Casio Exilim EX-Z120

Reviewed March 2006

Introduction

The Casio EX-Z120 is a member of the Exilim Zoom family, and offers a 7.2 megapixel resolution, a 3X optical zoom and a 2-inch monitor, all packaged in a simple and elegant body.

A raised area on the top right of the camera supports the On/Off switch, which is recessed into the surface so that the camera cannot be accidentally turned on, and the 2-stage shutter release, which is surrounded by the the zoom control.

As is generally the case with current compact digital cameras, in addition to controlling the zoom lens as indicated by and , the zoom control also controls the display of the image when the camera is in Playback mode.

The EX-Z120 is equipped with an optical viewfinder, positioned in the upper left corner of the back. The viewfinder is somewhat rudimentary, but can come in handy when there is a need to save power. One green and one red LED are embedded on its right, glowing steadily during camera operations, and blinking to indicate a problem.

Most of the remainder of the camera's back is occupied by the 2-inch LCD monitor which is composed of 84,960 pixels.

Above the monitor, but on the opposite side from the viewfinder, are two buttons:

	The button on the left starts the Playback mode when the camera is in a capture mode. In addition, if held for more that a second, the button can be used to turn on the camera directly in the playback mode. Turning it off, however, requires the use of the main power switch.
	The button on the right can be used to turn the camera on directly in the Capture mode, or return to the Capture mode from the Playback mode.

The other external controls of the EX-Z120 are stacked on the right side of the monitor, starting with, at the top, the Mode Dial. The Mode dial has 8 positions for the different capture modes:

Snapshot mode is similar to the Program mode found on most other cameras. While the camera handles the selection of both aperture and shutter speed, all other parameters can be set by the photographer.

Directly underneath the Mode Dial are two more buttons. The one on the left is labelled MENU and serves to display the menu that corresponds to the current camera mode. (See the Characteristics section of the review.)

The one on the right, DISP, controls the monitor and the information superimposed on its image.

Set to a capture mode, the default presentation displays the following information: capture mode, metering mode, remaining shots, image quality and size, ISO setting, aperture and shutter speed, exposure compensation, date and time, battery status and AF brackets.

Pressing the DISP button once adds a real-time histogram. Pressing the button a second time clears all information off the monitor with the exception of the AF brackets. Pressing the button a third time turns off the monitor.

One press of the DISP button adds a histogram for the image — which shows the overall brightness of the image, and its components for red, green , and blue — exposure compensation and capture mode, the flash mode, white balance, metering mode, sensitivity, as well as aperture and shutter speed. And a second press of the button frees the image of any superimposed information.

In addition, another display mode, based on a calendar view, is possible (see below).

The last external control of the EX-Z120 is the 4-direction control, which occupies the space at the lower right of the back.

The 4-direction control serves to navigate the menus, but also serves to select apertures and shutter speeds when the camera is set to A, S, or M modes, change exposure compensation, and review images in the Playback mode. In addition, the up and down arrows offer additional functions:

With the camera set to a capture mode, the up arrow serves to choose the focus mode: Auto Focus: the camera focuses automatically from 40 cm (1.3 ft) to infinity Macro: allows the camera to focus on a subject between 10 and 50 cm (3.9 to 19.7 inches) from the front element of the lens when the zoom is set to wide angle, and from 50 to 60 cm (19.5 to 23.4 inches) when the zoom is at the telephoto end. Infinity: sets focus to infinity. Manual: allows adjusting the focus with the left and right arrows of the 4-direction control while the camera magnifies the centre portion of the image on the screen and displays a distance scale. Worth noting, the number of possible AF points used by the camera can be chosen in the menu (see the Characteristics section of the review).

With the camera set to the Playback mode the up arrow serves to display a month-by month calendar, which shows the days on which photos were captured by displaying a small thumbnail of the first image captured that day.

At the centre of the 4-direction control is the SET button, which is used to confirm a selection made in a menu, alternate between shutter speed setting and aperture setting when the camera is set to the Manual shooting mode, or alternate between aperture or shutter speed setting and exposure compensation when the EX-Z120 is set to A or S modes. Moreover, with the Mode Dial set to the Best Shot position, it serves to display the Scene mode selection screen.

As with the up arrow, the down arrow also offers 2 functions depending on the camera mode:

	In a capture mode the arrow serves to select the Flash mode: Auto, Forced Off, Forced On, Red-eye Reduction.
	In the Playback mode, the arrow serves to delete the image under review, or all images.

The right and left arrows of the 4-direction control are not pre-assigned any additional functions, but they can be given additional uses in the camera's menu. (See the Characteristics section of the review.)

The Casio Exilim EX-Z120 is extremely well finished. The camera reacts quickly to the controls and has a minimal shutter lag time. Also, the size of the camera, and the simple but effective layout of the controls make it easy to use and master.

Similarly, while the optical viewfinder is very basic, it is well placed and makes it possible to frame a shot when the ambient light is too strong and the monitor is difficult to see.