/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 (black) price range: $299.95
- Reviewed by: Will Greenwald
- Reviewed on: 07/13/2007
The good: Good picture quality; manual exposure controls.
The bad: Sluggish shot-to-shot time; mediocre lens; only goes up to ISO 400.
The bottom line: Though hardly perfect, the Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 produces some very nice, very large pictures.
Megapixels get too much emphasis these days. Most people really don't need more than 6 megapixels to take nice stills that you can edit, crop, post to the Web, or even print out to a respectable size. Larger images can be more trouble than they're worth for casual users, since larger file sizes require more memory and computer power to store, process and edit. That said, higher resolutions can be handy. The more pixels you have in an image, the more you can zoom in and look at fine details, and the larger you can blow up prints. What does this mean for you? Don't get sucked into the megapixel hype, and don't sacrifice image quality or performance just for a few more pixels.
The Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 joins the slowly growing ranks of 12-megapixel compact cameras. Like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200, it packs a 12-megapixel sensor into a portable, relatively pocketable package.
At 6.4 ounces with battery and SD card, the Z1200 weighs in as one of the heaviest Casio Exilim cameras to date. Despite its relative heft, the Z1200 cuts a similar profile to other Exilim Zoom cameras. Its body measures just 0.9 inch across, making it slim enough to fit into a shirt or jacket pocket. A 2.8-inch LCD dominates the camera's back panel and dwarfs the screens of many other compact cameras.
Unfortunately, the combination of small body and large screen leave the Z1200 with precious little room for controls. The camera's joypad and buttons feel small and cramped, and can confound large-thumbed users. While its physical buttons can seem awkward, the camera's software interface works quite well, revolving around an on-screen sidebar that offers direct and intuitive access to nearly every camera setting.
Besides its 12-megapixel sensor, the Z1200 packs plenty of advanced features. A mechanical image stabilization system physically shifts the CCD while shooting to reduce blur and shake. Like an increasing number of snapshot cameras, the Z1200 also offers a face-detection mode when framing shots of people. Most cameras with face detection simply recognize all faces as faces; the camera sees what it recognizes as a face, and it adjusts focus and exposure accordingly. If you have a lot of different people in the frame and want the camera to focus on only people you know, you can record their faces in the camera's memory. While the feature is only useful in certain limited situations, it offers a new twist on the increasingly standard face-detection feature.
The Z1200 offers aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual exposure modes for more experienced users. These exposure controls are handy if you want more control over your shots, but they're hardly perfect; the camera's lens can only toggle between the widest and narrowest aperture settings; you can't select a middle ground when in aperture priority or manual modes. At the widest angle of the lens, you must choose between F/2.8 and F/8.0, and at the narrowest angle you must choose either F/5.4 or F/15.4. If you don't want to deal with manual controls, the Z1200 also includes an automatic snapshot mode and 34 of Casio's Best Shot scene presets.
Of all of the Z1200's major features, its lens is the least impressive; the 37mm-to-111mm-equivalent lens offers a mere 3x zoom and a relatively narrow wide angle. A wider angle or stronger telephoto lens would have been a nice touch. The camera also falls short in terms of sensitivity; while most point-and-shoots can reach ISO 800 or ISO 1600 levels, the Z1200 tops out at ISO 400, limiting your options when taking low-light or high-speed shots.
Despite an admirably quick shutter, the Z1200 suffers from generally sluggish performance. After a 2.3 second wait from power-on to first shot, the camera took 3.1 seconds between every shot, and 3.3 seconds with the onboard flash enabled. Burst mode fared similarly slowly, shooting only seven full-resolution photos in almost 11 seconds for a rate of just 0.64 frame per second. That said, the camera's shutter lagged a scant 0.5 second with our high-contrast target and just 1.1 seconds with our low-contrast target.
The Z1200's 12-megapixel stills generally look very good. The high resolution lets fine details, such as small text and hair, come through quite clearly. While it lacks any sort of high-sensitivity setting to really test it, noise tends to stay incredibly low in almost all of our shots. A gentle grain starts to appear at ISO 400, but you probably won't even notice it unless you make very large prints.
If you can get past its slow shot-to-shot time, the Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 makes a very nice high-resolution snapshot camera. Its pictures look great, and their high resolution mean you can blow them up much more than with lower-resolution photos. Higher ISO sensitivity settings and a stronger or wider lens would have been nice, but even without those features, the Z1200 serves well as a point-and-shoot.
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Typical shot-to-shot time | |
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User reviews
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A repeat Casio camera buyer
by cakeith on September 18, 2007
Pros: Great movie mode
Cons: There are no SDHC cards fast enough to handle the best video quality
Summary: The CNET review got it wrong. This camera does not top out at ISO400, you just have to pick the right setting.
From Casio's Website for the EX-Z1200:
http://...Summary: The CNET review got it wrong. This camera does not top out at ISO400, you just have to pick the right setting.
From Casio's Website for the EX-Z1200:
http://exilim.casio.com/browse_cameras/exilim_zoom/EX-Z1200
Select Print Fact Sheet
Sensitivity Setting:
Still images: Auto, ISO50, ISO100, ISO200, ISO400
Movies: Auto
SOS: Standard Output Sensitivity. REI: Recommended Exposure Index.
When using Anti Shake function, maximum is ISO 800. When using BEST SHOT ?High Sensitivity? function, maximum is ISO 1600.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Pictures Video mode no good
by Smoggy7 on August 6, 2008
Pros: Easy to use good pictures
Cons: video only saves as .mov makes this mode no use..
Summary: Got this camera to replace my ixus. Delighted with photos and large screen.Only fault is that you can only save video in .mov format. Ok for Ipod and U-tube ...
Summary: Got this camera to replace my ixus. Delighted with photos and large screen.Only fault is that you can only save video in .mov format. Ok for Ipod and U-tube but so is my phone. Would rather load a virus that use Real or Quicktime.
Tried converting using AVS but quality is not good. Like the previously mentioned Ipod, great hardware spoilt by poor non standard software. Fortunately I bought it as a camera and have nothing but praise for that in that area. -
High quality photos in attractive compact pkg
by socalh2oskier on February 1, 2008
Pros: excellent photo quality; on-screen menu
Cons: a bit sluggish using flash
Summary: For a point and shoot guy like me who doesn't know the first thing about how to set up a camera, this camera is a dream. The Best Shots ...
Summary: For a point and shoot guy like me who doesn't know the first thing about how to set up a camera, this camera is a dream. The Best Shots feature helps me properly set things up with its easy to choose from scenes, and the on-screen menu makes it easy to toggle between different scenerios, flash settings, and photo size. This little dynamo takes surprisingly crisp and vibrant photos. My only complaint is that it is a bit sluggish between shots when using the flash. Also, 12 megapixels seems a bit much--I rarely shoot over a setting of 8. The camera looks great, fits nicely in jeans pocket, and has battery life that seems to go forever. Kudos to Casio for a fine product. I have compared the photos from this camera to similar shots taken with my brother's Canon SD 870, and I must say, at least with respect to the photos we took, which were outdoors on a sunny day, there is no comparable difference--if anything, the Casio photos seemed a bit more crisp. Buy it. You will like it.
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Its very good
by AVSN RAJESH on July 26, 2007
Pros: Good looks
Cons: Tinny Controls
Summary: Its pretty good and fantastic
Summary: Its pretty good and fantastic
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A great multipurpose camera, with minor flaws
by swayder on July 25, 2007
Pros: The camera has a great screen, responsive screen, 12mp sensor, fantastic iso range (50-1600), manual mode, family priotization, all the best shot modes, ccd shift image stabilization.
Cons: random face dection, noisier than lower mp sensors, a rather complicated menu-system,
Summary: The camera is great, even in low light scearioes w/o flash, even tho a iso setting will produce a tremendous amount of noise, the pictures sustain a huge amount ...
Summary: The camera is great, even in low light scearioes w/o flash, even tho a iso setting will produce a tremendous amount of noise, the pictures sustain a huge amount of detal, enugh for 6x4" or 9x6 pictures. At iso 50 the quality is incredible, the first non-dslr i suspect one could use to make poster-size prints.
among things that the review dosn't mention, or review incorrectley is the lack of iso above 400, this is achieved by using one of the 34 pre programmed best-shot modes, dubbed "high-sensitivity" or enabling the "subject movent stabilization" system, which boosts the iso to prevent blurring of subjects. The review also notices the lack of a burstmode, the camera is able to capture 3 sucessive frames with flash(at 12 mp), further more there are a 3mp burstmode which has a rather high fps(at iso 400 3mp fine the fps is apox 2.5 fps, at 3mp eco the fps is apox 3). ofcourse a 12mp sensor is no replacement for a 10,12 or 18x zoom, but i like having my camera i the pocket of my jeans. -
Casio is robbing me
by adaminnyc on October 17, 2007
Pros: slim and fits in ur pocket easily
Cons: easily breaks
Summary: Bought it, misplaced the receipt, it broke (lense stopped retracting), went through a lot of trouble to get a duplicate from the store, sent in the camera to Casio for ...
Summary: Bought it, misplaced the receipt, it broke (lense stopped retracting), went through a lot of trouble to get a duplicate from the store, sent in the camera to Casio for repair. Got a letter stating I need to pay $150 to repair as the receipt wasn't acceptable. If no reply in 15 days they will repair and sell it as a refurb and take the profit themselves. Great. Not to mention when it broke I was on vacation and had to spend $100 buying a cheap garbage camera (Brica). Well just bought a Cannon Powershot A560 for the same price as the repair and it's doing great, better pics - just a little bit too bulky.
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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it is very obvious that megapixels are a good thing,but a high zoom lens is better.why a 3x lens?
by matchete on May 22, 2007
Pros: lots of mega pixels,ois,face detection,light sensor,and motion detection.
Cons: in order to go pass sony's cybershot dsc-t100,you would need more than a 3z zoom lens
0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
- Part number: EXZ1200B
- Description: Now, going one step beyond the EX-Z1000, the new flagship EX-Z1200 offers 12.1 megapixel resolution - the highest available in any compact digital camera. At this amazing level of detail, photos print crystal-clear even in large sizes or when trimmed to show just one part of the image. It incorporates CCD-shift image stabilization and the latest EXILIM Engine 2.0 image-processing module with motion analysis technology. These innovative features work together to help prevent blurry shots due to shaky hands, subject movement or poor focus when photographing moving subjects such as children or pets. In addition, the auto-tracking AF system now combines both face detection and motion analysis technologies. With this revolutionary new system, once the focus is locked in, it follows a moving subject's face, maintaining both sharp focus and correct exposure.
General
- Product Type Digital camera - Compact
- Width 3.7 in
- Depth 0.9 in
- Height 2.3 in
- Weight 5.4 oz
- Enclosure Color Black
Main Features
- Resolution 12.1 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 12.39 megapixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 12,100,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/1.7 in
- Light Sensitivity ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO 1600, ISO auto
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Image Stabilizer Optical (image sensor shift mechanism)
- Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 30 sec
- Exposure Metering Spot, Multi-segment, Center-weighted
- Exposure Modes Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Face Detection Yes
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- Digital Video Format QuickTime
- Still Image Format JPEG
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture QuickTime - 640 x 480, QuickTime - 320 x 240, QuickTime - 848 x 480
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 11.4 MB Flash - Integrated
- Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage Fine JPEG 4000 x 3000 : 122 - With 1GB card, Normal JPEG 4000 x 3000 : 234 - With 1GB card, Economy JPEG 4000 x 3000 : 350 - With 1GB card, JPEG 3264 x 2448, JPEG 2560 x 1920, JPEG 2048 x 1536, Fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 2930 - With 1GB card
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Soft, Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective Flash Range 4 in - 13 ft
- Features AF illuminator
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 7.9 mm - 23.7 mm - F/2.8-5.4
- Focal Length 7.9 mm - 23.7 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 37 - 111 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Min Focus Range 15.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 6-50cm
- Lens Aperture F/2.8-5.4
- Optical Zoom 3 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 5 group(s) / 7 element(s)
- Lens Manufacturer Casio
- Features Aspherical lens
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec, 10 sec
- Additional Features DPOF support, Anti-Shake DSP, Face detection, Audio recording, Date/time stamp, Built-in speaker, Tone compensation, PictBridge support, 16:9 widescreen mode, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image stabilization (video mode)
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.8 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Format 230,400 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type Voice recorder
- Supported Digital Audio Standards WAV
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video/audio output
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Software
- Software Drivers & Utilities
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Strap, Docking station
- Cables Included 1, 1 x USB cable, 1 x A/V cable
Power
- Power Device Battery charger - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Casio NP-40
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Product series
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Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 12.1 megapixels, 3 x, 2.8 in LCD display, 11.4 MB - Integrated
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Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 (silver)
Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 12.1 megapixels, 3 x, 2.8 in LCD display, 11.4 MB - Integrated
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Casio Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Casio Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.casio.com/
- Address:
570 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Dover, NJ 07801 - Phone: 1-800-706-2534
- Email: gen_support@casio.com
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