AT&T Tech Support 360Casio Exilim EX-Z55
Manufacturer: Casio Inc. Part number: EX-Z55
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- A great-looking 5-megapixel point-and-shoot with a big screen and so-so photo quality.
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com |
 |
See Site
|
Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price |
as of 10/12/2008 |
CNET editors' review
Casio Exilim EX-Z55
price range: $244.99
- Reviewed by: Robert Dubbin
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 11/12/2004
- Released on: 09/20/2004
The good: Large, bright LCD screen; outstanding battery life; intelligent and eye-catching design; solid indoor photo quality.
The bad: Poor outdoor photo quality; no burst mode; few manual features.
The bottom line: A great-looking 5-megapixel point-and-shoot with a big screen and so-so photo quality.
The centerpiece of the Z55's design is its 2.5-inch LCD screen, which takes up most of the small camera's back and, thus, seems even bigger. Also contributing to this effect is the Z55's comically small and essentially useless optical viewfinder, which works only passably well during daylight and will temporarily blind you at night if you try it with the LCD turned on. Casio crams all of the buttons on the 5.6-ounce Exilim Z55 to the right of Screenzilla but organizes them logically despite their cramped layout. Though the camera lacks ports to charge the battery and download photos directly, the included dock accomplishes both tasks seamlessly.
The Casio Exilim EX-Z55's 3X optical zoom works well, although you're limited to six stops from its widest angle of 35mm to its 105mm telephoto (35mm equivalents). The camera's lens is small enough to keep the camera looking sleek but protrudes enough to keep you from inadvertently taking 10 shots of your own finger. We like Casio's novel memory menu, which enables you to instruct the Z55 to remember the camera's current settings--zoom length, color and ISO settings, white balance, and flash modes--even after you've turned it off. This feature will benefit anyone who chooses to use the Z55 with a tripod, as you'll be able to compose your shots, then take a break without losing battery power. Speaking of the Z55's battery, it's phenomenal: we took more than 1,000 photos, 50 percent with flash, without needing to recharge.
In practice, the Z55's lack of manual features can make some shots difficult to capture properly; night shots are a good example. You're limited to the scene presets on the Z55's Best Shot menu, and though there's a fairly exhaustive list of shooting situations available--23 of them, including Casio's new Business Shot for photographing whiteboards and documents--it's frustrating to know that the camera supports variable shutter speeds but that you can't set them directly. Though the Z55 allows you to bump your flash intensity up or down, in most low-light situations, the flash will still make people and skin tones look washed out. The Z55 also lacks a burst mode, so you won't be able to hold down the shutter and snap photos in succession. Still, the Z55 ranks among the fastest in its class for shutter lag, grabbing pictures a mere 0.05 second after the shutter is pressed. Under typical conditions, shot-to-shot times typically lasted a mediocre 2.5 seconds and jumped up to 5.3 when we used a flash.
By and large, the Z55 delivers evenly exposed indoor shots when there's adequate lighting. However, the same can't be said for its performance in daylight; the Z55 falls victim to worse than average purple fringing at high-contrast edges and obliterates white highlights in otherwise perfectly exposed shots. To its credit, Casio has done an admirable job of limiting the noise captured by the camera's CCD, so if low-noise performance is a priority for you, the Casio Exilim EX-Z55 may deserve a serious look.
User reviews
-
-
great shot-and-go for the shirt pocket
by lionhrt10 on March 19, 2005
Pros: No shuttter lag! Minimal size is ideal for shirt or pants pocket
Cons: a bit cumbersome on the viewfinder -- but easy to live with
Summary: Very good overall. Ideal for the need-a-shot fast-and-good. No shutter lag! It's a joy to use compared to the annoying wait of competitive brands. Produces very good quality -- ...
Summary: Very good overall. Ideal for the need-a-shot fast-and-good. No shutter lag! It's a joy to use compared to the annoying wait of competitive brands. Produces very good quality -- I haven't seen the negatives CNET review discusses. The review is a bit harsh and notes that it doesn't have the manual functions. Well...if those are important, then don't get any mini-camera of this type -- go get a real SLR. It's great for family events, product shots in stores and location, documenting life -- and goes with me everywhere because of it's extremely easy to use. I use this in place of my highend SLR for everything except my studio work.
8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
More then I expected
by eforce on April 26, 2005
Pros: Camera is small, fast, fun features, & great photo quality
Cons: none that i can think of at this time
Summary: My most recient digital camera was a 6.1 Kodak which got very good reviews. So I bought it. At first it took great pictures then started having problems. So ...
Summary: My most recient digital camera was a 6.1 Kodak which got very good reviews. So I bought it. At first it took great pictures then started having problems. So I decided to buy the Casio EX-Z55, I read where the picture quality is so so. I have to tell you, Its fantastic. Much better then I expected. I just got it today & took it to my sons basball game, where I played around with it, tyring different features. When I came home , I uploaded the pictures & were blown away by the quality. Please , if you are thinking of buying this camea, go do it.
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Good on paper. Disappointing execution.
by Conspicuous Consumer on July 30, 2005
Pros: Small. Long battery life.
Cons: Several feature and quality weaknesses.
Summary: On paper the EXZ55 looks great. But once I got it there were a few things i did not like. I had this camera for a couple of weeks and ...
Summary: On paper the EXZ55 looks great. But once I got it there were a few things i did not like. I had this camera for a couple of weeks and returned it. I later got the Canon SD300 and am much happier with it.
Things I liked about the Z55
- great battery life
- solid construction
- movie recording with audio playback
- very compact
I returned it because
- It's a two-handed camera. You have to hold it with your left and operate with your right. I want to hold and operate with one hand. My old cam ( a canon s100 from way back in 2000) could be held in the right hand while operating the zoom and clicking the pic with the right index finger. But with the Z55's button placement, I was sure that sooner or later I would drop it if I tried use it with one hand.
- Movie / Picture mode can only be selected by menu. Multiple clicks and navigation are required to switch between the two, so you might miss a shot, or you might forget to switch and start recording in the wrong mode. I'd rather have a switch on the outside so I can quickly toggle movie / picture.
- Not the best photos. I had some great shots and some weak ones. I think it's a focus problem rather than a lens or CCD problem. Sometimes the cam figured out what to focus on, giving great pictures. Other times things looked fuzzy and grainy. There was a lot of variability in sequential shots of the same scene and lighting, so I don't think it was user error. With such inconsistent photo quality, what's the point.
- Casio touts the big screen. But it is so low res (fewer, bigger pixels) that I found it hard to view. The SD300 has a slightly smaller (2") screen that I find provides more viewable image.
Other things I didnt like that I could have lived with:
- I didn't like the cradle (althought I've read that some people do). I prefer the chargers where you take the battery out.
- Casio makes two cases that supposedly are tailored for the Z55. But I found that one was way too big, and one was too small. Actually my old Canon S100 leather case fit pretty well.
- The LCD is not recessed, so I expect the screen surface will get scratched up unless you're very careful.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Great portable camera for near distance snapshot use
by davecosio on March 7, 2005
Pros: Portable great battery life. Fun best shot settings
Cons: Less effective at night, Hope you have a steady hand
Summary: This camera is great for my purposes relatively close snap shots, for this it works great day or night. At night don't try to capture anything to far away. ...
Summary: This camera is great for my purposes relatively close snap shots, for this it works great day or night. At night don't try to capture anything to far away. I suggest a tripod if using the fireworks setting for example, or whenever youre keeping the shutter open longer cause you wont be able to hold your hand still enough. Aside from that it's great!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
One to Buy and take anywhere!
Pros: My partner on a day to day basis. This camera is the best gadget I have ever bought. Excellent quality pictures, crystal clear, ultra fast. It's battery simply doesn't die!. Also it's stylish and comes with lots of surprises! I simply love the Exilim EX-Z
Cons: Too good to find anything wrong with it.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Casio EX-Z55 vs. Canon SD300
by ssoily on April 25, 2005
Pros: Fast shutter even without flash.
Cons: LCD image not as sharp as Canon
Summary: I own a Casio Exilim EX-Z55 and my boyfriend owns a Canon Powershot SD300. I did an indepth comparison on both camera and came up with this conclusion:
Casio EX-Z55... (...Summary: I own a Casio Exilim EX-Z55 and my boyfriend owns a Canon Powershot SD300. I did an indepth comparison on both camera and came up with this conclusion:
Casio EX-Z55... (Pros)
Experiment One..
(Damn fast shutter especially without the flash on the Casio)
I took pics of the TV movies and the Casio can caputure switching images from one TV shot to the other, which mean it could capture a shot with two screens in just one 'click'. It's great in capturing fast movements.
With the Canon and no flash, it doesn't capture that fast and in order to get a clear shot of the fast movement on TV, I need to take extra shots because the Canon isn't able to capture fast movements quick enough. I need to take maybe 4-6 more shots in order to get a sharp pic. Most of them are blurry...
Conclusion...
Using Casio will save time and I can take the right pics and the right time.
You're probably going to say, "well then, stop shaking.." but I'm using the same pair of hands when experiementing with Casio, so you can't say I shake...
Experiment Two..
(Excellent colours)
I took shots of the movie showing on TV, the colours and image on the LCD didn't look too impressive on the Casio, not sharp and quite dull with lines.
I then took out the SD card from Casio, slot it into the Canon and WOW, I couldn't believe my eyes because the colour was perfect, no fuzzy lines and it was very sharp.
I then used Canon (same SD card) rewounded the movie which was on tape, took shots of the same, well nearly the same image but I got more blurry shots than sharp shots. (again shutter not fast enough). Eventually when I do capture nice shots, the colour and sharpness isn't as good as Casio, when looking into the Canon LCD screen.
Conclusion...
So don't believe in what you see on the LCD screen on Casio because it takes better shots...
Misc....
Extra features in Casio far beats the boring Canon, any model. Casio even has an alarm and can act as a clock.
One can even take side to side photos... It's fun.
Casio EX-Z55... (Cons..)
The LCD screen is great in size, 2.5" but it's not as sharp as the Canon SD300.
****************************************
Canon SD300.... (Pros...)
The LCD screen is EXCELLENT, very sharp images. 2" is good enough.
Canon SD300... (Cons...)
Canon starts to warm up around 15 mins... Canon heats up and can get quite hot if you leave it on for about 20 mins or so. Casio stays cool!!!
I'll do more tests between these two models and but so far I've only mastered what I've written above. Hope it helps!!!2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
I still like it,but...
Pros: Feels great in your hands.. Big lcd makes it fun to share your "catch". It really does a good job with lights play, and nature(for a dig. camera..)
Cons: Your best shots of catching the moment, with people, are likely to be blured.. The shutter speed varies, but you can not set it your self. Camera has no sports or action mode (I am learning there might ways to get get around my problem in this area,thoug
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
snazzy and useful little camera
by ld876 on April 25, 2005
Pros: included dock, huge screen, stellar battery life
Cons: under very specific, darker lighting, the pics and flash don't cooperate, but if you work with it, it'll come out
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Great Camera, Great Times
Pros: Great picture quality and absolutely miniture. Literally the size of a deck of cards. I was initially worried about the LCD size and possible damage but the camera is built to protect it. Good movie mode with a reverse and fast forward option. Small
Cons: Not many- To switch to movie mode you actually have to go into the menu, there isn't a button. Software included is basic. Other than that a great buy...get it online for cheaper than 350.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Excellent pocket go-cam
Pros: Huge screen, video is a plus, bestshot modes, perfectly pocketable size, battery life.
Cons: Can't set shutter speed manually.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
- Part number: EX-Z55
- Description: The EX-Z55 produces beautifully detailed images and is easy to use. A high performance CCD and 5-million pixels of resolution provide sharp images, while the 3-segment telescoping 3X optical zoom lens provides plenty of resolution. And you get it all in a thin design. The EX-Z55 allows you to take up to 400 shots (continuous recording) on a single charge. Its 2.5-inch LCD monitor screen provides a clear view of subjects as you compose images for recording. The EX-Z55 is designed for versatile, but simple operation. The Best Shot Scenes allow you to select a scene resembling the image you are trying to record. The camera then is configured automatically including recording mode, Auto Focus setting, and more. An on screen grid allows you turn on a display of grid lines to compose images better. Automatic focus features include Auto Macro and 7-point Multi AF to ensure images are captured in focus every time. Finding and manipulating images is easy using the full-month calendar screen, 0.1 second image scrolling, and image rotation features. The EX-Z55 lets you do more with your images after you record them. The bundled USB cable provides easy connection to a computer, just place the camera onto the cradle and press the SB button to automatically transfer images from camera memory to a computer. Or you can connect directly to a printer that supports PictBridge, without going through a computer. The EX-Z55 is also compatible with PRINT Image Matching and Exif Print for high-fidelity print images. Sleek and small with a highly fashionable aluminum alloy body houses a 3X optical zoom lens in a thin, stylish, 5 megapixel digital camera with a 2.5" LCD. The EX-Z55 is packed with a powerful collection of features and functions for enhanced performance. Key extras include 9.3 MB built-in memory, Favorite folder for image retention, and key customization that allows you to assign parameters for easier operation.
General
- Product Type Digital camera
- Point-and-shoot highlights With a slim profile of 0.9 in., this camera fits easily into a pocket or purse. Having video capture capability adds convenience for the user.
- Weight 0.2 lbs
- Width 3.4 in
- Depth 0.9 in
- Height 2.3 in
Main Features
- Resolution 5 megapixels
- Sensor resolution 5 megapixels
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Effective Sensor Resolution 5,000,000 pixels
- Total Pixels 5,250,000 pixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.5 in
- Light Sensitivity ISO 200, ISO 50, ISO auto, ISO 400, ISO 100
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Natural green, Portrait with scenery, Sundown, Flower, Text, Night portrait, Collection, Pet, Fireworks, Party/indoor, Candlelight portrait, Twilight mode, Food, Portrait mode, Document, Coupling shot, Children, Pre-shot, Scenery, Night scene
- Special effects Black & White, Sepia, Whiteboard
- Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
- Min Shutter Speed 4 sec
- Exposure Metering Multi-segment
- Exposure Modes Automatic, Program
- Exposure Compensation ?2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- White Balance Custom, Automatic, Presets
- White Balance Presets Shade, Tungsten light, Overcast, Fluorescent, Sunlight
- Digital video format AVI
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Color support Color
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture AVI - 320 x 240 - 30 sec - With 9.3MB built-in memory
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory Flash - Integrated (soldered memory - 9.3 MB )
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage Fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 8 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Economy JPEG 1280 x 960 : 33 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 5 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 6 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 4 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Economy JPEG 640 x 480 : 94 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 1280 x 960 : 12 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 2560 x 1536 : 4 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Economy JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 23 dBi - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 2560 x 1536 : 5 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Economy JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 6 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 2560 x 1920 : 4 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Economy JPEG 2560 x 1536 : 7 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Economy JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 13 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 640 x 480 : 58 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 44 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 12 - With 9.3MB built-in memory, Normal JPEG 1280 x 960 : 19 - With 9.3MB built-in memory
- Flash memory - Integrated
- Memory soldered size 9.3 MB
- Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 5.8 mm - 17.4 mm - F/2.6-4.8
- Focal Length 5.8 mm - 17.4 mm
- Lens Construction 5 group(s) / 6 element(s)
- Lens Manufacturer Pentax
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 10 sec, 2 sec
- Additional Features DPOF support, Audio recording, Alarm function, PictBridge support, AE lock, Auto daylight savings time, Digital noise reduction, Built-in speaker, AF lock, Resizing an image, Direct print, Digital image rotation, Auto power save, Date/time stamp, Histogram display, PRINT Image Matching
Camera Flash
- Effective Flash Range 1.3 ft - 8.5 ft
- Type Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Flash OFF mode, Fill-in mode, Auto mode, Red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective flash range 1.3 ft - 8.5 ft
- Features Flash +/- compensation
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type Optical - Real-image zoom
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.5 in - Color
- Mounting Built-in
- Resolution 115,200 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type USB, Docking station
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Lens Systems
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Type Zoom lens
- Focal length 5.8 mm - 17.4 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 35 - 105 mm
- Focus adjustment Automatic, Manual
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) 7
- Min Focus Range 15.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 6-50cm
- Lens Aperture F/2.6-4.8
- Optical Zoom 3 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens construction 5 : 6
- Features Built-in lens shield
Miscellaneous
- Carrying Case None
- Cables Included USB cable
- Included Accessories Docking station, Hand strap
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating system MS Windows ME, MS Windows 98, MS Windows XP, MS Windows 2000, Apple Mac OS 9.0 or later, MS Windows 98 SE
Battery
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
- Included qty 1
Software
- Type Drivers & Utilities
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 4 megapixels, 3 x, 2 in LCD display, 10 MB - Integrated
-
Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 4 megapixels, 3 x, 2 in LCD display, - Integrated
-
Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 5 megapixels, 3 x, 2.5 in LCD display, - Integrated
-
Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 5 megapixels, 3 x, 2 in LCD display, - Integrated
-
Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 5 megapixels, 3 x, 2.7 in LCD display, - Integrated
-
Manufacturer: Casio Inc.
Specs: Ultracompact, 7.2 megapixels, 3 x, 2.5 in LCD display, - Integrated
Manufacturer info
- Casio Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Casio Inc. products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.casio.com/
- Address:
570 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Dover, NJ 07801 - Phone: 1-800-706-2534
- Email: gen_support@casio.com