Playing with a ZR1100

[robbo2]

My Casio ZR1100 arrived from Japan thanks to Amazon on Monday. I had the FH20 and the ZR100 before. I was used to their style of menu system, so this new menu system on the ZR1100 made me feel a little like I did when I switched to Windows 8 from Windows 7. However, it's getting easier and more options are becoming clearer and easier to find.

Two impressions so far: First, the image stabilization is much better than it was on the ZR100. I took an extended zoom shot (doubling the optical zoom of 12.5X (300mm) when snapping a shot of a mountain peak. It was hard for me to keep the peak in the picture, but when I looked at the picture afterwards, I was surprised to see that it was pretty sharp. This would not have been the case with the ZR100. Second, there is a feature called "Wide Shot" which lets you take pictures the equivalent of those shot at a focal length of 14mm. I think that implies a field of view of over 110 degrees. Well, I tried it twice on a overcast morning outside of Seattle, WA and I was pleasantly surprised by the results. Attached is one picture taken at that setting. All in all, I am happy with what I have seen of the camera so far.

 

[RayUK]

I too am interested in these new Casios, in my case to replace my FZ200, which is too big for me now, with a ZR800, which I think shares many things with your ZR1100. Your example looks fine as a wide angle shot, except the sky is washed out. I am particularly interested in the HDR capability of these Casios-have you tried them yet and if so what would it do to skies like that?

Can I also ask about your experience of importing from Japan - any difficulties with setting up in English?

This forum is mighty slow - you might get more traffic on the Panny forum !!

Ray

 

[robbo2]

I don't want to go on the Panasonic forum with news about a Casio camera. They'll think I am a troll.

I think Casio's ZR camera's HDR mode is among the best in all point and shoots. I have used the HDR in several Panasonic cameras. Their HDR image quality was not as good. I, too, thought about the ZR800 for its extra zoom, but decided the narrow aperture at max zoom was not what I wanted.

I think an HDR shot of that scene from today would have shown what I saw with my eyes - many shades of gray in the sky. Really, the Casios show me in their HDR images what I see closer than what I can get even from my Sony A65 DSLR.

Also, I was really pleasantly surprised by the fast and courteous shipping from Japan. I can help you with set up into the English menu if you go for the ZR800. I can read some Japanese. it's not hard though. You might figure it out on your own.

 

[RayUK]

You're probably right about the Panny forum - I was trying to have a discussion with Erik about his ZR700, but someone else became objectionable.

At the moment I do my HDR in post using the excellent AEB on the FZ200 but the examples of the in-camera processing on the ZR series might be good enough for me and save some PP time.

I am trying to decide between the ZR800 and the Panny TZ55, which becomes available in the UK tomorrow. I would use the AEB and post for HDR on the TZ55, but I like having a tilting LCD. Unfortunately the cost of the ZR1100 in the UK is outside my affordability.

That's a very kind offer to help with the Japanese, thank you. I'll be making a decision in the next few days.

BTW am I right that the ZR-series does have (or need) an AEB facility?

Ray

 

[Guy Parsons]

I too am interested in these new Casios, in my case to replace my FZ200, which is too big for me now, with a ZR800, which I think shares many things with your ZR1100. Your example looks fine as a wide angle shot, except the sky is washed out. I am particularly interested in the HDR capability of these Casios-have you tried them yet and if so what would it do to skies like that?

HDR works well on the Casios, those with variable settings seem to look best to me at lowest setting.

Can I also ask about your experience of importing from Japan - any difficulties with setting up in English?

If the menu is the same as my ZR1000 in layout, Menu - Setup (gear wheel) - keep going down (third page, use the zoom lever to flip pages) until you see the date on the right and underneath it some characters separated by two slashes - next item down is Language and when I set my ZR1000 to Japanese that line reads "Language" so there's no mistaking it. I set the camera to Korean and to Arabic and always that menu item is headed "Language" (always in English). So easy!

This forum is mighty slow - you might get more traffic on the Panny forum !!

Huh? On that basis go to my usual M4/3 forum where the first page can overflow at 3 hours sometimes, not like 11 months here.

Regards....... Guy

 

[Guy Parsons]

BTW am I right that the ZR-series does have (or need) an AEB facility?

Can't find any bracketing on my ZR1000, but then I hardly use it so am a bit lost at times.

The HDR certainly works well as it shoots at 30 fps so alignment problems are minimised.

My wife uses a ZR200 and often uses HDR to good effect.

Regards....... Guy

 

[JABB66]

RayUK wrote:e.

At the moment I do my HDR in post using the excellent AEB on the FZ200 but the examples of the in-camera processing on the ZR series might be good enough for me and save some PP time.

I am trying o decide between the ZR800 and the Panny TZ55, which becomes available in the UK tomorrow. I would use the AEB and post for HDR on the TZ55, but I like having a tilting LCD. Unfortunately the cost of the ZR1100 in the UK is outside my affordability.

That's a very kind offer to help with the Japanese, thank you. I'll be making a decision in the next few days.

BTW am I right that the ZR-series does have (or need) an AEB facility?

Ray

Hi Ray

I was going to tell you about the EX-ZR1200 model, the international version of the ZR1100 and when going to the UK Casio site I been shocked by the message than Casio cameras are "only available outside UK"... :-O (here in Spain we are late about last models availability but at least you can buy Casio cameras... still).

You would love the EX-100 (just available in some Asian countries after the initial Japanese release, is in the database here, but not announced in the main page): 1/1.7" sensor, 28-300 mm , constant 2.8 aperture, dual bracketing http://www.casio-intl.com/asia-mea/en/dc/ex_100/ (one shutter press -> 9 resultant images), using two bracketing variables.

Loading…

www.casio-intl.com

And comes with tilting LCD. DPR seems to have waiting for one to review

But would be much more expensive than the ZR100 / ZR1200

 

[robbo2]

I think the ZR1100 has the same basic layout as the ZR1000 with some additional features such the 5 axis image stabilization (which really works, in my opinion) and time lapse videos.

I am am attaching 3 photos taken of the overcast sky near Seattle this afternoon, about 2:30 PM local time. The first was HDR (level 3, the top of 3 levels), the second was Premium Auto Pro, and the third was Program Mode (Fine Quality, ISO 100). I think the HDR's advantages are most obvious in bright sunlight, which in Seattle today, unfortunately, is available only above the clouds.

I am also attaching two photos a of a telephone pole in front of my house. The first is taken at 300mm, the top optical zoom setting for this camera. The second is taken at a simulated 600mm in Multi SR zoom mode. I think it's better than the digital zoom mode quality in most cameras that I have used.


HDR level 3


Premium Auto Pro


P (Program) Mode, ISO 100, Fine Quality

 

[JABB66]

I think the ZR1100 has the same basic layout as the ZR1000 with some additional features such the 5 axis image stabilization (which really works, in my opinion) and time lapse videos.

Yes, it's the EX-ZR1200 for the international market. With respect to the ZR1000 adds too the triple shot function (a 3 images burst mode, with the first 2 previous to the full shutter press).

I am am attaching 3 photos taken of the overcast sky near Seattle this afternoon, about 2:30 PM local time. The first was HDR (level 3, the top of 3 levels), the second was Premium Auto Pro, and the third was Program Mode (Fine Quality, ISO 100). I think the HDR's advantages are most obvious in bright sunlight, which in Seattle today, unfortunately, is available only above the clouds.

Yes, when there's not much difference in the light brightness it's easy to get flat results in HDR mode, but even with that overcast sky there's enough light to get good results. With respect to the Premium Auto Pro, if you turn on the HS set for it, when there's sufficient background light, the mode that choose is HDR (not various shots merged in one image with same exposure values, but with different values) but the scene detected in this case is called backlight scene I think.

Maybe in that dull overcast sky deserves a try the HDR-Art mode

I am also attaching two photos a of a telephone pole in front of my house. The first is taken at 300mm, the top optical zoom setting for this camera. The second is taken at a simulated 600mm in Multi SR zoom mode. I think it's better than the digital zoom mode quality in most cameras that I have used.

Agree, but if you had try against a blue sky as we have usually here in Spain (sorry ) you would have get lack of uniformity in the sky, it's the main drawback I've found in the MSR Zoom.

And some more advantages over the previous generation models of HS Casios (EX-FH20, FH25 FH100):

- correction of the ghosting effect: no more double images in HDR or low light multishot modes, but you can still see sometimes through parts of a moving subject that should be opaque

- HS images and multishot merged images (HDR, night scenes, Multi SR Zoom, etc) are now at the maximum resolution.

 

[RayUK]

Hi Guy - nice to share a thread with you again.

Had finger trouble on my first post - meant to say the ZR's do NOT have AEB - thanks for confirming anyway.

If I do decide to go for the Casio it's good to know I shouldn't have much trouble setting up.

Ray

 

[RayUK]

Your Seattle skies remind me of our infamous UK weather !

Very interesting example of the HDR - seems to work fine, why wouldn't you use it all the time ?

Thanks for the demo. of the excellence of the digital zoom, which looks great to me. However, watch out - that's what caused the spat on the Panny forum I referred to in an earlier post !

Ray

 

[RayUK]

Hi JABB66

I'm surprised you can still buy Casio in Spain - I thought they had completely retreated to Japan.

Currently I can't even afford the ZR1100/1200 let alone the Olympus Stylus 1 lookalike. Also I'm looking for something pocketable to replace my FZ200. My current Casio choices are last year's ZR1000, if I want the tilting screen, or this years ZR800 which is about the same price to import as the ZR700. The extra reach and new toys are swaying me to the ZR800, but I also want to see first reactions to the Panny TZ55, due out in the UK later on today.

Ray

 

[NIK11]

and I was pleasantly surprised by the results. Attached is one picture taken at that setting. All in all, I am happy with what I have seen of the camera so far.

I'm surprised no one queried the telegraph pole. Looks like the stitching had hiccups.

Nick

 

[Erik Ohlson]

You're probably right about the Panny forum - I was trying to have a discussion with Erik about his ZR700, but someone else became objectionable.

Hi, Ray - you are right, one person acted as if I'd insulted his daughter! It is usually an extremely friendly forum, and that person is usually very nice. A "bad day", perhaps.

What I was doing was compariong the new Panny ZS40 at 30x optical, with the ZR700 I have, also at about 30x, digitally zoomed.

Panasonic ZS40:



Casio ZR 700:



These have both been resized to the same overall dimension & DPI, and had file size further reduced in PSE8's "Save for Web", for bandwidth - but the visual effect is the same as the SOOC shots - the Casio wins, hands down, IMHO. The Panny has a soft, "dreamy" look.

Focus in both cases is on the B&W sign, and the post with cracked paint is at least 20 feet (6 meters) closer to the camera, and the post supports the horizontal pipe fence. The background trees are a considerable distance further behind the sign.

I thought that Casio folks might be interested.

At the moment I do my HDR in post using the excellent AEB on the FZ200 but the examples of the in-camera processing on the ZR series might be good enough for me and save some PP time.

Since HDR is being discussed, I recently did some handheld HDR in normal room light, zoomed out a bit, with the ZR 700:

HDR:



Regular shot:



Same bandwidth treatment as the above shots.

I am trying to decide between the ZR800 and the Panny TZ55, which becomes available in the UK tomorrow. I would use the AEB and post for HDR on the TZ55, but I like having a tilting LCD. Unfortunately the cost of the ZR1100 in the UK is outside my affordability.

That's a very kind offer to help with the Japanese, thank you. I'll be making a decision in the next few days.

BTW am I right that the ZR-series does have (or need) an AEB facility?

Ray

I'm trying to decide about the Panny ZS40 which I bought, but may not keep - the Casio ZR700 performs very well in comparison, and is a good deal lighter.

Smaller and lighter is very important IMHO, because I habitually carry a camera in my trouser pocket, 24/7.

Two things I do like a LOT about the Panny ZS40 are AMAZING OIS, and the 900,000 dot screen which is about twice as sharp as the Panny ZS25 I have. This works beautifully with my Clearviewer and that combination is far superior to the ZS40's EVF, which I don't use. And the EVF is that camera's main selling point !

The ZR 700 also has a 900,000 dot screen, a slimmer size, and some interesting features like "3-Shot", so the choice is not easy for a long-time Panasonic user

Elsewhere in this thread, the EX 100 has been mentioned, but doesn't interest me, as it os similar in size to Panasonic's LX7 - far too big for MY use.



--
"Measure wealth not by things you have but by things for which you would not take money"
www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/ [email protected]

 

[robbo2]

Here are three more shots from the ZR1100 taken between 11 AM and noon under uncharacteristically sunny skies near Seattle. The first picture is taken in HDR mode (level 3, I think), the second in Premium Auto Pro and the last is taken in panorama mode with an up orientation. In other words, I just flipped the camera 90 degrees clockwise.




HDR mode (level 3)






Premium Auto Pro

is taken in panorama mode with an up orientation. In other words, I just flipped the camera 90 degrees clockwise.


Panorama mode - camera turned 90 degrees clockwise.

 

[robbo2]

Here's a panorama of Safeco Field in Seattle before tonight's game against the Los Angeles Angels.




Before Seattle's 2nd home game of this season.

 

[robbo2]

One of the new features of the ZR1100 (aka ZR1200) and the ZR800 is time lapse videos.

You have to set the mode dial to TL, and then you are presented with a number of choices. You can choose manual/standard settings, where you can set the interval and the duration (say, one shot every 5 seconds for 15 minutes) or a TL scene mode (clouds, night scene, sundown, planes and trains, cityscape, HDR art, toy camera, monochrome, miniature, and fisheye). The maximum duration in standard mode seems to be an hour. The LCD screen stays on for a minute or two at the start and then goes black (to save power, I think). The camera beeps at the end of the duration you chose. The images are combined to make a Quicktime movie. Included below is a short time lapse video I shot last night.

https://flic.kr/p/n2JrSM

 

[Urbanito]

You gave as a good flavor of your Casio capabilities.

I will not use HDR at all and prefer the P ones.

Congratulations.

Urbanito

PS: Please keep posting

 

[Urbanito]

Hi Erik:

I was following your comparison with the ZS40. I think you didn't noticed, but I told you that I appreciated much more the Casio photos, also posted here. There is so much more detail and true colors!...

Kind regards,

Joao

 

[Erik Ohlson]

Hi Erik:

I was following your comparison with the ZS40. I think you didn't noticed, but I told you that I appreciated much more the Casio photos, also posted here. There is so much more detail and true colors!...

Kind regards,

Joao

Thanks, yes I was pleased when I noticed you here.

I am not saying much about the Casio on the Panny forum, as there has been some resentmen - and that surprised me!

I think I may sell the ZS40, as it is heavier than my ZS25 and I really don't need the longer optical zoom when this Casio EX ZR700 does that job better, and the 900K screen with my Clearviewer makes the EVF redundant.









--
"Measure wealth not by things you have but by things for which you would not take money"
www.flickr.com/ohlsonmh/ [email protected]