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Digital Camera Reviews and Ratings By manufacturer:
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Casio have just launched a new 5 MegaPixel compact digital camera. With a 2.2" LCD screen, 3x optical zoom, 33 BESTSHOT scene modes, AND an anti-shake system, this is truely an exciting time for consumers looking that perfect pocket camera.
Get the Latest Price on the "Casio Exilim EX-S500 Digital Camera
PCMag review the Casio Exilim EX-S500 and write - "With its super-slim body, light weight, versatility, and excellent picture quality, the 5-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-S500 is a camera you can carry everywhere. What's more, the hot colors and "electrical coating" ensure you'll take it out of your pocket as often as possible to show it off (and maybe shoot some photos, too)."
CNET Reviews the Casio Exilim EX-S500(for some reason they chose to review an orange one!) and writes - 'The latest in Casio's slim-jim line of card cameras, the 5-megapixel Exilim EX-S500 offers a 3X optical zoom and a number of features missing in its predecessor, the S100. They include a burst mode, MPEG-4 video capture, and the ever-important AF illuminator, rounding out this pocket camera's generous feature set. Its photo quality doesn't distinguish it, but if you're not too picky about that, it's definitely worth a look.'Ken Rockwell reviews the Casio EX-S500 and writes - 'For a tiny camera giving full size results the EX-S500 is the winner today for most normal people. My only reservation for normal people is the long time the flash takes to charge, which could annoy you and your friends if you take flash photos indoors often.
If you're a serious, critical photographer then get the EX-Z750 instead. It's a quarter of an inch thicker, 3/4 of an ounce heavier and sells for about the same price. Poor baby: it's bigger but still so small I forget when I have it in my pocket. It has better optics and it's easier to use if you're one of us who actually understands all the features you can get to with the extra buttons. Non-photographers would prefer the simpler and smaller EX-S500.'
Digital Camera Resource Page reviews the Casio Exilim EX-S500 and recommends - 'The Casio Exilim EX-S500 is an ultra-thin camera that has a lot going for it, but I was ultimately let down by its poor image quality. The S500 is an ultra-compact camera that comes in your choice of three colors. It's design is stunning and the orange body that I tested garners even more attention. The S500 features a 2.2" LCD that could use some more pixels. Thankfully the screen is visible in low light situations. There is no optical viewfinder on the S500.
The S500 has plenty of features, though it's lacking some useful manual controls. It has tons of Best Shot (scene) modes, and if you need more you can create your own. The only manual controls on the camera are for white balance and focus -- which are both handy -- though shutter speed would've been nice too. The camera's anti-shake system works, but not as well as a camera with "real" image stabilization....'
Digital Camera Review reviews the Casio EXILIM EX-S500 and writes - 'The Casio Exilim EX-S500 is an attractive, well-built camera. While the ultra-compact size is nice for some, for others it can easily slip out of your hand. With three colors to choose from, it's obvious that a large point of difference for this camera is its looks. The image quality is good with some minor issues at times (softness, slightly less color saturation) but I think that most users of this camera will not notice. The LCD is nice and sharp and makes for excellent viewing and framing of images.'
Steves Digicams reviews the Casio Exilim EX-S500 and writes - 'The overall image quality when using 5-megapixel (2560x1920) Fine mode was good. Our outdoor images were well exposed and colors were nicely saturated. Image noise was essentially absent at ISO 50 and 100, detectable at ISO 200, and noticeable at ISO 400. Indoors it also performs well. The camera's autofocus system works well in low-ambient lighting, although it would benefit from a focus-assist lamp. Its flash provides sufficient illumination for most indoor situations, seemingly more powerful than the 9-foot range claimed by Casio. Red eye reduction mode worked well, although the LCD viewfinder went blank between the pre-flash and exposure flash, a period of about 8/10 second. When shooting in Macro mode, the flash also does a good job of "throttling down" to ensure you do not over-expose your subject.'
Cameras.co.uk reviews the Casio Exilim EX-S500 and writes - 'The focusing problems I encountered with the Casio EXILIM EX-S500 are a major drawback. Although you can get round this problem most of the time by shooting in macro mode it means you may well miss the photo. This is a great shame as this is a likeable camera. It is easy to use and has minimal shutter lag.'
Photo and movie fun in checkcard format:
The new EXILIM EX-S500 with 5 megapixels and movie function
Quickly grab your digital camera and the snapshot is perfect. But can't the situation be conveyed a little more vividly in moving images? The new EXILIM Card EX-S500 von CASIO can do both. The ultra-slim and multifunctional digital camera is quick to hand, records high-quality movies in MPEG-4 format and takes impressive photos with 5 megapixels and 3x optical zoom. The big 2.2-inch TFT colour display leaves nothing to be desired and provides fantastic film and photo pleasure. The elegant EX-S500 is available in three trend colours. The variation 'Brilliant Grey' stands for understatement, Nordic Silver provides gloriously clear moments and Latin Orange brings Southern European awareness of life closer. The design of the camera in checkcard format sets stylistic trends and causes a sensation not just among lovers of digital photography.
The clear lines of the EX-S500 make it simple to use: every function can be selected and operated with only one hand. The change from photo to movie mode is possible without complicated menu-adjustment by pushing the Direct Movie Button resp. the shutter release. The high-quality MPEG-4 movie format in VGA size, which takes 30 pictures per second, provides the movie quality. Despite classic lens design with 3x optical zoom, CASIO has succeeded in building a particularly flat1 and fast camera. The EXILIM EX-S500 is ready for operation in only 1 second2 and fits into every trouser pocket or handbag, thus making it the ideal companion for spontaneous photo and film situations.
The EX-S500 is the first digital camera in the company's history to have an Anti-Shake DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for photo-stabilisation. Contrary to traditional optical stabilisation systems, the CASIO's specially developed Anti-Shake DSP balances out trembling hands, prevents blurry photos through a self-movement of the motif, and also provides sharp images even with a combination of both causes of error.
The integrated flash and the new Autofocus auxiliary light provide good photos even in bad light conditions. A large number of integrated BESTSHOT motif programs optimise the picture during sport or close-up shots, for example. For the first time they are equally planned for the photo and movie function and are activated through the practical BESTSHOT button directly next to the display. Once pressed, a clearly structured multiscreen appears on the large display with all pre-set photo scenarios. The function that allows photos with up to 5 megapixels to be taken and stored during movie recording deserves a special mention, as does the editing of a movie, the so-called MOVIE EDIT, or zooming while the movie is being played back, '?MOVIE enlargement playback, are new, helpful additional functions of the super-compact camera.
The new and fast EXILIM Engine provides maximum utilization of the EX-S500. It allows the compact structural shape as well as a high photo and movie quality at simultaneously low energy consumption. Together with the SUPER LIFE battery it provides the camera with the necessary power – once loaded, up to 200 shots3 are possible.
The USB docking station with high-speed USB 2.0 is used for the transmission of the image data on to the PC and supports PictBridge and USB Direct Print Standard. Movies and photos in fantastic quality can be very easily viewed directly on television by means of the AV output at the docking station or the optionally available AV cable so there's nothing more standing in the way of your photo fun at home.
USB cable, extensive software on CD-ROM and hand carrier straps are included in the delivery scope, as are SUPER LIFE battery and docking station. A fast-charger, portable AV cable for connecting the camera directly to the television set as well as camera bags and neck straps, a media case for storing memory cards and other accessories are optionally available in the latest EXILIM look.
The EXILIM Card EX-S500 is available from retailers from July 2005.
Image Deletion: One image, all images
Recording Element: 1/2.5� CCD-Chip (5.25 MP total / 5.0 MP effective)
Lens: F2.7 (W) - 5.2 (T), f = 6.2 (W) 18.6 mm (T) (equivalent to approx. 38 -114 mm for 35mm cameras), 6 lenses in 5 groups, including aspherical lens
Zoom: 3x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom (12 times both with optical and digital zoom), lens cover
Aperture: F2.7 / 4.3, automatic
Focus Mode: Contrast-AF (Spot, Multi), manual focus (MF), Pan Focus, macro, auto macro, infinity, AF Assist light
Focus Range: Normal: 40cm -
Macro: 17cm – 50cm
Manual: 17cm -
Light Metering: Multi Pattern, Center Weighted, Center Spot
Exposure: Programmed-AE
Exposure Compensation: -2 up to +2 EV (1/3 EV units)
Shutter: CCD electronic shutter, mechanical shutter
Shutter Speed: Normal: 1/8 - 1/2.000 sec.
(above shutter speeds do not apply when using a BEST SHOT scene).
Sensitivity: AStill ISO 50 / 100 / 200 / 400 (automatic/manual)
Movie: Auto
White Balance: Automatic, fix (6 modes), manual switching
Self-timer: 10 sec. / 2 sec. / triple self-timer
Recording functions: Single image, BESTSHOT, movie with sound, single image with voice, voice recording, macro, self-timer, continuous shooting
Additional functions: Flash Assist function, Icon Help function
Microphone / Speaker: Monaural
Audio Recording Time: Audio Snapshot: Approx. 30sec. / image
Voice Recoding: Approx. 25min. (within built-in memory)
After Recording: Approx. 30sec. / image
Flash System: Auto, manual-on, manual-off, Red Eye-Reduction
Flash Range: Approx 0.4m - 2.8m (W) / Approx. 0.4m - 1.4m (T)
Monitor/Viewfinder: 2.2 inch TFT color display (84,960 pixels – 354 x 240)
Playback Functions: Playback zoom, Resize, Trimming, Movie Playback, Movie Edit, 9-image screen, Rotate, Calendar Screen, Slideshow (Photo Stand), Customizable Startup screen, Image Roulette
Timekeeping Functions: Date and time recorded with image data; auto calendar up to 2049
World Time: 162 cities (32 time zones); city names; date and time
Others: USB-DIRECT PRINT, PictBridge, Auto power off, RGB histogram, favorites folder
Communication: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed compatible
Input/Output Terminals: USB-Cradle with AC-Adapter, AV connection (NTSC/PAL compliant) via cradle
Power Requirements: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery NP-20 (incl.), docking station with integrated power supply and charging function
Battery Life
(with Li-Ion battery): Normal Recording*(1) – Approx 100 min., up to 200 shots (CIPA)
Continuous Recording*(2) - Approx. 100 min., up to 410 shots
Continuous Playback*(3) - Approx. up to 160 min.
Voice recording*(4) - Approx. 160 min.
Continuous movie recording*(5) - Approx. up to 80 min
Dimensions: 90 x 59 x 16.1 mm ( W x H x D, excluding protrusions)
Weight: Approx. 115 g (w/o Lithum-Ion battery and Memory-Card)
Standard Accessories: USB docking station, AC-Adapter for docking station, hand strap, rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery (NP-20), CD-ROM, USB-Cable, AV-Cable
Posted by Darren in our Casio category on June 20, 2005