Casio Exilim EXZ55 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
By: Casio Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 40
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 On: 2008-04-11
I am someone who sets everything to Auto and expects the camera to produce reasonable results. This camera is fine for pure sun, but anything overcast results in photos that are entirely too dark. I have taken enough shots in various conditions to conclude that this camera does not do well with a lack of bright light (vs. other cameras I have owned over the past 15 years). On the positive side, I love the cradle charger/connector, and battery life is great.
 On: 2007-02-21
To be honest when the camera was working it was fantastic. Great features, long batery life, easy to use etc. Then 18 months after purchase it broke. Just will not power up. Casio want $250 + shipping to replace it with a rebuilt one. Bye bye casio
 On: 2006-11-28
I did LOTS of research before finally purchasing the Casio Exilim EXZ55, my first digital camera. Ive now owned it for one year and have been extremely happy with the quality, features, and ease of use of this camera.
The Z55 appealed to me for a few reasons. Besides the obvious reason of desiring high-quality photos, I knew that I wanted a camera with a long battery life. I can easily use the camera for an entire day without worrying about the battery running out. For work, I often photograph special events, requiring the camera to be on and ready, and the Casio performs superbly.
The Z55 is amazingly small. I carry it with me in my purse everywhere. Even in a case, the camera is light and compact. It comfortably fits in the back pocket of my jeans, or in a wristlet. It is tiny.
I especially appreciate that the camera starts up very quickly. It doesnt need long in between shots, and is ready to take a photo as soon as it turns on. I find this convenient and have used other cameras in a similar price range with a long lag time between photos.
Overall, this is a great digital camera. I recommend it for people wishing for a simple to use, long battery life, compact camera.
On: 2006-07-04
I have this camera for two years and I am very satisfied. As a point and shoot, this camera is flexible enough to let me fine tune settings to adjust to my scene.
Check out the customer photos to see for yourself.
 On: 2006-05-22
I have really liked this camera so far - it takes high-quality pictures, it is small and fits easily into purse/pocket, etc, and it is very user-friendly (displays, etc). However, three months after I bought it, I had to send it for a repair because the lens cover (retracts automatically) was slow and wouldnt open or close all the way sometimes. I am annoyed, but if everything works out with the repair (under warranty) will be happy with it.
On: 2006-05-22
WEBSITE WONT LET ME CHANGE MY STARS - I GIVE IT ZERO STARS.
I originally wrote a review for this camera (copied below) after owning it for three months. Now its been 14 months and the camera completely died. It takes pictures that are completely white. I have not used the camera that often, so I am very disappointed that this happenned. For two reasons - after month three, the camera was already showing signs of trouble (lens cover not shutting properly), but now this. Of course, I send the camera to Casio for repair and they charged me shipping, and said theyd be happy to repair my product (by replacing the entire lens) for a modest $119! Of course, thats ridiculous! And conveniently, my camera is no longer under warranty. Crappy product, do not buy casio.
Here is my original review:
I have really liked this camera so far - it takes high-quality pictures, it is small and fits easily into purse/pocket, etc, and it is very user-friendly (displays, etc). However, three months after I bought it, I had to send it for a repair because the lens cover (retracts automatically) was slow and wouldnt open or close all the way sometimes. I am annoyed, but if everything works out with the repair (under warranty) will be happy with it.
 On: 2006-05-05
Great camera, took great pics, everyone loved it. Then one day I went to turn it on and half the screen was black and distorted. The unit was kept in a case and experienced no abuse. I called Casio who said to send it in to an authorized dealer for repair. Six calls and a month later, no repair and a bill for $200 to repair a camera that cost $300 only 6 months from purchase. Neither Casio or the authorized dealer are any help. The LCD display (one of the main reasons for buying) is not covered. As much as I love this camera, I would never buy a Casio again. Terrible customer service and a practically non-existent warranty.
On: 2005-12-11
In the game of tennis, theres an area on the face of the racket known as the "sweet spot," where if the ball is hit there it is returned with special power and accuracy. Buying a digital camera is an exercise in compromise, and in the EX-Z55 Casio has found a special balance of features, a digicam sweet spot.
There is no perfect digital camera--its more like camera X is perfect for situation A, camera Y is perfect for situation B, and camera Z just isnt anywhere near perfect for anything. While we all want perfect pictures, most of us would rather sacrifice some quality for a lower price, a smaller or lighter camera, longer battery life or a larger picture capacity, ease of use, fashion, or whatever. The trick is picking the right compromise. In my case, this includes the compromise between what I want in a camera and what my wife wants, since we just have one. We settled on the Casio EX-Z55 eight months ago, and we arent sorry.
I like a lot of control over the process of taking a picture, and I dont really get all the control I want in the EX-Z55. Its not a camera that gives you full control over aperature, shutter speed, and film speed. Instead, it relies on its "Best Shot" features, pre-set combinations of such factors. Usually this works pretty good. On our daughters birthday, I was able to get some nice pictures of her with her birthday cake in the dark, by candlelight alone--using the Best Shot created for this purpose. Unfortunately, theres no Best Shot for sports--for stopping action crisply. The best I could do was set the camera for a very fast film speed (there is limited control over such things). But hey, I was looking for something cheap, and I dont blame the EX-Z55 for not being a professional SLR. I have Best Shot and not full manual control--Im dealing with it fine, and in some cases my pictures are the better for it. One other feature I miss is the "power winder" setting, that lets me take a series of pictures quickly without lifting my finger from the button. Well, I knew that feature was missing, and if it was something I really needed I would have bought something else.
My wife and technology do not go together. She still needs to ask for help (from me or any grade-school kid) in finding the document on the computer she just saved yesterday (usually named "Document38" or something). This was actually the deciding factor in our choosing the Casio digicam over another brand I had picked out (that gave me more control). My wife needs a camera that she can point and shoot. Amazingly, she gets terrific pictures from this camera just pointing and shooting. We usually leave the camera in Snapshot mode for this reason. What really impresses me, though, is how easy the menu system is for my wife. She occasionally wants to change the flash mode or take a short video clip instead of a picture...and so far shes been able to do what she wanted.
Everything the manufacturer says about this camera above is true; it just works as advertised. The shortcomings of this camera tend to be shortcomings with this TYPE of camera more than with this specific model: Its a small camera, and sometimes when we take pictures, the movement of the camera is reflected in blurry pictures (the camera is not bigger and heavier). It has a built-in flash, and indoor pictures that rely on flash are washed-out or grayish if not close enough (it doesnt have a standalone strobe with its own battery pack). Crop a picture and blow it up to poster size, and quality suffers (no $500 lense, only 5 megapixels). Video is not professional quality (no special microphone, not really a camcorder). And so on. But taken as a cheap point-and-shoot digicam, and it exceeds expectations--because it isnt really JUST a point-and-shoot camera.
Ive used this camera to take pictures of colleagues business cards when I didnt have another way of makins sure I had their contact information. Ive used this camera to take pictures of documents to send via e-mail when my scanner was broken. Ive used this camera to take pictures of the ancient coins I collect to sell on eBay. Ive used this camera to take pictures by birthday candlelight. Ive used this camera to take video, and edited that video using Ulead Video Studio 8, and distributed the MPEG result.
My bottom line: This is not the perfect camera--but its perfect for our family, so I give it 5 stars. It works as advertised, and we havent wished we would have gotten another model instead. This feature, that feature, yada, yada--at the end of the day we have the pictures we wanted, better pictures that weve been able to get from any of our previous cameras. I still wish I had a more professional camera--but since were compromising on just one camera for the family, this is a better choice overall.
A note about the Casio brand: I like it. I dont have any experience with their customer relations or service, as I havent ever had any problems with any of their products until the product was so old I wanted something more up-to-date anyway--so I cant comment on the reviews of Casio service, which I see are unanimously negative here. Ive always found their quality:price ratio to my liking.
On: 2005-12-05
Ive had my Casio Exilim EXZ55 for a year now and Im quite happy with it. Its small and very sleek looking. I can take it anywhere and everywhere, and not have to worry about it taking too much space in my purse or pocket. The pictures come out great, I love the huge LCD screen, and Ive had no problems with the camera whatsoever. It is very user friendly and it makes for a GREAT first camera for those who arent camera/gadget savvy. Even for someone like me who loves to take pictures and have used many cameras in the past, I am still very impressed with it! Ive used the Olympus and Minolta cameras in the past and have been happy with those, however for a small and easy to use, easy to carry around, this camera is really something! It does the job of all the other cameras and takes less space to carry around.
The only thing thats a bit inconvenient is the cradle you have to put it into when charging the battery or when downloading pictures...however, its a minor detail and its really not that big of a deal. Speaking of battery, you only have to charge it fully once (I normally do it overnight) and the battery will last you a VERY VERY long time...I can keep it in my purse for 1-2 months taking pictures left and right before it runs out of battery (approx. 600+ pictures). If Im taking a lot of pictures every day, such as on a vacation, it will last me 3-4 days of taking pictures constantly, before the battery life will go low. Its amazing how much battery life it has!
I highly recommend this camera and for the great price, its quite a deal! You wont be disappointed.
PS - I normally keep the camera in a camera case when its in my purse so it doesnt get all scratched up since I carry it EVERYWHERE.
On: 2005-10-29
All that the reviewers here and elsewhere have said about this camera is true. Its a good camera. I bought this as a replacement for the no-longer available Pentax Optio S.
Unfortunately, its not as good as the Optio S. Here are the reasons:
THE IMAGE QUALITY ISNT AS GOOD as the 3.2 megapixel Optio S. Even when I set the Casio Exilim EXZ55 at +2 sharpness, it still isnt as sharp as the Optio S. Its interesting, too, that Pentax makes the lens for this camera, and is the same lens (5.8-17.4mm Pentax SMC) as the one in the Optio S...by name only?
THE SETTINGS IN THE EXZ55 WONT TAKE: The contrast, saturation, sharpness, and flash on/off can be set, but when you turn the power off and then back on again, the above settings are forgotten....everythings back to zero, and the flash is back on. When it wont keep these settings I mentioned, it to me is THE major flaw in the design. The settings are remembered if you go to the MY BEST SHOT mode.
The EXZ55 is a handsome camera; about equal in the good looks department to the Optio S. Its a little bit bigger than the classic Optio S, so it wont fit inside an Altoids tin like the Optio S. Oh well.
Now for the positive attributes of the EXZ55 that the other reviewers perhaps overlooked: The handling is very good. Its not too small that it might be awkward for bigger hands. I have small hands, and this 3.4" x 2.3" camera is just the right size. The controls are layed out much better than the Optio S, and one doesnt need magnifying glasses. The battery/SD card door is metal-hinged, and has a spring tensioner. Much better than the Optio S plastic hinge! Oh, and the colors from this camera are absolutely stunning.
Finally, with a 1 gigabyte SD card + internal memory, the shot capacity is 434. Very nice. This camera isnt perfect. The lack of memory for the settings I mentioned, and the so-so image quality is keeping it from becoming a classic like the Optio S. All its other great features that everyones been raving about is what makes it in my recommendation column.
On: 2005-10-25
The Casio Exilim EXZ55 competes head to head with the Canon SD400 and SD450.
Likes: The Casio zoom control is in a more convenient place than the Canon. It is right where my thumb wants it to be. The Canon zoom is on a ring around the shutter button and I feel like Im going to drop the camera when I zoom out. The Casio battery life is almost three times as long as the Canon. So long that you should not worry if you forgot your spare battery. The Casio battery can be charged inside the camera using the docking station (the Canon battery must be removed from the camera to charge). The docking station is also a little more convenient than Canons loose cable if you want to use USB to upload pictures.
Dislikes: I think the Canon does a little better job in low light situations with no flash. The Casio images look a little "blocky" on close inspection. However, with flash, the Casio does a better job. The Casio has very even lighting (I think it has digital compensation to reduce dark corners.
On: 2005-10-18
The camera is small, but not too small and the huge screen is great to view photos immediately with friends etc. I really like this camera..perfect except that I have a mac and cant play the video back..they need to change this...if they do, it would be a 5 star camera..love it!
by: landrewv On: 2005-09-29
I havent used a lot of digital camera but this one is, by far, the best Ive used. The Casio Exilim has 5.0 megapixels of power mated to a 3X optical zoom that appears far more enhanced than that. It has a large viewfinder that gives an excellent idea of your subject, framed for easy reference.
I dont generally like these little bitty new cameras but this one blew me away when I used it. The ease of operation and ease of transferring outstanding 5.0 images to PC or other media sold me on this.
If you can buy this camera for less than $400 you will be very happy with it for a long time.
On: 2005-08-21
I bought this camera for a trip to Brazil with my daughter.. I bought a 1gb card for it. We had the ability to take 500 photos. We actually did take almost 400 and I never had to re-charge the battery--not once. My daughter used three sets of batteries for her own camera and only took 98 photos. I used it under all lighting conditions and the photos are beautiful. Everyone is commenting on how beautiful the photos are-clear and the good color. It is so small and light that I took it everywhere with me and this is something new for me. I never enjoyed carting a camera around before. This is my first digital and it was easy to learn how to use it.
I highly recommend this camera.
On: 2005-08-20
My daughter really love this camera I got for her. Compared to other digital cameras we have purchased from the past, I think I made the right choice in purchasing this awesome camera. No regret.
by: Anonymous On: 2005-07-29
I have researched cameras for a while now, with my own personal experiences in all of the large brands...kodak, sony, canon, nikon... and i have to say all of them are inferior to this camera. the z55 is awesome. below i have listed pros and cons for casio, most of which are great
pros
1)everything the camera states is true, battery life is phenominal, ive taken 450+ pictures and then it dies, it would definately last a weeks trip to the mountains
2)very sturdy its strong and can eaisly be slipped into a purse.there is no need to worry about breaking it because it has a hard coat lcd screen, meaning theres a little peice of plastic on the screen, protecting it from scratches and harm.definate plus for me
3) very handsom and very shique, its a subtle silver (looks like the silver ipod except little lighter) with little peices of polished metal surrounding the edges and lens.. very sophisticated
4) ergonomics were good... i usually take pictures with one hand, i never felt like it would drop, it has a little grip on the front and the back is recessed to fit your hand comfortably. however i highly suggest using the wrist strap just in case it does fall
5) THIN, wow its pretty small, its about the size of a credit card and is about 8/10 of an inch thick, overall its tiny
6) outdoor picture quality is awesome, bright, clear, and macro (close up pictures) are the best ive seen in any compact camera, i can take pictures of a fly and see the hair on it :) wow!
7)lcd is very big, however it is low resolution, but in my oppinion who cares? i dont have to squint and i laugh at all the 1.5 lcds :)
8)menu system i think its the best in the market, lets you control ALMOST everything- saturation, contrast, flash, and 23 preset picture modes, thats crazy (sunset, flowers, food, parties)!!!
9)its fast! it focuses fairly fast one second and takes another second to write to the card
cons :(
1)indoor picture is grainy, i have to set it at 50 iso to get decent quality, still nice but your going to need a lot of light around
2)for best results indoor it requires flash, this is a definite con for me since i like to work with natural light
3)white balance has got issues, you have to adjust it when your inside, or else you get a yellow tint, very minor but kind of annoying
overall i think this is the best camera on the market, its small, cool, great featres, beautiful picture quality, awesome macro mode, built to last and its battery lasts a good 1-3 weeks, at least (with the lcd and flash on too)... most of the issues are for indoor only(although still very nice), so if you take most pictures outside, this is perfect. in my oppinion i was doubtful when i first bought it, wanted a sony or canon for brand but i highly doubt they could contend with the z55, this is an overall good product, although it might not be for everyone, try it out before you buy it. dont think that this reveiw isnt trust worthy just cause im a kid, i know more about cameras than most adults:) seriously... hope this helps :)
On: 2005-07-22
Ive had the camera for about 6 months now. Overall Im thrilled with it. I like pretty much the same stuff as everyone else - nice big screen, loaded with features, intuitive operation, long battery life, small - all terrific.
I agree with those that complain about some picture quality although Ive had quality problems on other expensive digital cameras too so ... The quality problems I have on this one relate to curvature in the corners in some pictures and can be kind of dark for low-light conditions (night time indoors). Most of the pictures turn out great though. Lots of detail and look fantastic when printed. The occasional pic problems are minor nuisances in the overall scheme. Its a terrific camera and I happily recommend it to anyone.
On: 2005-07-19
I came accross this product online and i read reviews from different customers and i was impressed. I decided to give it a try. Among other rivals are sony DSC-T7 at $499.95, nikon and some other like that. Sony DSCT7 was the bottom of the least rated even though its slim and cute. I have a bad experience with sony handycam dcr-dvd 301. It shoots movies nice, but cant take good pictures. thats when i started shopping for digital cameral. My experiece so far is unimaginable. No regret at all. The pix are excellent, the movie is good and the battery continues to go and go. The foto loader is da bomb men! i will forever recommend this product.
On: 2005-07-14
I am not one of these reviewers that is just impressed by the camera look and size...I have had many digital cameras in the past (have used Nikon, Sony, Canon, etc.) and am very experienced with technology products and I only buy the best (hence I do TONS of research, I even contact the companies techincal departments to ask questions...)
Please take this review very seriously when I say the Casio EX Z 55 is the best small size high resolution camera currently on the market, from features to LCD screen to picture quality, to price/value level, to build quality--frankly, it blew me away right out of the box:
1. Size and build: Although not as slim as its little brother, it is quite small (.88 mm deep), yet VERY solid. It is all metal and metal alloy and most importantly, the LCD is protected by a plexi-protector (thank you for not making the same dumb mistake as Canon and sony). Although the battery cover is plastic (like all other digital cameras), unlike others, this one has a sliding lock that is spring loaded with a metal piece and even has a locking battery piece inside--so no worries about anything breaking off or falling out! The camera, although tiny, is easy to hold and control with your hands automatically knowing where to go naturally--very well thought out layout. Button are minimal and VERY well marked. A 10-year old could master the device in less than 20 minutes, and that says alot about ease of use because the camera has TONS of features!!!
LCD Screen: Yes, the pixel count is lower than Sony, Canon or Nikon models...do NOT let that scare you away. The image quality of the LCD, the anti-glare properties and the LCD processor are far superior! You can hold at almost any angle in any light and clearly read the display. Canon models "white out". The LCD does not jitter or delay (like all other digital cameras), the image looks 100% real time--great processor! People mention a bit of grainy-ness...not really, what they are seeing is the decreased resolution and darkening when you use the zoom. the scrren gains up in low light and you can also further adjust it. i am truly impressed w/ the screen and i did not even mention its huge 2.5" size!!!
pic clarity: dont take my word for it...read the professional reviews (steves digicams, PC world, PC magazine, DP Preview, etc) Pic quality is far superior to the canon SD series and sony. these images blew away my 4 MP Nikon w/ Nikoor lens. 5 megapixel means crisp, clear shots. color is spot on and the "Best shot" scene options are handy and work well! The zoom is an improved Pentax lens, works great up to 3x optical, will stick in their with any Nikkor or Sony lens. When you think Casio, you may not think of cameras...but Casio uses its processor and battery technology and partners with camera companies to produce a device that is best of both worlds!
by the way, camera battery life really is really as long as youve heard...i could not drain it over 3 days of continous use with LCD on.
On: 2005-06-29
I bought this camera based on the looks and features and the good reviews on amazon, boy was i dissappointed. Never believe everything ppl say on here. The biggest dissapoinment is the picture quality. I have 3 different digital cameras to compare side by side and this is the worst ive ever seen. the pictures taken indoor turn out grainy and the colors are not as vibrant as the coolpix 4600 or the kodak easyshare. on a bright sunny day it does take good pictures but not as good as the kodak easyshare or the olympus stylus ive used in the past. on a positive note, this camera is one of the best looking and i love the large lcd screen as well as the long battery life but what good does it do if it doesnt take good pictures. i will have to put this one up for sale on the classifieds.
On: 2005-06-23
I love this camera and it takes terrific pictures. Have an intermitent problem with lens jamming when extended. Camera 2 months old, problem from beginning. My problem is with Casio. They will only replace the new 2 month old camera with a reconditioned product. I find this unacceptable and would never buy another Casio product because of their customer service and warranty. When you pay a lot of money for a new camera you expect it replaced with a new camera, not a reconditioned camera I never would have bought to begin with. Fortunately for me I was able to have the camera replaced at point of purchase. It is a terrific, easy to use camera with excellent photos, my only complaint is with Casios cusomter service/warranty, and it will keep me from buying another Casio product.
On: 2005-04-29
With all the rapid expansion and advancements in digital cameras everyday, it seems the longer the wait the better they get. I previously owned a QV-R40 and it was satisfactory, but the EX-Z55 is much better for my needs!
Portable, lightweight yet durable, this camera posseses everything I want to take amazing pictures and a videoclip here or there.
I recommend reading through the manual so youre not missing out on all the special features/functions it has hidden--like the "flash assistant" which really helps in those nights out w/your friends and outside.
The battery life--omg! I was using it for 8 days straight on Spring break and it only died on me at the airport! Using it constantly and uploading/downloading every other day. The most impressive feature is by far the battery life on this camera.
On: 2005-04-25
This was a xmas gift and Ive used it ever since. It is the best! Takes excellent photos both indoors and out. Blows photos up nicely and clear. Perfect size. All around - the best Ive used. I did buy a new memory card because the memory wasnt large enough but that is it. It was a disappointment they dont print the manual though - but it is available online.
On: 2005-04-19
Well, I can not hide the good features in the Z55
- Big LCD
- Fast playback
- Fast start up
- MMC/SD (You will enjoy this feature if you have a card reader instead of using the USB base)
But I found two bad things in this camera:
1. Indoor images are bad (opposite of the great images taken outdoor) I mean if you depend on a bulb light you will get bad images, otherwise it is perfect under the sun.
2. Once I make a zoom (after transfering the images to my laptop not in the camera) for the images I dont get the same quality (bad sharpness) - opposite of the SONY T1 models .. everytime you enlarge you get higher quality
Finally, I recommend SONY.
On: 2005-04-17
I spent countless hours online searching for the BEST in the ultra-compacts, went to all the non-biased www sites searching out WHICH ultra-compact digital was the best unit, they ALL pointed to the EX-Z55 CASIO. I bought mine a few days ago, its MORE than even i expected, an im pretty darn cynical!
the BEST feature (since i own 2 other digital cameras) on this unit is that it has an instant shot feature which bypasses the half-shutter-then focus-then full shutter and shot,.........you can depress the shutter release full ways without doing a prefocus, which is VERY IMPORTANT for catching those candid shots that WILL NOT WAIT for a time-consuming focus then shot.
built rugged, menu is a breeze, the docking station is wonderful, and GOODNESS! the battery life is beyond beyond!. The hype about this units ultra long battery life is NO HYPE, even with flash on every shot, i still havent been able to kill the battery on this baby yet!.
Good job casio, you really skunked Sony, Olympus and Canon and Nikon in the ultra compact dept.
the only downside to this camera is that its sharpness is less than perfect, but easily adjusted in computer on photo suite software, but heck it IS an ultra-compact, so its lens is tiny.
I agree with PC Magazines digi-cam review about this model which said "this is THE BEST PICTURE weve ever seen from an ultra-compact", i agree.
the Casio EX-Z55 outclasses all comperable models of sony, olympus and canon after extensive research.
On: 2005-04-08
This camera is absolutely wonderful. I tried the Z40 and the it was very similar, took great AVI and features were the same, however the quality of the actual digital photo seemed a bit-sub par in my opinion. THis Z55 has a much better picture and really delivers. It takes great AVI footage and clear crisp pictures for such a tiny little camera. It also comes with a cool dock that plugs right into my iMac(or any usb port).
I like the 2" LCD ad the long battery life along with the ZOOM and 5 megapixels.
We take pictures and movies all the time now. Invest in a nice photo printer and say goodbye to the photolab!
http://exilim.casio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cameras.features&exp_id=46069DA2-0745-4D09-B7F2-EA3AF30CF6A4
On: 2005-04-05
My husband and I have been wanting a digital camera for some time now. We would love a digital SLR, but cant afford it right now. This one is nice because it is so compact and can be taken anywhere without having to lug a big camera bag around. We love the big screen and the buttons that make it very easy to switch between camera mode and playback mode.
We havent had this camera for very long (a couple of weeks only), so we havent had any printed out on photo paper, but on the computer the pictures look very good and sharp, especially with a little help from photo editing software. We really like the different macro functions.
The battery life is great! We took about 250 pictures our first time out with it, all with the screen on and some with the flash on, and the battery meter didnt go down at all.
So far it seems like this camera will be great for us and so far, I would highly recommend it as a great take everywhere digital camera!
On: 2005-03-26
What a nice camara!!! I think this is my most satisfied digital product! Honestly, I used to be a SONY bigot because of my SONY laptop and SONY P9 camara. However, today, the amazing Z55 changes everything. It was hard to make a choice between Z55 and Sony T1, but it will be much easier to choose when you have this little boy in your hand.
I can not believe that Casio could ever be able to produce a stuff like this. I dont need any system installation to support USB link. I just plug the usb to my computer, then its done.
Except the size and weight, I was impressed by its 2560*1920 output picture. People who own this bad boy should know what Im talking about, right? Everybody who take this bad boy home will be shocked like me.
On: 2005-03-20
My husband bought this camera about 3 months ago and we continue to love it...wow, what an improvement over our old Canon Digital Elph. The Casio is SO easy to use: Ive never even looked at the manual. Admittedly, I still have a soft spot for my (aging) Oly C-2100UZ but of course it is not pocketable like this Casio. This little workhorse gets taken anywhere and everywhere and gets a lot of use!
The Casio has a HUGE LCD and it feels very sturdy. Its incredibly responsive and just feels good! Im happy with the picture quality (quite good for a subcompact) and I didnt realize how much I would like the cradle for recharging the camera. We bought an extra battery, and havent even needed to use it yet!
On: 2005-02-17
This is just one great little camera. We were going on a cruise vacation to Mexico and both I and the wife needed new cameras. For myself I got the latest and greatest from Nikon the 8800 and she got the Casio which she just loves. The interesting thing was that on vacation no one came rushing over to look at and wow my new Nikon but they sure did with her. It seemed like very time she took a picture someone would come over and ask about it. It is simple to use, ultra small and takes wonderful photos.
by: gadgester On: 2005-01-20
The Casio EX-Z55 is especially notable for two salient features not found in other ultra-compact, ultra-thin digital cameras:
1) A *huge* 2.5" LCD screen (vs. 2" on the slightly cheaper Z50). You probably have seen labels on other tiny cameras that claim "large 1.8-in LCD." Well, this tiny Z55 has a whopping 2.5" (diagonal) screen which is almost twice as big as the 1.8" ones.
2) Incredible battery life for such a small camera. Casio rates this at 400 pictures using some industry standard measurement (called "CIPA"). In comparison, the Canon SD300 is rated at 140, the Pentax Optio S5i at 160, and the Panasonic DMC-FX7 (with vibration reduction) at 120. I have not measured real-world battery life since I didnt have the camera for long, but I took over 200 pictures (about 1/4 with flash and all with the LCD on) and there was still plenty of juice left.
Unlike many ultra-compacts, this camera does have an optical viewfinder, albeit a tiny one. If you want to prevent blurry pictures, you may want to use the optical viewfinder more, as holding the camera close to your face helps steady your shots.
Now, what about the Picture Quality?
First, as I always tell people: be realistic in your expectations. This is a very small camera, which means it has a very small lens (and aperture) and a very small sensor inside. The law of physics simply cannot be defied. The guy who owns a Canon EOS Digital Rebel of course complains about the picture quality of this Casio; its like you own a Ferrari Enzo and then tries to expect the same performance from a Toyota Corolla. No matter how refined the Corolla is, it simply does not have the same power or performance as the Enzo, simply because its in a different class, intended for a different audience, and has a much smaller engine.
Digital SLRs such as the Nikon D70 and Canon EOS Digital Rebel are large and expensive for a reason: they are designed to wrestle the best performance out of digital sensors (CCD or CMOS). The Casio EX-Z55, like other ultra-compacts, is designed to be pocketable (even in a shirt). Cameras like this simply cannot take ultra-sharp pictures; their tiny lenses simply wont allow that.
OK, enough philosophizing. The Casio is best for casual shots. You know, the shots at a party or club, the candid shots of kids and pets, the family shots at the local park or zoo. This is a take-anywhere-shoot-anywhere camera. Its even pretty fast in starting up so you can just take it out, turn it on, and shoot. Its best used as a point-and-shoot (also known as an idiots camera).
If you compare the Casios picture quality vis-a-vis that of the Pentax Optio S5i or Canon SD300, youll see it holds up pretty well. In fact, I would say for this tiny amazing thing, the picture quality is pretty high. The picture is a little on the soft side, but that can be sharpened in most image editing packages. If your intention is to make prints, the picture quality is sufficient, esp. after you apply a little bit of sharpening. Let me put this way: for most casual shots (which is what we consumer photographers do anyway), the Z55s picture quality does not disappoint.
But dont take my word for it. Hop over to Best Buy or Circuit City or Radio Shack and take a look at this amazing camera yourself. If you want a pocketable camera with good picture quality and amazing battery life and a large, impressive LCD, the EX-Z55 should be your top choice.
On: 2005-01-15
This is the first camera Ive bought thats both digital and non-SLR, and it will most likely be my last.
Casio was probably the last name I wouldve thought of when looking for a digital camera. Casios name was synonymous in my head with electric musical instruments and low cost home appliances (phones, clocks, etc).
I was looking at Sonys and Canons primarily, and my main point of reference was reading the customer reviews. Those cameras got generally good reviews, but every so often thered be one written by someone that actually knew what they were talking about and I had to cross them off my list. Then this Casio popped up. Wow.
This camera not only has all the features you could need, but it actually takes GREAT pictures.
And to speak of the battery life, its unprecedented. Today is January 14th. I received and started using my camera on December 19th. Ive taken well over 100 pictures, all using the LCD and flash. I have yet to recharge the battery, and the meter still shows full!
This is really a phenomenal camera and makes the other so-called "high end" (4MP+) Sony and Canon cameras pale in comparison. Smaller screens, lower resolutions, less battery life, worse picture quality, and with a higher price. It just doesnt make sense to buy anything else in this price range!
On: 2005-01-05
I just want to educate you on a topic you may not think about.
This topic is the fact that some people write reviews that are from the company to make you buy it. Take the one written on this product, the one that is first, and decide for yourself.
I am not denying Casios product, I am merely informing you on this issue.
I would have to say overall the camera was good, some features I would take off.
Casio is a reliable brand, though, because my camera fell in the water and it still works perfectly (was it luck or the camera?)
Thank you for reading my informative review.
On: 2005-01-05
I bought this camera based on the reviews on Amazon, and overall I am quite pleased with it. I bought it to replace my Olympus C3040 zoom, which took beautiful pictures until it died. This camera is so much smaller, lightweight, and so much easier to use than my Olympus was. The battery power is amazing. It seems like it never needs charging. My Olympus took four AA rechargeables, and I had to charge it every time I used it. This one, in contrast, plugs into its own little charging dock, and I really believe them when they say it will take 400 pictures on one charge. I have never run out of power yet. My only complaint is that the flash is a little weak, which makes my indoor photos less than perfect. But that truly is my ONLY complaint. My outdoor photos are beautiful. I was able to use it right out of the box, without even reading the manual, because the menus are so easy to navigate and use. Its just a great little camera.
On: 2005-01-03
i think that this is the best cammera on the market!!!!!!!!!!
On: 2004-12-26
THis is the best digital camera i have ever seen the picture is so clear and the screen is the largerst i have seen. I love this camera and i hope that you will too @~!~~~~
On: 2004-12-19
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. Im going to try the canon sd300.
I liked
- great battery life
- big screen
- solid construction
- movie recording with sound and audio playback is great
- very compact with a lot of features
I returned it because
- Its a two-handed camera. You have to hold it with your left and operate with your right. I want a cam that can be held and operated 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 Z55s 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. Id 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 its 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 dont think it was user error.
Other things I didnt like that I could have lived with:
- I didnt like the cradle (althought Ive 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 youre very careful.
On: 2004-12-09
Casio repair service is the worst Ive ever seen. Theyre even worse than Best Buy & thats pretty bad. They recd my item for warranty work on 11/23/04. At first I was told the turnaround for the repair was 5-10 business days. Then I was told that starts from the log date. THEN, I was told that its 10-15 business days from the log date!!! They didnt even get around to logging it in until 12/7/04!!! They had the product 9 business days prior to even logging it in!!! I may never see my product again. So beware, if you purchase something from them, I hope you never have to have it repaired!
On: 2004-12-03
This camera is so great I gave my Sony 5.0 digital to my nephew. The battery life is unbelieveably long. It is by far the most user friendly camera on the market. The large LCD screen is so easy to see and manipulate. My Sony battery life was 45 minutes. With this camera it just keeps on and on.... I will stay with this camera for years to come.
On: 2004-12-03
I bought this camera after owning the EX-S3 (3.2) Casio card camera for a year. I took the other camera with me on a military deployment and it stood up to sand, heat, humidity and then freezing cold, so I already knew that this line of cameras is very hardy. This camera exceeds all expectations. It has a large screen, takes movies with sound, snapshots to which you can add a voice tag if you wish, and has a variety of snapshot modes for black and white, extreme closeups, portraits, sepia tones and split images where you take one half of the photo and then the second half with another subject in it. It takes excellent pictures at night. There is very little distortion for low light pictures or movies. Learning the indicators and modes is easy and intuitive. This camera is not as small as the 3.2 or 4.0 megapixel cameras - it is thicker, but still able to sit in a shirt pocket (not a pants pocket). The battery life exceeds the EX-S3 model by at least 300 photos. Cons: 1)No camera case. 2) Extra batteries cost a lot. I advise not buying an "off-market" battery, because they dont quite fit in this camera. I have bought two and they were too short to make a decent contact. So stick to the Casio battery. 3) Manual is on a CD - you have to print it out yourself or look at it on a computer screen.
My best success with this camera was using the extreme closeup mode (called "macro mode") to take pictures of old snapshots in a family album. I didnt use a tripod, I held the camera in my hands and the pictures were phenomenal. I was able to focus in on one person in a group shot and my photo looked as though that was the original - of just that person. This is an esoteric use, but I was pleasantly surprised. I agree with one reviewer here who says to get a 1GB memory card - definitely needed or you may run out of memory space after taking movies and snapshots for hours. One last thing: you can change the size of the photos you take, from email size to a size that you can make a poster out of. You can also take a picture then later crop the photo to focus on one item more closely, while you are looking at the photo on the cameras screen. There are several features that this camera has, but you dont find out unless you get into the manual a bit. I recommend this highly.
On: 2004-12-02
This camera is so great I gave my Sony 5.0 digital to my nephew. The battery life is unbelieveably long. It is by far the most user friendly camera on the market. The large LCD screen is so easy to see and manipulate. My Sony battery life was 45 minutes. With this camera it just keeps on and on.... I will stay with this camera for years to come.
On: 2004-10-30
Note to AMAZON REP. REVIEWING THIS EDIT: I HAVE MADE SOME MINOR CHANGES (SPELLING, CLARITY, ETC. OF MY ORIGINAL REVIEW) AND ADDED AN UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM. PLEASE PUT THIS ONE ITS ITS PLACE AS IT HAS ALL NECCESSARY CHANGES AND UPDATES. I HAVE SENT THIS BEFORE WITH NO LUCK...HOPEFULLY THIS MESSAGE HELPS. THANKS!!
MY REVIEW: This camera is absolutely wonderful! In searching for a new digital camera, I was looking for several things...small size, excellent picture quality, and fast reaction time. Not many things...just big improvements over my last camera (a Nikon Coolpix). The Exilim Z55 has these features and MANY MORE! I do my research - and this camera came out on top!
Below is my review(...)
I cannot believe how much thoughT Casio put into the features and orgnaization of this camera. You can access each feature quickly and easily. In a short time I was already able to use almost all the features of this camera (I never figured out half them on my other camera, or they would take so long to change that I didnt bother). I didnt really care about the large LCD display when buying the camera...but now its one of my favorite features. Because of this display, I can switch between the different scene modes easily. At the press of the button I can access the 23 different scene modes and decide which one to use. because of the big LCD display, there is room for Csaio to give the user a short description of what each scene mode does right on the camera...so I understand when to use it and what it is doing. Also, when alter modes such as white balance, you can see on the LCD displayhow the change will affect the picture. This is because the icon help menu pops up on top of whatever you are viewing (no blue screen). And, of course, the large LCD display makes it very easy to see pictures, aand delete the ones that you dont want (another easy thing to do at the puch of a button. These two things (ease of use and LCD display) did not go into my decision to buy this camera but have been surprisengly wonderful and helped me really anjoy and get the most out of my camera.
Picture quality - wonderful. On the Exilim z-40, people complained about low light picture quality. Not on the z-50. Casio has done several things to correct it...this camera has flash assist (see casio website for more info on this), as well as gives the user the ability to quickly change the flash intensity. Im telling you, if you use the features of this camera (which is not hard to do at all)...your pictures will come out great! Color saturation is beautiful and the pictures are very crisp and clear. At the stores, I took pictures with this and 3 different cameras (a Nikon, Kodak, HP)...the Casios pictures were great (looked like 35 mm camera pictures), clear, crisp, colorful... and not as dark as some of the others. And this was before I knew how to use any of the cameras features.
Fast reaction time...no more missing that first smile, the half second you child actually looks at the camera, or the one second someone takes to blow out the last candle on the cake. Casios ex-z55 turns on in 1.5 seconds and takes the picture within .01 seconds after pressing the button. I LOVE IT!!!!
Battery life! They just keep going and going and going. You can take like 400 pictures with this camra on one battery! I dont worry about taking time to view pictures, play around with modes, etc because I know I still have plenty of battery life let. This first day I got this camera, I played around with it contantly fr hours and at the end of the day, still had a full bar. Plus, Casio gives you a rechargeable battery which you can recharge right in the camera by putting the camera into the cradle/docking station (another nice feature; also provided) each night. Now that I mentioned it...the docking station. Need to download picutres...no more messing with wires and connecting them to the back of the computer. Just place the camera into the docking station (which is plugged into your computer at all times (if you choose and I would), and download them. Not to mention, your battery wont go dead downloaded pictures, as the docking station will power it while you download. See what I mean...CASIO THOUGHT OF IT ALL.
Along with several other cameras, after much research I narrowed it down to this camera and the Canon S500, but after reading many reviews about the dreaded E18 error which eventually leaves the camera unusable, I leaned more to this one and I am so glad! The Exilim has a steel case so is not subject to change of pressures, and tempurture problems as some other aluminum bodies camera. Seriously, if you are looking for a pocket size camera with many features and great piture quality. Take a look at this camera...you will be impressively surprised. I appreciate a company who takes the time to really think about their product, how to make it easy to use, and really makes improvements over their last model. I dont give out 5 stars to everything, normally I dont even leave reviews on things I have purchased, but I am so impressed with this camera and really think people need to come and check it out.
If you want to see this model in person, most Circuit Citys have one on display. Go take a look...you wont be disappointed.
Ill be sure to update this review if I do find out anything unfortunate...but I dont think I will need to. Hope this information helps...Good luck with youre new camera and ENJOY!
On: 2004-10-18
I saw this new camera and fell in love with the large screen. I mean how many times can you look at a 1 inch screen and figure out if you want to keep the pic? The large screen is the best Ive seen. Its a bit pricey but worth the money. Its thin enough to keep in my pocket. Only problem is that they dont sell anything to protect your camera if its bouncing around in your pocket. Get a 1 Gig card and you can keep on shooting. It makes a very nice picture, even on the fly. The playback of the flies are FAST, FAST, FAST!!!
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