Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 Casio - Review 🏆

Casio's Exilim line of digital cameras have been around since 2002 and are known for their slim, stylish designs and powerful features packed into compact bodies. The EX-ZR100 sits towards the high end of the Exilim lineup and offers a nice mix of style, versatility, and performance.

This 12.1 megapixel camera features a fast 12.5x optical zoom lens, making it great for everything from wide landscapes to tight portraits. The EX-ZR100 shoots full HD video and has a host of advanced features like HDR technology, slow motion video, and various creative shooting modes. It also has a bright 3 inch LCD screen and full manual controls.

Overall, the EX-ZR100 is a feature-rich digital camera in a slim body. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the design, image quality, zoom, video capabilities, performance, display, and connectivity options of the EX-ZR100.

Overview

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 is a 12.1 megapixel compact digital camera released by Casio in 2011. As part of the Exilim line, it offers a versatile package in a slim point-and-shoot body. The EX-ZR100 features a 12.5x optical zoom lens, 1080p HD video recording, and a range of manual controls suitable for both beginners and more advanced photographers. Key specs include a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, EXILIM Engine HS image processor, and 3-inch LCD display. The EX-ZR100 was designed to provide excellent image quality, intuitive handling, and powerful zoom range in a highly portable form factor.

The Casio Exilim EX-TR70, on the other hand, is a stylish and highly portable digital camera designed for selfie enthusiasts. Released in 2016, it features a 12.1 megapixel sensor and a unique rotating frame that allows for flexible shooting angles. The EX-TR70 includes advanced beauty functions, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 3-inch touchscreen display, making it easy to capture and share high-quality self-portraits. For more details, you can visit the Casio Exilim EX-TR70 page. This model focuses on providing users with a seamless and enjoyable photography experience.

Design

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 has a compact, stylish body that fits nicely in your hand or pocket. It measures 4.13 x 2.32 x 1.13 inches and weighs a very portable 7.23 ounces. The body is constructed of high-quality plastic with a matte black finish. The minimalist design gives it a sophisticated look.

Despite its compact size, the camera feels sturdy and durable. The buttons are well-placed for easy operation. There's a nice textured grip on the front and back to prevent slippage. Overall, the EX-ZR100 has a smart, travel-friendly design that looks great and handles well.

The Casio EX-ZR300GDECB offers an excellent upgrade with enhanced features and performance. This model boasts a faster processing speed, improved image quality, and extended battery life. The camera's user-friendly interface ensures a seamless photography experience, making it perfect for both amateurs and professionals. Additionally, the EX-ZR300GDECB includes advanced shooting modes and connectivity options, allowing for easy sharing and editing of your photos. Its sleek design and superior build quality make it a reliable companion for your photography adventures.

Image Quality

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 has a 12.1 megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor which produces detailed images with low noise levels. This is combined with Casio's EXILIM Engine HS image processor which enables the camera to capture high-quality images and video.

The sensor and processor work together to provide excellent image quality, even when shooting in low light conditions up to ISO 3200. The EX-ZR100 can capture images with vivid colors and sharp details thanks to the high resolution sensor.

The fast image processor allows for quick shot-to-shot times and rapid continuous shooting up to 30 frames per second. It also enables advanced features like HDR photography and 360-degree panoramas. Overall, the image quality from the EX-ZR100's sensor and processor is very good for a compact point-and-shoot camera.

Zoom

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 has a very impressive zoom range of 12.5x optical zoom, which provides a 35mm focal length equivalent of 24-300mm. This wide zoom range allows you to capture everything from wide landscape shots to tightly framed telephoto images.

The 12.5x zoom is extremely versatile and useful in many everyday shooting situations. Whether you're trying to capture your child's sports game from the stands or zoom in on a faraway landmark while traveling, the EX-ZR100 has you covered. The optical image stabilization helps keep your zoomed shots steady and blur-free.

At the telephoto end, you can get remarkably close to subjects and capture all the details. The zoom is quick and smooth as well, allowing you to seamlessly go from wide to telephoto focal lengths. Overall, the powerful 12.5x optical zoom gives this compact camera capabilities that rival bulkier DSLRs with interchangeable zoom lenses. It's an invaluable feature for both amateurs and more advanced photographers alike.

Video

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 captures high-definition video at 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. It also has the option to record at 720p resolution. The camera can take short video clips up to 29 minutes long.

Some useful video features include:

• High Speed Movie mode - Record slow motion video at up to 1000 fps
• YouTube Capture Mode - Optimized settings for uploading videos directly to YouTube
• Time Lapse - Create time lapse videos by taking photos at set intervals
• Motion Panorama - Pan the camera to create a sweeping 180° or 360° panoramic movie

The Exilim EX-ZR100 has a dedicated movie record button to start video recording instantly. Overall, it provides good video quality and features for a point-and-shoot camera in this price range. The image stabilization helps keep videos steady when handholding the camera.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 really shines. This camera offers incredibly fast speeds that allow you to capture images in an instant.

The autofocus on the EX-ZR100 is lightning quick and highly accurate. It uses a combination of phase detection and contrast detection autofocus for focusing speeds as fast as 0.26 seconds. Whether you're photographing fast action shots or candid moments, you can trust the autofocus to lock on swiftly.

The shot-to-shot times are equally impressive. You can shoot up to an amazing 30 frames per second at reduced resolution. At full 12MP resolution, it can still shoot a blazing fast 5 frames per second. The virtually no shutter lag also helps you capture shots the moment they happen.

Overall, the performance of the EX-ZR100 is top-notch. The fast autofocus, shot-to-shot speeds, and lack of shutter lag allow you to reliably capture split-second images. This makes the EX-ZR100 a great choice for photographing sports, action, and any fast-moving subjects where timing is critical.

Display

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 has a 3-inch LCD display with 460,800 dots resolution. This provides clear and vivid images during image playback and when composing shots on the screen.

The display is quite large for a compact camera, making it easy to see the screen even in bright sunlight. I found the screen bright enough at default settings, but there is also an option to boost the brightness further if needed.

A nice feature of the display is the ability to tilt it up to 90 degrees and down to 45 degrees. This allows you to shoot from high or low angles while still being able to see the screen. It's very handy for capturing shots where you can't get your eye to the viewfinder, like in a crowd or when holding the camera up high.

Overall, the display on the EX-ZR100 is very good. The size, resolution and tilting design make it useful for composing shots from various positions. I was impressed by the brightness and clarity too. It's a great screen for both shooting and reviewing photos.

Connectivity

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 has good connectivity options for a compact point-and-shoot camera. It comes equipped with a mini HDMI port to connect to HDTVs for viewing photos and videos on a big screen. There is also a standard USB 2.0 port for transferring files to a computer.

For wireless connectivity, the EX-ZR100 has built-in Wi-Fi. This allows you to wirelessly transfer photos from the camera to smartphones or computers. The camera can connect directly to Wi-Fi networks or hotspots to enable sharing immediately after capturing images. There is also an option to geotag photos using the GPS capabilities of a paired smartphone. The geotagging feature maps where photos were taken for organizing and cataloging purposes.

The EX-ZR100 does not have built-in Bluetooth. However, using the Wi-Fi connection, it can wirelessly connect with Bluetooth-enabled devices like smartphones or headsets. The wireless capabilities make sharing photos on social media or backing up files convenient without needing any cables.

Overall, the Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 has standard but useful connectivity options of mini HDMI, USB, and Wi-Fi. These ports and wireless capabilities allow easy sharing, viewing, and transferring of photos and videos from the camera.

Conclusion

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 is an interesting compact camera with some nice features, but also a few drawbacks.

Pros: - Fast continuous shooting and burst modes - Powerful 12.5x optical zoom in a slim body - Sharp 12MP images with good color - Records 1080p HD video - Nice 3-inch LCD

Cons: - Image noise at high ISOs - No manual exposure controls - No RAW support - Autofocus can struggle in low light

Overall, the EX-ZR100 is a good choice if you want a versatile point-and-shoot with a long zoom range and fast performance. It can capture sharp, appealing snapshots and handle basic video needs. However, more advanced photographers may be frustrated by the lack of manual controls and high ISO limitations. For the price, it packs in a lot of zoom power but sacrifices some image quality and customizability. If you can live with its limitations, the EX-ZR100 is a solid compact camera with nice speed and zoom capabilities. Those wanting more manual control or better low light performance may want to look at other options.