Casio Exilim EX-G1 12.1 MP Slim-line Endurance Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Red)
by CASIO
Our Price: $329.95
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $179.77 (click here)
Category: Digital Camera
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Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: CASIOModel: EX-G1RD
Color: Red
Product features:
- Rugged design is shock resistant, waterproof, freezeproof, and dustproof
- Multi-coated lens is water-repellent and prevents light reflection
- 12.1-megapixel resolution; 3x optical zoom
- Advanced Dynamic Photo function; BEST SHOT function
- Interval shooting function automatically takes still photos or movies at fixed intervals
- Capture images and video to microSD, microSD /HC memory cards(not included)
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Digital camera reviews of Casio Exilim EX-G1 12.1 MP Slim-line Endurance Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Red)
Digital camera Review: A Great Take Anywhere Camera - Just for Fun!
Summary: 4 Stars
Exilim Date of purchase 5/14/2010
This is my first Casio camera. Frankly, I always thought Casio was junk but I just had to give this camera a try. It was just too compelling!
Opening the box, I was pleasantly impressed with the build quality. It is very stylish (the red one) and you start liking the looks of it right away. It has good "heft", doesn't feel cheap and gives the overall feel and appearance of good quality.
I set the battery to charging while assembling the plastic guard and hand strap. Use a GOOD screwdriver to do this unless you like messed up screws. I had one for glasses that had exactly the right size bit so I was good to go. Everything went perfect. The screws are quite small so work carefully and take your time.
I had already downloaded the manual from the web so I looked that over while charging the battery. This camera is loaded for bear on features ... wow ... too many really. I probably won't try half of them!
I bought this camera to take sailing, kayaking and as a general walkabout camera. I use my Panasonic FZ35, or Nikon for the "Good Stuff". I was not expecting a DSLR quality when I bought this ... and you shouldn't either. Just good, "fun" pictures taken where I wouldn't dare take my other cameras. (Unless of course I wanted them ruined!)
After reading some of the manual, I opened the camera and put in the fiddly little MicroSD card. It's a dainty process. I bought a Class 6 card right off the bat, 8 GB, in case I wanted to play with the movie function. I knew too that I would be using the "interval" function alot while sailing. That feature alone was the main reason for buying the camera. Being VERY careful that no dust was on the seal, I closed the door and latched it.
The battery is quite small. Half the size of a book of matches! Amazing. The charger is a separate unit, nicely made and charged the battery in about 2 hours. I opened the battery compartment after charging was complete and inserted the battery. Again ..carefully closing the watertight door.
Pressing "power on" the camera recognized the card immediately. At this point I formatted the card using the camera hardware. The manual says to do so. With the card formatted I was ready to do some testing.
Scrolling through the menus with the aid of the PDF manual, I set the camera to the settings I wanted to try. I started with "Best Shot - Auto".
I found the FIRST thing to do is TURN OFF the "Make-Up" function. (Page 48) This softens your images. If you shoot a lot of people pictures maybe you'll like it. I don't. If I want soft images I'll buy a cheap camera or soften them in Photoshop!!
Because of the tiny MicroSD card and messing around with the watertight door, I resolved to do a lot of shooting before looking at the results. I planned to use the 8MP setting most of the time to conserve card space. I don't really need the 12MP files so why shoot them? This gave me 1735 still images on an 8 GB card. More than enough for my week long sailing trip.
I made about 80 test shots ... outside, inside, flowers, interval stills, good light, bad light, close and far. I found the color to be good and the images all usably sharp. Auto focuse seems to work well. Considering the size of the sensor and the form factor of the camera, I feel it does a respectable job. DSLR ...no, nice little special purpose camera ...YEP! It is slow shot to shot as many others have said. This does not really bother me that much. There is a CS (continous shooting) function that might be interesting to some (Page 70). Download the manual and read about it. It overcomes some of the shot to shot lag in an interesting way.
I found with all my playing around, shooting and viewing the battery lasted reasonably well. Total shots was close to 100 and I spent a lot of time in the menus, looking at settings and viewing images ... using up power. When the indicator went into the red zone I recharged. It took about 70 minutes to return the battery to full charge.
Now I needed a real test.
So took the Casio on a week long sailing trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Using the Panavise Mount, also purchased from Amazon, I took hundreds of photos on and off the water.
At the end of the day I placed the camera in plain water, swished it around some and rinsed it off with more fresh water. On a small boat fresh water is at a premium, so I had to go lighter than if I were staying in a hotel. After the soak I toweled it off and lay it out in the open air to dry. Then I carefully cleaned the lens for next use.
So far ... so good. Sound like I'm too fussy? Let's not forget this is a precision electronic and optical device. A micro computer coupled to a lens and imaging sensor being used in a very hostile environment! Sure, you can beat it around if you want, but it won't work long I assure you.
To say I was anxious to look at the photos on my home computer would be an understatement!
All of my use was above water in splash, salt spray conditions. I did not dive with it. Heck, I can't even swim!
Overall I like the camera. The look, the feel, and the image performance. It does just what I expected it to do ... take good pictures in environmentally challenging situations. Its' potential main weakness is the rubber seals of course. Over time the rubber is bound to take a "set" and no longer seal as well as when new. Here is what the manual says, " In order to maintain waterproofing, replacement of the cameras gaskets once each year is recommended. Note that you will be charged for gasket replacement." Page 33. I'm sure of that!
Chances are the camera will be "toast" by the time you realize the seals are bad! Oh well, I recognized all that beforehand and bought it anyway. It was just too cool!
We'll see what happens. Meantime, let the good times roll!
The one thing I did not like was the battery door. It is difficult to open on my camera. The release is tiny and trying to move it and get your nail under the lip of the door is difficult at best. Big hands or cold hands could never do it. I finally resorted to moving the catch with my fingernail and lifting the door with the blade of my pocketknife. Not exactly ideal.
How were the pictures? Very good to excellent. In bright conditions good exposure and color. My taste required an EV change of minus 1/3 stop. Easy to do. It focused well over all but struggled some in low light.
Would I buy it again after having used it? Sure! Most all my other cameras have been for my work. This one is purely for FUN photography ... that's all! And at 60 years, I need all the fun I can get!
Buy it under $170 (11/20/2010) and its a good deal. As the price goes down, the "value" goes up!
I gave it 4 stars because of its low light focusing difficulty and its' potentially short useful life due to the weak gasket arrangement. Most buyers won't be bothered. If you're into real diving, look at the bulkier Canon D10 or better yet, invest in a real dive camera.
Oh, and by the way ... That Panavise camera mount is super! (See my other reviews.) Worth the money. I used in in conjunction with the cameras "interval" function for some fun pics.
More Casio Exilim EX-G1 12.1 MP Slim-line Endurance Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Red) reviews:
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Summary of Casio Exilim EX-G1 12.1 MP Slim-line Endurance Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Red)
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