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Casio was one of the very first brands to launch the super slim range of digital cameras under the "EXILIM" banner. The EXILIM EX-Z30 and EX-Z40 are their recent and enhanced offerings. Targeted at the point-and-shoot segment, these cameras have user-friendly features, improved battery life and compact size as their prime strengths. The EX-Z30 and the EX-Z40 are exactly similar in almost all respects except for the sensors used; the EX-Z30 uses a 3.2 megapixel sensor, while the EX-Z40 uses a 4 megapixel sensor. 
First impressions, design and features The EX-Z30 looks very sleek and stylish. Weighing just 121g (without the Lithium-Ion battery and memory card), the camera measures 87 x 57 x 23.1 mm (W x H x D, excluding projections). Housing a 3.2 MP CCD sensor the EX-Z30 is equipped with a 3x Pentax optical zoom lens with F2.6 - 4.8, f = 5.8 - 17.4 mm (equivalent to approx. 35 -105 mm for 35 mm cameras). There also is an option of 4x digital zoom if one chooses to use it. The sensor is capable of giving a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels while doing a minimum of 640 x 480 pixels. 
The 2" TFT color LCD is one of the drool features of the camera. The silvery metal case is very well crafted and the build quality is one of the best in the category. The 3x optical zoom lens is very well integrated and it telescopes out when turned on. The EX-Z30 boasts of enhanced battery life, super fast start-up, improved auto pan focus and a multi-point AF system. At the back, the large 2" LCD screen is accompanied by an optical viewfinder, a five-way control pad, start up buttons and a zoom rocker. The camera uses SD/MMC cards for external storage and comes with an internal memory of 9.7 MB. A USB charging/docking station is supplied as part of the camera's default package, which is used to connect to the PC and also charge the built-in lithium battery. The built-in flash operates on Auto, Manual-on/off, and Red-eye reduction modes. The focus range is 40 cm to infinity in normal mode and 6 cm to 50 cm in macro mode. The camera offers manual control for ISO, White Balance and Exposure Compensation. There is a handy Best-shot selection option where one can choose from 21 various preset shooting modes. Being a point-and-shoot camera, the Best-shot modes come very handy in applying appropriate white balance, shutter speed and other variables. In the movie mode the camera can take clips at a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, the length of the movie clips is only limited to the size of the memory card. The on-board memory allows 30 seconds of video with sound. As far as the images are concerned the 9.7 MB of onboard memory allows a maximum of five images in fine/best quality mode. Offering multi pattern light metering, the EX-Z30 also provides Contrast AF (Spot and Multi), manual focus, macro, infinity and pan focusing abilities. Performance The EX-Z30 has a super fast start-up time of approximately 2 seconds; the LCD is bright and has an excellent refresh rate for its size. The Auto focus time is also very low and the zoom is fast enough to compliment the start-up time. Overall, as far as the operation is concerned the camera is definitely one of the fastest in its category. Coming to the image quality, the camera performs very similar to the Pentax Optio S, which we have reviewed some time back. The resolution is decent enough and the images have a good amount of detail.
Unfortunately the accurate image detail is not very well backed up by an equally accurate color reproduction. The color reproduction is not very consistent; the colors at times appear dull and washed out with improper contrast levels.
Using the optical zoom, the EX-Z30 performed above average and the fast focus system ensured speed and accuracy while shooting moving objects. The flash is effective for a distance of about 9-10 feet and it's not the best in terms of range.
The EX-Z30 can take decent videos provided there is ample of light and the voice recording is also above average, making the camera a decent option for video clips. The low onboard memory will make it almost impossible to shoot proper video clips without an additional memory card. The battery life is another high point of the EX-Z30; one can easily take about 60-70 snaps with regular use of the LCD and Flash for a single full charge. Since the camera comes with a docking station, the USB connectivity and camera charging is done through it. Though the docking station makes the package impressive, the hassle of carrying it with you for transferring images does get to you. The whole purpose of the super compact camera is defied by the compulsion of the docking station for transferring images; I personally would prefer the USB port on the camera itself. Considering the camera and its functionality, EX-Z30 was never made for enthusiasts or pro users. Primarily targeting the point-and-shoot market, the EX-Z30 offers exceptional portability and some very essential features for its target market. The fast operation, large LCD screen, extra long battery life, user friendly menus and most importantly the preset shooting modes with some innovative features offer flexibility and quick hassle free digital imaging. Conclusion The street price of Rs. 16,000/- makes the Casio EXILIM EX-Z30 a very good deal for those looking for ultra compact digital cameras offering good image quality with point-and-shoot simplicity. The below average color reproduction and low onboard memory are the two prime areas where the camera losses out on points, while the biggest advantage comes in the form of size and speed that it offers. Test Unit Sourced From: J. J. Mehta & Sons, Mumbai.
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