Casio Exilim EX-Z850 Review

April 2006 | By Simon Joinson

Review based on a production Casio Exilim EX-Z850

Announced just before PMA in February 2006 - almost exactly a year to the day after the camera it replaces - the EX-Z850 is Casio's latest ultra-compact flagship model, offering a huge feature set in a very slim, all-metal body. The EX-Z750 was very well received when it was launched, and remains to this day the most highly-specified 7MP ultra-compact on the market. The EX-Z850 doesn't change the basic formula much but does offer a raft of small improvements; there's an extra megapixel, a couple new Best Shot modes, improved screen brightness, a more powerful flash (with some extra modes) and a movie light. As is becoming standard on this type of camera the Z850 also includes a 'high sensitivity' mode, with up to ISO 1600 on offer.

8.12 Megapixel CCD
3x optical zoom lens
High speed start up and operation
2.5-inch TFT super-bright screen and optical viewfinder
MPEG-4 movies at up to 640x480 / 30fps
34 Best Shot scene modes
440-shot battery life (CIPA standard)
In-camera special effects
Post-shot white balance and exposure adjustments
Aperture priority, shutter priority and manual exposure options
EX button for fast access to shooting controls
White LED light enables both still images and movies to be taken in low light conditions and acts as an AF assist light

Casio EX-Z850 vs EX-Z750 (main differences)

	Casio EX-Z850	Casio EX-Z750
Effective Pixels	8.0 million	7.2 million
Max image size	3264 x 2448	3072 x 2304
Best shot modes	34	29
Flash	• Built-in • Modes: Auto, On, Off, Soft Flash, High Power Flash, Red eye reduction • Range: 0.1-4.3m (wide) 0.5-2.4m (tele)	• Built in • Modes: Auto, on, off, red-eye reduction • Range: Wideangle: 0.4 - 2.9 m, Tele: 0.4 - 1.6 m
Sensitivity	• Auto (Max ISO 1600 when using 'Anti-Shake' or' High Sensitivity' BEST SHOT modes) • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400	• Auto (50-400) • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400
Mode dial positions	Auto, A, S, M, Best Shot, Movie, Movie Best Shot, Audio	Auto, M, Best Shot, Movie, Custom Movie, Movie Best Shot, Audio
Battery life (CIPA standard)	440 shots	325 shots
Other	• Brighter screen • Flash continuous mode • 'Anti Shake' DSP • White LED light (AF illuminator)

Casio EX-Z850 Key specifications

Street price	• US: $359 • UK: £250
Body Material	Metal
Sensor	• 1/1.8" CCD • 8.32 million total pixels • 8.1 million effective pixels
Image sizes	• 3264 x 2448 • 3264 x 2176 (3:2) • 2816 x 2112 • 2304 x 1728 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 640 x 480 HQ @ 30fps • 640 x 480 Normal @ 30fps • 320 x 240 LP @ 15fps • Limited by the memory card and the battery life
Lens	• 38 - 114 mm (35 mm equiv) 3x optical zoom • F 2.8 - 5.1 • 3x optical zoom / 8x digital zoom
Shutter speeds	• 60 - 1/1600 sec in Shutter Speed Priority and Manual Exposure modes • 1/2 - 1/1600 sec in Program AE mode • 1 to 1/1600 sec in Aperture Priority mode
Focus	• Contrast Detection AF • Auto • Macro • Pan Focus • Manual Focus • AF area: spot, multi, free
Metering	• Multi-pattern • Center-weighted • Spot by CCD
Shooting mode	• Still • Still with audio • Continuous Shutter (normal and high speed, flash continuous, zoom, multi) • 34 BEST SHOT modes • AE compensation +/- 2.0 EV in 1/3EV steps
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 50, 100, 200, 400
White Balance	• Auto • 6 modes • Manual
Image parameters	• Saturation (5 levels) • Contrast (5 levels) • Sharpness (5 levels) • Color filter effects (B & W, Sepia, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink, Purple)
Continuous	• Normal speed • High speed • Flash continuous • Zoom, • Multi
Flash	• Built in • Modes: Auto, on, off, red-eye reduction, soft flash • Range: Wideangle: 0.1 - 4.3m, Tele: 0.5 - 2.4m
Storage	• SD/MMC Memory Card • 8.0 MB internal memory
Viewfinder	Optical
LCD monitor	• 2.5" TFT LCD • 115,200 pixels
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • Cradle
Power	• NP-40 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
In the box*	• Casio Exilim EX-Z850 • Strap • NP-40 lithium ion battery • AC power cord • AV cable • USB cable • USB cradle • AC adapter • Software CD ROM (inc. Photo Loader and Photohands)
Other features	• Self timer 2 or 10 secs, triple self timer • Date stamping • Keystone correction (playback mode) • Real time RGB histogram • Playback image editing functions (inc white balance and brightness corrections)
Weight (exc batt)	130 g ( 4.6 oz)
Dimensions	89 x 58.5 x 23.7 mm (3.5 x 2.3 x 0.93 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

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Casio EMC-3A AV Cable

for Exilim EX-Z60 EX-Z70 EX-Z1000 EX-S770 EX-S600 EX-Z850

$2.82

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