ZR5100 & ZR3700 samples

[Guy Parsons]

In answer to an email request I assembled a few randomly picked samples of ZR5100 and ZR3700 images in my gallery https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/1276921355/albums/casio-samples

There's 23 images there so far. They are straight out of camera and vary in size from 5MBytes to maybe 8MBytes. Usually doing post process I alter shadows and sharpening but this set is untouched. The series of sailing ship images was in order to compare a few different cameras at common focal lengths.

More samples may be added later, so far not used the ZR3700 much so need to do more there. Rainy week so no new samples until the weather improves. Unless I take a day off and go to the city to wander about in the rain.

At some later stage I will delete them all or replace them with reduced size samples otherwise I will run out of room there, but that's months away I guess.

Regards..... Guy

 

[rolandb]

Well at first glance on my phone I'd have to say the zr5100 shots are 1st class,,

Still so tempted to get one to pair up with my 850 and 'replace' the LX7 in my 'combo' of compacts.

Roland.

 

[photoKinetic]

I too, agree that the zr5100 images seem a bit clearer, sharper and overall pleasant to view. They appear crisper. Something that I prefer.

The zr3700 images are certainly acceptable and are nothing to be embarrassed about. Most anyone would be pleased to have these images as well.

But side by side the zr5100 is the winner.

Thanks for posting … have been waiting to see a direct comparison.

pK

 

[Guy Parsons]

I too, agree that the zr5100 images seem a bit clearer, sharper and overall pleasant to view. They appear crisper. Something that I prefer.

The zr3700 images are certainly acceptable and are nothing to be embarrassed about. Most anyone would be pleased to have these images as well.

But side by side the zr5100 is the winner.

Thanks for posting … have been waiting to see a direct comparison.

pK

My early days impressions of both cameras and particularly more so with the ZR3700 is that they do a great job with close or near distance shots, even though the auto focus seems at times a bit variable in accuracy. Landscapes where the focus is more distant don't seem as good as I would expect from the quality in the closer focused shots. I really need to do some more "technical" tests to see why or if I'm fooling myself.

Also the ZR3700 at 300mm is a bit disappointing compared to my wife's ZR850 at 300mm (or nearest setting as the ZR850 does not do 300mm exactly).

(My suspicion is that all this class of camera now is doing is trying to compete with smartphones, the easy Bluetooth sharing and the resulting viewing on 'phone screens means that high image quality is not a necessity any more).

Anyway, I certainly reach for the ZR5100 before the ZR3700 mainly because I use and enjoy wider angle framing more.

As I gather a few more ZR3700 shots later, they will be added, but not on a gloomy wet morning like it is now here in Sydney.

Regards..... Guy

 

[rolandb]

Guy,

If I may ask, I'm thinking of pairing up the zr5100 with my 850 in place of my LX7 .

One of the reasons being I then wouldnt have to fit and use the 18mm wide lens on my LX,,

How do you think the 5100 would compair in image quarlity against the LX7 given the sensor is the same size ( I think thats right).

Roland

 

[Guy Parsons]

Guy,

If I may ask, I'm thinking of pairing up the zr5100 with my 850 in place of my LX7 .

One of the reasons being I then wouldnt have to fit and use the 18mm wide lens on my LX,,

How do you think the 5100 would compair in image quarlity against the LX7 given the sensor is the same size ( I think thats right).

Roland

I suspect that the LX7 would win as I can relate to the quality of lens in my LX3. Despite that, the ZR850 plus ZR5100 would be a useful pairing.

In this size sensor it's not so much about quality as about convenience, so I'm happy to use the ZR5100 and accept its limitations.

For "serious" use then it has to be my M4/3 gear with f/2.8 zoom lenses.

Regards..... Guy

 

[Cyril Catt]

rolandb wrote: Guy, If I may ask, I'm thinking of pairing up the zr5100 with my 850 in place of my LX7 . One of the reasons being I then wouldnt have to fit and use the 18mm wide lens on my LX,, How do you think the 5100 would compair in image quarlity against the LX7 given the sensor is the same size ( I think thats right). Roland

Roland, for interest, I've taken some quick handheld comparison shots (between rain showers) of four garden scenes with an LX7 plus 18mm accessory lens at the automatic setting, and a Casio EX-ZR5100, with its native 19mm lens at the HDR setting. The following results are SOOC.


LX7


ZR5100


LX7


ZR5100


LX7


ZR5100


LX7


ZR5100

Under these conditions, both cameras showed blown highlights, and could probably have done better. But I was concerned to get comparisons under similar conditions before the next shower.

In actual image quality, I think the LX7 has the edge, with a faster, slightly wider (accessory) lens, which with the variable format setting at 16:9 approaches the results of a 16mm lens.

But for convenience, I find the smaller, lighter, ZR5100, with similar controls and menus to my ZR800, and using the same in-camera charging battery, is the better complement to the ZR800 - especially against the LX7 with the hot shoe mounted EVF (which I prefer to use on the LX7, rather than a ClearViewer, though I use CVs on the Casios.

Both the ZR800 and ZR5100 have a wider range of timelapse settings than the LX7. I find the ZR5100 does better in dim light than the ZR800, but not quite as well as the LX7. I don't find a need for the ZR5100's wifi connection, its cosmetic modes, nor its flip LCD screen, but realise they can be useful in certain situations.

--
Cyril

 

[rolandb]

Guy,

If I may ask, I'm thinking of pairing up the zr5100 with my 850 in place of my LX7 .

One of the reasons being I then wouldnt have to fit and use the 18mm wide lens on my LX,,

How do you think the 5100 would compair in image quarlity against the LX7 given the sensor is the same size ( I think thats right).

Roland

I suspect that the LX7 would win as I can relate to the quality of lens in my LX3. Despite that, the ZR850 plus ZR5100 would be a useful pairing.

In this size sensor it's not so much about quality as about convenience, so I'm happy to use the ZR5100 and accept its limitations.

For "serious" use then it has to be my M4/3 gear with f/2.8 zoom lenses.

Regards..... Guy

Thanks Guy,

I was just wondering really because it could mean a lesser amount to carry,,

Roland.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandb52/

"" I'm a snap-shooter! I shoot anything that interest me. Sometimes, I get lucky and some of my snap-shots turn into a photograph.""

 

[rolandb]

rolandb wrote: Guy, If I may ask, I'm thinking of pairing up the zr5100 with my 850 in place of my LX7 . One of the reasons being I then wouldnt have to fit and use the 18mm wide lens on my LX,, How do you think the 5100 would compair in image quarlity against the LX7 given the sensor is the same size ( I think thats right). Roland

Roland, for interest, I've taken some quick handheld comparison shots (between rain showers) of four garden scenes with an LX7 plus 18mm accessory lens at the automatic setting, and a Casio EX-ZR5100, with its native 19mm lens at the HDR setting. The following results are SOOC.


LX7


ZR5100


LX7


ZR5100


LX7


ZR5100


LX7


ZR5100

Under these conditions, both cameras showed blown highlights, and could probably have done better. But I was concerned to get comparisons under similar conditions before the next shower.

In actual image quality, I think the LX7 has the edge, with a faster, slightly wider (accessory) lens, which with the variable format setting at 16:9 approaches the results of a 16mm lens.

But for convenience, I find the smaller, lighter, ZR5100, with similar controls and menus to my ZR800, and using the same in-camera charging battery, is the better complement to the ZR800 - especially against the LX7 with the hot shoe mounted EVF (which I prefer to use on the LX7, rather than a ClearViewer, though I use CVs on the Casios.

Both the ZR800 and ZR5100 have a wider range of timelapse settings than the LX7. I find the ZR5100 does better in dim light than the ZR800, but not quite as well as the LX7. I don't find a need for the ZR5100's wifi connection, its cosmetic modes, nor its flip LCD screen, but realise they can be useful in certain situations.

--
Cyril

Thank you Cyril for taking the time to do that, very kind of you.

I realise that the LX7 is probably the better camera and I have to admit that I love using it.

My main thoughts were that it the iq was not too far apart if I picked one to pair with my 850 it would mean a reduction it the weight that I carry in my small shoulder bag.

My LX7 has the add on view finder and the extension tube fitted the whole time so that if I need to fit the 18mm lens or my cirk pol filter then the camera is ready,, the down side is that its no longer a small compact and although carrying it either in my bag or my hand is not a real problem, I was wondering if the 5100 might be a solution.

As I only have a few days left before I fly out to the States, I'll think about it more when I return.

Roland.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandb52/

"" I'm a snap-shooter! I shoot anything that interest me. Sometimes, I get lucky and some of my snap-shots turn into a photograph.""

 

[Guy Parsons]

Both the ZR800 and ZR5100 have a wider range of timelapse settings than the LX7. I find the ZR5100 does better in dim light than the ZR800, but not quite as well as the LX7. I don't find a need for the ZR5100's wifi connection, its cosmetic modes, nor its flip LCD screen, but realise they can be useful in certain situations.

 

[Cyril Catt]

rolandb wrote: [...] I realise that the LX7 is probably the better camera and I have to admit that I love using it.
My main thoughts were that it the iq was not too far apart if I picked one to pair with my 850 it would mean a reduction it the weight that I carry in my small shoulder bag.

My LX7 has the add on view finder and the extension tube fitted the whole time so that if I need to fit the 18mm lens or my cirk pol filter then the camera is ready,, the down side is that its no longer a small compact and although carrying it either in my bag or my hand is not a real problem, I was wondering if the 5100 might be a solution.

As I only have a few days left before I fly out to the States, I'll think about it more when I return. Roland. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandb52/ [...]

My kitchen scales imply the LX7 with EVF is about 330g, the DMW-LWA52 accessory lens with extension tube is about 255 g, and the LX7 battery charger about 43g, a total of about 628g. The ZR5100 is about 240g, and the ClearViewer 28g, totalling 268g, a difference of about 360g.

Though not a great extra weight by itself, it can make a significant difference when added to all the other things I feel essential to car with me when walking about during a day's sightseeing. Its bulk also adds considerably to the difficulty accessing either camera if circumstances warrant carrying other bulky items in my shoulder bag.

The main advantage of the LX7 is its very fast F1.7 lens, particularly useful in dim interiors which are often very cramped, so that a wide lens is also usually an advantage: and the LX7+18mm lens is a conveniently small, fast, and wide angle kit. However, though not quite matching the LX7's abilities, the ZR5100, by merging rapid bursts, does a good job in such situations. For example, these handheld ambient light shots from a recent trip through central Australia.


A poster in Cobar museum, New South Wales, Australia


Display of typical miner's kitchen in late 19th century. Cobar museum, NSW, Australia


Inspection of Opal mine, Coober Pedy, South Australia

"If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing badly" G.K. Chesterton

Cyril

 

[Guy Parsons]

Those dim light shots look good Cyril, much the same sort of experience that I've had with the ZR5100. In my case I made some of the Best Shots easier to find and access by adding three to choose from to the User Custom ones....


My ZR5100 custom best shots.

The 3 custom shots are a plain P mode (not as versatile as the real P mode on the dial, but it is easier to access at times here). "Dim" is one of the low light multiple shot low light Best Shot modes, and "HDR" is the HDR Best Shot.

The images used were just really big screen filling fonts on the computer shot with the appropriate mode then stored as the custom best shot. The strobed look of the HDR one caused by the high speed electronic shutter generating the HDR mode. The alternative is to print the characters really big on paper and shoot them, but the screen shot works well enough for me.

Later may decide what other ones to add, but be warned, not all Best Shots can be stored as custom best shots and even the P mode as a custom best shot is a bit crippled.

Regards..... Guy

 

[rolandb]

rolandb wrote: [...] I realise that the LX7 is probably the better camera and I have to admit that I love using it.

My main thoughts were that it the iq was not too far apart if I picked one to pair with my 850 it would mean a reduction it the weight that I carry in my small shoulder bag.

My LX7 has the add on view finder and the extension tube fitted the whole time so that if I need to fit the 18mm lens or my cirk pol filter then the camera is ready,, the down side is that its no longer a small compact and although carrying it either in my bag or my hand is not a real problem, I was wondering if the 5100 might be a solution.

As I only have a few days left before I fly out to the States, I'll think about it more when I return. Roland. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandb52/[...]

My kitchen scales imply the LX7 with EVF is about 330g, the DMW-LWA52 accessory lens with extension tube is about 255 g, and the LX7 battery charger about 43g, a total of about 628g. The ZR5100 is about 240g, and the ClearViewer 28g, totalling 268g, a difference of about 360g.

Though not a great extra weight by itself, it can make a significant difference when added to all the other things I feel essential to car with me when walking about during a day's sightseeing. Its bulk also adds considerably to the difficulty accessing either camera if circumstances warrant carrying other bulky items in my shoulder bag.

The main advantage of the LX7 is its very fast F1.7 lens, particularly useful in dim interiors which are often very cramped, so that a wide lens is also usually an advantage: and the LX7+18mm lens is a conveniently small, fast, and wide angle kit. However, though not quite matching the LX7's abilities, the ZR5100, by merging rapid bursts, does a good job in such situations. For example, these handheld ambient light shots from a recent trip through central Australia.


A poster in Cobar museum, New South Wales, Australia


Display of typical miner's kitchen in late 19th century. Cobar museum, NSW, Australia


Inspection of Opal mine, Coober Pedy, South Australia

"If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing badly" G.K. Chesterton

Cyril

Thank you for that Cyril,

If I may I'll answer more fully once I'm home tonight rather than here on my mobile,,

The other question that I've been pondering over is,,

I only fit the 18mm con lens now and then when needed, and therefore take a lot of my snaps at the 24mm end on the LX7, if then do you owners / users of the 5100 take most of your shots at the 19mm or zoom in slightly ?.

The other way round it for me I guess would be to mainly use my 850 and keep the 5100 for the odd 'wide' shot, making a smaller, lighter weight combo of cameras,, if all that makes sense.

Roland.

 

[Guy Parsons]

The other question that I've been pondering over is,,

I only fit the 18mm con lens now and then when needed, and therefore take a lot of my snaps at the 24mm end on the LX7, if then do you owners / users of the 5100 take most of your shots at the 19mm or zoom in slightly ?.

The other way round it for me I guess would be to mainly use my 850 and keep the 5100 for the odd 'wide' shot, making a smaller, lighter weight combo of cameras,, if all that makes sense.

Roland.

As another ZR5100 user I find that I use 19mm quite a lot but also the other available focal lengths as needed.

In my case the wide shots are my usual thing, such as the 24-80mm equivalent lens on my M4/3 gear is by far the most used item with 15mm equivalent fisheye coming in second. In my Nikon film days the 20mm lens was one of my favourites.

If I need wider I may just take a few shots and stitch them later.

In a way we are already doing the pairing thing as my wife is using the ZR850 and I the ZR5100 when traveling light. Between us we get everything we need. If I need a tele shot I simply ask her to cover it unless she has already done that before I asked. We do not shoot the same things, it is always a surprise and interesting to see later what we both saw at any venue.

As I have the ZR5100+ZR3700 pair already I could do my own 19mm to 300mm duties. I could have double belt pouches = ready for anything.

Regards...... Guy

 

[Cyril Catt]

rolandb wrote: Thank you for that Cyril,
If I may I'll answer more fully once I'm home tonight rather than here on my mobile,,

The other question that I've been pondering over is,,

I only fit the 18mm con lens now and then when needed, and therefore take a lot of my snaps at the 24mm end on the LX7, if then do you owners / users of the 5100 take most of your shots at the 19mm or zoom in slightly ?.

The other way round it for me I guess would be to mainly use my 850 and keep the 5100 for the odd 'wide' shot, making a smaller, lighter weight combo of cameras,, if all that makes sense. Roland.

Roland,

My exteriors are mostly of landscapes, and interiors are usually in cramped situations, so most of my ZR5100 shots are at 19mm. But I may zoom to fit a subject into a frame where I cannot move closer, etc.--

Cyril

 

[rolandb]

Both the ZR800 and ZR5100 have a wider range of timelapse settings than the LX7. I find the ZR5100 does better in dim light than the ZR800, but not quite as well as the LX7. I don't find a need for the ZR5100's wifi connection, its cosmetic modes, nor its flip LCD screen, but realise they can be useful in certain situations.

Thank you Cyril for the direct comparisons.

In my "quick check eyeball" mode I would pick the ZR5100 in every shot over the LX7. I did much the same early on with my LX3 - ZR5100 and I preferred the ZR5100 (without pixel peep analysing, which I am trying to get away from).

In my case I was thrashing about trying to find a light-weight solution for my next trip in October, interest in various 1" sensor compacts has totally waned and have settled on the ZR5100 as useful, but not for the way I want to shoot most of the time, so it's back to a lightly packed M4/3 kit for quality and reliability with the ZR5100 as backup and as a handy camera.

As for dim light performance, if only Casio had used a slightly better lens then all would be perfection, it is definitely the lens that lets these final versions down a bit (ZR5100 and ZR3700).

The ZR3700 will be the backup and addition to my wife's ZR850, probably will be of most use for her as the light gets lower such as when inspecting Taiwanese night markets.

The problem for Roland may eventually be to find a camera as I guess the sources will be drying up. I will be inspecting the "photo streets" in Taipei as Google street view seems to reveal quite a variety of stores and some surely still stock Casio remnants. Maybe round up the collection with a ZR1800 to be the final backup for my wife's ZR850 when it eventually wears out.

As for ZR5100 setup, I have the front ring as zoom, but never use it, and the rear dial is exposure compensation and left/right presses alter the ISO away from my default auto setting. The front shutter button is set to burst as a handy "grab the moment" aid and I never seem to use the selfie modes so that side of the camera (flip up screen, makeup modes) can be safely ignored.

I leave the screen showing the dimmed video framing in case I switch to taking a video clip and it saves doing the wobbly reframe when I find I am clipping heads. The M4/3 though is definitely preferred for video clips as its roll stabilisation nicely gets rid of the usually annoying hand-held video roll wobbles.

Regards..... Guy

Thanks Guy,

I can really see the benefits of pairing my 850 with a 5100 unfortunately I've "divered" about and now its too late to get one in time for my up coming USA trip,, fly out Monday.

Once I"m back I'll certainly look into getting one.

Thanks again for all your help.

Roland.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandb52/

"" I'm a snap-shooter! I shoot anything that interest me. Sometimes, I get lucky and some of my snap-shots turn into a photograph.""

 

[rolandb]

The other question that I've been pondering over is,,

I only fit the 18mm con lens now and then when needed, and therefore take a lot of my snaps at the 24mm end on the LX7, if then do you owners / users of the 5100 take most of your shots at the 19mm or zoom in slightly ?.

The other way round it for me I guess would be to mainly use my 850 and keep the 5100 for the odd 'wide' shot, making a smaller, lighter weight combo of cameras,, if all that makes sense.

Roland.

As another ZR5100 user I find that I use 19mm quite a lot but also the other available focal lengths as needed.

In my case the wide shots are my usual thing, such as the 24-80mm equivalent lens on my M4/3 gear is by far the most used item with 15mm equivalent fisheye coming in second. In my Nikon film days the 20mm lens was one of my favourites.

If I need wider I may just take a few shots and stitch them later.

In a way we are already doing the pairing thing as my wife is using the ZR850 and I the ZR5100 when traveling light. Between us we get everything we need. If I need a tele shot I simply ask her to cover it unless she has already done that before I asked. We do not shoot the same things, it is always a surprise and interesting to see later what we both saw at any venue.

As I have the ZR5100+ZR3700 pair already I could do my own 19mm to 300mm duties. I could have double belt pouches = ready for anything.

Regards...... Guy

Thank you Guy,

The 5100 would take away the need to keep fitting and taking off of the 18mm wide con lens on my LX7, the tube stays on the whole time.

Not sure if I would want to shot most things at 19mm but certainly the lens range will mirror the LX7 quite nicely, and I guess it is no hardship (if needs be) just to zoom in a tad to get say the 24mm of the LX.

Roland.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandb52/

"" I'm a snap-shooter! I shoot anything that interest me. Sometimes, I get lucky and some of my snap-shots turn into a photograph.""

 

[rolandb]

rolandb wrote: Thank you for that Cyril,

If I may I'll answer more fully once I'm home tonight rather than here on my mobile,,

The other question that I've been pondering over is,,

I only fit the 18mm con lens now and then when needed, and therefore take a lot of my snaps at the 24mm end on the LX7, if then do you owners / users of the 5100 take most of your shots at the 19mm or zoom in slightly ?.

The other way round it for me I guess would be to mainly use my 850 and keep the 5100 for the odd 'wide' shot, making a smaller, lighter weight combo of cameras,, if all that makes sense. Roland.

Roland,

My exteriors are mostly of landscapes, and interiors are usually in cramped situations, so most of my ZR5100 shots are at 19mm. But I may zoom to fit a subject into a frame where I cannot move closer, etc.--

Cyril

Thank you Cyril,

I"m going to "ponder" this while I'm away having left it too late to sort a 5100 out before I fly of on holiday.

Certainly lots to think about.

Thanks again my friend.

Roland.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rolandb52/

"" I'm a snap-shooter! I shoot anything that interest me. Sometimes, I get lucky and some of my snap-shots turn into a photograph.""

 

[Guy Parsons]

Random stuff gathering slowly at http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~parsog/Casio/EX-ZR5100/ZR5100-01-Comments.html about the ZR5100, can see the zoom range settings there.

Regards.... Guy

 

[photoKinetic]

Roland,

For what it's worth.

I'm pairing a zr5100 with a zr700 and have no regrets. Using an LX3 as backup.

I have to admit that the LX3 (with tube and CP) still produces some fine images (the Leica lens coupled with the 1.63 is a winner). However the compactness of the 2 Casio's really makes for comfortable travel while offering a lot of range and versatility. I have noted that the zr5100 reveals much better video.

The zr5100 may be Casio's last high performing camera. Paired with any of the zr700 - zr850 lineup it is a productive combo.

Good thinking as you review your options. Enjoy you trip Stateside.

pK