We enjoy taking pictures in my family. TJ has recently shown his interest by taking pictures of his friends, but his greater interest lies in making videos for YouTube. Not a day goes by that he doesn’t ask to borrow someone’s camera to make videos. I know the day that I will have to get him his own camera is approaching. I like to really research products before buying them so I was very happy to receive the opportunity to review the Casio EXILIM EX-Z9 digital camera.
The EXILIM EX-Z9 is an 8.1 megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom. The all metal body contains a 2.6 inch wide display that is extremely bright and clear. The battery and the memory card slide into a compartment located on one side of the camera. While the camera is small, it feels surprisingly sturdy. The camera is about the same size as the picture on the box.
There is a lot that I really like about this camera, the most impressive of them all involved image quality. The large screen is really clear and the colors you see on it are surprisingly sharp and bright. People won’t blend and get lost in the picture like they sometimes do courtesy of built in face detection. I can never manage to hold my hand still when shooting a lot of pictures or a video. Being as many of my pictures are of my children, a good number of my pictures aren’t clear because I have a terrible time shooting moving objects. This camera has a built in image stabilization called Anti Shake DSP. When I played back five videos I took of my son playing Guitar Hero I was super impressed when I noticed the picture wasn’t jumpy like it usually is. The video quality was excellent. The color and clarity of the videos I took were excellent and much better than I expected.
The EX-Z9 offers a number of picture taking modes. The Easy Mode is for people like my Mom who have problems with technology. Easy Mode simplifies use of the camera by limiting the menus to image size, flash and self timer. The YouTube mode allows videos you’ve taken to be uploaded right to YouTube in three steps. The Best Shot mode gives users the opportunity to look through 23 sample pictures and find situations similar to the one they’re in. When a similar is chosen the camera is automatically set up for the user. This is a great idea for people that want a quality shot that aren’t in a hurry, especially for people not used to changing camera settings. I’m more of a spur of the moment picture taker and if I stopped to set every shot up I’d lost the shots I was trying to get so it really doesn’t work for me.
The only thing I didn’t really like about the camera didn’t have to do with the camera itself. I wasn’t clear on what all of the menus contained and where certain features were so I decided to do something I don’t regularly or quickly do – read the user’s manual. The manual was rather confusing to me in that the English instructions were printed along with two other languages. In other words the user sees step 1 in English, then two other languages. Then step 2 appears in the same fashion and so on and so on. I think it’d be less confusing for all parties if each language the instructions were printed in were put all together in their own section.
This camera would make a great Valentine’s Day gift for your sweetheart or child because it offers a good set of features while remaining affordable. The EX-Z9 is available in multiple colors and retails for approximately $159.99. It is available in black, silver, pink and orange and is available to purchase online and in retail stores.
GIVEAWAY
What time is it? Giveaway time! Also, time to give some time. Casio sent me not one, but two, Baby-G watches.
One is white and pink and one is silver and purple. There will be two winners of this giveaway.
HOW TO WIN.
To enter visit the page for the Casio Exilim EX-Z9 and take a look around. Then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling me one feature you like about the Casio Exilim EX-Z9.
Want more entries? You got em. Unlimited entries for this giveaway, after the first entry that is. To earn additional entries leave another comment on another post from this blog (except giveaway and winner posts) and then leave a comment on this post telling me something else about the camera. In other words, there are two steps for each additional entry but no limits to how many additional entries you can earn as long as you comment on another of my posts and comment something about the camera here.
BONUS ENTRIES
1 – Follow me on Twitter AND leave your Twitter name.
1 – Tweet “@valmg is giving away 2 Casio Baby G watches – http://tinyurl.com/cwexjv – #VALMG”
1 – Fave this blog at Technorati AND leave your Technorati name.
1 – Stumble this giveaway AND leave your Stumble name.
1 -Blog about this giveaway, including a link.
1 – Place my button on your blog.
Leave an additional comment for each bonus entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.
THE SMALL PRINT.
US addresses only please. This contest will end on Sunday 02/22/09 at 11:59 pm est. Only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner will be selected by random number. The winner must contact me within 3 days to confirm they wish to receive the prize. Good luck to everyone!
A huge thanks to Casio PR for this great review opportunity and their generosity!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.