We take a look at Casio's new 7.2-megapixel Exilim EX-Z77 and attempt to discern if the credit-card sized point-and-shoot delivers on its promise of no-brainer photos.
Design
One of our favorite aspects of Casio cameras in general is the body. While weighing in a bit heavier than some similarly-sized cameras, we find a bit of weight to be preferable, especially in slim-design point-and-shoot models. The camera feels solid, very well-made, and the metal body resistant to any minor falls and scrapes. All the buttons were responsive, and most were labeled well enough to understand without too much difficulty.
The 2.6” LCD screen is large enough and serves as an effective enough viewfinder. But the screen is way too low-resolution to be able to tell if the previous photo taken will turn out well once it is on a computer. This seems to be a pitfall of high megapixel counts as supposed to the quality of the camera.
The lens retracts into the body when the camera is turned off or in photo review mode, providing reasonable protection.
Interface & Transfer
One thing the Z77 has no shortage of is menus. They can be troublesome to familiarize yourself with, but some may find that any navigational issues can be overlooked due to the myriad of included features. The expansive menus can be a bit intimidating, but the Z77’s impressive feature set has to go somewhere. Two of the better features are Best Shot and the YouTube capture mode. Best Shot is a list of preset configurations for various picture-taking scenarios. It certainly isn't perfect, but makes taking shots of things like running water, twilight and landscapes a lot easier, especially for Joe Q. Pointandshoot, who most likely doesn't know his aperture from his...well, you get the idea.
Even more interesting than Best Shot is the YouTube capture mode. Digital cameras have long been able to record video for the popular viral video web site, but the process for contribution was not necessarily one the non-computer savvy could easily figure out. First you had to get the .avi file onto the computer, then use video-editing software to shrink it to a manageable size that met YouTube's size limit of 100MB, then use the web upload tool on the web site to upload the video and enter any description. With the YouTube capture mode on the Z77 and the included YouTube Uploader software, Casio simply took a few steps out of the equation. The uploader program pops up as soon as a camera or card is connected to the computer, and every video on the card or camera is listed. You select which videos you want to upload, enter a description if you so choose, and click a button. Poof! You're on YouTube. The video is already formatted in a YouTube-friendly format, and unless you're filming a three-hour movie, it’s almost guaranteed to come in under the file size limit. However, if for some reason you are shooting the sequel to Ken Burns’ “Baseball” and it doesn't, you can still edit the video without any complicated or expensive editing software. Basic editing functions can be performed in-camera, and while they are limited, they’re just enough for the average user.
Casio has made file transfers about as easy as it gets when it comes to Windows PCa. By allowing users to set the camera to act as a card reader, when you plug the camera into your computer's USB port, it acts as a removable flash drive. Pictures can be dragged and dropped to and from the camera into any folder or program.
Storage capacity is minimal (coming in at just over 11MB) but this is better than you will find on most cameras. We like the SD format, as it is currently the most ubiquitous and inexpensive, but we like the capability to read SD High Capacity cards even better, as they will eventually get up to 32GB sizes.
Camera Quality
The 3X optical zoom lens is almost standard for compact point-and-shoot models, but it would be nice to see ISO settings a little higher than ISO 800. That being said, it isn't bad for a $230 camera, and the 7.2 megapixel sensor, auto-focus, anti-shake and a wide range of shutter speeds (4 seconds to 1/2000 of 1 second) round out what is ultimately a decent piece of hardware.
Image Quality
We found the image quality on the Z77 to be excellent, especially when using the preset Best Shot configurations. They definitely involved some trial-and-error, but it was relatively easy to get great shots in poor conditions.
High-resolution image samples
Shot taken with full automatic settingsShot taken in Twilight Best Shot ModeShot taken in Landscape Best Shot Mode
Accessories
Strangely omitted from the included accessories is a dock, which we liked on other Casio Exilim models (if only for organizational purposes). Instead of having to take out the battery and charge it with the included battery charger, it would be nice to be able to just pop the camera in a dock and have it start charging immediately, and with the push of a button have it connect to the computer. Inconveniences aside, the camera comes with most everything needed to take pictures and videos and put them on your computer or play them on your TV. An included SD card would be nice, but that might be asking too much.
Pros:
Best Shot, YouTube capture mode, slim design, optical zoom |
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Cons:
Confusing menus, no dock |
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| Conclusion: |
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| Casio came through. The EX-Z77 is slim, solid and practical, very much the camera you will find yourself taking everywhere. The lack of a dock is disappointing, but both novice and expert point-and-shoot camera users will find themselves satisfied. The menus are a little confusing and could use a little feng shui, but for the most part this is a great device. |
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80%
Very good
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Price and availability
Available in the U.S. in September 2007, the Casio Exilim EX-Z77 is priced at $230 .
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