Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 Casio - Review 🏆

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 is a compact digital camera that offers a versatile 12x optical zoom lens in a slim and stylish body. Some of the key features of this camera include:

• 12x optical zoom lens with focal range of 24-288mm
• 12.5 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• 3 inch LCD display with 920k dots
• Full manual controls and RAW shooting
• 1080p 30fps HD video recording
• High speed video up to 480fps
• Built-in GPS
• ISO up to 3200
• Continuous shooting up to 30fps
• HDR art and advanced filters
• Li-ion battery

With its long zoom lens in a slim body, the EX-ZR310 is geared towards photographers who want flexibility and telephoto reach from a point-and-shoot camera. The combination of manual controls, fast performance, and creative features also make this a versatile option.

Design and Build Quality

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 has a sleek and stylish design typical of Exilim compact cameras. It has a solid and sturdy build quality thanks to its metal body. The camera weighs around 176g which is quite lightweight for a compact camera. It measures at 102 x 58 x 27 mm making it small enough to fit into a pocket or purse easily.

The button layout is well designed with the power button, zoom rocker, shutter button and movie record button on the top plate for easy access. On the rear is a 3 inch LCD screen and a four-way controller pad and several buttons to access various shooting modes and camera settings. The buttons have a nice tactile feel and feedback.

Overall, the EX-ZR310 is compact, lightweight and comfortable to hold. The metal body gives it a premium look and feel while still remaining highly portable. The controls are sensibly laid out in an intuitive manner.

In comparison, the Casio EX-ZR300GDECB offers similar build quality with a robust metal body ensuring durability and a premium aesthetic. It also features a lightweight design, weighing approximately the same as the EX-ZR310. The EX-ZR300GDECB stands out with its advanced shooting modes and enhanced battery life, making it a versatile option for photography enthusiasts seeking both performance and portability.

Image Quality

The EX-ZR310 features a 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor with 12.1 megapixels of resolution. This allows for prints up to poster size. The sensor works together with Casio's Exilim Engine HS image processor to produce sharp, detailed images with minimal noise.

The camera has a standard sensitivity range from ISO 100 to 3200. Images are clean and noise-free up to ISO 800. At the higher sensitivities of 1600 and 3200, noise starts becoming more apparent but is still usable. Overall the EX-ZR310 performs decently in low light.

Dynamic range is also solid for a point and shoot. The camera is able to preserve details in highlights and shadows when photographing high contrast scenes. There's an HDR mode that further expands the dynamic range by combining multiple exposures. This helps prevent blown out skies or blacked out shadows when shooting landscapes and backlit subjects.

The Casio Exilim EX-ZS200 is another impressive model from Casio's Exilim line. It features a 16.1 megapixel CCD sensor and a 26mm wide-angle lens, making it ideal for a variety of shooting scenarios. This compact camera also offers 6x optical zoom and 720p HD video recording capabilities. With its simple user interface, the EX-ZS200 is perfect for casual photography and capturing everyday moments with ease. Additionally, features like face detection and best shot mode enhance the overall shooting experience.

Features and Performance

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 comes packed with features that enable it to deliver excellent performance.

Autofocus - The EX-ZR310 utilizes contrast-detect autofocus and offers multi-area, tracking, face detection, and spot autofocus modes. Autofocus is generally fast and accurate in good lighting conditions. In low light, it can struggle and hunt for focus at times.

Burst Shooting - With its CMOS sensor and EXILIM Engine HS image processor, the EX-ZR310 can shoot at a continuous rate of up to 30 frames per second. This allows you to capture fast action sequences with ease.

Video Capabilities - For video, the EX-ZR310 records full 1080p HD video at 30fps. The optical zoom can be used while recording video which is a nice bonus. Video quality is quite good overall.

Battery Life - Battery life is rated at around 270 shots per charge which is lower than average. Heavy use of features like burst shooting and video will drain the battery faster. Having a spare battery is recommended for day long outings.

Overall the EX-ZR310 offers a robust set of features for a point and shoot in this price range. Performance in terms of autofocus speed, burst rate, and video recording are all respectable. Battery life could be better but the EX-ZR310 still delivers a solid experience.

Ease of Use

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 is fairly easy to use, thanks to its intuitive menu system and control layout. The camera has a mode dial on top that lets you quickly switch between different modes like Auto, Program AE, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, and a range of scene modes.

In terms of controls, the EX-ZR310 has a good selection of dedicated buttons for commonly used settings like flash, self-timer, and macro mode. There's also a rear dial that lets you quickly change key exposure parameters. The menus are logically organized into tabs for Shooting, Set-up, and Playback. Most common settings like ISO, white balance, drive mode, and more can be accessed directly through the Fn button, making adjustments very convenient.

Some handy features for usability include a Function Description display that gives brief explanations when you select certain modes or settings. There's also a useful Help Mode that gives more details about camera operations. Overall, while the EX-ZR310 may take some learning at first, it won't take long before you can use the camera proficiently. The interface is intuitive enough for beginners but provides plenty of manual controls for more advanced users.

Connectivity

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 has decent connectivity options for a compact camera. It includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which allows for wireless image transfer and remote control of the camera from a smartphone or tablet.

The Wi-Fi works fairly well for transferring photos to a mobile device using the Casio Exilim Remote app. It's not the fastest transfer speed, but gets the job done. Bluetooth can be used to pair the camera with a smartphone and remotely trigger the shutter, which is a handy feature.

In terms of wired connectivity, the EX-ZR310 has a micro HDMI port to output images and video to an HD TV. It also includes a standard micro USB port which can be used for charging and transferring files to a computer.

The camera lacks more advanced connectivity options like NFC for quick pairing with mobile devices or a microphone input port. But the inclusion of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth provide the essential wireless capabilities most users will want in this class of camera. The ports available cover the basics well enough.

Overall the connectivity options are decent but not outstanding. The implementation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth work reliably enough, but the lack of NFC and slow transfer speeds show the limitations of packing so much into a compact point and shoot. For quick social sharing the wireless features get the job done, but power users may want more.

Value for Money

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 has a retail price of around £200, which puts it in the lower mid-range of compact cameras. It's a very competitive price point, with many similar models from other brands available.

At this price, the EX-ZR310 offers a versatile 12x optical zoom lens, 1080p full HD video recording, and a range of creative shooting modes. The build quality is decent but mostly plastic. Image quality is good in bright lighting conditions, though low light performance is just average.

The EX-ZR310's strengths are its long zoom range, responsive performance, and variety of shooting modes. Weaknesses include its small image sensor size, average low light image quality, and lack of a touch screen or viewfinder.

Compared to competitors like the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS and Nikon Coolpix S9300, the EX-ZR310 holds its own on features and price while offering one of the longest zooms. It makes some compromises on image quality and manual controls to achieve the low price point.

Overall the Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 provides very good value for those seeking a travel zoom camera on a budget. Its versatile zoom lens and array of features make it a great option in this price range. More discerning photographers may desire higher end optics and performance however.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightweight and compact body makes it very portable
• Fast start-up and shot-to-shot times
• 12x optical zoom lens provides good versatility
• Optical image stabilization helps reduce blur from camera shake
• Records full HD 1080p video at 30fps
• Good range of shooting modes for different scenarios
• Intuitive menu system and external controls
• Excellent battery life - around 300 shots per charge

Cons

• Image quality is just average, with some noise visible even at low ISO settings
• Small 1/2.3" CMOS sensor limits low light performance
• Lens aperture range could be wider for better bokeh
• No manual exposure controls
• No RAW shooting mode
• No hotshoe for external flash
• Fixed rear LCD screen, no articulation
• No built-in or optional viewfinder

Who is it For?

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 is best suited for casual photographers looking for a compact point-and-shoot with versatile features at an affordable price point.

Its 12x optical zoom lens, creative in-camera effects, and high-speed shooting capabilities make it a great choice for capturing everything from wide landscapes to close-up action shots with ease. The EX-ZR310 performs particularly well in good lighting conditions, delivering pleasing image quality and vivid colors in its JPEG output.

Those wanting a pocketable camera for vacations, family events, and everyday snapshots will appreciate the EX-ZR310's combination of portability, image quality, and creative controls. Its beginner-friendly Auto mode takes the guesswork out of settings, while more advanced shooters will enjoy playing with manual exposure options and in-camera filters.

While not ideal for low-light photography or professional work, the EX-ZR310 hits a sweet spot for hobbyists who want point-and-shoot simplicity with some added versatility. Its compact body and intuitive interface make it enjoyable to pick up and start using without diving into complex menus. At its budget-friendly price point, the EX-ZR310 packs in performance and features that appeal to casual photo enthusiasts.

Conclusion

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 is a compact camera that packs some nice features into a small body, making it a good choice for those looking for a pocketable camera with solid image quality and performance.

The 12x optical zoom lens provides good versatility, letting you zoom in fairly close on distant subjects. Image quality is quite good, producing sharp and detailed 12MP photos, even in low light conditions. The camera also captures nice looking 1080p HD video.

The EX-ZR310 is easy and intuitive to use, with a good selection of shooting modes and effects to choose from. It also offers some more advanced features like manual exposure control and focus, providing room to grow for more experienced photographers.

Connectivity options are basic but functional, with the ability to transfer photos to smartphones and tablets wirelessly. Battery life is also decent enough for a compact camera.

Considering its small size, solid performance and image quality, the EX-ZR310 represents good value for money as an all-around, carry anywhere camera. It would make a great choice for casual photographers looking for a capable compact at a reasonable price point.

Overall, the Casio Exilim EX-ZR310 is a versatile and easy-to-use camera that produces pleasing images and video. Its compact body and generous zoom range make it a great portable camera for travel and everyday use. While more advanced users may want more controls and features, the EX-ZR310 hits a sweet spot for beginners and intermediate photographers looking for an affordable jack-of-all-trades compact camera.