Overview
The Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 is a typical, pocket sized digital camera. It has 12 megapixels and a 3x zoom lens. Casio have gone for ease of use over features with the Exilim EX-Z1200 and you should find the camera pretty straightforward. It is likely to appeal to anyone who is looking for a fairly standard compact camera, that is easy to use and will slip into a pocket.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
3x
2.8 inches
93.3 x 58.5 x 22.4mm
152g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
6cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
With the sun shining down at an awkward angle at this time of year there is the inevitable loss of detail where the sun strikes the boats. The most noticeable point though is just how sharp the image is. This is true of the bricks on the building and also as you move towards the edges. In terms of sharpness this is much better than a number of cameras I have tested recently.
Not surprisingly the camera finds it difficult to produce a really pin sharp image with parts of the scene so far away. On the whole though focusing is again above average and my impression is of a photo that is far better overall than I am used to seeing.
There is a degree of lost detail owing to sun glare, but I would say that focusing is some way above average. It is especially noteworthy for a 3x zoom lens as with a standard lens like this one this scene can be a bit distant.
Portraits
The outdoor portrait works well, although I would like to see a bit more brightness in the shot. Colours have been boosted by the use of the shady, white balance setting.
I'm not sure what happened here. Focusing looks good, but the Exilim EX-Z1200 is unable to cope with lighting that is not really all that bad.
This is another decent photo. There is a touch of red eye and the fact that the photo is darker than I am used to seeing suggests that the flash unit may not be tremendously powerful.
Macro, Colours and Noise
The macro shot is a good effort. The shot is bright, clear and focusing is above average. There is just a hint of purple creeping in on the watch face. This will not be a problem if you are planning to use the macro mode for close up of nature subjects and other similar objects.
I think the colours work well on the whole. They are a fair reflection of each scene on the day and there is enough colour in each shot without going overboard.
Increasing the ISO level always affects picture quality, but the Exilim EX-Z1200 produces a much better shot than most cameras manage.
Summary
If I leave to one side the indoor portrait without flash then I am impressed by the overall quality of the photos produced by the Exilim EX-Z1200. I like sharp photos and this is an area where the camera outperforms a lot of others. I also like the colours the camera produces.
Style
In my view the Exilim EX-Z1200 is about as standard as you can get in terms of looks. It is a simple rectangle with rounded edges and corners. It is available in black and silver.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.35 seconds
17.79 seconds
1.61 seconds
28.59 seconds
Ease of Use
The camera is pretty straightforward. You can choose different LCD screen displays. One shows key menu options and can help to speed up the process of changing settings.
Points I Like
Simplicity - simple design - sharpness of photos
Where it Could Improve
Variable shutter lag - shutter lag with flash - can take dark photos in lower light
Verdict
I would describe the Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 as simple, but effective. The photos it takes are sharp and clear and it stands up well against its rivals. There are some concerns about shutter delay, especially when it comes to taking more than one photo at a time.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 Review Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 Specification Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 Sample Images Casio Exilim EX-Z1200 Features
Review Date
November 2007
