I compare the Exilim EX-ZR400 hereinafter with my personal reference camera in this price range, the display Sony DSC-HX20VB Cyber-shot digital camera (18.2 megapixels, 20x opt. Zoom, 7.5 cm (3 inches), Sweep Panorama ) black. Both cameras are equipped about the same, but Sony has a larger zoom range. If you need more zoom, found in the Casio EX-ZR700, which comes also similar to well-made, as does the Sony.
First Impression
The Casio looks neither particularly sophisticated nor feels high-quality. Although Sony is even made of plastic, but this acts clearly less cheap. The lens of the Casio is very shaky in the extended state, which neither leaves a robust impression, yet the optical power can be beneficial. The Sony is somewhat thicker and has a larger gripping bead on the right side. This it is better in the hand than the Casio.
Service
The Casio here differs little from other cameras. The operation is logical and well-structured. To record video, there is a dedicated button. The monitor of the Casio is excellent! Today I have made recordings with two cameras in the bright sunshine. The display of the Casio was much brighter and easier to see than the Sony. I like just fine!
Like the Sony, Casio has a "super automatic". This is an all-inclusive setting that selects the appropriate scene mode according to the situation and, if necessary, several shots at a combined (HDR) function
The Casio is ready for use quickly. The shutter lag is low and the continuous shooting mode is super fast.
In the box is just a quick start guide. The detailed can be found on the Internet.
Unfortunately leaves the attached charger to charge the battery only in the camera. A major annoyance that unfortunately also applies to the Sony. I prefer chargers that receive the battery and allow it so that you can take pictures with a second battery while charging.
Quality of photos and videos
Let's start with the videos: Yes, well, which, although in Full HD, but you can not convince. The colors are dull, lacks clarity and it roars quite clear, not only in dark image areas. It is possible to make during filming photos and zooming. The zoom motor is heard then but on the soundtrack.
Slightly better like photos. In bright conditions, at least virtually noise, at dusk it is then but quickly ugly. The colors are quite natural, perhaps coordinated with too little saturation, and a little too warm. But there is a lack of sharpness and detail. From the crisp shots of the Sony Casio is miles away.
I find incomprehensible why some manufacturers deliver your cameras with default settings that do not provide the best picture quality. So the picture quality on "standard" rather than "fine" also set at the Casio. Of course I've tested in the setting "fine", because in this setting is less compressed. The files are for something bigger, but who cares when the current memory sizes and prices?
Summary:
+ Speed
+ Monitor
- Video Quality
- Photo quality
- Processing / value
It may not be entirely fair to vergeleichen the Casio with the Sony. But the price of Sony has clearly subsided and is now not far above the Casio. If the price of the Casio drops significantly also, eventually perhaps 4 stars are justified. Currently, the camera does not convince me so much.
