 So Much Functionality in Such a Small Package |
| Läbivaatamise kuupäev: October 31, 2007 |
| Korrektor: Mobil'Homme, Denver, CO USA |
I bought this to replace my old EX-Z750. I first tried the Lumix DMC-TZ3 but was really disappointed with it so decided to try the V8.
The feature set on the V8 blows my mind, but what's _really_ impressive is the quality. Don't expect it to perform like a digital SLR or an HD video recorder, expect instead to be amazed at how well it can take photos and record video while still fitting comfortably in your pocket.
Some highlights:
* The sound recording is amazing--it records stereo and captures a remarkable dynamic and tonal range.
* Optical zoom works while recording video
* 7X optical zoom with little noticeable distortion
* Long exposures no longer have the severe red-shift of old Exilims
* Video is recorded in Mac-compatible format (no special converters requied)
A few drawbacks:
* Low-light video has lots of compression artifacts
* As with all compacts, flash is harsh.
If what you need is a camera that you can use to capture the moment, this it because it fits in your pocket, performs well under an incredible range of conditions, and provides remarkable fidelity for the package. It's unlikely you'll win any awards, but you'll find you capture more. |
great point and shoot camera
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| Läbivaatamise kuupäev: November 5, 2007 |
| Korrektor: E. D. Hill, Kansas |
I had read reviews on the EX-V7 saying the antishake was not perfected. I had hoped the V8 would have the fixes. From my experience, it has!
Very easy to use and, for my non-professional eye, does a great job with both stills and videos.
My only minor complaint is that I get more red eye with this camera than I did with my previous EX-Z4. But with software fix available, it is not a concern for me. |
You CAN have it all
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| Läbivaatamise kuupäev: Detsember 29, 2007 |
| Korrektor: I. Leventhal, San Jose, CA USA |
| I'm very pleased with this camera. I started out looking for a new camcorder to replace my bulky old 8mm model. What I soon realized was that the camcorders hadn't gotten much smaller, and I probably would only have it with me for planned filming occasions. So I changed my strategy, and looked far and wide for a compact digital camera that took decent pictures AND allowed you to zoom when shooting a video. Videos without zoom are kinda limited, and most of the manufacturers disable the analog zoom while filming. Along comes Casio, who not only allow the zoom during video, but give you a 7X Analog zoom. What a combination! So, I've been snapping pictures and shooting vids like crazy, and I'm really impressed. The stereo sound on the videos is unbelievably good, and I can fit 90 mins of high quality video on my 4GB SD card! So, you CAN have it all, but it's not perfect. There's a fair amount of barrel distortion on close up shots, the autofocus has a decent amount of lag when zooming in during video, and of course, there's the stupid dock. Come on, Casio, put a mini-USB connector on there! Even so, I'm giving it 5 stars because the combination of functionality that this camera offers IS perfect! |
Tiny and truly amazing
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| Läbivaatamise kuupäev: April 7, 2008 |
| Korrektor: PhotoGraphics, Arizona |
There is no doubt the EX-V8 an incredible camera and I'm happy to see such great reviews for it. I think a lot of people overlook it because they crave those huge manly zoom lenses with "authentic-sounding" labels emblazoned on them like Schneider, Leica, Zeiss, etc. Maybe it's not cool to have a camera with a wimpy looking flat front?
I have owned a Casio EX-Z750 which I reviewed here a few years ago and have loved it. Casio has been in the digital camera business for a long time and they make rock-solid cameras that take excellent pictures. I can't count the times I didn't want to lug my DSLR or I felt it attracted too much attention but yet I needed something that would produce a decent photograph and the Z750 was perfect. A few weeks ago I was at a Renaissance Faire with my Z750 and wished I had two features the camera lacked ... a more powerful zoom, and Image Stabilization like my DSLR. The first one that I could seriously consider is the brand-new Panasonic DMC-TZ5. With a 10x zoom and IS it seems like an excellent camera, but when I went to look at one I was disappointed how big it is, and that's before the huge lens is zoomed all the way. I reviewed every other camera and found just one that had a decent zoom, IS, and the other features I wanted and was small enough to take everywhere and that was the V8. As soon as I picked one up I was convinced.
Like many Casio cameras this thing feel like it is carved from a solid brick of aluminum (it's not). Mine is called "Must" though it really is a very rich gunmetal gray. Every button feels solid and works with a reassuring click. Despite having a 7X lens the overall size is almost identical to my Z750, which is accomplished by having the entire lens built into the camera body. The LCD screen is the same size but even sharper and brighter than my previous camera. Let me spend a little more time on the lens because it is one of the major reasons I bought the camera.
To me there are two ways to take pictures ... either with a DSLR with a great lens in which you carefully compose your photograph and manually set the camera to capture exactly the essence of the moment; or with a pocket point-and-shoot camera in which you want to draw as little attention to yourself so you can capture your subject in their most candid moments. The V8 excels at this because there is no whirring zoom lens that thrusts out toward your subject. It is hard to be natural when a lens is zooming in on you. With the V8 you can zoom in very discretely without alarming your subject. The design of the on/off switch adds to this by simply sliding the lens cover to one side to turn it on. This also offers far more protection to the lens than those flimsy metal leafs that most cameras use. I have seen more of those get smashed than I can count. The V8's door has enough resistance that under most conditions it won't accidentally slide open in your pocket. Another feature that adds to the ability to zoom in on a subject without making them anxious is the placement of the zoom lever. Instead of the obvious place around the shutter release like many cameras, it is operated by sliding a small bar on the back of the camera with your thumb. It feels much more natural to me. Here is a short summary:
PROS: rock solid construction; fully internal 7X zoom lens; 4-way Image Stabilization; amazing wide-format movie mode with superb compression; stereo sound with video; excellent LCD screen; amazing range of features and controls
CONS: I prefer a lens that zooms just a little wider
If you like capturing candid "people" photos that are as natural as possible the V8 may be one of the most ideal cameras ever made. Here's a summary of why:
1. It looks like an extremely simple fixed lens point-and-shoot camera yet you can unobtrusively zoom in for very nice candid shots.
2. The dark grey case does not call attention to itself.
3. The very effective anti-shake means you don't have to have a lot of light to make a good picture.
4. The rear-mounted zoom slider doesn't reveal to the subject that you are zooming in and out.
5. When the electronic sounds are turned off, there is absolutely no whirring zoom and focus sounds like on almost every other camera. This camera is absolutely silent. You could take candids at a funeral and not disturb anyone.
6. If you did need to use flash, let's say at a cocktail party, you can set it to a very low power that gives you enough light without blinding your subject.
Bottom line: Picture quality is important but it's not everything ... I ran side-by side test shots with my Z750, which I thought made excellent photographs. The V8 was consistently superior in every way, especially the dynamic range. With the sole exception of the reds being a little too orange, the V8 is in the league of the very best point-and-shoots made. When considering a camera of this type, size is a major factor, as is ruggedness. Perhaps most important is "am I going to be able to capture a once-in-a-lifetime memory and share it with family and friends?" Remember, a point-and-shoot should be just that, not a replacement for a high-quality DSLR.
Any digital camera is a sophisticated piece of electronics and should be given reasonable care which means getting a good carrying case, not tossing it in a pocket or purse with your keys. Regardless of brand, buy from a reputable dealer and despite anything you believe a digital camera is one of the best reasons to pay the extra 20 bucks for a performance protection plan.
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Love this camera, so far, so good!
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| Läbivaatamise kuupäev: Jaanuar 19, 2008 |
| Korrektor: L. Okeke, |
| I absolutely LOVE this camera. There are so many different things that it can do. The camera combines manual and automatic features to let you play around and get the shot that you want. The best shot modes are helpful and when I play around some more with the camera, I will post another review. So far so good! |
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