Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 Casio - Review 🏆

Casio is a Japanese electronics company that has been making digital cameras since 1995. The Exilim line of compact point and shoot cameras was introduced in 2002 and is geared towards consumers who want a stylish and easy to use camera.

The Exilim EX-ZR200, released in 2012, is a mid-range model in the Exilim lineup. It features a 12.5 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 12.5x optical zoom lens, and 1080p full HD video recording. With its slim, rounded design and variety of shooting modes, the EX-ZR200 was marketed as a versatile compact camera for capturing both photos and video.

Key features of the EX-ZR200 include its fast autofocus, high-speed burst shooting, and HDR technology for creating images with a high dynamic range. It also has built-in creative effects like miniature mode, high key, and low key to add interest to photos. Casio emphasized the EX-ZR200's portability, ease of use, and style, positioning it as an "intelligent compact" camera.

Overview

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 is a compact digital camera with a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and 24x optical zoom lens with a 35mm equivalent focal length range of 25-600mm. This provides great versatility to shoot wide landscapes and get very close to distant subjects. The EX-ZR200 can record full 1080p HD video at 30fps. Some key features include a 3-inch tilting LCD, built-in GPS for geotagging images, HDR mode for increased dynamic range, and a range of creative shooting modes. The camera has a metal body that feels solid and durable. It's designed to fit nicely in your hand. The EX-ZR200 runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Overall, the camera offers an appealing balance of image quality, zoom range, features and portability.

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 is another model to consider if you're looking for a compact digital camera. It features a 12.1 megapixel sensor and a 12.5x optical zoom lens with a 24-300mm focal length range. The EX-ZR100 also supports full HD 1080p video recording at 30fps, and includes a range of features such as high-speed burst shooting, high-speed movie recording, and advanced HDR technology. Its compact size and lightweight design make it a convenient option for travel and everyday photography.

Design

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 has a stylish and compact design that makes it easy to carry around. It measures at 102 x 58 x 27 mm and weighs around 176g including the battery and memory card. The slim body is constructed out of metal and high-grade plastic which gives it a sturdy feel.

The camera comes in three color options - black, silver, and red. The matte finish helps minimize smudges and fingerprints. The mostly flat front surface keeps the camera pocketable. The mode dial, shutter button and zoom toggle are ergonomically placed for easy access. Overall, the EX-ZR200 has a sleek and modern design that looks great and feels comfortable to hold.

Another impressive product from Casio is the Casio Exilim EX-TR70. This camera is known for its innovative rotating frame design that doubles as a stand, making it perfect for selfies and group photos. It features a high-resolution 11.1 megapixel camera and various beauty enhancement functions that make every shot stunning. The slim and lightweight body ensures that it is easy to carry around, much like the EX-ZR200. With its modern aesthetics and advanced features, the EX-TR70 is an excellent choice for photography enthusiasts.

Image Quality

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 features a 12.5 megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and EXILIM Engine HS image processor. This combination allows the camera to produce high-quality images with rich colors and sharp details.

The sensor has an ISO range of 100-3200, which can be expanded to 12800. Noise is well-controlled through ISO 800, with some visible noise and loss of detail at the higher ISO settings. The camera performs quite well in low light conditions.

For reducing blur from camera shake, the EX-ZR200 has sensor-shift image stabilization. This stabilization system is effective for both still images and video recording, allowing sharp images even when shooting handheld at slower shutter speeds. The camera detects camera shake and automatically compensates to reduce blur.

Overall, the image quality from the EX-ZR200's sensor and processor is very good for a point-and-shoot in this class. The camera captures sharp, vivid images with good high ISO performance and effective image stabilization.

Features

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 boasts an impressive array of features for a compact camera. Some of the notable features include:

• HDR (High Dynamic Range) - This combines multiple exposures into one image to capture a wider range of tones, helping avoid overexposed highlights or underexposed shadows. It's great for high contrast scenes.

• Panorama Mode - Stitch together a sequence of shots into one extra-wide panoramic photo. Makes capturing sweeping vistas easy.

• Burst Shooting - Shoot up to 30 frames per second, perfect for capturing fast action shots with ease.

• Premium Auto Mode - Intelligently analyzes the scene to automatically select the optimal settings from 360 possible combinations. Takes the guesswork out of getting great shots.

• Slow Motion Video - Record video at up to 240fps to create dramatic slow motion effects when played back. Great for sports or action scenes.

• YouTube Uploads - Share videos straight to YouTube without a computer. Convenient way to instantly upload and share.

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 packs in versatile high-end features like HDR, panoramas, and burst shooting not typically found in compact point-and-shoot cameras. This makes it easier to capture high quality images in challenging scenarios like high contrast scenes or fast action.

Video Quality

The Casio EX-ZR200 can record 1080p full HD video at 30fps, which produces smooth and detailed footage. It also offers 720p HD recording at 60fps for capturing fast action with smoother motion.

For video codecs, the EX-ZR200 uses the H.264 format, which is highly efficient for compression while maintaining good image quality. The camera can record videos in the MOV file format.

Overall, video quality is quite good for a compact camera. The 1080p resolution provides high levels of detail, and the ability to choose between 30fps and 60fps frame rates gives you flexibility for different types of videos. The H.264 codec delivers good quality without taking up too much storage space. One downside is that there is no external microphone input, so you are limited to the built-in mono mic.

Performance

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 offers excellent performance for a compact camera. It has a responsive autofocus system that can lock focus in around 0.2 seconds in bright light. Even in low light, it only slows down slightly to around 0.3-0.5 seconds. This makes it easy to capture fast action shots.

The shot-to-shot time is also impressive at around 1 second between JPEGs when using the mechanical shutter. If you switch to the electronic shutter, it can shoot at up to 30 frames per second, which is incredibly fast. The shutter lag is virtually non-existent at less than 0.01 seconds. Overall, the performance is on par with higher-end compact cameras, so you won't miss many shots due to the camera.

The camera starts up in just over 1 second, which is pretty quick. The processing times are also fast, allowing you to shoot continuously without long delays. In summary, the EX-ZR200's performance metrics like autofocus speed, shot-to-shot time, shutter lag and start up time are all fast for this class of camera. It delivers a very responsive shooting experience perfect for action photography or capturing fleeting moments.

Connectivity

The Casio EX-ZR200 has several connectivity options that make it easy to transfer and share photos and videos.

• Wi-Fi - The camera has built-in Wi-Fi which allows you to wirelessly transfer photos and videos to smartphones and tablets using the Casio Camera App. This makes sharing on social media very convenient.

• Bluetooth - Bluetooth 4.0 allows the camera to pair with smartphones and other devices for wireless image transfers.

• Ports - The EX-ZR200 has a Micro HDMI port for connecting to HDTVs to view photos and videos on a big screen. It also has a Micro USB 2.0 port which can be used to transfer files to a computer.

• The camera lacks NFC connectivity.

Overall, the wireless connectivity options are quite good for a camera in this class. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make sharing photos very easy. The HDMI and USB ports allow for both viewing images on a larger screen as well as transferring files to a computer.

Battery Life

The Casio EX-ZR200 has a decent battery life, thanks to its rechargeable lithium-ion battery. It has a CIPA rating of around 270 shots per charge, which is pretty good for a compact camera.

In real-world usage, the battery should comfortably last a full day of casual shooting. The camera has various battery-saving features like Eco mode to help extend battery life. With moderate use, you can expect to get 300-350 shots per charge. If you're a heavy user who takes a lot of photos and videos, the battery may drain faster, but you can always carry a spare battery.

The battery charges via USB, so you can easily top it up if needed during the day. Overall, while the battery life isn't outstanding, it's solid and reliable enough for a compact camera in this class. The EX-ZR200 delivers enough endurance for a full day of shooting and should meet the needs of most casual photographers.

Summary

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 is a capable compact camera with both strengths and weaknesses.

Pros: - Sleek, stylish design that is comfortable to hold. Metal body provides premium feel. - Excellent image quality in good lighting conditions. Photos have vivid colors and sharp details. - Impressive 12.5x optical zoom lens provides versatility. - Fast autofocus and shot-to-shot times. - Records full HD video at 1080/30p. Optical zoom can be used while recording. - Numerous shooting modes and filters for creativity. - Large 3-inch tilting LCD makes taking shots from creative angles easy.

Cons: - Image quality suffers in low light conditions. Photos have excessive noise. - No manual exposure controls. Camera handles most settings automatically. - Battery life is below average. Needs to be recharged frequently with heavy use. - No built-in WiFi. Must use cables to transfer photos and videos.

Overall, the Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 is a good choice for photographers wanting an affordable, stylish compact camera with versatile zoom range and excellent image quality in bright light. However, low light performance and battery life could be better. For the price, it provides generally solid performance and features.