Casio EX-ZR300GDECB Casio - Review 🏆

The Casio EX-ZR300 is a compact point and shoot camera that offers powerful features in a slim and stylish body. Released in 2012, this model stands out for its high-speed continuous shooting and video recording capabilities.

Some key specs of the EX-ZR300 include:

• 16.1MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor
• 12.5x optical zoom lens (24-300mm equivalent)
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• 3-inch LCD display
• Full HD 1080p video recording at 60fps
• High speed burst shooting up to 40fps
• ISO range of 100-3200

This camera combines a versatile zoom lens, speedy performance, and manual controls in a slim body that can slip into a pocket. It's geared towards photography enthusiasts who want DSLR-like features and fast operation.

Design & Build Quality

The Casio EX-ZR300 has a stylish and compact design, making it easy to carry around. It has a mostly metal body with some plastic components, giving it a premium feel. The camera measures at 102 x 58 x 27 mm and weighs around 176g with battery and memory card, making it lightweight enough to fit in a pocket or bag.

Despite its portable size, the EX-ZR300 feels sturdy and durable in hand. The buttons have a nice tactile feedback and the materials used can withstand normal wear and tear. There are no moving lens parts as the lens is internal, further adding to the camera's durability. Overall the EX-ZR300 is well-constructed given its affordable price point, with a design that balances portability, premium aesthetics and durability.

The successor to the EX-ZR300, the Casio Exilim EX-ZR310, carries forward the sleek design and robust build quality. The EX-ZR310 retains the mostly metal body that combines style with resilience, while also incorporating some plastic elements for reduced weight. Slightly more advanced in features, this model continues to emphasize portability, making it convenient for travel and everyday use. The well-placed buttons and internal lens construction remain key attributes, ensuring the EX-ZR310 is both user-friendly and durable.

Image Quality

The Casio EX-ZR300 features a 16.1 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor which delivers detailed, vibrant images with good color reproduction. The sensor resolution allows for large prints up to 16 x 20 inches.

The camera's EXILIM Engine HS image processor does an excellent job reducing noise and delivering clear images even at higher ISO settings up to ISO 3200. Images have low levels of grain and maintain good sharpness and detail.

The dynamic range is also quite good for a point and shoot camera, capturing details in both shadows and highlights. The camera has built-in HDR technology to further expand the dynamic range when needed.

Overall the image quality is very good for a compact camera in this class. The sensor and processor allow it to capture sharp, low-noise images even in low light conditions. The resolution is plenty for most purposes.

Features & Performance

The EX-ZR300 offers a robust set of features and solid performance for its class. Some highlights include:

Shooting Modes

The camera has a range of shooting modes including Auto, Program AE, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Scene Recognition, Motion Panorama, and Best Shot. These modes provide flexibility for capturing all kinds of scenes and subjects. The Scene Recognition mode automatically chooses the optimal settings based on the environment.

Burst Speed

The EX-ZR300 can shoot up to 30 frames per second at reduced resolution, enabling you to capture fast action shots. At full 12MP resolution, it has a burst speed of 10 fps. This is very good for a compact camera in this price range.

Autofocus

Autofocus is generally quick and accurate thanks to the EX-ZR300's High Speed Autofocus system. It can focus in as little as 0.27 seconds, helping you capture fleeting moments. Focusing is aided by the camera's Phase Detection AF pixels on the CMOS sensor.

Battery Life

Battery life is rated at around 270 shots per charge, which is decent but not exceptional. Heavy users may want to pick up a spare battery for all-day shooting. The EX-ZR300 uses a rechargeable lithium ion battery.

Overall the EX-ZR300 delivers responsive performance across the board, whether you're shooting stills or video. Key settings like autofocus and burst shooting enable you to capture fast action and fleeting moments.

Video Quality

The Casio EX-ZR300 can record full HD 1920 x 1080p video at 30 fps. It also offers 720p HD video recording at 60 fps. The high frame rate 60 fps mode is great for capturing smooth action videos.

For codec, the EX-ZR300 uses H.264 compression which is efficient and widely supported. Videos are recorded in MOV format. The compression quality is decent, providing good detail while keeping file sizes manageable.

Overall, the video quality is quite good for a compact camera. The HD resolution provides sharp and detailed footage. Fast moving subjects are rendered well thanks to the high frame rate 720p mode. The videos have accurate colors and decent dynamic range. Noise levels are controlled well in good lighting. Low light performance is average, with increased noise in dim conditions. But video quality should satisfy most users for casual home videos and YouTube posts.

Connectivity & Storage

The Casio EX-ZR300 offers a good range of connectivity options. For wired connectivity, it has a USB 2.0 port and HDMI micro connector. This allows you to transfer photos and videos to a computer or view them on a HD TV.

For wireless connectivity, the EX-ZR300 has built-in WiFi. This allows you to wirelessly transfer images to smartphones, tablets and computers. You can also remotely control the camera from these devices. The camera lacks built-in GPS though.

For storage, the EX-ZR300 uses SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. It supports cards up to 32GB in size. The camera has 12MB of internal memory, so you'll need to buy a memory card to store photos and videos. The EX-ZR300 supports the UHS-I standard for fast write speeds when recording HD video.

Overall, the connectivity options are good for a camera in this class. The addition of WiFi is a nice extra. Lack of GPS may disappoint some people looking for geotagging. But the wired ports, wireless connectivity and SD card storage provide versatile options for transferring and backing up images.

Ease of Use

The Casio EX-ZR300 is designed to be very user-friendly and easy to operate. The camera has a well-laid out button and dial interface that gives quick access to all the main shooting modes and settings.

The main mode dial on top of the camera provides direct access to frequently used modes like Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, and the High Speed modes. There's also a separate dial around the 4-way controller on the back which lets you quickly change basic settings like flash, self-timer, macro focusing and drive mode.

In terms of menus, the EX-ZR300 uses Casio's typical menu interface that is logically organized into Shooting, Set-up, and Playback menus. The menus are easy to navigate with the 4-way controller and settings are clear and concise. There are ample options for customizing the camera like button customization, custom self-timer, and setting up to 3 groups of custom settings.

Some handy design touches in terms of usability include a well-designed grip, rubberized dials and buttons, and a dedicated video recording button. Overall, the EX-ZR300 offers a control and menu interface that is intuitive and user-friendly for both beginner and more advanced photographers. The customization options provide plenty of room to tailor the camera settings to your specific shooting needs and style.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Fast burst mode up to 30 fps for capturing action shots
• Sharp lens with wide 24mm angle and 12.5x optical zoom
• Excellent image stabilization for reducing blur
• Records full HD 1080p video at 60fps with stereo sound
• Large 3-inch tiltable LCD makes framing shots easy
• Built-in GPS automatically geotags photos
• Variety of shooting modes like HDR and panorama
• Good low light performance up to ISO 3200
• Creative filters like miniature effect and fish eye
• Durable metal body with sleek, stylish design

Cons:

• No built-in viewfinder
• Short battery life of around 250 shots per charge
• No external microphone input for video
• No RAW image capture mode
• Smaller 1/2.3" sensor struggles in very low light
• Autofocus can be slow at times
• No touchscreen capabilities
• No built-in WiFi connectivity

Conclusion

The Casio EX-ZR300 is a solid point-and-shoot camera with an impressive array of features packed into its compact body. Its standout abilities include rapid-fire continuous shooting, slow motion video, and HDR photography. Image quality is quite good for a compact camera, producing sharp and vivid photos and videos. The EX-ZR300 handles well, with a comfortable grip and intuitive button layout that makes operation straightforward. The camera offers versatile connectivity options and decent battery life as well.

Overall, the Casio EX-ZR300 is an excellent choice for users wanting a feature-rich point-and-shoot with great performance for action shots and creative photography. Its array of shooting modes provides plenty of flexibility. The rapid-fire shutter enables capturing fast-moving subjects with ease. Video quality is also very good, especially with the slow motion capability. The EX-ZR300 provides great value by packing an impressive amount of functionality into a compact point-and-shoot camera. For these reasons, it earns a strong recommendation for anyone seeking a fully-loaded pocket camera that can handle a wide variety of shooting situations.