Casio Exilim
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Exilim is a line of compact digital cameras introduced in 2002 by Casio.
The Exilim Card series was notably thinner than other small digital cameras at the time of its introduction, typically 10–15 millimetres thick compared to other manufacturers' comparable models that were 25–35 millimetres thick. This sparked competition to make slimmer compact digital cameras, with other manufacturers bringing out lines of comparably thin cameras from 2004.
Features
The Exilim Card series are ultra-compact models. The cameras were first branded as "Wearable Card Cameras" and are about the size of a credit card and 9mm-16mm thick. The early models only had digital zoom, though more recent models have optical zoom as well.
The Exilim Zoom series is the all-purpose line, all including an optical zoom.
The Exilim Professional is the bridge digital camera line, with higher-quality optics and greater zoom.
All models use Secure Digital (SD) or Multi Media Card (MMC). They come with a small amount of internal memory and therefore are not bundled with a memory card. Many Exilim cameras come with a bundled charging and docking cradle. The cradle is used to recharge the camera's battery and to connect the camera to a PC or PictBridge compatible printer.
Images are recorded as JPEGs with Exif data. Raw images from the CCD are not available by default, though on some models a service menu can be accessed allowing images to be recorded as the raw data [2].
Most models use a Casio proprietary lithium ion battery, though some use AA cells. All the later models have 2.5" or wider LCD screens and come with more than 20 shooting modes.
MPEG-4 Video
Exilim models that incorporate MPEG-4 video benefit from extended recording times due to higher quality compression. On "normal" quality, MPEG-4 allows more than an hour of 640x480, 30fps video to be recorded on a 1GB memory card.
Apple Computer's default QuickTime video player cannot play the MPEG-4 files created with the specific codec that Casio uses. Casio's original response to this incompatibility was, "Movies recorded with this camera cannot by played back on a Macintosh." Casio now bundles software called AVI Importer to convert MPEG-4 videos into a format that QuickTime can decode. Applications other than QuickTime, like VLC and MPlayer, are also available that can read the videos without conversion.
The EX-Z1200 introduces H.264 video.
Bundled software
All Exilim cameras come with bundled software:
- PhotoLoader — Casio's software to automatically copy pictures to a hard drive.
- Photohands — Casio's image editing software. Photohands allows rotation and resizing of images and print a picture with the date superimposed.
- Camera User's Guide — the manual for the camera.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader — to read the Camera User's Guide, which is a PDF.
- AVI Importer
- Ulead Movie Wizard — used for editing movies software (bundled only with the EX-Z750, EX-V7 and EX-Z850).
Drawbacks
For the models that are bundled with charging cradles, the only way to charge the camera's battery without using the cradle and camera is to purchase an optional battery charger.
The "Anti Shake DSP" in current models is neither true optical image stabilization nor a digital equivalent thereof; rather, if the camera senses shaking, it sets the ISO speed emulation very high, thus decreasing the necessary exposure time [3]. The EX-V7 model is the first to offer true mechanical IS, moving the CCD as needed (although the effectiveness of this has been questioned in reviews [4]).
A frequent[5] complaint with Exilim cameras is "Lens Errors", which prevent the lens from coming in and out when turned on or off. It is best to set the camera so it does not start using the record or playback button, this limits the chance for an accidental lens expansion when the camera is in the case, which is a major cause of these (usually permanent) lens motor burnouts. A Lens Error will usually require repair or replacement of the lens assembly.
Table of models
Cameras whose model number ends in U (e.g. EX-Z4U) are models only released in North America, without some of the functions of the non-U models.
M models are based on the corresponding S model but also record audio (as WAV) and play back WAV and MP3.
Casio's NP-20 batteries are claimed to hold 630 mAh of charge, while the thicker NP-40 is rated for 1230 mAh.
| Model | Announcement date |
Sensor (effective pixels) | Lens (35mm equiv), optical zoom |
Battery | Size (mm), weight (inc batt) | Photo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX-S1 | 2002 | 1.3MP (1280×960), 1/2.7" | 37mm, f/2.5 | NP-20 | ×11.3mm | ||
| EX-M1 | 2002 | 1.3MP (1280×960), 1/2.7" | 37mm, f/2.5 | NP-20 | EX-S1 with audio recording and MP3 playback | ||
| EX-S2 | 2002 | 2MP (1600×1200), 1/1.8" | 36mm, f/3.2 |   |
|||
| EX-M2 | 2002 | 2MP (1600×1200), 1/1.8" | 36mm, f/3.2 |  |
EX-S2 with audio and MP3 | ||
| EX-Z3 | January 2003 | 3MP (2048×1536), 1/2.5" | 35-105mm, f/2.6-4.8 (3×) | NP-20 | 87 × 67 × 23mm, 146g | [6] | |
| EX-S3 | March 2003 | 3MP, 1/1.8" | 35mm, f/4.2 | 90 x 57 x 12 mm | |||
| EX-S20(U) | August 2003 | 2MP (1600×1200), 1/2.7" | 37mm, f/3.5 | 83 x 53 x 11 mm | Macro | ||
| EX-M20(U) | August 2003 | 2MP (1600×1200), 1/2.7" | 37mm, f/3.5 | 83 x 53 x 11 mm | EX-S20(U) with audio and MP3, headphones and wired remote control | ||
| EX-Z4 | August 2003 | 4MP | (3×) | ||||
| EX-Z4(U) | August 2003 | 4MP | (3×) | EX-Z4U (North America) has no video functions | |||
| EX-Z30 | February 2004 | 3MP | (3×) | PictBridge | |||
| EX-Z40 | February 2004 | 4MP | (3×) | |
PictBridge | ||
| EX-P600 | February 2004 | 6MP | (4×) Canon branded | TIFF, PictBridge, infrared remote, manual controls | |||
| EX-S100 | August 2004 | 3MP, 1/3.2" | 36-102mm, f/4.0-6.6 (2.8×) | Lumicera ceramic lens, PictBridge | |||
| EX-Z50 | August 2004 | 5MP | (3×) | NP-40 | PictBridge | ||
| EX-P700 | August 2004 | 7MP (3072×2304), 1/1.8" | 33-132mm, f/2.8-4.0 (4×) Canon branded | NP-40 | 98 × 68 × 45mm, 261g | TIFF, PictBridge, infrared remote, manual controls [7] | |
| EX-Z55 | August 2004 | 5MP | (3×) | NP-40 | PictBridge | ||
| EX-P505 | January 2005 | 5MP (2560x1920) 1/2.5" | 38-190mm, f/3.3-3.6 (5×) | NP-40 | MPEG-4, supermacro (1cm), PastMovie, PictBridge, manual controls. | ||
| EX-Z750 | February 2005 | 7.1MP (3072×2304), 1/1.8" | 38-114mm, f/2.8-5.1 (3×) | NP-40 | 89 × 59 × 22mm, 165g | PictBridge, MPEG-4, manual controls [8] | |
| EX-Z57 | February 2005 | 5MP | (3×) | NP-40 | PictBridge, 2.7" LCD | ||
| EX-S500 | June 2005 | 5MP, 1/2.5" | 38-114mm, f/2.7-5.2 (3×) | NP-20 | Anti Shake DSP, PictBridge, MPEG4 | ||
| EX-Z500 | August 2005 | 5MP | (3×) | NP-40 | PictBridge, MJPEG movie, Anti Shake DSP | ||
| EX-Z10 | August 2005 | 5MP | (3×) | AA | PictBridge, MJPEG movie, manual controls | ||
| EX-Z110 | August 2005 | 6MP | (3×) | AA | PictBridge, MJPEG movie, manual controls | ||
| EX-Z120 | August 2005 | 7.2MP | (3×) | AA | PictBridge, MJPEG movie, manual controls | ||
| EX-S600 | October 2005 | 6MP, 1/2.5" | 38-114mm, f/2.7-5.2 (3×) | NP-20 |   |
Anti Shake DSP, PictBridge, MPEG4, 8Gb+ SDHC (with firmware 1.02) | |
| EX-Z600 | January 2006 | 6MP | (3×) | NP-40 | PictBridge, MJPEG movie, Super Bright LCD | ||
| EX-Z60 | February 2006 | 6MP | (3×) | NP-20 | Anti Shake DSP, PictBridge, MJPEG movie | ||
| EX-Z850 | February 2006 | 8.0MP (3264×2448), 1/1.8" | 38-114, f/2.8-5.1 (3×) | NP-40 | 89 × 58.5 × 23.7 mm, 185g | PictBridge, MPEG-4, Super Bright LCD, movie light, manual controls [9] | |
| EX-Z5 | April 2006 | 5MP (2560×1920), 1/2.5" | 38-114mm, f/3.1-4.4 (3×) | NP-20 | 95.2 × 60.6 × 19.8mm, 119g (-batt) | MJPEG, Anti Shake DSP [10] | |
| EX-Z1000 | April 2006 | 10.1MP (3648×2736), 1/1.8" | 38-114mm, f/2.8-5.4 (3×) | NP-40 | 92 × 58.4 × 22.4mm, 185g | |
First true 10MP compact digital camera [11] |
| EX-Z70 | June 2006 | 7MP | (3×) | NP-20 | 95.2 x 60.6 x 19.8 mm, 118g | Anti Shake DSP, PictBridge, MJPEG movie, SDHC (with firmware 1.01) [12] | |
| EX-Z700 | August 2006 | 7MP (3072×2304), 1/2.5" | 38-114mm, f/2.7-4.3 (3×) | NP-40 | 88.5 x 57 x 20.5 mm, 112g (no batt) | PictBridge, MJPEG [13], SDHC (with firmware 1.01) [14] | |
| EX-S770 | August 2006 | 7MP (3072×2304), 1/2.5" | 38-114mm, f/2.7-5.2 (3×) | NP-20 | 95 x 60 x 17 mm, 127g (no batt) | PictBridge, MPEG-4 [15] | |
| EX-V7 | January 2007 | 7MP (3072×2304), 1/2.5" | 38-266mm, f/3.4-5.3 (7×) | NP-50 | 95.5 x 59.8 x 25.1 mm, 149g (no batt) | 7× zoom, CCD shift IS, MJPEG, H.264, SDHC [16] | |
| EX-Z75 | January 2007 | 7MP (3072×2304), 1/2.5" | 38-114mm, f/3.1-4.4 (3×) | NP-20 | 95.4 x 60.6 x 19.6 mm, 122g (no batt) | MJPEG, SDHC [17] | |
| EX-Z1050 | January 2007 | 10.1MP (3648×2736), 1/1.75" | 38-114mm, f/2.8-8.0 (3×) | NP-40 | 91.1 x 57.2 x 24.2 mm, 125g (no batt) | 2.6" LCD, MJPEG, 7fps high-speed continuous shooting, up to ISO800 sensitivity [18] | |
| EX-Z1200 | May 2007 | 12.1MP, 1/1.7" | 3× | 2.8" LCD, H.264 video, CCD shift IS [19] | |||
| EX-Z77 | July 2007 | 7.2MP, 1/1.7" | 3× | 2.6" LCD, H.264 video, black, red [20] | |||
| EX-S880 | July 2007 | 8.1MP | 3× | 2.8" LCD, H.264 video, silver, black, blue, pink [21] | |||
| EX-V8 | August 2007 | 8.1MP (3264×2448), 1/2.5" | 38-266mm, f/3.4-5.3, 7× | 3.76 x 2.35 x 1.0 in | [22] | ||
| EX-Z1080 | August 2007 | 10.1MP (3648×2736), 1/1.75" | 38-114mm, f/2.8-5.1, 3× | 3.59 x 2.25 x 0.95 in | [23] | ||
| Model | Announcement date |
Sensor (effective pixels) | Lens (35mm equiv), optical zoom |
Battery | Size (mm), weight (inc batt) | Photo | Notes |
