Casio Exilim EX-Z300 Review

BY: AKAJohnDoe, DigitalCameraReview.com Contributor
PUBLISHED: 1/16/2009

The Casio Exilim EX-Z300 is what we used to call a "user camera." It is small enough to be carried, sports enough features to be usable in most situations, and is simple enough to be used without having to reference a manual. It comes in a variety of bright colors, has face recognition and anti-shake, along with a respectable zoom range, a wide selection of pre-programmed "Best Shot" settings, and a built-in and easily accessible YouTube capture mode for shooting videos destined for the web.

On the surface, then, the EX-Z300 looks and sounds like a lot of other cameras in this class, but some unique features and options may help set it apart.

FEATURES OVERVIEW
The EX-Z300 is a 10.1 megapixel camera with an equivalent 28-112mm, f/2.6-5.8 zoom lens and a built-in flash. It utilizes SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCPlus cards plus has 38.5MB of internal memory. It has a 3.0 inch LCD, but optical no viewfinder.

The Z300 takes auto exposure to new levels, with a very limited selection of top-level shooting modes that includes:

• Auto: A limited program auto mode, with white balance, metering, and other similar adjustments
• Best Shot: Casio's scene preset mode
• Best Shot Auto: An automatic scene selection tool, in which the Z300 selects from one of the Best Shot mode's 39 situation presets
• Movie: The Z300 captures movies at an impressive 1280x720 (that is, 720p) at 24 fps

As noted above, Casio labels its scene preset menu the "Best Shot" mode, and there are 39 different Best Shot presets from which to select! While this may seem to be a formidable number (it does to me!), they are readily accessible via a "BS" (Could they have picked a better acronym? – Ed.) button on the back in the lower right. Scrolling through them via the ubiquitous d-pad/joystick is quite easy. There is even a built-in help system that shows a brief preset description when the zoom lever is used to assist you in determining which Best Shot mode might be most appropriate to your particular situation.

The EX-Z300 packs in all of the typical scene presets (landscape, portrait, sports, and so on – see the specs at the bottom of the page for a complete list), but there are some really interesting and unique shooting options in the Best Shot list as well, including:

• Candlelight Portrait: Soft sharpness and tungsten white balance
• Autumn Leaves: Hard sharpness and high saturation enhance red hues
• Soft Flowing Water: Slow shutter speed
• Sundown: Infinity focus, red filter, daylight white balance
• Retro: Low contrast with the sepia filter engaged

In addition to its HD video capture capabilities, the Z300's Best Shot system also features some movie modes unlike anything else we've seen on an ultracompact.

• Silent: Monochrome recording and slightly faster playback speed creates the appearance of an old-time silent movie
• Prerecord: Continually records video frames to the buffer when selected; press the MOVIE button to save the last few seconds of video capture, allowing you to decide what to save after the action has happened

Styling and Build Quality
The EX-Z300 exhibits the classical lines of most point-and-shoot digital cameras of today with its smooth surfaces and thin body.

Judging by the "tap test" method of determination, the case seems to be made of plastic; however, it also appears to be mounted onto a substantial sub-frame if the body's eleven small screws are any indication. Overall, the Z300 feels rigid and without flex during handling.

Ergonomics and Interface
The control layout of the Casio Exilim EX-Z300 is simple and straightforward. The menus are rational as well. The camera is designed to be used after all: no need to refer to the manual for most functions. Speaking of which, the manual is only available on the CD in PDF format. I miss the days of hardcopy manuals.

The Z300 weighs in at 4.6 ounces without the battery, and the dimensions are an accommodating 3.8 by 2.3 by 0.9 inches.

The top deck features a very small "Make-Up" button (which activates the skin-tone evening Make-Up Mode for shooting portraits), the on/off button, the shutter release, and the zoom control.

The back is dominated by the LCD screen. To the right of that, top to bottom, are a Movie Mode button, Play and Record buttons, the d-pad (with the Set button in the center), the Menu button, and the BS button.

I found two major annoyances with this camera in general usage: first, the Movie Mode button is located on the back in the upper right corner. I found that it was being pressed without my meaning to have pressed it. Often. Not well placed at all.

Second, the Make-Up button is located on the top of the camera on the upper left. Yet again, I found that it was being pressed without my meaning to have pressed it. Often. Not well placed at all, either. Fortunately, it is a toggle button, so pressing it again changes settings back.

By default, the d-pad can be used to adjust exposure compensation (+/-2 EV), and the effect of this change is shown in the LCD. Other custom functions for this control can be set up via the menu, however. The other possible targets for this custom function are:

• Metering
• EV Shift
• White Balance
• ISO
• Self-Timer
• Off (no function)

The d-pad is a bit small. A person with larger hands would find it difficult to operate. It is quite easy to move up/down when you meant to move left/right, or vice-versa...

Display/Viewfinder
The 3.0 inch LCD is becoming quite standard these days. The one found on the Z300 is viewable in most lighting situations.

The current settings can be displayed on the LCD – including a histogram, if you are so inclined. I usually set the display to show the focus points and highlight the active one(s), and also to overlay a composition grid screen. The EX-Z300 permitted all of that easily. It also allows for toggling the display so that it is not necessary to traverse the menus to quickly view certain settings.

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