Casio Exilim EX-S500 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Anti Shake Optical Zoom (Orange)
By: Casio Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 81
More Information
 On: 2008-01-10
Overall, this has been a decent camera for me. It takes great outdoor pictures, and even though Ive dropped it several times, it has never broken.
My main complaint for this camera is that when it takes a picture indoors, everyones faces come out extremely shiny. Im talking about people glowing- and not in a good way.
Im not a camera expert, but none of my other friends who have basic digital cameras have this problem. I guess if you rarely take pictures of people inside then this would be a good camera, but I would not recommend it for indoor use.
 On: 2008-01-08
Great little camera with big features....we love it and have had no problems with it....set the image quality to high if you want to have print quality pictures....set to lower if you are just e-mailing them. Auto feature takes a lot of guesswork out of set-up...easy to use menu
On: 2007-12-10
...with excellent battery life. very good at recording video, extremely pleasant image quality in still camera mode. the only feature lacking is the ability to adjust exposure time. but other than that it works wonderfully and i quite like mine.
 On: 2007-06-20
ive had this camera for around 3 years already! i got it as a present for christmas. the strap and one of the screws has popped out recently but it still works just fine. my sister has an even more expensive canon camera, but it cant even take pictures w/o flash w/o blurring but i find that the casio does it just fine. i love all the features on it, especially the different themes for video taking. the flash is really bright too.
 On: 2007-04-29
I loved the size and quality better than expected given its compactness, but if you have to send it for warranty repair get ready to pay. The optical zoom broke after opening in my front pocket. I sent it back to Casio and they said it wasnt under warranty because there was a slight blemish on the other side of the case - which voids the warranty. Probably a scratch from a quarter or something in my pocket. I called and wrote letters to no avail. If you are able to fix cameras yourself, go for it, otherwise go with a company with better customer service.
On: 2007-03-22
This camera is great! Not only does it take great digital photos and is extremely user friendly, but if you add a 1GB memory card to it (which slides right in and only costs about $40.00) you can take a LOT of great quality digital videos with sound that are very easy to upload to your computer and/or the internet and email to family etc. In fact, there is no need to buy a video camera when you have this and it fits right in your pocket. I can take up to 30 minute videos and lots of photos at one time. You can easily take a photo while you are making a video as well.
On: 2007-01-04
This has got to be the best camera for the money that you can buy right now!! I was looking for an affordable camera, small and thin, a well-known name brand, takes sharp digital photos, can shoot at low light, uses cheap SD cards, good-sized LCD display, and can take decent videos. Well, this Casio Exilim is everything and more, and at a great price. I have used it so much during my out-of-state travels without running out of power or memory (I bought a 2gb SD card for $20 at [...] and I can take more a 1000 hi-res photos or about an hour of video). I was absolutely surprised at how good the videos are that I can shoot on this small digital camera, that now I have decided not to buy a new video camcorder, as this Casio Exilim is all that I would need for any occasion. If youre in the market for a great camera, look no further than the Casio Exilim.
On: 2007-01-03
I have used the camera for three months, and absolutely love it! The pictures are crisp (even very close-ups), and the video feature is right up there. Sound pick-up is excellent. I have created two DVDs combining videos and still pictures. Folks have thought the quality was very good.
The battery life was rated very good, and I have found this to be true. I carry the camera with me nearly everywhere I go. People are impressed with the size.
Drawbacks? Because of its size, there are no connections from the camera to a computer, TV or battery charger. The docking station is small and lightweight. Because of the battery life, I have never been away from home long enough to need recharging.
I recommend the camera without reservations, and will look first to Casio in the future.
On: 2007-01-03
its sleek and easy to use. it takes great pictures and has alot of features
 On: 2006-12-18
This camera started out great.Small size,decent pictures,quick operation,good video and good looks.2 months old and the lens would not retract.Sent in for repair and they(Casio) said it was not covered,even though I bought the xtended warranty.I paid 179.00 for repair and the camera worked great for about 3 more months when suddenly the screen stopped working.Just a blank screen like when the camera was turned off.The camera still worked but you could only guess what you were actually taking a pic of.So I sent it in again and Casio once again said it was not covered under waranty for the repair and wanted me to send them another 160.00.I guess they thought they could rip me off again.I am 52 yrs. old and a gadget guru and have bought many electronic items and this is by far the worst I have ever bought and the worst company to deal with.I really liked this camera and wish it would have been better made by a better company but such is not the case.I take extremelly good care of my stuff and none of this was my fault.This is simply a very good looking piece of junk made by a very anti consumer company.
On: 2006-12-17
This camera started out great.Small size,decent pictures,quick operation,good video and good looks.2 months old and the lens would not retract.Sent in for repair and they(Casio) said it was not covered,even though I bought the xtended warranty.I paid 179.00 for repair and the camera worked great for about 3 more months when suddenly the screen stopped working.Just a blank screen like when the camera was turned off.The camera still worked but you could only guess what you were actually taking a pic of.So I sent it in again and Casio once again said it was not covered under waranty for the repair and wanted me to send them another 160.00.I guess they thought they could rip me off again.I am 52 yrs. old and a gadget guru and have bought many electronic items and this is by far the worst I have ever bought and the worst company to deal with.I really liked this camera and wish it would have been better made by a better company but such is not the case.I take extremelly good care of my stuff and none of this was my fault.This is simply a very good looking piece of junk made by a very anti consumer company.
On: 2006-10-13
In my experience, this camera takes great pictures, but the zoom lens is so delicate that it breaks easily. It stops extending and just makes a clicking noise. This happened to me when the camera accidentally turned on while in my pants pocket rendering the camera unusable. My brother and two of my friends experienced a similar problem with their EX-S500 after they accidentally dropped the camera while the lens was extended. I would recommend looking into another camera that is not so delicate.
On: 2006-09-24
It is a great camera, very small and gives very good photos in most circumstances. Grainy pic in dim light. Go to the casio website to download the new firmware for 4GB SD card compatibility. You will get over 1500 high res photos with a 4 GB card, where outpost is selling for 5o dollars a card
On: 2006-08-29
I own a Nikon Coolpix 3100 camera and have no complaints with it, except for the fact that its size (even though its fairly small) is a pain to carry around when you want to take pictures. Looking for a much thinner camera, I came across this one and was quite pleasantly surprised at its size, and its ability to take really great shots! Im merely a birthday - holiday type picture taker, but this camera will definitely enable me to take more pictures, because Ill be carrying it around in my pockety whennever I go somewhere that might provide a photo opportunity.
On: 2006-08-09
I have many traditional film SLRs including the original Pentax K1000 (fully manual), Canon Rebel XOS and a Canon Elph. When considering digital SLR cameras the Canon Digital Rebel and the point-and-shoot Canon Digital Elph were at the top of my list. But at $150 less than the Canon Digital Elph, the Casio Exilim EX-S series is a better buy with the the same features (and in some cases a better execution of the same features). If youre looking for a fun point-and-click camera that will record audio, AVI movie files and digital pictures this is it. It takes about 15 miuntes to read the manual and youre off taking pictures. Pay attention when reading the manual and everything else will seem very intuitive.
Of all the cameras I have I use this one most often.
Other users have complained about the proprietary lithium ion battery but 3rd party equivalents are available right here on the amazon site, you just have to look. My back-up battery was only [...] bucks. San Disk 1GB memory cards are cheap too, [...] online, [...] retail. Last, I agree with many users that a lock switch needs to be developed so that you can keep the camera from accidentally turning on when its in your pocket -- but remember many cameras have this problem/lack/this feature. I solved my own issues by buying a [...] case with a belt loop.
by: danull On: 2006-08-07
This really is a great camera (for its purpose!) This isnt a camera to get if you want super-fine shots or are some kind of amateur photographer. If you want a camera to preserve memories, snap shots during travel, parties, etc, this is the one to get.
Here are a few of my favorite things about the camera:
Solid construction. The thing just reeks of quality.
Very fast startup time - not only is it easy to fit in a pocket so you can grab it while other idiots are unzipping their camera bags, but it starts up so fast that youre taking a picture before you know it.
Portability - Ive taken this everywhere. Ive gotten great pictures Id have never gotten otherwise because this camera is small, unobtrusive, always available, etc.
Im very happy with this purchase & my next digital camera (sooner or later people will laugh at 5 megapixels) will definitely be a card/small sized Casio.
On: 2006-08-02
I purchased several of these cameras and each recipient raved about their pictures. The camera has a nice big lcd screen and is the easiest camera to use. I brought this one for my vet, without this man my greyhound would not be alive. He and his wife love this camera It is about the size of the Motorola Razer Cell phone Cannot go wrong with this camera
On: 2006-07-29
I wanted a small camera that could take high quality pictures and this was a good choice. One thing I would strongly suggest is to checking the price on the 3MP exilim before buying. I have done tests between the 3MP exilim and 5MP exilim print photos, and unless you are really going to be printing a lot, just get the 3MP (there is NEVER a reason to get the 5MP vs 3MP if you plan on sharing pictures online and not printing). I cant believe there is a 10MP exilim out now, because the limitation in quality is at the lense, not the digital resolution.
The exilim picture quality is equal to or better than all peer cameras, but there are some things that bug me about this camera:
1. You cant put this in your pocket because the power button accidently gets hit, and then the gears grind trying to push the lense out. You have to use a case to stop the power button from getting hit, which makes it no longer small and awesome. It is poor design.
2. The Lithium-ion battery is proprietary... and it is possible to put in backwards. Another design flaw (I hope the battery never dies cause they are probably very expensive to replace).
3. The cradle is annoying. I dont know if this was done to help reduce the camera size down or what, but I would much rather have cords then a cradle and cords. It is a piece of light plastic that is a pain to have to take with on trips where I will need to recharge.
4. The digital display screen protrudes out and gets scratched easily. I have 2 friends who have Exilims and they both have scratches on the screen as well. It does not get in the way of taking pictures too much, but again an indicator of poor overall design.
If you are not completely sure you want a small camera then I would not suggest this one. If you are sure, then THIS IS YOUR BEST OPTION.
Even though I think this is best in class, Im only giving it 4 stars.
On: 2006-07-14
Its a great little camera to take everywhere!Has many cool features, just make sure you read the manual in order to know how to use them.
On: 2006-07-12
i love my new digital camera! it is awesome and amazon is the best!
On: 2006-05-29
I love this camera. It totally fits in your pocket, works awesome, and girls love it.
I do recommend 2 things for it, a traveling case and you can buy a protective cover to put over the LCD screen. I bought mine used and it works just as well as my older and larger digital.
On: 2006-05-16
I bought this camera for [...] after my Canon A70 became defective. I name it "Xiao Bai" which means "Little White" in chinese. Compared to my old Canon A70, Xiao Bai is really light and fits into my jacket pocket nicely, although I usually put it in my camera bag (bought separately). I am not a professional photographer but I do take a lot of pictures especially when I travel around. Xiao Bai takes great pictures most of the time, but I am not quite satisfied with pictures taken at night. When I was trying to take some pictures of a parade at night, the pictures turned out to be dark and blur. Xiao Bai is also slow at start up if flash is on. The anti-shake function doesnt impress me very much either. Because it is too thin, it is not stable if I try to stand it on random surfaces when I use the self-timer function.
On the other hand, Xiao Bai does have some good quality. It is pretty-looking and have lots of interesting best-shot modes (potrait, scenery, party, natural green, pet, fireworks, food, twilight etc). It also has a slide show function for the pictures taken. Another excellent point is its video quality and duration. I can take up to 1 hour high quality video with my 1GB memory card. I once took a video while biking around my campus and it turned out great. I love travelling so its light weight really helps lighten up my backpack.
Overall, I think this is a great camera for normal consumers. Xiao Bai is my new company whenever I go now and I love him so much!!
On: 2006-04-20
While crackin a beer and havin fun with friends, its always nice to capture the moment.... This is when I whip out my Casio Exilim! Not only is it great with friends, but with family as well. It captures the moment so well, you can take a picture of a moving fan and it comes out crystal clear. With all the different settings, whether your in a bar, on the lake, making a short video, or just goofing around, Casio is the way to go. I myself love the fact that I can take it in my purse everywhere I travel without it being an inconvenience. The small size is one of its many features.
In addition to its petite size, there arent many buttons so operating it is no extra hassle. My friends are always snatching my camera to see how the picture came out. One thing I would change though, would be the fact that the last picture taken should be displayed on the screen for a longer period of time. Yet, getting the picture to pop back up is no bother. Like I was saying, its easy to operate.
At one point, I had a significant project due for school, which included making a video. I had to interview many different people and instead of carrying around a huge camera, I was able to complete the assignment with my Casio Exilim! Even the people I interviewed that mumbled were still heard. It picked up the sound great and came out focused as well.
Another great feature is the fact that it takes an SD card to store the pictures. SD cards are very popular and can be used for many different things. I am able to take pictures with my camera, slide the card into my cell phone, and store the pictures there. This comes in handy when I want a great picture to be the screen saver on my cell phone. With this feature, everyone is able to enjoy the moment.
There was a time I ended up breaking the screen and Casio did replace it for free. For this to happen, I had to be a good talker. But, it can be done. Also, the price is very comparable and reasonable. Since having my camera with me at all times, my friends and I are able to look back on many great memories. We know they were great because we have the pictures to prove it!
When deciding on a camera, choose Casio. Its small, light weight, great quality, very versatile, and the smart way to go. Before you know it, your photo albums will be full and your friends will be begging you for the doubles. So go on, capture the moment.
On: 2006-03-28
At first I really liked this camera. It was nice and small and took decent pictures, although everything was white-washed when I used the flash.
After using the camera a total of 4 times in under 2 months, the belt that operates the extension of the lens slipped off track while I was zooming in for a shot. I assumed that since the camera came with a one year warranty, I would be ok. Not so.
Casio wanted to charge me $220.85 in order to put the belt back on track. They said that since the problem had to do with the lens, it wasnt covered under warranty. The lens wasnt cracked, I never dropped the camera, and it was in otherwise perfect condition. I tried explaining this multiple times whenever I could actually reach someone in customer service, but they insisted that they didnt have to honor the warranty. Not only that, but they wouldnt send the camera back to me unless I paid $8 for the return shipping!
I strongly suggest buying a different brand of camera. I now use a Nikon that was half the price of the Casio, and it takes great pictures. Not only that, but I had my Nikon in my flak jacket for two months while in Iraq and it still works perfectly fine.
In my experience, Casio makes a low quality camera and doesnt honor their own warranty.
On: 2006-03-26
I LOVE my new camera! It can go with me anywhere because it is thin and light and oh so attractive. It also is easy to use and takes great photos. The basic functions are well laid out and intuitive to learn but there are alot of subtle features that take some figuring out. I wish the complete user manual was actually printed and not provided on a DVD. You may want to print out the darn thing so you can study it at leisure.
The screen is hard to see in bright sun but that is true of all cameras. I was also impressed how much I was able to capture using the low light setting and NO flssh. Am still playing with the "best shot" features and some of the options like Sepia and Black and White. The nice thing about that it shows the image with the tint or in black and white.
All in all, I am a happy camper, this camera is all that I need for a long while!
On: 2006-03-20
Weve had this camera for 6 months. We loved it. Then the ring around the lens popped off after simply turning it on; it could not be reattached. The machinery inside was exposed. Casio took it back since it was under warranty, but, after we sent it to them, we were told that the lens ring was not covered. Even with their warranty in hand that stated everything (excluding the battery and power cord I believe) is covered, Casio insisted we pay nearly $200. In addition, we have been waiting 2 months to get the camera back (we still dont have it). Were so very frustrated. I would pursue them legally if I could justify the expense and effort. We are using the only alternative left to us of warning people about Casios actions.
On: 2006-03-19
This is by far one of my favorite toys I own. It is the perfect size to take out to capture amazaing quality photos of your family, friends, social events, recreational trips, ect. I get so many compliments on it and the anti shake feature makes a huge difference. I have had no problems since I ordered it in January and highly recommend it to anyone who wants quality in a compact size!
On: 2006-03-17
This camera is extremely easy to understand and use and it takes wonderful quality pictures. Only a basic knowledge of photography is needed to operate the camera, but the features are there for those who want a more in-depth camera. I highly recommend this item.
On: 2006-03-14
I have owned the Nikon S1 and a Canon Powershot S400, and I liked the Exilim S500 the best. The Exilim is the smallest, the best-looking (though the S1 looks great in black), and by far the easiest to use. This is perfect as a point-and-shoot camera, and will certainly produce better images than the Nikon. I found the Nikon S1s photos to be grainy in low-light. The Powershot models have problems with the LCD cracking, and my friend experienced this first-hand with an SD300. This problem may have been fixed by now though.
I do have a couple nitpicks... First, the white version of the camera is not that white. Its certainly not iPod white as depicted in the Amazon photos. Second, the camera does not allow for a lot of manual functions compared to the other models I tried (especially the Canon Powershot).
When buying this camera, I would recommend also buying a few other things. First, make sure you get an SD card. I bought the RiDATA 1GB 66X SD card for under $40 on Newegg.com. Second, I would recommend getting a small case for it. I bought a tiny Quantaray case at Ritz Camera in my local mall. And finally, I would recommend finding a clear film to place over the LCD. I couldnt find one that didnt slightly defile the image on the LCD, but I d rather have an LCD with no scratches than a scratched screen.
Overall, the Casio Exilim S500 gets a 5/5 rating from me and I would recommend it for anyone looking for an ultra-compact easy-to-use digital camera, and doesnt mind not having a lot of features and a large manual to sift through.
On: 2006-03-13
Very lightweight and small. Can fit it almost anywhere. Pictures are very clear and antishake option is wonderful. I love the ability to take a picture during a video shoot. Highly recommend this camera!
On: 2006-03-11
What a great little camera. I can keep in right in my purse so I have it with me all the time. I never have to say I forgot my camera again. Takes great pictures too.
On: 2006-03-08
Im an engineer and tend to agonize over buying anything electronic. My criteria for my first digital camera were: decent photos, camcorder replacement, pocket sized, durable, <=$330 and lots of nifty features. I am quite pleased by this purchase after two weeks... it seems to work as advertised and has enough tweaks in the various menus so I can usually get the photo quality I want. Plop it in the small adapter/charger (provided), connect the USB to your PC and the camera appears as an external drive to the computer and simple to access/copy/whatever. I havent bothered with their supplied PC software. Caveats: use the wrist strap to avoid dropping it; the internal memory is worthless, so get at least a 256M memory card. Enjoy!
On: 2006-03-07
All in that is so good who I cant describe here! Buy this camera and then yourselves will be able to enjoy it.
On: 2006-03-03
I owned an Exilim S2 2mp camera before this one, and both of them have far exceeded my expectations ... the Best Shot features are universally helpful, the battery life is near-infinite, the picture quality is absurdly good, and the screen is large and brightly lit. Easily the best camera Ive owned, and very reasonably priced for 5mp plus uber-sleekness.
On: 2006-03-01
this camera is wonderful. i have only one thing to add... unless you read the *TINY* print on the back of the box you will not realize until it is too late that the movies you can record w/ this camera are difficult (not impossible, but quite a hassle) to play on a Mac. The camera integrates seamlessly with iPhoto and OSX itself (of course) but encodes the videos in some odd form of .avi file which Quicktime will not recognize. it IS possible to view the movies on a Mac w/ the proper codec and an odball viewing program... but not, as far as i can tell, to convert them to a native Mac format. Sort of a bummer, as I was looking forward to making movies with the thing (and the quality of said movies is GREAT, by the way... and the sound that that tiny little hole that is the microphone is spectacular for what it is) but guess Ill have to settle for taking great pictures instead. other than that gripe (and the terrible manual) I have no complaints. This is a very very good camera. You can check out some pictures Ive taken with mine at [...] if youd like to see what it is capable of...
On: 2006-02-26
This is a great camera. Photos, ease of use and features all make this camera a best buy. I have been using a Sony PC 5 and this camera is so much more compact. The EX-S500 has a great screen and an easy to use menu.
I have already taken hundreds of pictures and havent had any problems.
The video works very well. It is not the quality of a camcorder, but the thing is so small that I use it constantly for video. I can take 30 minutes of video at the highest quality setting on an empty SD card. The video looks fine on my TV, somewhere between a VHS and MiniDV in quality.
I dont do much printing, so I cant make any comments on print quality.
This camera would get 4 stars if you could connect to the TV without the dock.
Get this and you wont be disappointed.
On: 2006-02-22
This is an excellent choice if you want a point and shoot, quick shot camera. The number of best shot settings are more than enough.
This camera is very well built and feels like a quality product. This camera is show chic....I have strangers that want to touch it and check it out, which is a bit strange. Everyone thinks its very cool looking and they want to steal mine.
The digital image stabilization is a joke, however. Its a gimick.
I 100% recommend this device. I have had Canon and Sony digital cameras...this one BY FAR is the BEST in build and picture quality and it is so small, I can carry it anywhere, without a problem.
On: 2006-02-21
I believe this to be a very good camera, it excedes all expectations except: the screen.
This camera has a lot of cool functions but it also needs to have the best care in the world. Just two weeks after I bought the camera, the screen got busted because it is too sensitive and dont think I didnt care for the camera because you are wrong, I took real good care of it, I even got it a hard case but I guess it wasnt good enough.
with the exception of the screen being too sensitive, I would rate the camer with a little more than 5 stars but seeing as how I cant review my pictures because I have NO screen and, also, I cant use any of the "cool" functions because there is absolutely no way for me to see the menu(again NO screen)I would now rate it with a star-at the most.
On: 2006-02-20
I received this camera as a gift. All-in-all its been a great little camera. I love the pictures it takes, and I love the light weight and slim size.
I did, however, have one major frustration in the beginning. The camera comes with 8.5 Mb of memory built in. In other words, you sneeze and you run out of memory. So I looked through the manual to find specifications for adding memory. It said nothing -- nothing about upgrading the internal memory or purchasing an external excessory. I searched the web, including the product web site, and still found nothing useful.
The cameras only visible port was a "connector" (as ambiguously described in the manual) that connected to the cameras cradle and nothing else.
I thought it was incredible that a 5MP camera would only come with enough memory to take 4 pictures at a time, so I knew there must be some way to add memory. Finally, my brother found it. Theres an extra sliver of space submerged inside the battery compartment for inserting a memory card. The trouble is, its not identified in the manual, or even on the camera itself. The only hint you have is a row of trademark logos on the manuals cover that includes an "SD" logo. And thats only useful if you notice it AND you happen to know what it means.
We still had no idea how much memory we could safely add, so we guessed. I purchased at Best Buy a SanDisk 256MB memory card, that seems to work just fine. It might be possible to go up to a Gig or more, but I really dont know. Casio is evidently keeping all that information to itself...
On: 2006-02-15
Unlike one of the reviewers below, i actually found that i could use the optical zoom while recording a movie! i have not seen this feature in too many little cameras and find it to be pretty neat.
The battery life is fantastic and so an optical viewfinder is hardly missed.
So far ive been able to record over an hour of movies on my 1 GB SD card at the highest quality setting (640x480 @30 fps) with plenty of space to spare - the mpeg 4 compression is a boon indeed.
The screen is large and very readable which is a much appreciated fact by ppl who need reading glasses.
So far i didnt think the image quality was stellar, but this is probably largely due to the fact that i havent really played around with all the different settings yet. Eveneso, the images are much better than my previous HP camera.
One other con is that i felt the software provided with the Casio was not as user friendly as that which was provided with my (now retired) HP camera. However, i bought the Exilim in China and its possible the software supplied elsewhere is different.
On: 2006-02-12
We needed a good, sturdy, compact dual-mode camera to use to capture images and video for our business; this camera has proven itself to be up to the challenge.
Ive actively used the camera now for four months. Ill list its strengths, and a couple things to be aware of:
1. Takes outstanding pictures. Outdoor images are especially good.
2. Memory has not been a problem: We have three gig smart cards; and have yet to purge any material from them. We have the settings set for screen to screen; which makes a big difference. Probably have an 1.5 hrs of video and hundreds of pics on a card, only about 1/3 full.
3. Holds a charge extremely well. Have never had to be concerned about running out of power on the go; the cradle charges quickly.
4. The software provided is outstanding. Simple yet powerful. Easy to grab images from video.
5. Smooth, not shaky video quality.
Things to be aware of:
1. Indoor shooting, especially for the video, requires alot of light. More an assessment on decent lighting products on the market; Ive found only either hotshoe attachments or plug in floods. I need a powerful battery powered light source, so Im reduced to strong flashlights, not designed for image capture.
2. I have noticed some color adjustments occur in the video, however slight. For instance Ill be recording a stationary session, and the hue of the blue background will flicker or adjust. Its slight, but persistent.
A super product, for an image camera that does video as well. (Formfactor is great; cant beat the handy size.)
- Razr
On: 2006-02-10
After going through half a dozen cameras in as many months, including a Sony and Canon, the Exilim turned out to be a great fit. The battery life is long, the sync with my computer was a breeze, and the LCD screen is bright and clear. The only weakness is that the digital zoom is not the best and the unit is fairly "delicate". I dropped the first one and the lens casing immediately cracked and I had to buy another.
On: 2006-02-03
i am a student and needed a camera to capture all the mad events that go on such as nights out, sports and the like. i angonised over buying a camera and compared it to the canon ixus (elph) and and even olypmus mju. i got the white one a few weeks ago and i am loving it. here are the best bits:
1. it looks fantastic... it wows everyone
2. its so tiny and light
3. the screen is HUGE!
4. the pik quality is excellent
5. the videos are simply fantastic... its like a camcorder.. and everything moves at perfect speed.
6. theres like 20 different types of picture setting.. not sure how well they work but good anyway
7. battery life is amazing.. youd prob get two full days of shooting and watching on it before it will run down
8. videos have sound.. fantastic
9. value for money is brilliant... no other camera has the same range of features for the same price.. and amazon give you a free SD card which is even better
10. extremely durable! i dropped it three times on its first night out and not even a scratch on the casing or LCD!
all in all a fantastic camera, have yet to discover a fault with it!
On: 2006-02-01
I have had this camera for about a month and absolutely love it. Its very thin and looks great in the white color. I get comments from people all the time telling me that they love the look. 2 people have even told me that they are seriously thinking about getting one of their own. I totally recommend it to everyone.
I have done a ton of looking around at different available cameras and I found this to be the best in terms of screen size, ease of use and price.
It also offers an amazing bonus with a free memory card. It doesnt come with one so you will need to buy it separately. I opted for the price break on the 512mb and have found it to be perfectly fine and havent filled it up yet. Deciding what amount of memory to get would depend on how much you plan on using it. Id say I use it about twice a week and on a medium picture quality and it works out great. I wouldnt get the 256mb that might be too little.
Downloading pictures is super fast. The process is a bit weird to me but it doesnt have anything to do with the camera. I think its more with my computer. I can download, transfer, copy to the computer, burn on CD or just view so theres a lot of options for you to decide to do.
It takes amazing pictures. I have taken over a hundred pictures and only one has been out of focus. The shots are very clear and crisp. You can focus very close in the play mode and crop the picture right on the camera. The 5 megapixes is a large amount. Really I would never need it, but its great to have the quality there. The anti-shake is a good option if you or the subject is moving. It basically shows little snap shots instead of a steady stream of the action and you can take a picture.
The screen is huge and beautiful, very bright and clear. I was very nervous about scratching or cracking it but it has stood up to my not so careful use. I keep it in my bag with other junk like keys and loose change and it still shines like the first day out of the package. I heard that theres a plastic cover for the screen so I might look into getting that, or theres the little case you can get too.
It has amazing battery life. I have gone a couple of days without charging it with some light use and the battery was still almost full. It charges very fast too, it takes only about an hour or so.
I love the menu buttons. Other cameras seem not to care about their ease of use and organization. This one was very simple. On top of the back you choose to view your picture or take them or take a video, then down by the screen you get into the menu or your shot options, and then you can navigate around your options or pictures very easily around. There are a ton of features to play around with, from different picture sizes, different shooting options, shooting video, and I havent got around to using everything yet.
The dock is fine. Not cute but light and when you want to download or see the pictures you just push the button on the front. I dont think it charges while youre downloading but its easy to switch back when youre done.
It takes cute little videos. You can adjust the quality and therefore the amount of space it takes up on the memory card. The sound was not great but as long as youre not too far away, Id say 6ft, you can hear everything fine. I havent played it back on a TV, which you can do with cables that are included, but it looks like it would be easy and come out fine.
Overall I am very happy with my purchase (cant you tell!) and would highly recommend it. Other cameras just didnt have the large screen size, picture quality, or simple controller that I was looking for. It fits my needs perfectly.
On: 2006-01-19
This camera is by far the best camera i have ever owned. The sleek, compact design accompanied with the large view screen makes me want to go out and take photos! Speaking of which, it takes great pix! I have had very few blurred images.
I dont care much for the dock it comes with...used for charging and downloading...but a minor point. The camera charge lasts and pix are a breeze to download.
On: 2006-01-15
PROS: great video quality, super small size, quick start up time
CONS: horrible image quality
the image quality on this camera is BAD. very noisy pictures, expecially in low-light or no-flash situations. takes decent pictures outdoor in lots of light, but everything else...unacceptable. the video mode works really well though
On: 2006-01-09
This camera seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. Its a great looking camera and at 5MP it should have the resolution to make a decent print. After using it for a few weeks I decided to return it for a refund. Ill simply list the S500s pros and cons and let you decide for yourself:
PROS:
1. VERY nice looking camera. This thing will turn heads.
2. Large bright LCD. Very easy to read.
3. Excellent battery life. 200+ images per charge.
4. VERY small. I wanted a camera that would easily fit in a fanny pack on vacation.
5. Build quality is top notch.
6. Video quality is fairly good. Most cameras in this genre have video capability. This is an awesome feature that allows you to leave the camcorder at home when you dont want to lug it around.
CONS:
1. Terrible image quality. I bought this camera to replace a Canon S30 3MP camera. At 5MP the Casio SHOULD have a much better quality image...NOT. I was amazed at how marginal the image quality was. I compared several images taken with each camera and the 3MP images were better in each case. I tried the Casio at all ISOs and all image quality settings and nothing helped. If this was my first camera and I didnt know any better maybe Id have been happy with this but its not and Im not.
2. This camera has a real problem with focusing in all but the brightest light. I found that only about 3 out of every 10 photos taken indoors under normal interior illumination were in focus. This was really getting me down. I did everything I could to help the thing focus. I kicked up the ISO to try to increase the shutter speed. I braced the camera on a knee or against a piece of furniture to steady it. I recomposed each image and payed close attention to the focus point(the camera shows you where its focusing via two green brackets on the LCD display). Nothing seemed to help.
3. Phony "Anti Shake" technology. Dont be fooled by this marketing claim. There is NO image stabilization on this camera. I knew this going in but it still gets me that Casio makes this claim. Their "Anti Shake" technology consists of raising the ISO setting under low light conditions in order to get higher shutter speed settings. This is supposed to minimize camera shake but due to the exceptionally poor image quality at higher ISOs and the focusing issues mentioned above there is no gain here.
I really wanted to like this camera but, when it comes down to it, image quality is the most important issue in buying a camera. I am a professional photographer so maybe Im a bit more critical of things like this, however, Im comparing this camera to my previous point-and-shoot and not my pro gear. If you want a really attractive camera and dont mind inferior image quality then this camera is for you. If you want a high quality image I would recommend you look elsewhere.
On: 2006-01-08
This camera seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. Its a great looking camera and at 5MP it should have the resolution to make a decent print. After using it for a few weeks I decided to return it for a refund. Ill simply list the S500s pros and cons and let you decide for yourself:
PROS:
1. VERY nice looking camera. This thing will turn heads.
2. Large bright LCD. Very easy to read.
3. Excellent battery life. 200+ images per charge.
4. VERY small. I wanted a camera that would easily fit in a fanny pack on vacation.
5. Build quality is top notch.
6. Video quality is fairly good. Most cameras in this genre have video capability. This is an awesome feature that allows you to leave the camcorder at home when you dont want to lug it around.
CONS:
1. Terrible image quality. I bought this camera to replace a Canon S30 3MP camera. At 5MP the Casio SHOULD have a much better quality image...NOT. I was amazed at how marginal the image quality was. I compared several images taken with each camera and the 3MP images were better in each case. I tried the Casio at all ISOs and all image quality settings and nothing helped. If this was my first camera and I didnt know any better maybe Id have been happy with this but its not and Im not.
2. This camera has a real problem with focusing in all but the brightest light. I found that only about 3 out of every 10 photos taken indoors under normal interior illumination were in focus. This was really getting me down. I did everything I could to help the thing focus. I kicked up the ISO to try to increase the shutter speed. I braced the camera on a knee or against a piece of furniture to steady it. I recomposed each image and payed close attention to the focus point(the camera shows you where its focusing via two green brackets on the LCD display). Nothing seemed to help.
3. Phony "Anti Shake" technology. Dont be fooled by this marketing claim. There is NO image stabilization on this camera. I knew this going in but it still gets me that Casio makes this claim. Their "Anti Shake" technology consists of raising the ISO setting under low light conditions in order to get higher shutter speed settings. This is supposed to minimize camera shake but due to the exceptionally poor image quality at higher ISOs and the focusing issues mentioned above there is no gain here.
I really wanted to like this camera but, when it comes down to it, image quality is the most important issue in buying a camera. I am a professional photographer so maybe Im a bit more critical of things like this, however, Im comparing this camera to my previous point-and-shoot and not my pro gear. If you want a really attractive camera and dont mind inferior image quality then this camera is for you. If you want a high quality image I would recommend you look elsewhere.
On: 2006-01-08
This small thin camera does mpeg4 avi video at 640x480 at 30 frames per second.
The key being 30 fps , a lot of cameras only do 15 ...
So your not only taking a camera with you on a trip your also carrying a video camera too! Granted its not miniDV quality but still great.
It will play back video on a mac by downloading the quicktime casio avi importer.
1gb sd card will do over 30 minutes of high quality video that can go straight to your computer for editing or whatever , not bad for the price !
by: tomlint On: 2006-01-08
I bought this camera for an easily carried point and shoot for my wife. We use Sony cameras now, but she needed to replace hers. I was drawn to the Sony T7. Loved the razor sharp LCD, but the pictures seemed soft. I used a pals to compare. It was about $100 more than the Casio. Not a deal breaker, but a consideration. The Casio had a great feel to it, and we liked the look of it better than the Sony. My wife loves the proportions and balance of the camera. She loves the orange color! The pictures are very sharp, and detailed. I have used only a few of the best shot modes, but there are a lot of choices. The movie feature is only of secondary interest, but most of the ones we have tried have been dark. The LCD is less detailed than the Sony. It is a nice big 2.2 screen. It still looks great. The controls are very easy to use. I like the external zoom, but this can be more problematic, than internal. The camera has a quick start up and times betweem pictures are faster than my older 5mp Sony. We use a high speed SD card which makes a big difference. The macro pictures showed a real detail differance. There was a strong color push to the Sony models, but the Casio was more accurate, and color correct.It was a close toss up, and required us buying a new memory card, but the pictures are just better than the Sonys. I just tried the T-5, and the T-33, and like the T-7, I loved the LCD, but the pictures were softer. The lack of a manual is a real oversight. The basic operations were rudimentaly explained in the 100 page manual. 20 langauges times 5 pages each! You must use the pdf manual on the disc. The pdf manual is fine, but you have to boot up to read it.
On: 2006-01-04
The box says that if you have a Mac, you cant review the videos on your computer. Untrue! If you download a program called VLC media player, you can view the .avi file the camera converts the video image into. Just another reason why this camera is perfect.
On: 2006-01-02
I have been a semi-pro photographer for the last 5 years now. Ive had 4 digital cameras through the last few years including 2 digigal SLRs. Although I have a lot of camera equipment, I did not have a nice digital compact to take with me to go out on casual events. Who wants to lug around a SLR with 3 lenses to dinner with family?
So after reading several positive reviews, I thought Id give this camera a try. I also purchased a Canon SD400 at the same time to comapare the two.
The Casio EXILIM looks great and is a very thin compact camera. Power on is very responsive as is the autofocus. It comes with a nice cradle as well.
Unfortunately, this is where the positive feedback ends. The quailty of photos is very sub-par for the price of this camera. My old 3.3 Sony Cybershot took much better photos in low lighting situations (which is a primary reason for me to have this camera). After 2 days of use, the lens cap stopped closing all the way (only the bottom half closed). My particular camera seems to be the exception to this problem but on top of the poor picture quality, I will be calling Amazon to make arrangements for a return.
If a nice compact camera with good quailty photos under low lighting is what you are looking for, I highly recommend the Canon SD400 (if you can live without a cradel).
On: 2005-12-28
I had this camera for five weeks when the silver ring around the lens popped off. I called Casio and they instructed me to send it to their repair center in New Jersey. I received an invoice from Casio stating it will cost me $170 to fix. After speaking with several representatives and leaving voicemail messages for management, I have not been able to resolve this problem. The repair center said my lens is broken (the lens is working fine - its the ring around the lens that fell off) and the warranty does not cover lens and screen repairs. The warranty states the product is covered, except for the case and battery, for one year. Terrible product, even worse customer service. I will NEVER buy another Casio product.
On: 2005-12-27
I got a white casio exilim for Christmas, and it is great. It matches my iBook :) I took various pictures and videos including photos of Christmas lights around town, and they turned out great! The videos are of very good quality too, even better than my daddys camcorder. Go for a 1GB memory card though because the high quality video setting will fill up a card pretty fast. And even the lower resolution setting for the photos looks great.
For those worried about Mac compatability, all you have to do is download a small patch called casio_avi.zip and the movies will play fine in quicktime. Google it and you can find it. iPhoto recognizes the camera with no effort from the user. The camera also shows up on the desktop as a drive so you can get to the photos and videos that way if you need to.
On: 2005-12-25
I got this camera as a Christmas present and Im just loving it! I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a small, compact camera with excellent video and image quality. The video looks like it was done on a video camera, its very impressive.
On: 2005-12-19
While I am no professional photographer, I can honestly say this is a FANTASTIC camera! It takes pictures at lightening speed and the quality of the photos is fabulous. I love that it is so compact. The video quality is also very impressive. Ive noticed that a few people said they bought it and it wouldnt work on a Mac, but thats not true at all. Mine works just fine. The audio is great as well. I would totally recommend this camera to people! I take it everywhere now and am always ready for a photo op!
On: 2005-12-13
I used this camera for a week before I encountered the problem with the lens. I sent the camera to NJ repair center. They refused to honor the warranty claiming that I bought it from an unauthorized dealer and wanted $200 for repair. I threw this camera away and will never buy Casio product again.
On: 2005-12-10
This is the 3rd generation of Exilim cameras that my wife and I have owned, and I have to say we are very impressed with it. It has everything we came to expect in Exilim cameras...compactness, style, ease-of-use, long battery life, and good photo quality.
I have to say that it is remarkable how fast this camera is..as soon as you push the power button it is ready to go. The LCD is huge and beautiful. Also, the quality of the videos is AWESOME! You would think that the videos are being taken with a handheld cam...but no...its just this tina camera. :) Also, the audio quality is excellent with the camera.
One final note...it is true what they say about taking pictures of paper with this camera. If you take a picture of a page in the phone book, you can read the numbers on the page using the cameras LCD. The quality is awesome...it looks like the page was scanned. Very cool.
If I had enough money, Id buy another one of these cameras for myself (b/c it technically belongs to my wife). :)
On: 2005-12-09
I bought this camera 1 week ago. Although it is cute and compact however I had problems taking pics with it. [...] Hello my red Sony 7.1 mp. The only reason I rated it a 2 is because it is compact cute and colorful.
On: 2005-12-09
I purchased the Casio back in November. The first time I used it was at my parents anniversary party, which was in a restaurant at night. I was having to take pictures where the setting was so dark, I could not see the image in the viewfinder, I am a photographer and brought my Nikon D-50 along just in case. So not to lose any moments, I used both cameras for each picture I took (getting a sore neck from the D-50!) I plugged both cards into the photo kiosk at a local retailer, and am absolutely unable to tell of any difference in quality. Now folks, I paid $1,000 for the D-50 and Nikkor lense. This little casio has been with me at bars for birthday parties, concerts with crazy lights, even high school sporting events. I can honestly say it is the best camera I have ever owned. I have dropped it a few times, and it has held up very well. I would recommend getting a clear screen cover for the display screen on back as to avoid scratching it. I ended up paying $8.00 for a PSP screen protector kit, and cut down to fit. I have 3 more screens in storage now. The best feature is that when you turn the unit on, in under a second, you can snap a picture, and it will turn out great (came in really handy at a recent rock concert). It is no bigger than a wallet so I am able to carry it everywhere. I did much research on this purchase and am extremely satisfied by my decision. I would highly recommend. I also have several technical Casio watches, and I have always been very impressed by Casios superior customer service. If you have windows XP, you wont need to load the software on your CPU, I have found it easier to use windows media. I would recommend saving the manual on your desktop (250+ pages) in a pdf file. I actually printed it out, and learned the things this camera can do are limitless.
On: 2005-12-04
this is the second casio camera i have had, and while it is small, i have had lense problems with both, the service offered to solve my problem was both slow and poor. in addition, it is a hassle to take the base along with you to charge. give casio products a swerve if you are at all rough with your treatment of cameras.
On: 2005-12-03
I have always wanted a digital camera but i wanted something that wasnt clumsy, that wasnt low resolution, that wasnt heavy and up until i bought this tiny cutting edge (in the sense that it satisfies consumers needs) item. It is small, doesnt use up too much batteries, comes in with a BUILT-IN memory, is very light, almost transparent thin relative to other cameras and has a lot more specifications than its peers. As a comparison the Sony T7 model is much more expensive but doesnt have all the specifications that this specific camera has. The most significant one was the shutterspeed setting which can be set to a smaller period of time in EX-S500. The Sony T7 is slightly thinner but slightly larger in other dimensions. Casio Exilim has made my college life fun and certainly satisfies my requirements. If i put it in my shirt pocket, it doesnt make it sag like any other camera... I dont think there is anything else that can be expected from a small digital camera.
On: 2005-12-02
I had problems with my orange casio 2 weeks after i bought it...pics too bright. So I sent it back to Casio Repair in NJ. They repaired it and said it was a lens issue.
A month later it broke again..this time the screen didnt work. I sent it back again and after a month they sent an invoice for $225 to repair the "lens". I tried explaining to them that I had no problem with the lens but they refused to listen and said I daamged it.
One of the reps hung up on me. Than I tried the supervisor...she was even worse..nasty and rude.
Then I tried numerous Casio #s but no one would help. Finally I was given the contact info for the big honcho. I wrote a certified letter to him that he signed for on 11-14-05. He never called me so I started to call him early last week. Most of the time his voice mail was full. I have left about 6 messages and he has yet to call me back.
What kind of customer service is this?
Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere for a camera. They are flimsy and when (believe me it is WHEN) they break down, the service is horrid.
I am not taking this up with the BBB and will post the results.
On: 2005-11-29
Great camera, takes quick pictures with ease. Contrary to professional reviews this is one of the best ultra-compact cameras on the market.
On: 2005-11-18
I have had this camera for two months. I bought it to take to Cancun instead of my bulky camera, and I love it! It is so small and slim that it will slide right into your back pocket and you forget that its there (but not the best place to carry it!) I keep it in my purse at all times, and Ive used it almost daily. I am definitely a point and shoot kind of girl, and this camera makes that so easy. No waiting for warm-up, no lag between pics. It has so many settings to choose from (and theyre easy to understand!) that one of them is bound to be perfect. I usually just leave mine on the automatic setting, but you should probably put it on anti-shake if youre not using a flash indoors or your picture might not turn out as sharp as you would like.
The camera is very easy to operate -- even a caveman could do it :) It takes decent videos too. I dont know how long you can video, I guess until your memory card is full. I dont think the camera limits your time.
If there are ANY problems with your pictures, it is really simple to correct them, including red eye, color, etc. by downloading the free program from [...]. Flash distance seems to be just fine, and it also takes good pictures when its dark.
Charging the camera on its little dock and getting the pictures onto your computer is so easy that even I can do it, which is saying something! This is the kind of camera I could give to my mother and say "figure it out", and she actually could.
On: 2005-10-31
So far, this digital camera is meeting all expectations based on reviews Ive read about it. The best part is that everyone who sees it (of course, I got the orange model) get very excited by its small size and the unusual color. The ask me what brand it is, so Casio is getting very good mentions from me.
The software that came with the camera isnt very intuitive or robust. Ill be buying a download and editing package shortly.
On: 2005-10-25
If youre a pro or pro-amateur photographer, youre likely tired of carrying bulky camera gear, but wish you could have a "back pocket" slim camera with you always. Thats the point of this gem: at 1/2" thick, its about the highest quality in the slimmest design available.
Naturally, the "out of the box" configuration sets images up for mass market consumers printing on cheap home inkjets: too much contrast, with overbright highlights. But this camera simplifies getting the perfect exposure if you make three simple tweaks:
1. Turn on the real-time histogram function. This allows you to see the image exposure plotted on a graph, with dark shades at the left and bright colors at the right. If the graph hits the right, some part of the image will be overexposed. If it hits the left, something will be underexposed.
2. [optional] Change the default contrast value to -1. This will give you more exposure latitude -- brights will be a little less bright, and darks a little less dark, so more shades will fit in your exposure. Its easy to boost contrast after the fact, even free Picasa software will do it. But you cant get back over/under exposed pixels.
3. Assign EV (exposure value) compensation to the L/R (left and right) thumbpad keys. With this change, you can fiddle with the exposure on-the-fly as youre looking at the image and histogram. Typically, a -0.7 to -1.0 value will give you the brightest image without over exposing highlights.
With these three (or optionally, two) quick image quality changes, the results will satisfy even a pro photographer enough to warrant keeping this wallet-thin camera glued to the hip.
PROS:
- Slimmest (1/2" thin!) quality for the money
- Burnt orange color welcome after blacks and silvers
- Fantastic image quality for its size after above tweaks
- High quality MPEG4 (use free MSFT MovieMaker, PSP9, etc., to downsize for sharing)
- Photo-album slideshow mode when docked
- Calendar layout of thumbnails to quickly locate recent pics
- 30+ "best shot" groups of presets for almost any picture situation
- Make your own additional image presets or groups of presets to add to the "best shot" menu
- Whiteboard/scanner/business card mode that makes paper or whiteboards white and fixes perspective to appear straight
- Excellent battery life
CONS:
- Camera needs the base to sync w/ computer or recharge (-1 star for this, sorry)
- "Full flash" recycle time is long (because the flash is remarkably powerful)
- Some bodies seem to have a soft-focus problem (but Ive only seen this with bodies purchased at retail warehouses, not ones purchased from camera stores)
On: 2005-10-16
I bought a Casio camera three years ago. I stuck it in my pocket and took it everywhere with me. I captured unbelievable scenes because it was there when I needed it. It was simple to use, download and view photographs. I thought I would be happy with it forever until I saw the EX-S500 with the Anti Shake Optical Zoom. I had to have it. I have to say that, in addition, the color orange had an influence on me. I loved the idea of a camera in such a funky color. This camera exceeds my expectations for improvements, upgrades and convenience. It has a near professional quality to it. I have had such pleasure using it and I have taken some of the most memorable photos of my family and friends. What a way to build a tangible memory book! I would recommend this for anyone who wants a camera that will travel anywhere and photograph anything.
On: 2005-10-15
Im interested in doing a personal photo journal, so I bought this camera (through amazon), as it is a small digital camera that I could carry around with me at all times. When I got it, I quickly found that the software in it was defective. Although I had a 1G memory card in it, the camera deleted the settings (i.e. date, time, flash on/off, etc) every time I turned it off. I called Casio tech support, and they advised that I just return it for a new one, which I did. Amazon was very good about it, and paid to have the defective camera shipped back to them, and sent me a new one immediately via 2nd day air. Probably this technical problem was just a fluke; I realize that with technology, stuff just happens sometimes.
When I received the new camera, my initial excitement quickly evaporated as I discovered that the camera was incapable of taking clear photographs. I did everything I could (adjusted light setings, flash on and off, held the camera as still as possible, etc), but unfortunately, none of the pictures I took were as clear as I would have liked for them to be. The worst was trying to take a photograph in a low light/indoor setting with the flash off. I personally dislike using flashes unless I absolutely have to, as they tend to wash out the subject matter. In low light settings without a flash, this camera took pictures that were honestly comparable to cell phone cameras. The dark areas are especially noisy, with lots of purple pixels instead of deep clear blacks.
All in all, if smallness is the most important thing to you, then I guess this camera is a good bet. However, if you are interested in taking pictures of outstanding quality, I do not recommend purchasing this one. I sent mine back in exchange for the Kodak Easyshare Z730, which I am far more pleased with (even though it is a bit bulkier).
On: 2005-10-09
I got this camera over the cannon mainly because of the MPEG4 video and image stabilizer. However, this camera does 640x480 at 4 MBPS, which is same as the other cameras which do not support mpeg4. so i think mpeg4 is just a marketing gimmik, it wraps the video under mp4 headers but does not do enough compression.
The image stabilizer in this camera is "digital", kindof like the digital zoom. It is quite ineffective and pictures without flash are quite blurred.
The image quality is okay during the day, but is quite bad and grainy indoors, specially during night. The main advantage of camera is its size. There are also some preset recording settings which are quite good, and has features like "whiteboard photo" which automatically corrects the whiteboard image even if its taken from the side.
so to summarize:
pros: size, "best shot" modes, speed
cons: mpeg4 does not reduce size, optical image stabilizer is digital, picture quality quite bad indoors.
On: 2005-09-26
I had a perfectly good Canon Powershot 3MP that worked fine. I purchased this camera for three specific features. I wanted to be able to use the zoom without a tri-pod. The anti-shake function allows me to use the optical zoom and the digital zoom without a tri-pod without having the shot come out blurry. I secondly wanted to be able to capture action shots without using movie mode. The quick shutter function on this camera is terrific. If it is a series of shots you wish to capture this camera has a feature that will allow you to take a short movie and then make turn it into stills automatically. The third thing I wanted to be able to do was to switch between shooting environments using pre-sets. This camera has 15 pre-sets and I find them VERY useful. But let me say here that a couple of them are not as useful as they could be.
The candlelight portrait preset is for use with a tripod or for when someone is sitting perfectly still. The sample photo is of someone blowing out candles on a birthday cake. Ive tried very similar shots and they came out totally blurry. The shutter speed is too slow for the motion of the person bending over and blowing out the candles. If your taking some sort of still life photos by candlelight, this is a great setting.
The "Sensitive" setting is suppose to allow you to take photos in low light indoor situations. It doesnt work when you are holding the camera by hand.
The Party setting works but without blur only if you have the anti-shake on and even then sometimes shots come out blurry depending on where you are relation to the light source.
The ease of use is incredible. I read the manual through once and starting shooting good shots right away.
The screen is bright and large. You can really see whether or not your shots came out blurry. This was an issue with my last camera.
While the camera is compact, it is not compact and portable. If your intention is to take photos which you intend to share on someones television or computer other than your own, you will need to take the charger stand with you along with the USB cord for the charger stand. This thing has no way to directly connect via USB. That means that you can not plug the camera into just anyones computer and download photos nor can you just jack the camera into any AV IN lines and share photos on the TV screen. Not only that but the USB cord that goes into the stand is not standard. When on trips I used to take my Canon to any drugstore and use the digital photo kiosk which has cords that you plug into the USB port of your camera to download photos onto the kiosk for printing. None of the cords that typically come with these kiosks is going to fit the charger stand of this camera. You have to manually take the storage chip out in order to do kiosk printing. This is not that big of a deal but the door to the storage chip insert is kind of flimsy. I would greatly suggest that on trips you take the charger stand and the USB cord with you (they are pretty small and light). I honestly believe that if you open and close the storage chip door on this camera repeatedly, it will break.
You dont need to install any of the software that comes with the camera if you have XP. XP recognizes the camera and will download the photos through the photo wizard. The download speed with this fatter USB cord is very fast, which is nice.
The photo imaging software that comes with the camera is totally primative. Dont even bother installing it. The Ulead light movie editing software is nice enough to make me consider upgrading to the full Ulead software. It allows you to edit your movies, add effects and then burn a dvd.
I did a lot of research before choosing this camera and I am extremely pleased with my purchase.
by: david_carlin On: 2005-09-25
I bought EX-S500 and although I didnt get such a good deal on the price, I held on to it because it is extreemly versatile. Mpeg 4 quality videos and a Lithium Hydride battery which under a full charge yields almost limitless power. I used it for three days, took 65 videos + 255 photos and it still had 3/4 power left. CCD image quality is excellent.
On: 2005-09-02
I hate to put superlatives in a review. It sounds like a would be working for the company trying to influence others.
But I am totally independant, dont work for this company or any photography or electronic related company, and really this is simply a *stunning* camera.
My previous camera was a significantly more bulky Epson 2 megapixel PC800 which took excellent photos but had a huge problem: extremely low battery life.
This is not the case with the exilim s500. The battery just seem to never stop: 1/2 day of riding bike taking pictures, video, reviewing them, trying everything I could on the camera and only 1/3 battery life taken! A battery takes less than 2 hrs to fully recharged when dead. You can buy a separate battery charger so that you can charge your spare battery while the battery in the camera also gets charged in the cradle at the same time.
This cradle really puts the exilim apart from the competing Sony DSC-t7. You simply put the camera in it and it recharges the battery and you can download through the usb-2 to your computer: no battery to remove, no card to remove, nothing to attach, simply leave your cradle always hooked to your computer and put your camera on the cradle.
Pictures are stunning. So good is the precision that you can use your camera as a photocopying machine: you are in an hotel on a trip and want to copy a page from a phonebook? Take a picture of it! You can take a SINGLE photo of an ENTIRE FULL 8.5"x 11" page and read every single telephone number on it! That would already be great. But wait... you can read any single phone number of that entire page of phone book ON THE LCD ON THE BACK OF THE CAMERA by using the viewing magnifier and directions buttons on the back of the camera !!!! Absolutely STUNNING.
Videowise. Excellent. The automatic aperture control works like a charm and when I am well inside the living room I can see outside when looking through the windows and then when I move a little bit more I can see the inside very well, no adjustment to do at all. You wonder if CNN will just throw away all their equipment or if their reporters are already all using the exilim.
So in a nutshell:
- very very well thought of. Very easy to use. A real charm.
- excellent pictures even inside the house without a flash
- great video
- great accessories
- the only negative I could find is that you can take a macro only from a 17cm distance
- if I had to write a wish list for a digital camera , I could not have found anything they didnt already do, and then they did much more than I could possibly dream of.
Hats off to Casio engineers. Fantastic work.
On: 2005-09-01
I am very happy with the EX-S500 from Casio, I did a lot of research before deciding on this Camera. It is very user frendly and has great features. You should purchase at minium the 1 GB SD card to realy take advantage of the video function. Its so small that you forget its in your pocket. Time will tell how well this camera is made, but so far so good.
On: 2005-08-31
I just purchased this camera for basic point and shoot purposes. I travel a lot and needed something compact and powerful enough to take pictures of houses that I am remodeling. Start up time is quick, taking an image is quick. No more waiting for it to boot up. The LCD screen is great, the shots come out beautifully. I love how small this is. I am already travelling with bulky devices, heavy laptop and blackberry, I want something that takes up less space, can fit discreetly in a pocket, and that is technologically competent enough to give me the quality shots that I need while on the road. This camera will fit it a fashionable small clutch for going out. None of my other cameras can do this. Yay!
If you need macro shots, do not buy it. I also own a Sony Cyber Shot that I use specifically for taking macro shots of jewelry and stones. I tried taking a picture of my ring with this camera and it is pretty much useless. You cant have everything.
I bought an extra battery and a 1Gb memory card. I would like to buy a case for it so that it doesnt get too beat up. The outside casing seems sturdy enough but I want to keep it pretty.
Very happy with my purchase. I found out about this camera through the CNET review of digital cameras. They gave it a great rating as well.
On: 2005-08-31
Well i guess it is ok. but it is not worth the amount i paid. there are only abouyt 5 pages in the user guild which dont help at all. there are like 500 options when all i want is to have no red eye and they dont have that. th doom is wayy too blurry and the door for the memory card is locked like fort knox. aside from the fact that its cute and white and little its no better than any other. i like hte sony cybershot ((which my best friend has)) 100x better.
On: 2005-08-26
I had purchase the casio ex-s2 and loved it and when this new one came out I decided I wanted it. I took several pictures last weekend and I am delighted with it. I would recommend it to everyone.
On: 2005-08-23
Here is the good news: the Exilim is very compact and nicely made. I like the way it can be programmed to remember all (that I could find) of its many settings. This is really important: it means that you can whip out the camera and begin shooting immediately, with your preferred settings. The delay for autofocus/autoexposure is among the best of the tiny cameras. The flash is reasonably strong for such a tiny camera. You can choose how the camera focuses: automatic, manual, macro/automatic, pan, and infinity. There are many clever features, such as the capability to remove the "keystone effect" distortion when photographing a business card or other rectangular document. The user interface is excellent, and this is important in a product that offers so many features and options. Another advantage of the Exilim is that Casio sells some pretty good cases for this camera. I chose to buy an especially form-fitting case from Semson; I dont think that Amazon.com carries it. For a camera this small, you really want to carry it with you all of the time. A small but protective case is an advantage. Oddly enough, many competing cameras cannot be matched with one.
Now here is the bad news, and there is no getting around it. The picture quality borders on "bad." I compared pictures from the Exilim with my old Canon SD10, which is similar in size. The Canon gave me much sharper images, better colors, and more detail. The fuzziness of the Exilim pictures was quite striking when I photographed some book covers. The letters printed on the books were razor sharp in the Canon images, but not so in the Exilim images. Since the Canon has less resolution than the Exilim, I postprocessed the Exilim pictures to reduce the resolution to that of the Canon (5 Mpixel -> 4 Mpixel). The Canon images still looked sharper. The Exilim produces skin colors that are often quite unattractive. I have been experimenting with postprocessing software; this is promising.
The autofocus will fail if pointed at a dark colored object, or a flat object that is at an angle to the camera. In such cases, you can use the pan focus setting though. My experience here is with the autofocus area set to "spot." It can also be set to "multi," but I havent experimented with this yet.
The macro capability of the Exilim is not great. You cannot get very close to your subject, even at the wide angle zoom setting. Switching to manual focus and crossing your fingers might help, I am still experimenting with this.
The flash sometimes washes out detail in pictures due to excessive power. This occurs very frequently in close-up shots. This problem can be addressed by reducing the flash intensity, but this is an extra chore for the photographer; it is not automatic.
Amazon.com shows that the Canon SD30 will be available October 10. My advice is to wait for that model to appear before committing to the Exilim. In fact, if you want to save some money, the Canon SD20 might be for you. If it is like the SD10, it will be slower than the Exilim, and it will have a weaker flash. It will also lack optical zoom. But you will get solidly better pictures with the Canon. That should count for something!
On: 2005-08-22
Though at first I was drawn to her sleek looks and curved corners, I fell in love with her quality.
This will be a long-lasting relationship.
On: 2005-08-11
I can say the S500 is worth it. Ive had it for about a week. I really like mine. I had a Z750 and lens error problems. I returned that and bought this.
Superb little camera. I put together some sample images and wrote up a little review.
http://www.redhouseon7th.com/reviews/s500/
I am just a snapshot shooter. This is the perfect camera for me. The size, the images, everything is just right.
Give it a read and see what you think.
-Mike
On: 2005-08-05
Overall, Id have to say Ive been relatively pleased with my Casio EX-S500. Battery life is excellent, and camera performance (start-up time, shutter lag) is generally top-notch. Its tiny size makes it the perfect go-anywhere digicam (which is what I was looking for). Image quality, however, was only passable. Without any post-shot enhancement, prints up to 5x7 were good; anything larger exhibited quite a bit of graininess. For $400, I would expect better results in print. But for its primary purpose - to be highly portable and capture decent snapshots - the Casio EX-S500 is a great choice.
On: 2005-07-29
This camera is fantastic - the best in a long line of great Exilm products. The MPEG4 video is especially impressive.
Many sources, including the back of the box this camera comes in will tell you that video taken on this camera will not play on mac. (...) As always, pictures import without any additional software.
On: 2005-07-27
Pro:
- Very compact: the face of the camera is about the size of a playing card, and its a bit less thick than a deck. Compared to the Canon SD400, it is slightly longer and somewhat less thick.
- The stainless-steel body is very solidly built
- Competent image quality; good sharpness and color
- Nice big LCD screen
- Youre ready to take a picture within a second of when you press the power button
- The docking cradle is really convenient
- The menu system is very responsive and easy to use
- Easily accessed "Best Shot" menu gives you a large selection of preconfigured scene modes, and you can define your own modes as well.
- The camera has a number of small, thoughtful features that arent advertised (the "unexpected extra", if you will). For example, the "quick shutter" function allows you to emergency skip the auto-focus and take a picture instantly, possibly saving you from missing a precious moment. On a similar note, the movie recorder can be configured to include the 5 seconds *before* you press the record button. "Business shot" can automatically straighten out pictures of business cards, whiteboards, etc. taken at an angle. You can turn on a live histogram while composing a shot.
- Casios accessories, such as batteries and carrying cases, are not *as* overpriced as they are from most digicam manufacturers.
Con:
- Merely competent image quality; higher ISOs and image stabilization can result in very noticeable noise
- Its small and solid enough to carry around in your pocket, but for $400, do you really want to?
- The docking cradle is an extra thing that you have to bring when you travel. (As far as I can tell theres no way to charge the battery without the cradle using the equipment in the box; Im sure theyll sell you something, though) That stated the cradle is pretty small and light.
- I am a little worried about the LCD screen, which actually juts out slightly from the camera body. You will want a carrying case.
- The image stabilization is a mysterious function; we know its digital, but its not clear if there is an accelerometer in the camera detecting and correcting camera shake, or if its purely a gimmicky after-effect, like digital zoom, or somewhere in between.
- You cant change the optical zoom level while recording a movie. Also, the image stabilization does not apply to movies.
- No viewfinder: it would be nice to have the option of saving battery power by not using the LCD screen.
- The power button is too easily pressed by accident when putting the camera in a case, etc.
- Some of the "Best Shot" modes have given me worse results than the default metering; particularly indoors without flash.
- The manual for the camera is in PDF form only, on the included CD. There is only a bizarre and totally worthless "Basic Reference" printed booklet.
In summary: this is a fantastic little snapshot camera. You probably wont want to rely on it for artsy-fartsy photos because of its fine, but not outstanding image quality. But it has a lot of thoughtful touches for the user, and you should strongly consider it if youre looking for an ultra-compact camera.
On: 2005-07-26
I bought this camera for my wife who needs no more than a point and shoot. I wanted something she could throw in her purse and take everywhere so she would take more pics of our boys. I own a Nikon D70 (which is an awesome camera) but it is too big to for my wife and even for me sometimes.
I figured if I was going to spend $500 (by the time I bought a memory card, case, etc...) on another camera I wanted to make sure it was as good as I could get in an ultra compact camera. So I actually bought 3 cameras, took about 75 pics apiece (half indoors and half outdoors). I took the best 20 pics (10 indoor and 10 outdoor) and got them developed. The three cameras were the Casio EX-S500, Nikon S1 and the Canon SD400 - I had no preference but since I already owned a Nikon I was pulling for that one a little.
Out of the three the Nikon and Casio were easily the best. The Canon SD400 did not really compare in my opinion. The pics were soft and not very sharp. The exterior case of the Canon also seemed cheaper than the other two. It was a very hard decision between the Nikon and Casio. Both had sharp pics but the Casio did seem to be a tad sharper...it was honestly hard to tell. The Casio was also a little easier to use...especially the menus on the back. We ultimately kept the Casio (took the other two back) because the pics were very good for a small camera and my wife liked the feel, look and size and felt it was easier to use.
P.S. I would have been happy with either camera.
P.S.S. All three camerass had problem with red-eye but I think all cameras will at this size.
P.S.S ***If you buy this camera I would definitely recommend you click on the menu button on the back and increase the contrast, sharpness and saturation to +1. The range is -2 to +2. That made a big difference in the colors jumping out and once it is changed it stays that way until you change it again.
|
|
