Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z1080

(3.5 out of 5)

MSRP: $249

An impressive set of features makes this digital camera well worth the price.

For only $249, the Casio EX-Z1080 takes good photos, has a solid feel, a whopping 41 Best Shot modes, and takes video clips optimized for YouTube. It also offers an impressive number of controls, such as manual focus, white balance, and face recognition that actually works. And unlike other Exilims, this 2.6-inch LCD offers a decent preview. Too bad its maximum ISO of 6400 is little more than a gimmick.   About the size of a deck of cards (3.6 x 2.3 x 1 inches), the EX-Z1080 weighs a mere 4.4 ounces but has the durability and solid feel usually reserved for cameras twice its size. We liked the camera's uncluttered backside, which houses the 2.6-inch LCD and four buttons (Menu, Best Shot, Set, and a cursor ring). Like other cameras from this line, such as the EX-Z77, these buttons are small, particularly the thin cursor ring around the Set button. Casio placed the zoom controls in an intuitive arrangement, on a wheel around the shutter on the camera's top bezel. As with all Exilims, the menu structure is so simple, we'd feel comfortable giving the camera to our grandma with no more than a five-minute tutorial.

Read Full Review @ LaptopMag.com by Erin Scottberg