Casio Exilim EX-Z850 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
By: Casio Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 66
More Information
 On: 2008-06-30
Ive owned both of these cameras for a couple of years, and I appreciate the optical viewfinder, excellent picture quality, large LCD, fast shutter delay, and manual operating modes. While I agree with the excellent review written by D.Nash praising the 850s virtues, I will say that the 850 does not take as good a picture as the 750.
Ive done a considerable amount of testing and comparison, and with all auto settings at default, compared with the 750, the contrast and brightness are too high and the saturation is too low. The contrast and saturation are easily compensated, but the brightness adjustment requires a -0.3 EV setting that is not "sticky" - it isnt remembered when you turn the camera off. The only way to save this so that you dont have to reset it every time you turn the camera on is with your own Best Shot setting. This gives the desired results, but compared with the 750, which gets it correct right out of the box, this is an unfortunate inconvenience.
Do I prefer the 750? Probably not. The better LCD and additional flash settings are worth it. And the "lens error" problem seems to be gone on the 850. Too bad they didnt get the picture as good, though. And theres one feature lacking on both of these cameras, or I would consider them nearly perfect: no raw image mode.
 On: 2008-03-17
Ive had this camera for about two years. It has been wonderful. Easy to use, took great pictures, no complaints. A few months ago it started having problems turning off. Id have to remove the battery when I was done taking pictures every once in awhile. This wasnt an all the time issue, so I dealt with it. Then last weekend at my sons wedding it just stopped. I was turning the camera off when it just froze up, lens still sticking out, and wont do a darn thing anymore. The battery is fully charged, I have never damaged the camera, and really cant justify spending the money to repair it when a new camera will set me back about the same amount. Just makes me sick.
On: 2008-03-14
This "camera" outperforms many camcorders Ive seen. Its picture quality could hardly be improved. Its ease of use and menu structure is intuitive and easy to remember. The long life battery lasts for several hours on video. The high speed SD card option makes it an all-in-one.
HOWEVER
After a couple years, it just stops working; lens out and power on. Just stops functioning. Send it off. "Downloaded software". Works great. 2 months later - exact same thing only nobody can tell you why it turnips on you. Repeat the cycle until your lens gets bumped because you cant retract it, then the warranty people say "the lens isnt part of the camera, so its time for you to buy another one."
So as long as youre not wanting a camera to last for 5 years like I am, this is great but if you want one that doenst leave you feel like youve been romanced by the prince and then consummated by his porcupine, I strongly recommend you stay away from this POJ. -rod
 On: 2008-02-18
If youre a serious amateur photographer, youll love this camera. It will give you complete control of 99% of camera functions, such as shutter speed down to 60 seconds, and up to 1/1600th of a second. You can adjust aperture from 2.8-8.0. You can adjust ISO from 50, all the way up to over 1000 in some modes. Plus, you can shoot with shutter priority, aperture priority, or full manual modes. Not only that, but it has a 38-114 equivalent zoom, fully customizable white balance, and a variety of scene modes that make it easy for non-expert users to set the camera for special situations.
All this in a package the size of a deck of cards. Pretty amazing. And the image quality is top notch, even when set on 6 megapixels, as I leave it most of the time. I carry this camera with me everywhere I go, especially when I cant carry my DSLR.
Issues that Id like to see improved:
You can only select between two apertures in Aperture Priority mode. Not a problem most often, because the minimum one (depending on zoom) is always available, and thats the one I want to choose most of the time.
And, Id like to have access to the higher ISOs without having to select a Scene Mode.
Outside of that, Im happy. You can do a lot with this camera. Everything is easy to use and logically laid out for convenience. It is excellent for anyone who wants a super compact camera that gives you a high degree of creative control.
If that sounds like you, then this is your camera.
On: 2008-02-11
My Casio EX-Z850 is a just a month past the one year of purchase and it already doesnt work. Ive had it over a year but Ive only used it maybe four times, it looks brand new. I was taking pictures and the zoom controler and shutter button just fell off! Also the set button just stopped working so I cant do anything with the camera. I wrote casio but havent heard anything back yet, but with what I have read, it probably wont be good anyway. I wouldnt recomend this camera to anyone.
On: 2007-12-31
Ive had this camera nearly two years and have been very pleased with its performance. Prior to this I used a Canon Rebel 2000 SLR but found that I dreaded lugging it around, and popped over to this compact little digital camera instead. Its size is so small that I can carry it everywhere, all of the time, in my very small purse. That way when I want to take pictures, its always ready. And as others have said, it powers up very quickly, has very little lag time, and am amazing battery life.
Im an amateur with mild ambitions of getting into more serious photography which is one of the reasons why the fully manual mode appealed to me. It is, however, manual largely in name only because the range they give you with the aperture is so limited that its really not functional as a manual camera. Instead its really best thought of as a point-and-shoot with a lot of great modes (and the white balance is a real life saver).
The disappointments are that it could do better with close-up zooming. Sometimes when Im shooting flowers, even in macro mode, I cant get nearly as close as I would like and have it remain in focus. My photos are generally very clear, though there have been shots that Ive tried taking and not ending up pleased with any, despite working through various modes and functions of the camera. (Unfortunately, I cant think of when those situations were; they are, however, quite rare.)
Also, in the first year there was a problem with the camera (zoom, I think) and I sent it in and it was returned promptly. Ive dropped the camera, bumped the camera, and its still worked fine. (Until the latest drop when my sister dropped it on her kitchen tile floor from quite a height; the camera still works but not the zoom.)
Overall, this is an excellent camera for the point-and-shoot amateur who wants a small camera that will take great pictures.
 On: 2007-11-18
I had a Canon 3.2MP camera for years and was very pleased with it. However, when the time came for a new camera, I decided to see what else was out there, and decided to buy a Casio... I wish I had stuck with Canon.
In terms of the positives, the color balance is awesome, and just blows my old Canon away. Night pictures are also much better (though still bad by film standards).
However, with the high mega-pixel count youll pay a price. The apertures in the picture are nasty buggers. Ive spoken to a few people about this and they say manufacturers will sacrifice picture quality in order to enhance mega-pixel number for a camera (because thats what sells). Judging by the apertures, I think its pretty obvious Casio employed that technique.
However, the number one reason you do NOT want to buy a Casio is Casios "customer service". It is horrible.
While hiking on vacation, I placed this camera in my pocket as I had done dozens of times before with my Canon... and the screen broke. I was hiking up a very steep hill when the screen broke. I think the screen shouldve been built tougher. Completely ridiculous... and the fact that I couldnt use the camera for the purpose I bought (the vacation) it for still burns me!
I wrote their "customer service" center, and waited for a response, and waited, and waited. They never even bothered to respond to my letter. Not even a boiler-plate form letter. Nothing. I called them and they basically said theres nothing to do but send the item in for repair. To make a long story short, after a couple other missteps I finally got the thing mailed in, repaired, and returned -- all for the wonderful price of about $200... and this whole process took about 6 months (including my waiting for their response).
I am very unimpressed with their customer service and would not recommend buying from Casio, just on the off chance you might have to deal with their "customer service" department.
On: 2007-11-16
I bought this camera over a year ago and I have been nothing but pleased. Ive never had any problems with its function. It produces some amazing pictures. Ive never so much as noticed the battery getting the slightest bit low. I like it so much that Im shopping for another Exilim to give as a gift right now.
On: 2007-10-22
yep, mod me down, but after a year of using it, i give this little camera 5 stars, as easily among the best in its class. For what it does, it does very well. I havent had any issues with reliability for the year i have had it, Ive dropped it several times onto tile floors and it survived. I carry it with me often, unprotected in my pocket, and it is none the worse for wear. Amazing battery life, too, which has not degraded at all over a year as far as I can tell. Only wish - for a mini USB connector for charging and downloading. The docking/charging station I only use for charges, to download i just pop out the card.
On: 2007-10-09
This camera stopped working only after 6 months. The optical zoom lense got stuck often. The display screen went blank, and now it is completely useless.
On: 2007-09-04
The push button (Casio Exilim Z850) to take shots fell off in 8 months. The service center needs 3 weeks just to get the part. Leaving for Asia in 19 days; called Casio directly for help and was told flat out "if thats what they told you, its what it is, okay".
I will go back to Canon the next time I am shopping for another camera!
Jane, Saratoga/California
On: 2007-08-30
After six months, the screen cracked, despite the fact that I had treated it with kid-gloves, never dropped it, and it was never used by anyone else. One minute it was fine. I put it on its cradle, and the next minute I noticed that the screen had cracked. It was under warranty, but the company claimed that the crack was not covered. The repair would have cost $150.
The person I talked to at customer service was not rude, but it was clear he had heard many complaints like mine before.
It is possible that my cracked screen was a rare event, but I think it is more likely that Casios quality control in the manufacturing of this camera was bad. I think it is also possible that the company knows this. In fact if they have read the reviews on Amazon.com, many of which talk about the poor quality, they have to know it by now.
A bad camera. I will not buy anything made by Casio again.
 On: 2007-07-03
Before buying this camera, I read numerous reviews on Amazon and decided that, overall, they looked good enough for me to buy one. I bought it in January 2007 and loved the quality of photos, size, and ease of use. Technically, it was a wonderful camera (much better than my Kodak EasyShare). Then, in early March at my first ultrasound for my first pregnancy, while we were waiting for the doctor, we looked at photos on the LCD. Thats it--we looked at old photos. The lens froze in the open position, the camera wouldnt turn off or on but would only beep, and we were unable to take any photos. We recharged the camera on its base to no avail. Because other reviewers had this problem, I bought an extra warranty through Amazon, but it wont kick in until after Casios ends one year after purchase. Casio, so far, has been a nightmare to deal with. Their technicians claim "impact/lens deformation" or a broken lens, and want to charge $137.07 to fix it (about half of what I paid). Ive had my claim reevaluated with the same answer. So far, its in their hands and, unless the next reevaluation goes through, Ill have to pay their fees plus shipping to have it fixed WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. Just a warning to all of you--BEWARE OF CASIOS REPAIR CENTER! I assure you that, other than reviewing photos, I did NOTHING to damage this camera.
On: 2007-06-30
I bought the Exilim Z850 on Amazon last year (in 2006). I bought it because I like the compact size, I had a good experience with my old Exilim 3.1MP, and the 8.1MP was high ranked in Consumer Reports.
After I received the Exilim Z850 it seemed much better than my old Exilim. Besides having more MegaPixels, the viewing screen was much bigger. I found the camera very intuitive and easy to use. Minor complaint would be that my fat fingers sometimes get in the way of the small buttons while trying to delete pictures.
Everything was great until my Z850 stopped working 6 months later. I called Casio Customer Service and they told me to mail it to the local service center with my receipt and a letter of explaination. I payed the $5 to ship it. Two weeks later it showed back up to my house via the mail and it worked again (and no additional costs to me). I would have to say the Casio customer service was good for that experience.
My Z850 is happily taking pictures of my kids again although I am slightly concerned about the reliability since my warranty is probably up. My old Exilim 3.1MP never had any problems and still works (I used it while the newer one was in the repair shop).
So in conclusion this is a nice, compact camera that takes nice pictures and is rated high in most consumer reviews. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 due to the reliability issues.
J.Clark
-San Jose/CA
PS - Casio if you are reading - Id like to see you expand the Exilim franchise to include shockproof/waterproof models.
On: 2007-06-08
I do not consider myself to be anyhting but an amatur as a photographer. The ease of use and simplicity of design makes it an immediate favorite.
I took two thousdanf pictures in a three week period and not one wasinferior. Thank you Casio.
On: 2007-05-22
As the title suggests, this cameras lens system gets stuck. It suddenly resets after a few hours of being stuck. However, currently my camera has been in the stuck position for 3 days now. Now, I get to try Casio service...Will update this review if I get it repaired.
However, on the bright side, I have taken just about a 1000 pictures with this camera. It does great with room lighting, sun light. Does not do well with low light. The pictures are superb for a laymans purpose.
The videos are awesome quality (for lay people). Videos are good enough to watch on a TV screen!
But, this camera does get stuck. BUYER BEWARE!
Good luck with yours, if you do decide to buy.
On: 2007-05-02
I have a very bad experience with Casio...
I bought this camera less than one year ago. I seldom use it, and just leave it in my drawer. Recently there is one button doesnt work, so I sent it back for repair. And they charge me >$100.
So, I did nothing to the camera, it doesnt work, and they charge me >$100, though it is still within warrant!
On: 2007-04-23
Ok, so I bought this camera because a friend had the exilim z700, and I loved the features. I wasnt quite prepared for what I got. This camera is amazing; I love it and carry it everywhere I go: to take photos of myself and with friends, to take video of funny things I see on the streets, to record rehearsals and performances and even auditions (it has a vocal recorder that records for 49 hours!!!).
There are so many uses Ive found including posting quality video to the internet at [...]. Everyone I know comments on the quality of the video and the pictures come out amazing.
Im just a layman as far as photography is concerned, but I feel like a professional when I use my exilim. Its sleek and easy to manipulate; it has a very nice size display screen; and the buttons and prompts are very easy to follow.
If youre thinking about buying it, look at the z1000 first; but this one should be a steal and has mpeg4 technology which is like movie footage.
Happy snappy.
On: 2007-03-08
This is a nice looking, fairly lightweight camera. However, it is NOT a snap to use, even when set on automatic. I tried to take a picture in a slightly dark room, but the camera simply refused to take the shot, instead flashing a bewildering sequence of red and green flashes. The flash setting was on. It worked fine outdoor. Other gripes: the internal memory is patheticly small and the need to connect the camera to your PC via a separate cradle gets tired quickly. I am going back to a Kodak.
On: 2007-03-03
The zoom resolution is amazing and pictures generally turn out clear. The "Snapshot" function that automatically adjusts settings seems to be a little retarded, but "Bestshot" settings are numerous and create good pictures.
Some of the great innovations that I have noticed on this camera are the picture management software that allows you to view the pictures on your storage on a monthly calendar by date taken. There are other neat features, but I cannot think of them right now...... but remember I was impressed. lol
Again, the zoom resolution is absolutely amazing. Because of the high resolution of the camera, even the digital zoom creates clear crisp pictures from many feet away.
Make sure that you go through the settings when you get the camera and disable the "Review" and "Record" buttons from turning on the camera (set it to only allow the power button to turn on the camera)....... it is way to easy to accidentally turn the camera on and extend the lens right into an immovable surface.
Now to the serious drawback.......... the absolutely horrible, disgusting, disgraceful, and noisy high ISO images. Anything above ISO 300 is, pretty much, far from archive quality.
On: 2007-02-16
My title says it all - I was really disappointed with this camera, but before I get into the specifics as to why, I must mention a few things first. This was my third camera in the Exilim line - prior to purchasing Z850 I have owned Z60, as well as Z600. Both were great cameras. I mean, whats not to like? Clean, sexy look; easy to use; great picture quality. But having to work for Kodak in the past, I decided that I want to get more involved with the world of digital photography and post processing, and in order to do that I needed something with a little more manual control, so I sold my Z600, and got a Z850 instead. Big mistake! I ordered it directly from Amazon, and it was a brand new camera. Right of the bat I got a defective unit! The problem - it was very inconsistent at taking sharp pictures, especially close-ups. The shots were blurry for the most part, and the colors were a bit off as well. How is that for quality and reliability?! But I thought to myself, "its okay, it happens", so I returned it back to Amazon (thanks to their great return policy), and got myself another one, this time from TechToysForLess (it was a lot cheaper comparing to Amazon). One thing to be aware of - TechToysForLess sells what its called "grey market" cameras. I knew about it ahead of time, but someone might not, and then be unpleasantly surprised. For those who dont know what it is - the "grey market" refers to the flow of new goods through distribution channels other than those authorized or intended by the manufacturer. Only new products fall under the legal, accepted definition of grey market. Grey market goods are being sold outside of normal distribution channels by companies which may have no relationship with the producer of the goods. Frequently this form of parallel import occurs when the price of an item is significantly higher in one country than another. This situation commonly occurs with cigarettes and electronic equipment, such as cameras. Entrepreneurs buy the product where it is available cheaply, often at retail but sometimes at wholesale, import it legally to the target market and sell it at a price which provides a profit but which is below the normal market price there. So, the product is legal, its new, and its cheap. BUT... In some instances, there could be minor differences between the "authorized" product, and the "grey market" one. For example, a "grey" Z850 doesnt have an eBay mode, but offers an "Auction" mode instead. Its a bit different with respect to settings. Also, there is no full blown manual in the box, but rather a short "how to" instruction in various languages. However, the full manual can be found on a CD-ROM. Another difference, and thats actually a plus I think, is that it comes with a European power adapter, whereas American sold models dont have that. The biggest concern with "grey market" products, however, is that in some cases manufacturer will refuse to honor the warranty, so you have to be aware of that, and check before buying. I knew all of the above, but still took a chance, mainly because the price difference was significant, but also because TechToysForLess had a 10-day return policy, and I thought that it would be enough time for me to "explore" the camera and find out whether its defective or not. In any case, I placed an order, and three days later held a new Z850 in my hands. I didnt waste any time, and when the battery was fully charged, I started taking shots left and right. All of them were crisp, clear, and sharp, so I knew the unit was good, and the lens wasnt defective as it was with the previous one I had. However, and I noticed it right away because I tend to take mostly pictures of people, the colors were a bit "warm". What I mean is there was a slight cast of "pink" present in all pictures. You wouldnt notice it in pictures of architecture, food, or nature, but peoples skin tone looked somewhat unnatural, and it was very obvious. Neither Z60, nor Z600 had that problem. I still kept the camera though because I could take care of it by doing some minor editing/post processing. What finally made me gave it up (I sold it on eBay), was the Casios ignorance and unresponsiveness to the fact that it had a "broken" movie mode. The original firmware, version 1.0, that the camera came with had a problem with "stair stepping" - the movies were "jerky", and "noisy". After numerous complaints by the customers, Casio released two new firmware versions, 1.1, and 1.1B that supposedly "fixed" the movie issue. But what they in fact did was just "cripple" it - the movie angle was cut by 40% in version 1.1B, and the picture quality actually got worse! Version 1.1 didnt actually fix anything, but rather "improved" already decent picture quality, and added support for high capacity memory cards. Also, Ive heard from a lot of people that even if those cameras function properly in the beginning, there is a big chance that they will brake later due to poor quality. I didnt want to wait to find out, so I got rid off it.
I didnt do my usual Pros and Cons type of review in this case, and from above comments it might seem like there is nothing positive about this camera, but it actually does have a few good things. For one, in addition to its big, super-bright display, it has a viewfinder! A big plus in my opinion, especially when shooting outdoors in direct sunshine. Also, on top of its numerous preprogrammed Best Shots, it has some manual controls, giving you even more flexibility. Its a nice little camera. Unfortunately, it lacks in two important departments - quality and reliability. I wish I could say that I enjoyed using it, but it was more of a hassle than fun.
However, I still stand behind Casio products. After I sold Z850, I got myself a P700 model, which has been discontinued for some time now, and is virtually impossible to find anywhere. Its a semi-pro model, and offers even more manual controls than Z750/Z850 models. Excellent camera! A true performer! Built like a tank, has a sharp Canon lens, and made in Japan for a change! (all other Exilim models are made in China, which could be the reason for poor quality) Ive used P700 for a couple of months, and... sold it :-) Yep... Call me crazy, call me whatever you want - I just decided that I want even MORE manual control and flexibility, so I got myself Panasonic DMC-LX2. One word - Wow! What a camera! Optical Image Stabilization, Wide Angle Leica Lens, RAW format are just to name a few of many features of this truly great little gem of a camera. Ive had it only for 2 days now, but Im already in love with it. Dont forget to check my review of it, which is coming shortly. I didnt completely abandon Casios though - my present to my wife for Valentines Day this year - Casio EX-S770 in Red color. Im definitely going to get my hands on it also, so come back for another review soon. Once again, I hope Ive provided you with some help in your camera purchasing decisions. Good luck.
On: 2007-02-14
I have owned other Casio Digital Cameras, and although I was very pleased with the quality of the shots, I found the directions fairly vague. The magnification feature is outstanding however. You will enjoy using this camera, but be aware that there is a learning curve.
On: 2007-02-12
The camera is great. The manual that tells you how to use it is awful. Also it didnt come with a picture card-surprise! The dealer I bought it from mailed it out right away and the price was good.
On: 2007-02-11
My wife purchased this camera and she adores it. Its easy to use and produces excellent pictures. An important feature of this camera is its viewfinder. Many manufactuers, including Casio, have eliminated the viewfinder from most compact models such as this, forcing us to use just the display screen. Although the screen is more accurate than an optical viewfinder, its virtually useless in bright sunlight.
We particularly like the dial on the camera, allowing the user to more easily switch modes without the need to push the menu button and scroll through the various options. While this is not the slimmest of the compact cameras, it is still quite small and handy.
On: 2007-02-07
Worth wile considering if you are a snap shooter growing to be an enthusiast. Great features in a mostly practical mini package, but be prepared to print out and study manual and beware of some flimsiness [battery cover, telescoping lens and easily scratched exposed screen]. And dont overlook Casios trade-in offer if you have a recent camera you like to replace--it could make the purchase of the 850 a true bargain!
On: 2007-01-22
Camera has a fatal design flaw - the zoom lens assembly is fragile, locks up and malfunctions easily. If camera is out of warranty repair costs $119. I am on my second repair, when the zoom lens breaks the third time Ill be ready for a new camera from a different manuafacturer.
On: 2007-01-21
Camera has a fatal design flaw - the zoom lens assembly is fragile, locks up and malfunctions easily. If camera is out of warranty repair costs $119. I am on my second repair, when the zoom lens breaks the third time Ill be ready for a new camera from a different manuafacturer.
On: 2007-01-16
As an on-the-go substitute for our Digital SLR, we purchased the Casio with the hope that the larger mega pixel would provide sufficient quality for picture prints. The print quality from the Casio was more than adequate when compared to much larger file formats (e.g. RAW) from the digital SLR.
The camera is easy to use, but you will most certainly need to purchase a memory card if you want to obtain more than a nominal number of quality images while on the go.
On the downside, the camera cradle for recharging and image transfer is ok, but more direct transfer options would be desirable.
On: 2007-01-16
I got a 750 more than 1 year ago and love it. I purchased the 850 for my relative. It is also a great product.
On: 2007-01-10
This camera while extremely small,(about the size of a deck of cards) produces pictures equal to or better than a good digital SLR camera. It does have an "Anti-shake" mode which really helps keep the images clear. It uses an industry standard compact flash card which helps the transfer to the computer. While you do need the docking station to charge the camera, the battery lasts for a good 500 shots or 5 days of vacation. Nice big preview screen.
Why would you carry a big SLR when this is "Just as good"?
On: 2007-01-10
I had the 7.2 megapixel version and this one is noticeably better.
On: 2007-01-09
sure you want this little thing to do everything top shelf like a digital SLR ,but be reasonable...its not, but its nice, works well, the photos and video shorts are just fine. And if you buy a refurb(even though thats against your common sense religion) unit you could also save around $100 and get a larger memeory card and case instead.. so Id buy it again if I had the option...
On: 2006-12-30
I own a Nikon Coolpix 8800 but is often more camera then I need and very cumbersome. I needed a compact to take on vacation and the Casio Z850 seemed to have everything I was looking for. I used the Z850 sparingly and had it less then a month when the lens froze open, a week before my overseas vacation. Casio Technical Service seemed to know immediately what the problem was, and told me to send it in for repair. Disappointed I wouldnt have use on my vacation, I did expect it back by my return. A bill was waiting for $135 before they would fix the camera. Customer Service blamed me for the camera failure. After a lenghthy discussion, Casio agreed to review my complaint. It was 2 weeks and several phone calls before they decided to fix the camera under warranty. Heed the warnings on this camera. I was aware of similar problems from other reviewers, but discounted them. If you get one that works, its a great little camera. If you get one of the lemons, be ready for an unpleasant experience with Casio.
On: 2006-12-29
I own a Nikon Coolpix 8800 but is often more camera then I need and very cumbersome. I needed a compact to take on vacation and the Casio Z850 seemed to have everything I was looking for. I used the Z850 sparingly and had it less then a month when the lens froze open, a week before my overseas vacation. Casio Technical Service seemed to know immediately what the problem was, and told me to send it in for repair. Disappointed I wouldnt have use on my vacation, I did expect it back by my return. A bill was waiting for $135 before they would fix the camera. Customer Service blamed me for the camera failure. After a lenghthy discussion, Casio agreed to review my complaint. It was 2 weeks and several phone calls before they decided to fix the camera under warranty. Heed the warnings on this camera. I was aware of similar problems from other reviewers, but discounted them. If you get one that works, its a great little camera. If you get one of the lemons, be ready for an unpleasant experience with Casio.
On: 2006-12-27
I bought this camera for a trip to the British Virgin Islands. The high megapixels on this camera were the feature that convinced me to buy it. The camera was superb the first three days of my trip. On the third day it began giving me a "Card Error" message. This message occured every time the camera was turned on and two pictures were taken. The camera had to be turned off and back on to take more pics. The "Card Error" fiasco continued for a couple days and then the whole camera just died. This obviously ruined my experience with the Casio Exilim and made me quite wary of purchasing it again.
However, while the camera worked it was a joy to use.
Pros:
-The feature that allows you to take three photos in 1 second was great for action shots.
-The clarity of the pictures was superb, very nice resolution in all light conditions.
-The battery held a charge for 4 days of intense use.
-Reviewing photos was quick and easy on the large screen.
Cons:
-Small size makes it a little awkard to handle comfortably.
-The zoom want that great, there is room for improvement.
Overall, if you get this camera and it actually continues to work its great. Although mine died I was able to salvage all the picturers Id taken before the "Card Error" occured. Im giving it 4 stars for the time when it worked and a whopping ZERO for its untimely demise.
Dont make my mistake: Make sure youve got some kind of warranty (and dont buy off eBay).
On: 2006-12-21
After doing much research on the internet. Reading Ken Rockwells reviews and DPreviews reviews. I decided to get this camera. The price, right now is what made it a winner over the Canon SD800IS.
Pictures come out fantastic! Color is rich and detail is very nice. here is a shot that I took where i live. I love how it captured the color very nicely. That is exactly how it came out of the camera, except for the border.
overall the camera has great easy to get to features on making a photo. The screen is very bright outdoors and easily readable. I suggest using the the strap that came with it since it can slip out of your hands. Video quality is very good after upgrading to firmware version 1.1b. I can recorder over 30min in HQ mode on a 1gb card.
I really suggest this camera for anyone with a budget of 300$.
On: 2006-12-21
I have used this camera for about 6 months after my Z750 was lost. This is an excellent still camera with many superior features and a modest movie camera. I loved the Z750 but the Z850 is much better.
Pros:
1. Easy to use after a little practice. Practice will greatly improve your results so stick with it.
2. Anti-shake for stills and movies works very well. I rarely use a tripod. This is a great improvement over the Z750.
3. Fantastic battery life. I charge mine about once a month or less but I dont use a lot of flash.
4. The soft flash mode is a very useful feature.
5. Lots of helpful preprogrammed Snap Shot modes and a good manual mode that I rarely use.
6. Still picture quality is utterly fantastic with an exceptional macro mode.
7. Unbelievable light gathering ability but pictures will get grainy under poor lighting.
8. The LCD display is much brighter than the Z750 and this helps outdoors in bright sunlight.
9. Very compact size. This is almost exactly the same size as a regular pack of cigarettes.
Cons:
1. Get a SD card as the internal memory is about worthless. These cards are cheap these days. The maximum supported memory for this device is 2GB so dont bother getting a larger one as you cant access the extra memory.
2. I hate the cradle. I bought a wall charger for the battery and a universal USB adapter to read the SD card. My cradle has never left the packaging as it was the same as that used for the Z750. The battery is also the same.
3. Forget the digital zoom mode as resolution suffers greatly. The optical zoom is 3X and this is somewhat useful but not very exciting. Casio should increase this.
4. If you want a movie camera then buy a movie camera. I havent seen a combo camera that is good taking stills and movies. This is a fantastic still camera, the best that I have ever used.
5. These cameras are fragile so dont drop it or keep it in your back pocket. Get a good camera case to protest it.
I store my camera with the selector wheel rotated to the microphone position. This will prevent the lens from trying to open if the power button is accidentally pressed while the camera is in the case. You dont want this to happen or it is likely time for a new camera.
On: 2006-12-12
At my uncles recommendation, I bought this camera with the graduation money have gave me. He had been very happy with his. I brought this camera with me on a month-long vacation to asia, where I took about 500 pictures. I charged it ONE time. The picture and video quality is amazing, the camera performs quickly, and the buttons / functions are easy to learn. Im sure this camera is capable of functions I wont even get to. I bought one for my boyfriend, and he is thrilled. Great slim camera, easy to use, and beautiful pictures.
On: 2006-12-07
I purchased the Casio EX Z850 in August. The second time I used it in November the lens cover began sticking closed and the lens would not retract. When I returned the camera for warranty repair they refused to fix the problems, claiming customer abuse. This camera was never dropped and was used in a most routine way. Casio has refused to honor the 1 year warranty they claim to provide. If you read the reviews of other Casio cameras this lens problem is very common. I would not recommend any Casio camera. Dont buy Casio Cameras, they are stinkers.
On: 2006-12-05
This camera is extremely fragile and failure-prone (read other reviews of failure to charge). Casio is notorious for very poor customer service, user-hostile representatives, and over-charging for returns. Avoid Casio and this camera. Buy a Canon SD series camera. The Canons have optics and electronics as good or better than Casio. The battery charges externally; the connectors are stronger, longer-lived. Service is also better.
On: 2006-12-01
I purchased this camera from another website, and it absolutely is amazing. Its extremely easy to use and to upload pictures/videos. It even records sounds, which is very useful when it comes to making videos/slideshows. :)
I like its flexibility in terms of different shooting modes, picture sizes (I use the E-mail size, which is the smallest, to take most of my snapshots. Extremely useful when uploading pictures for blogs, etc.), and more. I will recommend this camera to anyone.
The only thing I dont like about this camera is having to carry around the docking station. I need it both for recharging and uploading pictures. But the fact that you dont have to recharge it very often (one night of recharging lasts a week or even a bit more) makes this a lot better.
Great Camera!
[EDIT: I now have owned this for quite a while, so heres some addition to the previous review]
This camera absolutely ROCKS.
This camera is truly amazing. Although it may not be as cute and tiny as some other cheap ones, this camera is really worth the money.
Its zoom is amazing, it takes spectacular videos&pictures, and you can control almost anything you could ever think of, like flash, focus (auto, manual, etc), rec light, etc. It is absolutely easy to use and easy to upload pictures from. Its very well-made as well- I dropped it many times but it works like magic.
The cons are:
1. Its scratches are often visible, though it does not affect the cameras performances or the overall look.
2. the docking station thing as mentioned above
As you could see, the cons are not very significant. The only thing you will need to buy after purchasing this would be a memory card.
You will know that your money wasnt wasted after purchasing this. I use it for taking pictures for a newsletter, personal pictures (for Myspace, etc.), for taking videos for vlogs, and much, much, more.
Its best shot feature is amazing. It allows you to take pictures according to your environment and the object you are taking a picture of, and it also has other settings that give your pictures a different look. One even allows you to take ID pictures where you have multiple sizes of the same picture!
IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY, GO BUY THIS RIGHT NOW.
On: 2006-11-28
Well i bought this camera in july before i went on a camping trip. Let me tell you it has great features and a beautiful large lcd for viewing the pictures. Unfortunatley, after reading all the positive reviews and dropping $400 in it, it has failed to impress me. Sure the photos all look great but as soon as you zoom in in any photo editor, they are all extremly blurry. I honestly got better pictures with a nikon 4mp camera i used the year before. Sure this camera will probably be ok for most who arent picky about picture quality, but for those who like to edit and manipulate their photos this camera falls short in picture quality.
On: 2006-11-10
5th Casio Digital Camera in the family... they are wonderful! I(we) liked this camera so much we bought a 2nd one! Great Pictures, adjustable flash strenght, a huge electronic viewfinder and a conventional viewfinder (nice if you want to take pics in low light without disturbing others with the light from the electronic viewfinder), a great (and big) "Best Shot" selection, the best video format (mpeg)... too many features to list. If you want a great compact camera (about credit card size) choose a Casio you wont be disapointed!
If your looking for a great 8.1megapixel compact camera... buy this one!
On: 2006-11-05
Casio Exilim EX-Z850 8.1MP Digital Camera looked very thin when I opened the box. But after seeing the pictures, I was impressed. Very good design, big screen for viewing, picture transfering dock, flash light and long lasting battery. Overall it is a very good purchase and thanks to Amazon.com services.
On: 2006-11-04
For the size this little camera takes good pictures, I have a D-SLR that I use ,but I wanted something I could stuff in my pocket and could take everywhere with me. It has a good solid body,an eye piece to view through, so you dont have to use the LCD screen and these are a plus. It takes good little moveies and it has many different settings to offer the novice and advanced photographer. The battery lasts a long time on a charge and I have taken almost 400 pictures on 1 charge and still had plenty of power left. I bought a pentax optio 30 for my niece and a pentax optio M-20 for my wife and this out shines them both.
I just lent the casio to my sister who is visiting from San Diego now I will have to get her opinion on how well it performed for her. If anyone is thinking of getting a good little camera this is one of the better ones I have used. As always research, read, ask friends, and try it out at a store. In the end it is up to each individuals personal taste as to what you purchase.
On: 2006-10-29
Pros: Nice camera, great features, big LCD screen, nice viewfinder, decent optical zoom, price $$$
Cons: Bad digital zoom, when you start the camera is defaults to single shot mode(annoying if you want to shoot multiple shots, you have to access a sub-menu for this.
On: 2006-10-27
We did extensive research on compact digitals before deciding on this one. After owning it for two months, I can say I think we made the right choice. One of the main selling points is the compactness. You can fit this camera in a shirt pocket. Cameras this small have to make compromises to stay affordable. In many cases this means a cheap LCD display. Not so with the EX-Z850. The LCD on this camera is crisp and is easy to see in all kinds of lighting conditions. The buttons are also large enough to use and I think the operation is intuitive if you have used a digital camera before. The picture quality is also good (as good as most of the cameras in this price range) and I found that the digital anti-shake is more effective than any I have seen.
The thing that makes this camera stand out is the fast shutter lag. This can be a real problem with some digital cameras. This is the primary reason we bought the Casio over Canon.
This camera continues the "best shot" modes from other Exilim cameras. Some of these are very useful (like the eBay mode), but there are too many of them for me and I would rather set the settings myself anyway. People who are unfamiliar with digital cameras may very well like these modes though.
8.1 MP may seem like more than you would need for pictures you are likely to take with a compact camera, but it actually makes the camera more versatile. We have substantially cropped photos to make them more interesting without losing quality. We were unable to do that with our old 5 MP camera.
On: 2006-10-12
This is a handy little camera. I bought it because I wanted a small camera to carry with me. It takes a while to become used to the manual features, but once you do, you can take some nifty close ups. The movies feature is incredible with accurate voice quality and picture. Overall the accuracy of color is excellent too. This camera has met all the expectations I had and more.
On: 2006-10-12
Para los amigos de habla hispana, recomiendo esta camara como una muy buena opción, no es una camara profesional, pero como se le acerca, exelentes fotos, el video es algo muy bueno, y si la acompañas con una tarjeta de memoria de 2GB es lo mejor. La recomiendo con los ojos cerrados. Lo unico bajar la actualización de la pagina casio...
by: big_z On: 2006-10-03
This camera is nice. Lots of light needed for spectacular pictures. Flash is a bit more powerful than other cameras this size. Be careful about turning on the camera with the lens blocked. Movie mode is outstanding... best I have seen in a camera this size. Not as fast between shots as it is turning on. Digital zoom on all cameras is generally useless, but it can actually be used with some success and perfect lighting on this camera. Various Best Shot choices are awesome. This is my ninth digital camera, running all the way back to 1992. For versatility and great movies, this camera is a top choice. Also uses cheap SD cards, a real plus. Battery life is outstanding.
For great photos no matter what the lighting, pick a Canon. They always come out ahead of any other camera I have used, and I have used most of the popular brands.
For the best low light shooting in consumer cameras, the Fuji Z1, Z2, and Z3 are better and currently owning both the Z850 and the Z1, I like the non-protruding lens of the Z1 much better. It is also a bit lighter and thinner. I also love the low light capability of the Z1. The only downsides of the Zs are xD picture cards and non-mpeg4 movies.
In the final analysis, if size is not a problem, pick a Canon. If you want tremendous versatility and great movies in a tiny camera, pick the Casio. If you want the best low-light pictures in a tiny camera, pick one of the Fuji Zs.
On: 2006-09-19
I bought this camera because of the good ratings. I had tried it for a couple of weeks, and it kept taking blurry pictures. I called Casio support, and they had me reset everything and then try it for a couple of more weeks. Of course, by this time, it was too late to return it (I should have followed my instincts and returned it.) I called Casio after several months of blurry pictures (about 80%). First of all, Casio doesnt service the camera, a third part does. Second, you have to pay all expenses to ship the camera to the third party (about $15.00 UPS Ground.) Then the third party sends you a letter a couple of days later telling you they wont repair the camera until you send them $15.00 to mail the camera back to you. On top of this, the newly fixed camera (only 4 months old) only comes with a 90 day warranty. After that, you have to pay all of these fees again. I even buy $9.99 casio watch again.
On: 2006-09-18
I bought this camera because of the good ratings. I had tried it for a couple of weeks, and it kept taking blurry pictures. I called Casio support, and they had me reset everything and then try it for a couple of more weeks. Of course, by this time, it was too late to return it (I should have followed my instincts and returned it.) I called Casio after several months of blurry pictures (about 80%). First of all, Casio doesnt service the camera, a third part does. Second, you have to pay all expenses to ship the camera to the third party (about $15.00 UPS Ground.) Then the third party sends you a letter a couple of days later telling you they wont repair the camera until you send them $15.00 to mail the camera back to you. On top of this, the newly fixed camera (only 4 months old) only comes with a 90 day warranty. After that, you have to pay all of these fees again. I even buy $9.99 casio watch again.
On: 2006-09-14
When the first time I saw a digital camera in my life, it was back in London in 1996 - it was a golden looking Casio with 240 X 320 resolution with almost 2000 usd price tag! :) Considering I was a penniless university student - this camera was something impossible to reach. Finally, after ten years I managed to buy a Casio camera as my second digital cam! When I hold the Exilim EX-Z850, I felt the 10 years of engineering experience in my hand. Although it has not been very well known by most of the people, CASIO (yeah, I know they are more famous with their cheap but solid watches & calculators) was the piooner of the Digital Camera market actually.
I think your camera choice must depend on your needs and expectations, not someones else. Even so, I want to give you an idea about what you get if you would purchase this camera.
Before buying Exilim EX-Z850: my expectation was to get a reasonably priced, compact, fast, easy to use (not only for me but the other members of the family) and light camera with a high resolution. I started my research based on these criterias; this is how I end up at Exilim EX-Z850.
Some of the positive things about this camera are:
1. Very ergonomic (can carry in pocket - depending on the size of your pocket, if it is full or empty, etc. for sure!)
2. Extremely easy to use (thanks to Best Shot modes)
3. Perfect for beginners, saticfactory for advanced users
4. Excellent colors, super video recording (after firmware upgrade)
5. Camera responses are fast, the battery is very powerful.
6. Manual and Automatic controls, surprisingly well-designed.
7. Large and bright LCD screen.
8. Solid anti-shake system (but working digitally not optically)
9. Reasonable price compare to similar products
And the negative ones:
1. Not very sharp images (even if at the sharpest settings done)
2. Limited optical zoom capability (just x3)
3. Small viewfinder.
4. Some Digital Noise under low light conditions, but its manageable.
Can you believe if I tell you, you can take the picture of an your old BW picture and Exilim EX-Z850 makes it colorful? Yes I know it sounds crazy but itis true. There are settings to use it for Video & voice recording as well - these functions are there - not for the sake of having, but for using!
You can use MMC and SD cards with it, up to 1GB. However, if you download the firmware - you can use 2 GB SD (not MMC) card. Also, please note that you need a fast read/write speed card to get the maximum efficiency from the camera (min 10 MB/s write speed). It might also be necessary to note that Exilim EX-Z850 can not be used as PC cam.
At the end of the day, I bought this camera as it answers most of my expectations. I hope my review can be helpful for the readers to give an idea, what the camera can do and can not do :)
PS 1: I uploaded 4 photos taken by Exilim EX-Z850, which can be seen at the top left corner of the product overview page. I specified the settings used to take these pictures.
PS 2: EX-Z850 has some noise problems, esp at high ISO setting but its manageable with some tricks such as low ISO, quick shutter OFF, higher shutter speed etc... Also I heard some rumuors via Internet that some EX-z850 models with serial no above 556XXXXX is fine, below problematic but no chance to confirm this. By the way mines serial no starts with 276XXXXX.
On: 2006-09-05
Others have given the specs and details on this little camera. I would probably love it if I hadnt first loved and lost my Canon SD400. The Canon took a dive into the river, was retrieved, sent to Canon, still under warranty, they said it couldnt be repaired. (more on that later)
So, I began looking for a replacement and kept finding stellar reviews on this Casio, so I ordered it (we all do crazy things). First of all, its a pocket camera if you have large, loose pockets. I have neither.
I dont find it nearly as intuitive as the Canon, a bit larger and with more nobs and stuff that stick out to catch on things. The photos are definitely no better and often not as sharp.
Happy ending: One day while wishing I had my little companion back, I half-heartedly slipped the battery back into the Canon, now about a month out of the river, and it hummed to life! Extreme joy! The flash doesnt work, but Ive ordered a new battery hoping it might possibly do the trick. Anyway now I have 2 pocket cameras, an heir and a spare.
On: 2006-08-29
No expert here - just your average "tourist". A friend of mine had one of these on a recent weekend trip and I was so impressed I got one immediately to replace an old Olympus Stylus. I cant vouch for all the fancy features, I just know I like it.
Its small enough that I can carry it around in my purse. Its easy to use even if I havent figured out all the bells and whistles. And (once I put on my glasses), the lcd is very clear and bright and makes reading the menu options easy.
I *highly* recommend you pick up a card reader - its a little "thumb drive" that you can carry in your purse/pocket/camera case instead of the dock to easily read your memory card. I bought the IOGear Universal Memory Drive Hi-Speed USB from Amazon - the one that reads the MMC and SD cards you use with this camera. So, if I carry both camera and card reader with me, I can move pics between computer at home and work or from my camera to any other windows or mac machine. This is a must if you want to easily share pics between computers. (You dont need special drivers for these card readers so unless someone is running very old OS software, you can plug it into anyone elses computer to share pics.)
For Mac users, this camera is a breeze. Both dock and IOGear reader seamlessly integrate with iPhoto for stills and iMovie for the movies. Both dock and card reader showed up immediately on the desktop without my having to do anything.
I have not used the dock on my windows machine, but the card reader was plug and play on Windows XP. The movies (as .avi) came up immediately and played via Real Player and the photos as well.
I was also initially disappointed in the video quality until I saw reference here to the firmware upgrade. I also recommend you update your firmware - I upgraded to Ver 1.1B and the difference is very noticeable. I am now quite satisfied with video quality. Link to casio site is here: http://world.casio.com/qv/download/en/ex_z850_firmup/
On: 2006-08-22
The only reason I would recommend the Canon over this camera is the optical zoom. 4x really makes a difference. I personally think the Canons ISO is better than the Casios DSP, but thats kind of being nit-pickey. The Canon was faster for me as well, but I know choice of memory card is a huge factor there. This really is a good camera, and the Best Shot settings and White Balance settings are definitely better than the any of the Canons settings (because Canon has like 10 vs. Casios 34). If youve got the extra $100, I would definitely look at the Canon, or hold off until Casio comes out with a 4x optical zoom.
On: 2006-08-16
At first, the poor video quality almost kept me from purchasing this camera. Nevertheless, I bought it based on its excellent quality still shots (i.e. photographs) as well as the extensive manual control options (perhaps more than any other compact camera). And the photographs are quite nice indeed.
Then I found that CASIO has released two new firmwares for the Z850 which dramatically fixes the video quality. I am now quite pleased with this camera. Between the two firmwares available, I preferred to use the version "1.1b" instead of the "1.10" - to me the video quality was improved much more than the other.
On: 2006-08-14
This is obviously some kind of known bug with this camera -- like several other people, the lens got stuck in the out position the first day I used the camera. Have to return it now which is a pain! Supposed to be a great camera but obviously has reliability/quality problems.
On: 2006-07-25
I have owned two other Casios that I was thoroughly sasistified with. The last one was the Z750 which I unfortunately lost. When I bought another I upgraded to the 8.1 and I can not believe the improvements made! One of the nicest and most convenient improvements was in the LCD screen. I found that even in the brightest conditions I was easily able to see the screen. Another nice improvement was in the flash--still built in but under most variables quite sufficient for the light needed. I just have returned from a two week vacation. I shot over 300 photos( I suggest you buy at least a 1GB card) and never had to recharge the battery. I am stunned by the quality of the pictures especially those I shot with the pre set best shot mode. Many of the Best Shot pictures are of equal quality to those shot using the fully manual mode. I used the camera to shoot extreme close-ups of flowers as well as for landscapes and action shots. There is nothing this camera can not do. In fact one day we took the kids tubing behind a ski boat. Using my camera with the zoom, anti shake and preset splashing water best shot I was able to capture fantastic action shots where the camera was able to record with perfect clarity individual water droplets in the spray coming off the tube. Some of these pictures I have cropped and blown up to 8x10 and have retained the sharpness and clarity.
This camera is well suited for those just interested in a point and shoot. It is fairly easy to operate. To those looking for more challenge you may go fully manual. The only draw back I have found is that the complete users manual is on disc. I would love to have the manual handy when I am away from my computer and using the camera out in the field. I know there are still features that I have not yet used.
On: 2006-06-30
Im so dissapointed. I really wanted to love this camera: it had gotten such great reviews. It is a very sharp looking camera, it has a great set of features, and every digital camera web site seems to love it. I took the day off from work and planned on testing it but after 8 shots, the thing went dead. The lens is stuck out, no lights are on, nothing. And I did follow the instructions and charged the battery for a full 3 hours before using. I did read of some other people having this problem so I think if you get a good one its a great camera but you may have to deal with returns.
On: 2006-06-23
I bought this camera after reading kenrockwell.com. After 3 weeks in Italy during May 2006, many photos revealed stunning clarity and remarkably balanced saturation around the Le Marche hillcountry and of the Duomo in Milano. The camera will exceed expectations as long as your composition is well performed! The photos were blown up to 13x19 yet still maintained almost perfect clarity. Im a bit taken back by the results of this camera. Simply stunning technology no one could deny...use a good printer!
On: 2006-06-17
My husband and I are on our third digital camera. We owned one of the first Kodak point and shoots that came out on the market, and have since upgraded from our Canon Powershot to this camera.
Its excellent. Im a casual photographer, most interested in capturing photos for scrapbooks. Hes the pro and is always interested in getting the best picture he can out of a camera.
This camera has the best of both worlds in my opinion. Full manual mode, but the "best shot" mode for those of us who arent professional photographers. Im still learning about all the features but every picture Ive taken so far has turned out wonderfully.
The need for a cradle isnt a big minus in my opinion. The battery lasts for almost 500 shots and has quite a bit of juice for movie mode as well. I got a 2gb memory card to go with it and am extremely pleased.
The Exilim case that Casio sells to go with this camera sucks though. Either the Tamrac ultra slim (cant remember the model #) or the Quantaray hard case are much better.
On: 2006-06-16
My husband and I are on our third digital camera. We owned one of the first Kodak point and shoots that came out on the market, and have since upgraded from our Canon Powershot to this camera.
Its excellent. Im a casual photographer, most interested in capturing photos for scrapbooks. Hes the pro and is always interested in getting the best picture he can out of a camera.
This camera has the best of both worlds in my opinion. Full manual mode, but the "best shot" mode for those of us who arent professional photographers. Im still learning about all the features but every picture Ive taken so far has turned out wonderfully.
The need for a cradle isnt a big minus in my opinion. The battery lasts for almost 500 shots and has quite a bit of juice for movie mode as well. I got a 2gb memory card to go with it and am extremely pleased.
The Exilim case that Casio sells to go with this camera sucks though. Either the Tamrac ultra slim (cant remember the model #) or the Quantaray hard case are much better.
On: 2006-06-11
I bought this camera to replace my digital Elph 3.1MP. The digital Elph had all of the features I needed and was fairly compact, but took terrible indoor pictures. 90% of the time I would have to make corrections to the indoor shots I got. The most important quality to me other than picture quality is that its small enough to stick in my purse and take with me anywhere. After reading that the Casio took better indoor photos, I decided to give it a try. Ive been using it now for 2 months. I dont know how to use all of the features yet (I havent viewed the manual disk), but so far I am very happy with the quality of photos I am getting. The detail is really amazing! It has a couple dozen "best shot" settings which allow you to choose specified settings like "sunset", "portrait" and "pet", which are helpful in those specified settings. It is a compact camera, with a large viewing screen and it still has a viewfinder, which many of the newer models are getting rid of. Although Im finding I usually do not use the viewfinder. The battery life seems to be very good, too. The camera is also able to take video, hours of it, with a larger disk (I bought a 512mb. I will rarely use this feature. Another amazing feature is the zoom. The optical combined with the digital zoom gets you really close to far away objects. I was able to take up close pictures of cliff divers from a boat I was on, which had to be at least 100-200 feet away. My family couldnt believe how close I was able to get. Any complaints would be minor - I would like to have a cover to go with it, you need the docking station to charge and connect the UBS cable to your computer, and there are a variety of options I do not know how to use yet. Overall, this is a great camera.
On: 2006-05-30
Ok, first and foremost, if you intend on traveling, get a traveling battery charger. For carrying the dock will become irritable. If you have laptop, then use the memory reader there to transport the pictures to your laptop and store.
I tend to take a lot of photos while traveling or while I go out to clubs with friends.
I need a small camera with an amazing quick shot, good flash and an awesome anti-shake tech.
Before this camera I owned a Casio Z-4. This camera offered great features, but it lacked in the zoom dept, and the night long shots. At times I would go out to clubs and the long distance (+ 10 ft) picture would come out blurry due to the lack of light. Also took it to the zoo a couple of times and the digital zoom was not enough to handle the contrast and definition, leaving a pixelated shot most of the time.
The EX-Z850 eliminates a lot of those unsatisfactory hurtles. The camera itself, is very user friendly. The camera come with a lot of preset features for the non-camera savvy. It also lets the user (reg or prof. users) play with the ISOs and the Focus features. This allows for the best picture quality and the easiest and fastest way to take a picture.
It has over 30 preset features built into the camera. I, at times get lost or become undecided selecting the best preset for a picture, which is good. Ive had this camera for about a month and Ive yet to become dissatisfied with its performance.
Ive tried the video quality and I must say, "WOW!!!" The video quality is amazing. I have all the settings at High & FINE and the definitions on the video are quite stellar. However, once you zoom in the quality is all over and you started to see noise all over the video. The video and audio sync is perfect.
I love the fact that the flash acts as a light for the video. Staying on if you need it. Something no one has noted here. I thought that was a clever touch by Casio (it can also be left on for pictures).
Theres hardly any lag between pictures. Ive paired this camera up with a 2bg Corsair 133x card and Ive yet to experience anything that is lag like.
The cameras build is great and long lasting. My Ex-Z4 was dropped, kicked, thrown and lived through a hurricane and only scratches appeared.
It has a lot of possitive.
1. A Large Screen.
2. A lot of settings.
3. A lot of preset settings.
4. Great video quality.
5. Amazing zoom. (use anti-shake for long dist. pics)
6. Metal casing.
7. Photo & video images and ease of use.
8. Battery Life. (Took over 150 pics and videos and the battery did not go down as at all.
9. Price.
Cons.
1. Everything has to be done through a docking station.
2. It only comes with an 8mb built in mem.
3. Manually changing the iso to 1600.
Overall, the docking station does not bother me as I travel with my laptop and transfer the pics/videos through my SD reader. Battery lasts over 150 pics, so Im good with that.
The manual config of the ISO is a bit of a pain in the rear end and I wish the capacity was there for the user to use it to the max. Overall, 4.5.
On: 2006-05-09
This is an excellent camera except that it can ONLY connect to a computer or charger using its cradle. For an ultra-portable camera, that seems to make no sense. It cant use a standard USB cable that I use for my Blackberry or other cameras, it needs a different one. So thats more to carry. The cradle is bigger than the camera and its connector protrudes, making it prone to damage in a briefcase. Because of this I returned the EX-Z850 and exchanged it for a Canon SD-630.It is otherwise an excellent product.
POSITIVES: Very good color truth, good auto adjustment for backlighting, fast auto focus, low shutter lag (so you get to capture the candid pics of kids before the opportunity is lost). An excellent user interface that is really intuitive, and short-cut buttons to access the most regularly needed settings. 8MP is great, but one usually doesnt need it - the lens performance is such that much of the time theres little difference between the 6MP and 8MP resolution.
NEGATIVES: The lens is not great however and produces some chromatic abberations (purple fringing around high contrast borders). The CCD shows some color noise at high ISO settings. I believe Casio has improved this with the about-to-be-released EX-Z1000 10MP camera (launch retail price $399, will be obtainable online at about $349 in June - I saw a posting on J&R Camera Worlds site).
On: 2006-05-09
Produces a great picture. Very thin so much so that I took off one star as with my clumsy hands I find it somewhat difficult to hold steady. It will fit in your pocket and you will not even know it is there. However, it has a steady feature that overcomes this problem. I use it mostly for point and shoot but it does have manual controls over the camera. You use the charging cradle with a USB cord to connect to your computer and it does not connect directly wit a USB cord. Holds an extremely long battery charge. The large 2.5" viewing screen takes up nearly the entire back of the camera and you will need to be somewhat careful not to mar the screen. Mine came with a clear protector for the screen that just adheres to the screen. I have not tried it in the movie mode yet. This is perhaps the smallest 8.1mp camera on the market. Well made but the instruction manual sucks but if you are into digital cameras you will figure it out. You can buy a car charger if you feel the need. I give it 4 stars but have only used it a week.
On: 2006-05-05
I just received mine before going on vacation. I was impressed with the best shot options, had to adjust apeture on some shots, but thats one of the reasons I bought this camera, it lets you go full manual like my old SLR. The movie mode was great, didnt experience the same issues that the other reviewer notated.
On: 2006-03-16
I bought this camera thinking that it was just a minor upgrade from the 750, with a better LCD screen, another MP, and a few other features I wouldnt notice much. But it turns out Casio made more changes (all improvements from what Ive seen) than I had read about in the couple of quick previews I had seen online.
First, the LCD is a HUGE improvement from the 750s; this one has a noticeably higher resolution and brighter display, and its brightness is user controlable.
Its also faster in every respect, which was predictable, since almost everything in the electronic world gets faster with each generation.
The built-in flash (sorry, no hot shoe for external flash) is also better, with 6 settings easily accessed by hitting 1 button on the back: Auto, Off, On, High-Power, Soft, and Red Eye. Plus, you can also set the "flash intensity" to -2, -1, 0, 1, or 2, giving us a huge amount of control over what is typically either underexposed or bleached white, especially on such a small camera. This is one feature Ive been waiting for ever since I sold my old Canon S45, which possessed the best flash out there, and Im very happy to have it back.
The size is virtually identical to that of the 750-- it seems a couple of hairs less deep, but the difference is so minute that its not even worth discussing. And the z850 has "Exilim" stamped on the bottom left corner of the black LCD screen. Very subtle, yet cool.
I have made a couple of movies, one indoors, one outdoors, but I havent had the time to fully evaluate the quality. Lets just say Im pleased with the movie mode, given that thats not the main feature (for me) of this camera, and also that Im used to my camcorder. I will say that once you start recording in the movie mode, you cant change any settings until you stop recording, so take some time to think about the proper settings for your conditions before you hit record.
Im sure there is more to say about this camera, but having just received it 24-hours ago, nothing else has jumped out at me so far. But Im sure something else will. This is the best compact (not quite subcompact) camera Ive ever had, and Ive had a few (maybe 8 or 10 by now). The only complaint I have is that the few shots I took at ISO 200 and 400 were quite grainy (especially at the latter setting). However, this complaint is nearly universal in the digital world, so it is best addressed to the entire industry, not specifically or solely to Casio.
All in all, this camera gets a rousing 5 out of 5. If youre looking for a small, easy to use camera that also gives you a very high rate of manual controls with tons of features and very good picture quality, Id suggest you give this one a very serious consideration. Casio has produced one beautiful camera in the EX-Z850.
On: 2006-03-16
I had the Z750 for 3 weeks, Found a good deal on the 850 and sold the 750. Glad I did.
Improvements:
-Better lit LCD
-Better Flash range
-LED light for movies in low light conditions.
-Microphone on the front of the camera, instead of the top, so that whoever is shooting the movie is not overpowering when speaking.
-Better shaky hand stabalizer.
-More pre set modes
-Better ISO up to 1600
-More white balance options
-Better looking
Overall, this is probably the best camera for the price in its class. The main reason to buy this casio over the latest canon elph is that this casio has a full manual mode. Cant beat that.
On: 2006-03-15
I bought this camera thinking that it was just a minor upgrade from the 750, with a better LCD screen, another MP, and a few other features I wouldnt notice much. But it turns out Casio made more changes (all improvements from what Ive seen) than I had read about in the couple of quick previews I had seen online.
First, the LCD is a HUGE improvement from the 750s; this one has a noticeably higher resolution and brighter display, and its brightness is user controlable.
Its also faster in every respect, which was predictable, since almost everything in the electronic world gets faster with each generation.
The built-in flash (sorry, no hot shoe for external flash) is also better, with 6 settings easily accessed by hitting 1 button on the back: Auto, Off, On, High-Power, Soft, and Red Eye. Plus, you can also set the "flash intensity" to -2, -1, 0, 1, or 2, giving us a huge amount of control over what is typically either underexposed or bleached white, especially on such a small camera. This is one feature Ive been waiting for ever since I sold my old Canon S45, which possessed the best flash out there, and Im very happy to have it back.
The size is virtually identical to that of the 750-- it seems a couple of hairs less deep, but the difference is so minute that its not even worth discussing. And the z850 has "Exilim" stamped on the bottom left corner of the black LCD screen. Very subtle, yet cool.
I have made a couple of movies, one indoors, one outdoors, but I havent had the time to fully evaluate the quality. Lets just say Im pleased with the movie mode, given that thats not the main feature (for me) of this camera, and also that Im used to my camcorder. I will say that once you start recording in the movie mode, you cant change any settings until you stop recording, so take some time to think about the proper settings for your conditions before you hit record.
Im sure there is more to say about this camera, but having just received it 24-hours ago, nothing else has jumped out at me so far. But Im sure something else will. This is the best compact (not quite subcompact) camera Ive ever had, and Ive had a few (maybe 8 or 10 by now). The only complaint I have is that the few shots I took at ISO 200 and 400 were quite grainy (especially at the latter setting). However, this complaint is nearly universal in the digital world, so it is best addressed to the entire industry, not specifically or solely to Casio.
All in all, this camera gets a rousing 5 out of 5. If youre looking for a small, easy to use camera that also gives you a very high rate of manual controls with tons of features and very good picture quality, Id suggest you give this one a very serious consideration. Casio has produced one beautiful camera in the EX-Z850.
|
|
