Will loads of Best Shot modes be enough to keep this Exilim camera's lens on the track, or will it spin out in the corner? Read the full Casio Exilim EX-Z300 review here.
Review summary of the Casio Exilim EX-Z300:
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 The Casio Exilim EX-Z300 is stuck right in the middle of the extensive Exilim family, sporting an average 1/2.3" sensor and a 4x optical zoom, which is slightly generous considering the camera's compact size. We wanted more from the interface and less BS, er, Best Shot modes. There are 38 total on this camera, which is great until you realize most of them utilize the same settings. Low light was an issue with the Exilim EX-Z300, and most images were attacked by some form of noise, fringing or blowing out. The big old LCD screen is nice to have, but not in the sun. We found the Exilim EX-Z300 to be just another average compact, although the Multi-Motion Image BS mode is oodles of fun if you have a tripod and a photographer with a very steady hand. Release: October 2008. Price: $300.
Pros: Tons of beginner-friendly Best Shot presets. Ample LCD screen. Compact design.
Cons: Interface could use a pumping up. All settings are reset after powering off and back on. Weak low light performance.
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Full Casio Exilim EX-Z300 Review:
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Design - Good
The midrange compact Casio Exilim EX-Z300 is clearly descended from Casio's Exilim line, sporting refined curves and sharp lines throughout its plastic body. Many cameras in this class feature all-metal bodies, and by the end of our testing run the Exilim EX-Z300 was scuffed and worn, a cloudy haze marring its once lustrous silver façade. This is where a metal construction would have come in handy. You get to choose between Black, Silver, and Champagne color schemes with the Exilim EX-Z300 and its mirrored grey strip along the top is a definite slice of hot style. The camera is pocketable, and it weighs around 6 ounces.
In back, you'll find a glossy 3"LCD screen, which almost doubles as a mirror when light reflects against it. There's no viewfinder, so shooting in the sun requires an extra hand to shield from glaring rays. This was a major issue for us in the field with the Casio Exilim EX-Z300. The shutter button zoom toggle is how we like our zoom control on a compact, and we liked the smooth panning of Casio's design. Next to the LCD screen is a clump of buttons, including the infamous "BS" (Best Shot) button and a four-way directional pad with a Set button embedded in the middle.
Interface - Mediocre
The Casio Exilim EX-Z300's navigation system is passable, but could use a bit of a sprucing up. We found the directional pad to be too small, dwarfed by the large 3" LCD screen to its left. There aren't many buttons, but this is a camera without any distinct shooting modes and a mountain of BS settings instead. So, most action on the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 is funneled into presets and Auto control. One thing we didn't like about this camera is that when you power it off and back on again, all settings are reset. If you shoot at a particular ISO and Exposure level, those settings will be lost when the camera springs back to life. We continually had to manually adjust every time we took the camera out, so Casio needs to amend this problem.
Casio's menu system is quick, allowing us to select options rapidly. Aside from speed, the Casio Exilim EX-Z300's menu is highly intuitive. Along the right hand portion of the LCD screen you'll find a vertical panel of options containing manual controls like ISO, Flash and Exposure settings. The rest, like White Balance, Metering and Sharpness, can be found in the Main menu. Casio didn't place manual control in the limelight, so there's no distinct Function menu. Instead, shooters are encouraged to employ the extensive BS menu, which is chock full of shooting presets. Each preset has a descriptive picture icon, which will be a major boon to most users.
Features - Good
Like other mid-level Casio Exilims we've seen, we know the EX-Z300 is all about the BS. We're talking Best Shot modes, and the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 is packed with 38 of them. Shooters can choose from presets like Portrait, Party, Pet, Autumn Leaves, Night Scene and Backlight to accommodate applicable shooting environments. Casio also tosses in fun antique filters like Monochrome, Retro and Silent to add a little nostalgic flair to your images. We know these can be achieved with Photoshop, but for the average entry-level shooter, this is a mega dose of coolness. The camera can capture video that is optimized for YouTube in addition to 1280x720 30fps video. The HD video quality is actually better than most cameras in this class because the Exilim EX-Z300 records using H.264 compression.
Outside of the wonderful world of BS, the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 leaves little room for manual adjustment. Instead of Aperture and Shutter Speed, the camera has general Exposure control that can be adjusted 6 steps either way. ISO can reach as low as 64 and as high as 3200. There are two high-speed Burst modes, one of which will actually synchronize with a burst of flash. In our tests, the burst mode fired at an adequate speed, churning 4 frames per second. Casio also included a "Makeup" button on top of the camera, but in our tests, we couldn't differentiate between Makeup mode and a shot in Auto.
Hardware - Mediocre
Inside the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 is a 1/2.3", 10-megapixel sensor, a common sensor size for this range. The 4x optical zoom lens has a 28mm width, which is fairly average for a compact in this class. We were able to squeeze in a decent amount of content in our images, but this isn't an impressive wide-angle lens. The Exilim EX-Z300's flash has a number of settings, including "Soft Flash" for harsh lighting. Ports are limited to a USB terminal and SDHC card slot located in the battery hatch. The Exilim EX-Z300 runs on a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery pack.
Image Quality - Good
Overall, the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 cranked out a decent performance, though we were able to find some shades error in nearly every picture, from minor noise issues to full-blown posterization in low light. Even at the lowest ISO setting, we could detect ample amounts of noise in lower lighting conditions. With the night-oriented BS modes, the settings are nearly identical to one another, as the camera boosts the ISO and in some cases applies a flash. Even in bright light we observed some minor artifacts like fringing and jagged curves. For a consumer-geared point-and-shoot, the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 is a force to be reckoned with, but any shooter outside the entry-level circuit will certainly outgrow this camera after a couple days use.
Scene Test – Copley Square
An all-encompassing scene like this touches on many aspects. We have the shadows of the church, the rigid lines of the Hancock building and intricate detail within the tree branches. The first thing to look for here is the significant fringing within the branches of the trees and along the peaks of the church. The image is also quite noisy in most of the shadowy area of the church, in addition to being out of focus. On the bright side, the exposure is great and noise on the whole is minimal. This is a good image.
Landscape Test – The Public Gardens
Here we're looking for the Casio Exilim EX-Z300's ability to render nature. Right off the bat, the sky is immaculate, containing ethereal lines and no noise. The trees are even noiseless, though slightly out of focus. That's a lot of detail to handle and the Exilim EX-Z300 pulls through. One general note is that we're seeing a lack of vibrant colors and some fringing along the edge of the bridge railing. Other than that, this image is fairly solid.
Sharpness Test – 500 Boylston
There are thousands of sharp lines to represent in this image and the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 does a decent job, though it's not the best we've seen. Up close, many of the lines along the windows are jagged, contain noise along the borders and are plagued with some degree of fringing. The stone façade and columns could be more detailed, as we're seeing a hazy shield of noise engulfing the bottom half of this image.
Color Test - Phoenix
Color Test +2 Saturation - Phoenix
Here's an example of what a Saturation boost can do for your shots. The first image just lacks that electricity we like to see, as opposed to the Canon PowerShot SD770, which gives you vibrancy right out of Auto mode. Here we had to boost the saturation to full tilt, but the result is more than pleasing. Detail is fairly sharp and the colors look as they should in the second image.
Detail Test – The Late Elizur Holyoke
When the lighting is right, the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 can render some sharp detail, as we see within the focused portion of old Elizur's headstone. Still, we can discern a slight fringing within the lettering, thanks to our scrutinizing eyes. The good news is there is no fringing along the edges of the gravestone and background blowout is minimal. This is a very good performance.
Macro Test – Holy Cannoli!
This is perhaps the best image of the lot, as we clearly see the Casio Exilim EX-Z300's Macro potential exemplified in the form of a delectable Italian treat. Noise is nowhere to be found, detail is exceptional and fringing is limited to a semi-sweet chip or two at the top of the cannoli. This is an excellent performance, and it's making us hungry.
Contrast Test – North End Market
Though the focus appears to be on the happenings of the tent interior, we were aiming in the far distance, attempting to bring the contrast down to a bit of a compromise. Unfortunately, this was the end result. We're not seeing a stellar dynamic range here, but rather a blown-out dream sequence transpiring in the background. The blooming and fringing is extreme as buildings and objects have been engulfed by the encroaching white unknown. Inside the tent we're seeing a beautiful scene with popping colors and accurately-rendered people. However, contrast is tough for the Exilim EX-Z300, especially when you test its waters to a level this extreme.
Sunset Test – Manual Mode
Sunset Test – Sunset Mode
The Casio Exilim EX-Z300's Sunset BS mode is an obvious White Balance leaning toward the magenta side, but we like the colors and exposure in the first image better. For a romantic effect, we can justify the use of Sunset mode, but the colors and exposure in the first image are great. Unfortunately, both images are air-raided with noise, to the extent of unsightly posterization within the dark portions of the image. Pixels are morphing into vague blobs and attacking the trees and citizens. The Exilim EX-Z300 cannot handle low light.
Dusk Test - Alley
We investigated the matter even further by shooting in an alley after the sun had finally set. Thanks to the artificial lighting of the alley, noise is whittled down a bit, but it's still raging in certain portions of the image. We've also got some serious fringing and blowing out at the top of the image, and it would be a massacre if this wasn't such a well-lit alley.
Night Scene Mode Test – Citgo Sign
Night Test – Citgo Sign
The first image was captured in Casio's Night Scene BS mode, and you can see the preposterously post-impressionist nature of this image due to the high ISO. The tree lights are fringing up a storm and everything looks like a blurry orgy of pixilated chaos. The second image was manually adjusted with the ISO set to 64, and we had to stabilize the camera. The exposure is reduced, but what a world of difference in terms of sharpness. Noise is still raging, but not to a silly degree. The Citgo sign looks great, but this is still not an all-star image. It's the best the Exilim EX-Z300 can do at night, and that doesn't involve any BS.
Low Shutter Test – "We Sell Guns"
Outside of BS mode, the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 will lower the shutter speed based on the available light, especially at night. This was taken at 1 second, and you can see it was difficult for us to steady the camera. You'll need a tripod if you plan on manually shooting at night.
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