Casio Exilim Card EX-S500: Conclusion

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Casio Exilim Card EX-S500
Conclusion December 1, 2005
Introduction • Features • Body & Design • Buttons & Controls • Menus Specifications • The Tests • Conclusion • Image Samples
Pros Great image quality for a 1/2.5" imager Buttons intuitively placed on the camera for quick access Focusing is above average for a compact camera Large 2.2" LCD Extremely slim and portable for vacation travels Very convenient magnification feature for determining if images are OOF (Out Of Focus) Handy 8.3MB of built-in memory Selectable ISO levels Live RGB Histogram Best Shot modes work very well, have increased by several additional modes versus the former model, and are recommended for questionable shooting conditions "Emergency" shutter button release (pressing completely down on the shutter and not half-way for AF to kick in) works pretty well--I was pleasantly surprised Movie quality is excellent, especially in HQ Calendar screen is very convenient to find images for the date they were taken Suggestions Include a basic carrying case with the EX-S500 Increase built-in memory Cons Typical color fringing of the corners and distortion at the wide end for a compact digital camera No manual shutter speed No manual aperture The Casio EX-S500 was one of the most intuitive compact cameras I've used over the years. Define intuitive? Well, how about charging the camera as directed for two hours, then turning the camera on, and blazing through the menus like you've owned the camera for several months. That's what I call intuitive. Casio's instruction manual is even just as or more in-depth than some DSLR manufacturer manuals I've read. Casio appears to be making sure you will know everything about your camera if you have any questions. In my opinion, the instruction manual reflects the direction of the company. The Casio Exilim Card EX-S500 receives a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED While I encountered the basic issues of a compact camera, such as color fringing (mostly purple and green) on the wide end in the tests, in my outdoor shooting experience, the camera's images were impressive and colors were reminiscent of a DSLR. In fact, I wasn't expecting such a performance and quality level of images out of the Casio EX-S500. Even in Macro mode, the images were clean and crisp. On the image samples provided, no sharpening or color correction was done except for resizing. The "live" histogram feature is helpful in situations where you may not realized how much light or lack of it, is inherent in your shooting situation. You probably won't use it that much, but I was glad to see Casio included it just in case. In addition to the brushed grey color, the Casio EX-S500 also comes in white and orange. The EX-S500 can be found at any major retailer such at select Circuit City, Comp USA, Radio Shack, Target, Ritz Camera, Sharper Image and/or through Casio directly. If you're looking for an ultra-portable compact, put the Casio EX-S500 on your shortlist. Using The Casio EX-S500 With SanDisk 1GB Ultra II SD Card You probably noticed a SanDisk 1GB Ultra II SD card pictured next to the Casio EX-S500. During all of my shooting and even creating home movies, I used the SanDisk Ultra II SD and it performed flawlessly. The Ultra II series is my choice for media if you're using a camera which can benefit from it. Since the EX-S500's Movie mode capture is only limited by the capacity and speed of your media card, the 1GB Ultra II is the perfect match. Also, for real-time video capture, it is wise to go with a premium media card, such as the SanDisk Ultra II series. You want to be sure your video images have a media card which can handle the fairly large amount of information that is passing through the camera to the media card.