August 2007
Casio Exilim EX-V7: First Look
We preview a 7 megapixel subcompact digital camera from Casio
The $270 Exilim EX-V7 is one of two cameras battling for the title of world's smallest 7-megapixel, 7x zoom subcompact.
In our First Look at this camera in the lab, we found it has a lot to offer but also a few drawbacks. Features that contribute to ease of use are offset by the lack of an optical viewfinder and limited wide-angle zoom. A handful of dedicated controls on the back reduce the need to navigate through menus for its many settings. The omission of a power button is a bit unusual; to turn the camera on and off, you slide the face plate open or closed.
The Exilim EX-V7 offers ISO settings as high as 800 and a “High Sensitivity” scene mode that uses ISO 1600. It also supports SDHC memory cards, which can hold more than standard SD memory cards. In our preliminary tests, picture quality was Good, but not as good as most subcompacts we test.
For help in choosing a subcompact or any other type of camera, read our digital camera buying advice. ConsumerReports.org can also check out our digital camera and for additional help in finding the right model for their needs.
Here are more details on what our testers found out so far about the Casio Exilim EX-V7 digital camera:
HIGHS
Versatile yet simple. The camera is loaded with scene modes and options, including features that make the camera easy to use along with more advanced settings for serious shooters. For example, novices might like the “Easy” mode, which has limited options and simplified menus. And nearly all shooting modes are clearly labeled with straightforward descriptions and an accompanying sample shot. A handful of dedicated controls on the back reduce the need to navigate through menus for its many settings.
SLR-like autofocus. There's an autofocus tracking feature that you turn on through a menu setting. Once it's on, if you focus on a subject by pressing the shutter button halfway down, the camera will track that subject and keep it in focus even if it moves. SLRs have had a similar feature for years, but it’s been rare on point-and-shoots.
Two kinds of image stabilization. A mechanical image stabilizer reduces the effects of camera shake due to hand movement, which is a particular issue for longer zoom cameras such as this. This feature can be used in conjunction with the V7’s simulated image stabilizer, which minimizes image blur due to subject movement. This combination compensates for the effects of both hand and subject movement.
Fine video. It uses the newest version of MPEG-4 encoded video, which allows longer recording times than MPEG-2 and motion JPEG but with comparable video quality. Audio is in stereo.
LOWS
No optical viewfinder. As with many small digital cameras, there’s no optical viewfinder. You must use the LCD to compose, which may be hard to view in bright sunlight.
Not very wide angle. The zoom’s widest setting isn’t very wide, the film camera equivalent of 38mm. A wider-angle minimum focal length would be quite useful for group portraits and landscapes.
BOTTOM LINE
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced subcompact with a powerful zoom, and you're willing to sacrifice a bit of picture quality, the Exilim EX-V7 is a good choice. With plenty of scene modes and versatile features, it’s a camera you can grow with.
In our First Look at this camera in the lab, we found it has a lot to offer but also a few drawbacks. Features that contribute to ease of use are offset by the lack of an optical viewfinder and limited wide-angle zoom. A handful of dedicated controls on the back reduce the need to navigate through menus for its many settings. The omission of a power button is a bit unusual; to turn the camera on and off, you slide the face plate open or closed.
The Exilim EX-V7 offers ISO settings as high as 800 and a “High Sensitivity” scene mode that uses ISO 1600. It also supports SDHC memory cards, which can hold more than standard SD memory cards. In our preliminary tests, picture quality was Good, but not as good as most subcompacts we test.
For help in choosing a subcompact or any other type of camera, read our digital camera buying advice. ConsumerReports.org can also check out our digital camera and for additional help in finding the right model for their needs.
Here are more details on what our testers found out so far about the Casio Exilim EX-V7 digital camera:
HIGHS
Versatile yet simple. The camera is loaded with scene modes and options, including features that make the camera easy to use along with more advanced settings for serious shooters. For example, novices might like the “Easy” mode, which has limited options and simplified menus. And nearly all shooting modes are clearly labeled with straightforward descriptions and an accompanying sample shot. A handful of dedicated controls on the back reduce the need to navigate through menus for its many settings.
SLR-like autofocus. There's an autofocus tracking feature that you turn on through a menu setting. Once it's on, if you focus on a subject by pressing the shutter button halfway down, the camera will track that subject and keep it in focus even if it moves. SLRs have had a similar feature for years, but it’s been rare on point-and-shoots.
Two kinds of image stabilization. A mechanical image stabilizer reduces the effects of camera shake due to hand movement, which is a particular issue for longer zoom cameras such as this. This feature can be used in conjunction with the V7’s simulated image stabilizer, which minimizes image blur due to subject movement. This combination compensates for the effects of both hand and subject movement.
Fine video. It uses the newest version of MPEG-4 encoded video, which allows longer recording times than MPEG-2 and motion JPEG but with comparable video quality. Audio is in stereo.
LOWS
No optical viewfinder. As with many small digital cameras, there’s no optical viewfinder. You must use the LCD to compose, which may be hard to view in bright sunlight.
Not very wide angle. The zoom’s widest setting isn’t very wide, the film camera equivalent of 38mm. A wider-angle minimum focal length would be quite useful for group portraits and landscapes.
BOTTOM LINE
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced subcompact with a powerful zoom, and you're willing to sacrifice a bit of picture quality, the Exilim EX-V7 is a good choice. With plenty of scene modes and versatile features, it’s a camera you can grow with.
