Summary: there's a review below says it's fast, but not fast enough. I disagree with that, EVERY auto fouse zoom camera have fouse lag, but there's ways to get pass it. this little camera is featured with MF (manuel) and PF (pan) mode, which eliminated the lag. I found that the PF mode works amazing good, when u press half way of the shutter, it tells you the depth of field (eg: 0.6m-6m). Anything within that range will be in fouse. And it even works in total darkness, while even the most advance D-SLR cant fouse in total darkness without fouse assits light. Build in flash's recharge time is resonably fast for a compact size camera. I've never miss any shot with it. If u missed any shot, most likely is the photographer's problem rather then the camera's.
even with my normal scan disk 512MB SD, its fast enough to save all the pictures before i shoot the next set.
someone cliam he have a 10MB/s which is about 80x? each pic from this camera is just about 3MB, 10MB/s card is fast enought to save 3frames/s + there's buffer in the camera, i've managed to shoot appox 2fps with my normal card, so with a 80X card, you shouldn't miss any picture. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO FOUSE. this camera is VERY easy to use and i know how to use every features before i read the instruction booklet (i read it afterward anyways).
Strengths: Fast, small, MF & PF mode, Best shot mode, fast start up time, almost no shutter lag (0.01s)...etc
Weaknesses: build in flash not strong enough (tho its expected from the size)
high nosie level @ ISO 200&400
Summary: I’m writing this review in March 2004 on my first digital camera, the EX-Z4 purchased in December 2003. I bought the gray market non-USA (not Z4U) version on eBay because I wanted the 1-minute movie feature. The 1-minute movies with sound are excellent. They look clear and natural at 14-fps only limited by the 320x240 pixel size. You can shoot as many 1-minute clips as you have room on the memory card. The manual says you can have longer movies with a larger SD card but I haven’t seen that with my 256MB card.
I use a 256MB SimpleTech ProXTM Secure Digital (SD) Flash Memory Card, with write speeds up to 10 megabytes per second. I was hoping the fast write speed would reduce the lag between shots. Not sure if it has but I sometimes miss shots in quick situations. This is usually due to auto focus lag and write speed lag for 2nd shot. I read that it’s fast but is it fast enough? IMHO, Yes for the casual user, no for more serious needs.
Strengths: The 4.0 MP picture quality is sharp and with the highest setting 2304x1728 on fine you can print even larger than 20”x 30”. You get good creative ability with the zoom which is 3X optical (35-105mm) and 4X digital for 12X combined zoom ability. I notice the digital zoom requires a solid tripod or lots of light to maintain sharp clarity and focus. There is even a limited form of depth of field (aperture) control with the custom shots settings. The macro feature allows you to focus as close as 6cm and has awesome clarity. I also wouldn’t want to have a smaller LCD viewer than the 2” on this camera, which does a very nice job. You also get a self timer, audio recorder, alarm clock, nice calendar sorting feature and a bunch of programmable custom shot settings.
Weaknesses: The color reproduction is not always very accurate. I was a professional photo developer for 5+ years and acquired a very good eye for color balance. (A tip for noticing correct color balance is to look at shadows. They don’t reflect as much color as white and usually should be colorless.) Most always noticeable as blue in flash situations the color in normal daytime use is also inconsistent. It’s nothing that Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro can’t correct with ease. Although not convenient when you want to run over to the local drug store and print a few right off the SD card. I think you might be able to correct the color at the print kiosk.
I also just downloaded the firmware update on the Casio web site in hopes to fix the poor color reproduction. I will update this review when I have a chance. Also the flash is very strong sometimes causing people to blink or have red eye.
Similar Products Used: My first digital. I couldn’t hold out for the Sony DCS-T1 5.0 MP at the time I got the EX-Z4. I would guess the Sony is better, because of the resolution, a Carl Zeiss Vario compact optical zoom lens, 2.5” LCD viewer and superior movies. Hopefully better color reproduction too. I use a few good SLRs by Minolta and the Canon Elan IIe
Customer Service: No CS used. but The only other inconvenience is that you need the cradle to charge the camera as well as transfer via USB. Not that big of a deal to me. This camera gets used a lot because it’s so small it fits in the front pocket of my jeans. It starts up quickly and is ready to shoot on a whim. You can put a lot of pictures on a 256MB card and you can quickly erase ones you don’t want. The battery seems to last so long that I don’t even realize it uses a rechargeable. So basically the camera is very convenient and therefore a good value for most of your point and shoot needs.
Summary: Very compact camera and will do anything that you expected. Painless to carry inside your jean's pocket. Ladies love it easy to use, Gents like its size and feathers. Superb camera for snap shoots. Don't expect excellent pictures from it, very noisy at low light conditions, bad battery life.
Strengths: Compact size indeed with excellent size of the LCD. It will not give you any weight problem inside your pocket. Very easy to use and seems ready to shoot at anytime.
Weaknesses: Produces very noisy images, Build in flash is not powerful enough.
Summary: I love the huge lCD display & the compactness of the Casio Exilim Z4
camera & 4Mpixels all for just £265. I really like the cradle it sits
in for charging & USB connection. I bought this camera with the
intention of comparing it to my Sony 3.2Meg pixel camera & then
keeping the one I liked most. The Casio Exilim Z4 beats the Sony on
just about everything except what really counts & that is picture
quality !
Graininess was more apparent when zooming on Casio images on PC &
they seem to be a little noisy with slight blotches and perhaps
because the colours seem unnaturally bright the pixelation seems more
apparent than on the Sony, even though the Casio has slightly more
pixels. Zooming in on an image on PC of a plain blue shirt almost
gave the appearance of a checkered pattern with the Casio while on
the Sony the colour tone remained smoother & more natural.
I don't use digital zoom as it means losing pixels. Initially it
seemed as if digital zoom could not set so that when you switch the
camera on it would be disabled. Then I discovered with the memory
settings menu that if digital zoom is set to 'on' in the memory tab
then what you select as to whether zoom is on or off in the other
menu, is remembered next time you switch the camera on again. This
along with other memory features, was not mentioned in the rather
scant manual.
Much as I love the huge LCD screen & compactness of the Casio I shall
be returning it much to my dismay. I prefer the image quality of the
Sony even if it does have an irritatingly small LCD screen.
Strengths: Large LCD screen, Compact, Long battery life.
Weaknesses: Pixelation on zoom, colours a little bright & unnatural compared to
Sony.
Summary: I love this little camera, I can carry it anywhere and take pictures at a moments notice. I am always ready for that "Kodak moment". With 2 grandsons at 3 & 4 years of age, one needs to be ready.
Strengths: Size, easy to use, great pictures, large LCD, battery life. I have taken 75 pictures using the LCD & not changed batteries. Size of a pack of cigs with 4 megapixel pictures, hard to beat.
Weaknesses: Zoom to max and the pictures are not very clear.
Similar Products Used: Kodak DC 260 and Kodak DC 4800
Customer Service: I got it before Radio Shack could put it out to be sold. The shipment was still in the back of the store. I sold myself as I knew what I was looking for.
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