Checking out Casio’s 7x zoom (7MP) and the new 10MP digicams

Today we are having a quick look at Casio’s latest high-end models, the exciting 7x zoom EX-V7 as well as one of the few 10 mega pixel cameras on the market in the digicam range.
Both cameras are exciting in different ways and come loaded with features.  But are they picture perfect?  Let’s find out.

Casio Exilim Hi-Zoom EX-V7

The EX-V7 stands out from the crowd in many ways: this is a 7x7 shooter, meaning it’s a 7 mega pixel camera coupled with a 7x zoom lens.
What’s more, this zoom lens is totally built in!  This means it’s a very clean design with no protruding parts.  It reminds me of the very first digicam I ever had, the Minolta XT. 
Another important aspect of this particular design means that the chance of something mechanical going wrong is minimised.  Why is that important?  Well, it happened on the previous Casio review camera, the Z850.  Just like when things go kaput right after the warranty has expired, the zoom lens system got permanently stuck in the telephoto mode, just after the review was published...  So you can imagine that a built-in system has my preference!
The V7 is a pretty heavy digicam.  In fact, it always surprises me when I pick it up how much heavier it is than any other similar sized camera.  However it is still touted as the slimmest digital camera with 7x optical zoom.
It is built sturdier with a smooth metallic finish and everything about it exudes quality.  There is a minimum of buttons around the perimeter which adds to the style but, as we will see later, this can also be a bit of a problem.  That precious lens system is protected by a sliding cover which also acts as an on / off switch.
The unit turns on quickly and shooting speeds are on a par with most models in this range.  It takes about 1.5 secs to start up and capture the first JPEG.
Shutter lag varies between half a second to a full second. Continuous shooting can be done at about 1.4 frames per second (fps) at max resolution (7.2-megapixel JPEGs).
Picture quality is aided by Anti-Shake DSP and what Casio calls "mechanical CCD shift technology".  This is particularly necessary when you take images at the higher zoom levels. 
I’ve include a couple of shots taken at the extreme optical range and cropped a small segment to 100% to show the picture quality. There’s a fair bit of artefacts and noise. We recommend sticking to below ISO 200 to minimise the noise.
Video quality, on the other hand, is pretty good for a still camera. The EX-V7 has H.264 encoding for video clips up to 848x480 pixel resolution in wide mode and the more standard 640x480 pixels in 4:3 aspect ratio.

The zoom lever has been moved to the back of the unit, so you will have to manipulate it with your thumb.  This is not a big drama and with a bit of practice works just as well.  Also on the back are the Menu and Display button as well as the obligatory rotary dial and D-pad.  That’s it, my friends!  Those are all the buttons…  When you hand this camera over to your friend you would never have to tell him again: you have to press this or that button” !  There’s only one button on the top.  But on the other hand you might miss a few of the dedicated buttons.
Changing ISO settings for instance means you have to go through quite a number of menu changes.  The same with accessing the macro mode: you would think that the icon on the dial which is depicted as a four-leafed clover, would give your quick access to the macro setting.  It is actually an "Easy Mode" –snapshot setting.  Is this perhaps similar to Google’s I'm Feeling Lucky setting?
The EX-V7 also has an aperture priority, shutter priority, and a manual mode that offers a limited amount of adjustments.

At the same time Casio also announced the release of the Exilim Zoom EX-Z1050, the latest upgrade to its stylish Exilim digital cameras.  This camera comes with a new high-performance, image-processing module, enhancing the ability to shoot super-high resolution, 10.1-megapixel images.  We saw last year the introduction of the Exilim Zoom EX-Z1000, the first digital camera in the world to deliver 10.1 megapixel resolution in a handicam.
Most of the general comments that I made about the V7 (and earlier the Z-850) also applies to this sibling so let us first highlight the features that Casio thinks are important.

Features
* Stylish, slim, compact model featuring 10.1 million effective pixels and 3x optical zoom.
* Maximum 7 shots/second high-speed continuous shooting (Limited to 2.0 megapixels and normal image quality. Requires use of a High Speed SD Memory Card.*)
* EXILIM Engine 2.0 image processing module featuring new motion analysis technology.
* Blur-reduction technologies - Automatically analyses the velocity and vector of a moving subject and sets the most appropriate ISO sensitivity and shutter speed. - Anti Shake DSP reduces blur due to shaky hands and subject movement, using high shutter speeds and high sensitivity settings. - Movie mode with electronic camera shake compensation function.
* “Auto Tracking AF” function follows moving subjects, keeping them continuously in focus until the photo is taken.
* Newly developed 2.6 inch Wide and Bright LCD display (maximum brightness of 1,000 cd/m2 at centre of screen).
* Control panel that displays shooting information on the right side of the monitor and enables direct camera control.
* Super Life Battery up to 370 shots to be taken when fully charged. The number of shots that can be taken varies depending on the SD Memory Card used.

Specifications Exilim EX-Z1050