Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 Casio - Review 🏆

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 is a compact point-and-shoot digital camera that was released in 2012. It features a 16.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and a wide-angle 25x optical zoom lens with a focal range of 24-600mm (35mm equivalent).

Some of the key features and specs of the EX-ZR400 include:

• 16.1MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor
• 25x optical zoom lens, f/3.0-5.9, 24-600mm equivalent
• Optical image stabilization
• 3-inch LCD display with 460k dots
• Full HD 1080p video recording at 30fps
• High-speed video up to 480fps
• ISO 100-3200
• Continuous shooting up to 30fps
• Built-in GPS with tagging and tracking
• Manual exposure controls
• HDR shooting and in-camera HDR processing
• Panorama shooting mode
• Variety of art filters and effect modes
• Li-ion battery

The EX-ZR400 was designed to be a versatile all-around camera for travel and everyday use, with its expansive 25x zoom range, array of features, and compact body. It offers a good balance of manual controls, auto modes, and creative filters.

Design & Build

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 has a sleek and stylish design, with an intuitive layout and excellent build quality. The camera body is compact and lightweight, measuring at only 105.1 x 61.5 x 27.6mm and weighing 216g (including battery and memory card). This makes it very portable and easy to slip into a pocket or bag.

Despite its small size, the EX-ZR400 feels solid and durable thanks to its metal frame construction. The camera is available in three color options - black, silver, and red. It has a textured handgrip that allows for a secure and comfortable hold.

The back of the camera features a 3-inch LCD monitor with 460k dots resolution. The screen is sharp, bright and has good visibility even in sunlight. Below the screen are well-spaced buttons for playback, menu access, and deleting photos. On the top plate you'll find the power button, shutter release, zoom lever and mode dial. Overall, the controls are intuitive and provide quick access to frequently used functions.

The EX-ZR400 lacks an electronic viewfinder but has a built-in pop-up flash. It has a 25x optical zoom lens with focal range of 24-600mm, which provides exceptional flexibility in composing shots. The lens retracts fully when powered off, maintaining the camera's slim form.

For those seeking similar features in a slightly different package, the Casio Exilim EX-ZR200 is also an excellent choice. It boasts a high-speed image processor and a powerful zoom lens. More details can be found here.

Image Quality

The EX-ZR400 has a 16.1MP high sensitivity CMOS sensor, which produces detailed images with vibrant colors and high dynamic range. The sensor captures a good amount of detail and performs well in low light.

The image quality overall is very good for a compact camera in this class. Photos have low noise levels up to ISO 800, with some noise becoming more apparent at ISO 1600 and 3200. However, images remain very usable even at the higher sensitivity settings.

The dynamic range is also quite good, allowing the EX-ZR400 to retain details in both the shadows and highlights. The camera handles high contrast scenes well, minimizing blown out highlights in bright areas.

The lens is a bright f/3.0 25x optical zoom, with a 35mm equivalent focal length of 25-500mm, providing a very versatile zoom range. Images are sharp throughout the zoom range, with minimal distortion. The lens combines with the sensor to deliver excellent image quality for a compact superzoom camera.

Overall, the image quality of the EX-ZR400 is highly impressive for its class. The combination of the 16MP sensor, versatile 25x zoom lens, and effective image processing provides the ability to capture sharp, vivid photos and prints.

Another notable offering from Casio is the Casio Exilim EX-ZR100. This model features a 12.1 MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor and a 12.5x optical zoom, providing impressive performance in a variety of shooting conditions. Known for its high-speed shooting capabilities and HDR Art mode, the EX-ZR100 is a versatile option for enthusiasts looking to capture both stills and videos with high quality. Its advanced imaging technologies make it a strong contender in the compact camera market.

Features

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 is packed with features for both still photos and video recording. It offers a variety of versatile shooting modes such as Premium Auto, which automatically analyzes the scene to choose the best settings, High Speed Night Scene, and Time Lapse for capturing changing scenery over time.

The camera has built-in HDR technology that takes multiple shots at different exposures and combines them for images with extended dynamic range and reduced blown highlights and shadows. There are also numerous artistic filters like Toy Camera, Soft Focus, Light Toning, and Pop to add creative effects to photos.

For focusing, the EX-ZR400 utilizes a 9-point autofocus system with Subject Tracking to maintain sharp focus on moving subjects. It can shoot continuously at up to 30 frames per second, ensuring you don't miss any fast action.

The EX-ZR400 records full HD 1080p video at 30fps with stereo sound. Shooting modes like HS Night Movie, HS Art Movie, and HS Slow Motion Movie provide creative video effects like slow motion and fast motion. The camera also has a wind noise cut filter for reducing wind noise when recording outdoors.

Performance

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 offers excellent performance for a compact camera in this price range. The camera starts up and is ready to shoot in just over a second, which is very quick. The autofocus speed is also snappy, locking focus in around 0.2 seconds in good lighting. Even in lower light, it only slows down slightly to around 0.4 seconds.

Shutter lag is minimal at less than 0.1 seconds, so you won't miss many shots waiting for the camera. Shot-to-shot times are quick at around 0.5 seconds between frames when shooting JPEG images. When shooting RAW, it slows down to around 1.5 seconds between shots. The camera has a decent buffer depth, capable of capturing around 10 JPEG shots or 7 RAW shots in a burst before slowing down. Overall, the performance is fast enough for all but the most demanding photographers.

Video Quality

The Casio EX-ZR400 has impressive video capabilities for a compact camera. It can record 1080p full HD video at 30fps with stereo sound. The quality of the video footage is excellent with good color reproduction and sharpness.

Some of the video features include:

• 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 60fps
• H.264 video compression for efficient file sizes
• Stereo microphone for quality audio recording
• Optical zoom available during video recording
• Image stabilization reduces shakiness while recording handheld
• Slow motion video modes up to 240fps

The camera has decent buffering that allows continuous recording for up to 29 minutes per clip. Autofocus and auto exposure work quickly to maintain sharpness and ideal brightness when conditions change. Overall, the video quality is very good for a point-and-shoot camera in this price range. The multiple resolution options allow flexibility based on needs.

Connectivity

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 has a good range of connectivity options. For wired connectivity, it has a micro HDMI port to connect to HD TVs and a micro USB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer.

For wireless connectivity, the EX-ZR400 has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which allows you to transfer photos wirelessly as well as remotely control the camera. You can use the Casio app on your smartphone or tablet to control the camera, view live image previews, and transfer photos. The camera also has built-in GPS which geo-tags your photos and videos with location data.

Overall, the connectivity options are quite extensive for a compact camera. The Wi-Fi makes it easy to share photos on social media or send them to other devices. The Bluetooth allows for convenient remote control and image transfer. And the GPS adds helpful geotagging abilities. These wireless options combined with the wired HDMI and USB ports make the EX-ZR400 a very well-connected camera.

Battery Life

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides enough power for around 480 shots per charge, according to CIPA ratings. This is decent battery life for a compact camera.

In real-world use, the battery life is quite good. With moderate use, including some photo shooting, playback, and standby time, the battery can easily last a full day or potentially two days before needing to be recharged. Even with very heavy use, you're likely to get several hundred shots per charge.

Factors like use of flash, wireless connectivity, and video recording will drain the battery faster. But overall, the EX-ZR400's battery performance is solid, providing enough juice for a full day of casual shooting before you'll need to recharge. Just be sure to pack the included battery charger if you plan to be away from a power source for an extended period.

Pros & Cons

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 has many strengths but also a few weaknesses that are worth considering.

Pros

• Excellent 25x optical zoom range, allowing you to get very close to distant subjects
• Fast autofocus and shot-to-shot times mean you'll never miss a moment
• Impressive image stabilization provides sharp images even at full zoom
• Creative shooting modes like HDR, Premium Auto and Time Lapse
• Full manual controls and RAW shooting for advanced photographers
• Well-built metal body that feels sturdy and durable
• Large and sharp 3-inch LCD screen tilts for easy viewing
• 1080p full HD video recording with stereo sound
• In-camera panorama stitching

Cons

• Image quality is just average, with some noise in low light shots
• Maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.9 limits low light performance
• No touchscreen, which would be nice for a modern camera
• No built-in WiFi for easy photo sharing and transfer
• Battery life could be better, at around 300 shots per charge
• No viewfinder means composing shots in very bright light can be difficult

Overall the Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 is a versatile point and shoot camera with an outstanding zoom range and fast performance, making it great for travel and day-to-day shooting. But image quality is just average and low light performance is limited. Still, it's a good option if you need a ton of zoom range in a compact body.

Conclusion

The Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 is a decent mid-range compact camera with some nice features and good image quality for the price. The 25x optical zoom lens provides excellent versatility, allowing you to shoot wide landscapes as well as get close to distant subjects. The camera produces sharp 16MP images with vivid colors and good high ISO performance up to ISO 800.

Some of the key highlights include the triple shot HDR mode which takes three images at different exposures and combines them into one HDR image. This helps bring out shadow and highlight details. The multi-motion shutter feature allows capturing multiple frames of action in a single image.

Overall, the EX-ZR400 is easy to use with full manual controls and a range of creative modes and filters. It can shoot full HD video and has a decent battery life. Drawbacks are that it lacks built-in WiFi and GPS. The screen is also fixed rather than articulated.

In summary, the Casio Exilim EX-ZR400 is a great choice if you're looking for an affordable travel zoom camera with versatile features and good image quality. It's ideal for casual photographers who want the flexibility of a long zoom range without the bulk of a DSLR. The unique modes like HDR and multi-motion shutter add creative options lacking in most compact cameras. Thus, the EX-ZR400 makes for an excellent everyday camera for travel, events, and general photography needs.