Casio Exilim EXP505 5MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom
By: Casio Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 9
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 On: 2007-06-17
Mac users...
My opinion is that for a Mac user you cant get a better camera for the cash. Plug and Play with iPhoto.
This camera is the one to get if you want to spend less than $300. The quality of the images and feature set far out weigh the shutter lag. Super easy to capture those impromptu YouTube moments with this unit. I researched many and bought the Casio. Yes, a Casio (keyboards and calculators!). The EXP505 is a slick looking, compact camera that mirrors more exotic full size SLRs (I consider this camera to be a Point-n-Shoot). I agree with the others in this review section except for the dude that slams the Exilim for not going toe to toe with the big boys and the guy that had trouble with SD cards. Maybe he got a bum card or didnt format it with the camera before using. I have had no issue. Menu navigation is well designed.
Things to note: AVI video format. I believe QuickTime Pro will handle the conversion. LCD screen doesnt fair well in low light. Battery will cause camera to "slow down" flash recharge after awhile (Ive had my camera for over 1 year - much use).
On: 2007-06-16
Mac users...
My opinion is that for a Mac user you cant get a better camera for the cash. Plug and Play with iPhoto.
This camera is the one to get if you want to spend less than $300. The quality of the images and feature set far out weigh the shutter lag. Super easy to capture those impromptu YouTube moments with this unit. I researched many and bought the Casio. Yes, a Casio (keyboards and calculators!). The EXP505 is a slick looking, compact camera that mirrors more exotic full size SLRs (I consider this camera to be a Point-n-Shoot). I agree with the others in this review section except for the dude that slams the Exilim for not going toe to toe with the big boys and the guy that had trouble with SD cards. Maybe he got a bum card or didnt format it with the camera before using. I have had no issue. Menu navigation is well designed.
Things to note: AVI video format. I believe QuickTime Pro will handle the conversion. LCD screen doesnt fair well in low light. Battery will cause camera to "slow down" flash recharge after awhile (Ive had my camera for over 1 year - much use).
 On: 2006-07-14
I love this camera. The swivel view screen works very well when you want to take pictures at an awkward angle. As a photographer, I really need that.
The camera is tiny. It can fit in the palm of my hand, and my hand is rather small. It can easily fit into my purse or perhaps a large pocket, so you can take it wherever you want to go. It is not so small that it seems easily damaged, though.
The videos are the most amazing Ive ever seen on a digital camera. Good quality and pretty high resolution. I love the fact that you can also hook the camera up to a TV to review your pictures and videos.
Ive never had a digital camera with optical zoom before. It was so much better than digital zoom.
I think the main reason I love this camera is because it has an AMAZING macro focus. You can get the slightest little details in fingerprints, bugs, etc, etc.
I didnt like that if I accidentally plugged my camera in before installing the driver for it, it would never work on that computer. It makes it clear not to do that in the directions, but I had forgotten a few times.
On: 2006-01-05
I ordered the SanDisk Ultra II 2.0 GB and I use Windows XP and at first, I followed the directions to a "T" and it just wasnt working. I searched the internet to see if anyone else was having the same problem. I went to the CASIO website and there wasnt any information about it. Finally . . . I got this weird idea in my head, that "What if I change the "USB" in the Set-up menu to "PTP" (PictBridge), maybe it might work." I seriously tried everything and I was crossing my fingers on this one. And honestly, from what I was reading, it seemed that SD card readers werent working either, and I didnt want to have to fork out another $30-40 for one if I wasnt sure it was going to work.
Anyways, I turned off my camera and turned it on after I had changed the settings and IT WORKED!!!!!!! You can either copy them directly using "Windows Explorer" to a different folder, or set it up to automatically copy the pics/video files to somewhere else on your computer. If youre using the "Photo Loader" Program (AWESOME that it automatically puts them in HTML form after youve put the pics in the library), you have to load the images through the program, which is really easy. (At least you can get your pics off the camera, now.)
Its small and compact, which is great during a day of sightseeing and not having to lug around a heavy camera. It sits perfectly in the palm of my hand and I have long fingers. It has grippers to stablize what your filming/taking pics of. I love all the options for "Best Shot." The 40x zoom is great for a digital camera. The movie modes are great, too!! The microphone works great. I didnt have to buy a new camera case, because it fit perfectly in my old one. I love the way the LCD screen swivels, almost like having a little camcorder in hand.
Overall, the camera is great for someone like me, whod like to experiment with "Aperture," "Shutter speeds" and manual focusing, as well just being able to take some pictures and be able to share them with friends and family easily.
My only real complaint is that the "Photo Loader" software only sends pics one at a time through the program. (Its just easier to open a message and attach them manually.)
Ive also read that you can buy lens that attach, too. Im not that advanced, yet. LOL! Anyways, check out http://www.steves-digicams.com/2005_reviews/exp505.html for a more in-depth descriptions along with examples. (One of the main reasons I decided to get this camera was based on what I read there.)
 On: 2006-01-04
I spent over $50.00 for a 512MB SD card for this camera, and it doesnt work! Tried several SD cards, and the camera will not work with them. It WILL work with an MMC card, however. Have emailed Casio 4 times and have not received a reply. Im sending the camera back to them, and Ill go find a camera that actually works like they say its supposed to!
On: 2006-01-03
I spent over $50.00 for a 512MB SD card for this camera, and it doesnt work! Tried several SD cards, and the camera will not work with them. It WILL work with an MMC card, however. Have emailed Casio 4 times and have not received a reply. Im sending the camera back to them, and Ill go find a camera that actually works like they say its supposed to!
On: 2005-09-24
I really like this camera, Takes good pictures, its light and small and very easy to use.
On: 2005-09-12
I have an artistic eye, but I am not a camera buff (this is my first digital camera.) I like it because it has a 5x optical zoom, yet the body of the camera is very small. I want to carry it with me wherever I go. This camera feels very good in the hand and I find it easy to hold steady.
On: 2005-09-01
This is an excellent little Camera, a lot smaller than the pictures would indicate. Not only does it take great stills, but also takes excellent videos. As far as the videos go, this is how I burn them to disk for play in a dvd player. The camera video files (avi files) copy easily to the computer via the usb connection. Each time you turn the record button off, an avi file is created. Use Movie Joiner software to combine all files into one avi file. 2nd, use Cucusoft software to convert the avi file into mpg. 3rd, use Cucusoft software to Author the completed mpg file ( a step needed to create the necessary files for DVD). 3rd, use Nero software to burn the resultant files to DVD (must use blank DVD disks).
The only things missing from ths camera that would make it perfect are 1. Anti shake, 2 and EVF to view the subject in brite sunlite. The 5X optical zoom is excellent !
On: 2005-09-01
Had this camera for about 2 months for a good trial, still images captured on the 5 MegaPixel sensor is acceptable not great, manual controls like aperture and shutter priority will appeal to the budding amateur looking for more options to practise true photography. The swivel LCD is a real bonus for taking photos above a hoarding crowd, but visibility is less than adequate in bright sunlight.
Some of the neat features include a built-in -2EV ND (Neutral Density) filter, a macro setting that automatically kicks in when focusing upclose, a 5 step incremental adjustment of flash intensity, which generally perform better than a normal compact, giving a decent throw up to 6 meters. And not forgeting a very useful fast start-up time of less than a second, plus a good battery life for >200 shots on a single charge.
The 5X optical zoom lense perform well on photo. A point to note, the zoom isnt smooth but graduated in 5 steps, a real letdown. The lense will also accept 43mm add-on lense mount or filter, e.g. wide angle lense or a polarizer.
The best feature however has to be the 30 fps VGA MPEG-4 capture, with the HQ setting, a 1GB SD card gives you 30 minutes of excellent live action. An added feature lets you record video 5 seconds the shutter is press, nice! With a firmware update, this camera now accepts the newly introduced 2GB SD card.
In general, this camera packs a lot of features for its size, definitely worth a look if you want something that is light and compact yet has the tweaks only available on digital SLRs.
On: 2005-08-31
This is an excellent little Camera, a lot smaller than the pictures would indicate. Not only does it take great stills, but also takes excellent videos. As far as the videos go, this is how I burn them to disk for play in a dvd player. The camera video files (avi files) copy easily to the computer via the usb connection. Each time you turn the record button off, an avi file is created. Use Movie Joiner software to combine all files into one avi file. 2nd, use Cucusoft software to convert the avi file into mpg. 3rd, use Cucusoft software to Author the completed mpg file ( a step needed to create the necessary files for DVD). 3rd, use Nero software to burn the resultant files to DVD (must use blank DVD disks).
The only things missing from ths camera that would make it perfect are 1. Anti shake, 2 and EVF to view the subject in brite sunlite. The 5X optical zoom is excellent !
On: 2005-08-31
Had this camera for about 2 months for a good trial, still images captured on the 5 MegaPixel sensor is acceptable not great, manual controls like aperture and shutter priority will appeal to the budding amateur looking for more options to practise true photography. The swivel LCD is a real bonus for taking photos above a hoarding crowd, but visibility is less than adequate in bright sunlight.
Some of the neat features include a built-in -2EV ND (Neutral Density) filter, a macro setting that automatically kicks in when focusing upclose, a 5 step incremental adjustment of flash intensity, which generally perform better than a normal compact, giving a decent throw up to 6 meters. And not forgeting a very useful fast start-up time of less than a second, plus a good battery life for >200 shots on a single charge.
The 5X optical zoom lense perform well on photo. A point to note, the zoom isnt smooth but graduated in 5 steps, a real letdown. The lense will also accept 43mm add-on lense mount or filter, e.g. wide angle lense or a polarizer.
The best feature however has to be the 30 fps VGA MPEG-4 capture, with the HQ setting, a 1GB SD card gives you 30 minutes of excellent live action. An added feature lets you record video 5 seconds the shutter is press, nice! With a firmware update, this camera now accepts the newly introduced 2GB SD card.
In general, this camera packs a lot of features for its size, definitely worth a look if you want something that is light and compact yet has the tweaks only available on digital SLRs.
On: 2005-03-24
Im very happy with this purchase. Ive had it for a month now and it has worked flawlessly. It takes great stills, on par with other 5mp cameras, but thats not why I got it. I wanted something that could do decent stills & videos - so I wouldnt need my camcorder anymore. The vids are not quite as good as a DV camcorder, but Ill settle for 90% of dv camcorder quality for the joy of leaving the camcorder at home. Another thing - tape sucks! It takes forever to get a movie on tape into my computer for editing/burning. Saving movies on a SD card rocks!
My only gripes are the included software and camera computer interface.
Each time you take a movie clip, it is saved on teh SD card as a seperate mpeg4 file. Thats OK, except Casio doesnt include an easy way to link the clips together again. The included Movie Wizard software will let you link together clips, but you must save them as dv or mpeg1/2 files which are much bigger and the conversion process is very slow. I searched the net and found a program called avi joiner to quickly splice together mpeg4 clips.
As for the camera computer interface, I have had trouble moving large video files from the camera to my HDD. The process errors out and I get a message that the connection to the camera is lost. I have to cycle power on the camera and try again. I always get them off eventually, but it is a pain. I havent tried it with a different computer, so it might not have anything to do with the camera.
But overall I am very happy with the EX-P505
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