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Casio EX Z77 Digital Camera Took a beating and came out fine
When getting ready to attend CES 2008 I decided that I needed a basic knockabout digital camera to take with. I wanted a good sturdy camera. It did not need to be a high MP count product. Just work well and survive the trial. When I Emailed my Casio contact I was told she had just the product. The Exilim EX Z77. I said “Send it on.”
The EX Z77 is a 7.2 MegaPixel, 3X Optical, 4X digital zoom camera with a 2.6 inch wide LCD monitor. The suggested retail of $179.99 is easy on your budget and they can be found in stores or on the internet as low as $140.00. That is even better.
The good: Good battery life, Fast recovery, Easy menus, YouTube video option, Anti-shake, Record video in 16 by 9 and play on your wide screen TV or record in standard TV mode. The VIDEOS are great!
The less than good: Video was good but during playback a clicking noise is heard on the audio track when zoom was used during recording. ( I have heard that same noise in many other cameras.) The LCD was a slightly grainy but more than usable. In low light situations the photos needed to be improved by using manual settings.
This is a very functional entry level point-and-shoot digital camera. Those who need more options or want to crop and enlarge portions of their photos will need to move to other Casio products with higher resolution and more menu choices.
I received the camera before the end of last year. I started using it when traveling and at home. That was smart as I was so busy during CES I often forgot about the camera in my pants pocket. I used the included USB cable to download the files to the Lenovo ThinkPad loaner. Then I placed many of the photos taken in Las Vegas, Miami, and Key West, on my Flickr site for you to judge for yourself. Some very short videos from this test are also in my YouTube area. Standard Video (MPEG-4) was preset for about 30 seconds while YouTube (MPEG-4.264), a compression option seemed to run until you stopped the recording. The YouTube uploading software is on the included CD.
I worked with the “Easy Mode” off for most of the time. Easy Mode does make things much easier for the first time user as it cuts down on the options and explains the ones you can access with basic wording. Easy Mode does deactivate the BS shot button which allows you to choose a picture that is similar to the scene you want to shoot at the time thereby setting the camera for the “Best Shot” I also used the maximum 7 MP mode.
I liked the silver color and the lightweight body. You can get it in Pink, Black, Blue, Red, Silver or White.
The battery location is also where you need to place your memory card. It is easy to get at in the bottom of the camera. Charging the battery is done externally using an AC converter with a charger that holds the battery.
In the box: Standard Bundled Casio Accessories: Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery (NP-20) External Battery Charger AV Cable USB Cable Strap CD-ROM Basic Reference manual
This is a good daylight camera. Moving to manual operation does improve its low light capabilities. I found it intuitive to use. It did not fail even when my backpack full of electronics was squished into a very small overhead area on a tiny prop plane. It was pressed so hard it turned itself on and the battery ran down. I was not sure the lens would extend but it worked fine after the battery was recharged.
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