Evaluation of the creative opening golem Casio EX-Z400

Compared with the previous Casio EXILIM EX-Z series models, the biggest change in the configuration of the EX-Z400 lies in the adoption of an image sensor with12 million effective pixels, and the highest imaging resolution can reach 4000X3000 pixels. Compared with the previous model, the quadruple zoom lens and 3.0-inch display with an equivalent wide-angle focal length of 28mm have not changed.

Casio EX-Z400 (

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Dynamic synthesis of Casio EX-Z400? Magic? draw

As a new Casio model using EXILIM Engine 4.0, EX-Z400 has some functions such as dynamic synthesis, beauty mode with special buttons, automatic shutter, automatic optimal shooting, high-definition camera and multi-function display screen. Please refer to the following links for these interesting functions or modes:?

Beauty mode

Dynamic synthesis

Continuous shooting synthesis

Automatic fire curtain

Automatic BS

Like the previous models, the Casio EX-Z400 is also made of metal, and its rounded and angular appearance is exactly the same as the previous Z series models. The only extra button in the control interface is used for control? Beauty mode? Special buttons.

EX-Z400(

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EX-Z400(

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EX-Z400(

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EX-Z400(

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EX-Z400(

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Due to the large size of the display screen, the control buttons of EX-Z400 are closely distributed, and sometimes people feel crowded when using it. Although the size of the display screen is large, the display resolution does not exceed the current mainstream of 230,000 points, so the delicate effect of the image is not excellent. The EX-Z400 display has a large viewing angle, which is convenient for sharing with others.

In terms of control efficiency, you can define the shortcut functions of the EX-Z400 direction key through the menu, such as exposure compensation, to realize quick photo control. Unfortunately, half-pressing the shutter in the menu open or playback mode can't immediately return to the shooting mode, and sometimes the EX-Z400 will miss some wonderful moments.

In the response speed test, we use SanDisk Extreme III SDHC card with 8GB capacity as the storage medium. The startup time in the project refers to the time when the power switch is pressed until the preview screen appears, and the working indicator light of the memory card shows the end of card reading; Shutdown time refers to the time from pressing the power switch to closing the display screen; Post-shooting processing time refers to the time required to release the shutter until the next preview screen appears on the screen and prepare for the next shooting; The playback transition time refers to the time when the next photo is clearly displayed on the screen by pressing the arrow keys in the playback (browsing) mode. When testing the focusing speed, we focus on the black-and-white picture displayed by the LCD with a distance of 1 m. Other settings of the camera remain in the default state.

EX-Z400 random battery (

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Dynamic performance test. We refer to the test method provided by CIPA DC-002-2003 standard, and use a fully charged lithium battery (model NP-40, 1300mAh, 3.7V) and an 8GB SanDisk Extreme III SDHC card for the test. The key points of the test are: automatic mode shooting is used during the test, and the photo storage format is the largest and most detailed. The built-in flash is used once every two shots with an interval of 30 seconds. During this period, perform at least one full-focus zoom operation, and turn off the power for more than 5 minutes after every 10. In addition, the anti-shake function is turned on throughout the test, the automatic power saving function is turned off throughout the test, and the scene is viewed by LCD to keep the brightness of the display screen at the highest level. When the camera is automatically turned off due to insufficient power, the test process ends.

The following are the test items and results of reaction speed and dynamic performance, which will be slightly different from the following results due to the different environment and photographer's habits in actual use:

project

Response time (speed)

To start (a machine or engine).

2.4 seconds

Turn off the appliances

2.4 seconds

Shutter time delay

0.03 seconds

Post-shooting processing (maximum size JPG format)

3.5 seconds

Continuous shooting (maximum size JPG format)

0.4 frames per second

Auto focus (wide-angle end)

0.2 seconds

Auto focus (telephoto end)

0.4 seconds

battery life

More than 500 photos

According to the test results, EX-Z400 has fast focusing speed and short shutter lag. However, the startup time and post-processing time of EX-Z400 are not superior to those of most consumer digital cameras. ? Theoretically, the higher the effective pixel, the more expressive the details of digital camera shooting. However, due to the limitation of lens quality and the interference of imaging noise, the detail performance of digital cameras is not directly proportional to the effective pixels. In order to test the detail performance of the camera, we use the test prototype to shoot the ISO 12233 resolution test target under uniform illumination at the sensitivity of ISO 100, and then calculate its imaging resolution performance:

Imaging horizontal resolution of EX-Z400

Imaging vertical resolution of EX-Z400

From the test results, the EX-Z400 has good imaging details at low sensitivity. After all, it has 6.5438+0.2 million effective pixels, and the imaging resolution can reach about 2,000 lw/pH. ..

The sensitivity range of EX-Z400 is minimum ISO 64 and maximum ISO 3200. We use the EX-Z400 to take photos with the highest quality and the largest size at various speeds to observe the imaging noise of the EX-Z400:

Because EX-Z400 has the low sensitivity of ISO 64, it can obtain very fine imaging quality and even clearly reproduce the fabric texture in the picture. However, the image quality of EX-Z400 at high sensitivity is still insufficient, so that the ISO 400 image loses more details. As for the extreme sensitivity up to ISO 3200, users are advised not to try it easily unless they encounter extreme shooting environment.

When analyzing and testing the imaging color of the prototype, we use it to shoot the X-rite ColorChecker SG color test target at the sensitivity of ISO 100, and then analyze the color, and we can get the data such as imaging color error and white balance error. The value of the white balance error in the list is the color temperature error of the medium gray block, and the closer this value is to zero, the better. If this value is positive, it means that the imaging tone is cold, and if it is negative, it is the opposite. In the color error diagram, the squares in the Lab color gamut coordinates represent the ideal color (standard color) of the subject, and the circles represent the imaging color of the camera under test.

Color temperature error of EX-Z400 automatic white balance imaging

Imaging Color Error of EX-Z400

From the test results, the automatic white balance accuracy of EX-Z400 is good. In the standard color mode, the color saturation of EX-Z400 is low, in which red tends to yellow and cyan is not bright enough. However, EX-Z400 supports color saturation adjustment and provides color filtering mode. Through the setting of these color related options, it is also more expressive.

The quadruple optical zoom lens of EX-Z400 has an equivalent focal length of 28mm at the wide-angle end, which is suitable for taking scenery photos of large scenes, and the equivalent focal length at the telephoto end is 100mm, which is suitable for taking portrait photos with soft background.

EX-Z400 wide-angle shooting

Maybe we don't pay much attention to the wide angle of 28mm, but when we use the EX-Z400 and another wide-angle camera with an equivalent focal length of only 36mm at the same time, we clearly find the advantage of wide angle: only a wide angle is large enough can we easily shoot such a tall building at close range.

EX-Z400 telephoto end shooting

Because the actual focal length of the lens is relatively small, it is difficult for a small digital camera like EX-Z400 to take a portrait with extremely blurred background even at the telephoto end. However, the large zoom lens of EX-Z400 can still facilitate our flexible composition, and from the point of view of image quality, EX-Z400 performs well at the telephoto end, and the image quality at the corners has not decreased significantly.

The following are more test samples collected by EX-Z400:

The following are more test samples collected by EX-Z400:

IT 168 view of evaluation center:

EX-Z400 is not only a camera that can bring us a lot of shooting fun, but also has quite high effective pixels and a large zoom range, and its shooting performance is worthy of recognition.

EX-Z400(

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At present, under the environment of high homogeneity of products in the market, the biggest feature of EX-Z400 is that it has very rich functions and control items worth exploring. Through it, we can realize creative photography.

? Statement:

The evaluation content of this paper is based on the samples provided by Casio Company. Our evaluation conclusion is only responsible for the individual who sent the sample, and there is no guarantee that the individual can represent the overall level of the products on the market.