Casio Exilim EX-Z1050

Casio manages to keep the EXILIM range steadily flowing out of the factory doors, with new models coming out seemingly every couple of months.

Renowned for their neat slimline looks and generous resolutions, cameras from the EXILIM range have a very reliable track record (you need only take a look at past issues of Digital Camera Buyer to see this), with the last three releases all receiving four out of five stars in our esteemed magazine. So how will the latest model fare?

When we first took the camera out of the box, there seemed to be very little difference between the EX-Z1050 and its predecessor, the EX-Z1000. It’s fair to say this is more of a side-step than an upgrade, with only a slight growth in the LCD and a faster burst rate preventing the cameras from being an identical match.

Looks-wise, the charm still remains, with slim dimensions and a sleek curved design. The EX-Z1050 is extremely portable, being able to slide into even the snuggest of pockets, while the indented power button means accidental power-ups are out of the question. A large proportion of the body is made of plastic, but with a metallic band wrapping itself around the outer edge, there are no problems with finger prints or smudges on the camera body.

In terms of ergonomics, the EX-Z1050 keeps things simple. On the reverse is a series of raised dots, which act as a thumb grip. It’s not the most comfortable of grips we’ve used but it does serve its purpose in stopping your thumb slipping off the camera body. Around the front, however, there’s a distinct lack of any comfort zone. The face is completely flat, with no rest for your finger, confirming that the camera is aimed at the point-and-shoot market rather than photo enthusiasts.

Delving into the guts of the camera proves to be a fiddly process due to the tiny Menu button. It’s labelled in grey and isn’t easy to spot at first if you have less-than-perfect eyesight. Once you’re into the menu system, it’s very easy to navigate through, although once again, the grey interface makes it a little challenging to read. In operation, the camera performs admirably, with the battery power giving a sterling performance. It keeps going for around 370 shots per charge – a decent claim for a point-and-shoot camera. Power-up time is less than two seconds – not exactly cutting-edge speed but more than satisfactory for a camera in this class – and general navigation is zippy, offering quick access to all the menus.

Once the camera is fired up, a toolbar appears down the right-hand side of the LCD displaying all the programmable options, from flash and autofocus through to ISO and white balance. This is a nice alternative to cluttering up the camera body with buttons and controls, especially since it’s really easy to operate using the d-pad.

A key feature and selling point of the camera is its Burst mode, which is able to fire seven shots a second. In our tests, we were highly impressed by the speed the shots were taken. We did find that only five shots were captured in one burst, but with a speed like that, you’d have to be extremely unlucky to miss your shot. Other shooting features include the usual bevy of BEST SHOT modes (scene modes to the Casio virgins). The BEST SHOT modes have their own dedicated button, which is very useful for quick access, and each mode is depicted by a bright photo tab.

Shooting with the camera is a simple affair, with no major problems arising for those new to digital photography. Where image quality is concerned, there are a few issues that did crop up. While the ISO performance has improved from previous models, with noisy areas a lot more controlled in the higher ISO regions, there has been a drawback on the processing front as a result of improved ISO performance. At ISO 400 and above, the noise levels are predominantly resigned to the dark areas of the shot, which is certainly an improvement, but images often look overprocessed, giving them a rather artificial feel. As a result, crucial detail is glossed over, leaving the image looking flat and unnatural. Where the Casio EX-Z1050 does have it right however, is in its spot-on colour saturation, with brightness and colour intensity being this camera’s main saving grace.

Overall, this is a very satisfactory compact, which considering its price, offers consumers good value for money. It’s not without its faults, but at this level of the game, most cameras have some kind of imperfection and, when weighed up against other competitors, the EX-Z1050 packs a pretty good punch in the market.