Overview
The Casio Exilim EX-Z80 is a very small and lightweight camera. At 100g it is one of the lightest cameras you are likely to find. It has 8 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom lens.
Why Buy The Casio Exilim EX-Z80
If you are looking for a very small, featherweight camera with a low price tag then the Exilim EX-Z80 could well fit the bill. When compared to other entry level digital cameras it also has an impressive array of features.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
8
3x
2.6 inches
89.7 x 51.7 x 19mm
100g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
10cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
In terms of focusing the Exilim EX-Z80 is off to a good start. It is the lighter areas that the camera finds harder to deal with and detail is lost from the shot where the sunlight plays on the wooden slates under the roof of the building.
Some of the blue lines pick up a purple tint. This becomes more obvious as you increase the print size.
This effort sits somewhere in mid table. Colours are strong, but focusing is not as sharp as in the first test photo. There is also some noise showing in the sky.
Once again I can see some stronger than usual colours. There is also some noise creeping into the sky too. This is more noticeable on larger prints.
Sharpness is average when compared to other digital cameras. There is a small fall off towards the edges in this shot.
Portraits
This is another photo where the Exilim EX-Z80 produces strong colours. In places there is an orange tint to the photo. Elsewhere the skin tones are also stronger than they should be.
As soon as I lined up this shot I noticed a strong red tint to the complexion. This is not a natural colouring and other cameras I tested at the same time produced more natural colours. Aside from the stronger colours lighting is good and the photo is sharp.
This photo has a number of similarities to the indoor shot with flash. Overall it is a good effort. There is more detail in the shot and the photo is also lighter than many cameras manage. As in the shot with flash the skin tones are much stronger than they really are.
Macro, Colours and Noise
The macro shot may look good, but the problem is that the Exilim EX-Z80 has to be 10cm away from the subject before it is able to focus. This is further away than with most digital cameras and my test shot has been cropped.
Overall I have found the colours stronger than suits my own personal taste. The Exilim EX-Z80 is certainly capable of producing powerful, blue skies. This may help when it comes to landscape style shots, but the amount of colour you like to see in a photograph is very much personal taste.
To be honest I don't tend to notice a great deal of difference between most cameras once ISO gets to 400 and above. In this test noise hits hard in darker areas even as ISO 400 and at ISO 1600 a lot of the picture quality is lost.
Summary
Picture quality from the Exilim EX-Z80 may not be perfect, but then again the people most likely to buy this camera are probably more interested in owning a camera than is easy to carry around and can take a decent snapshot rather than something that can produce photographic masterpieces.
Style
This camera is all about size, weight and colour. It is one of the smallest and lightest cameras on the market. It is also available in a variety of colours (silver, blue, pink, black, green and shocking pink.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
0.42 seconds
13.25 seconds
1.65 seconds
15.18 seconds
Ease of Use
I like the way Casio Digital Cameras are set out. I find the menu system easy to get around and I also like the way Casio display key menu options down the right hand side of the LCD screen. This makes them easy access and change.
Points I Like
Size - widescreen movies - price
Where it Could Improve
Colours could be toned down a shade or two
Verdict
When you take into account the size and small price tag that the Casio Exilim EX-Z80 comes with it would be harsh to be too hard on this camera. It must be one of the cheapest pocket cameras on the market. Picture quality may not be perfect, but the camera can still take a decent snapshot. It also has more features then most entry level digital cameras.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Casio Exilim EX-Z80 Review Casio Exilim EX-Z80 Specification Casio Exilim EX-Z80 Sample Images Casio Exilim EX-Z80 Features
Review Date
July 2008
