Do Casio EXILIM cameras use SD cards?

Yes, the vast majority of EXILIM CCD compacts use standard SD or SDHC cards, which makes them much easier to feed than rivals that used Memory Stick or xD. Very early or high-capacity cards should be tested, because some older bodies limit the maximum capacity they accept.

Which EXILIM is best for image quality?

Among the slim CCD models, the EX-Z750 is a favorite because it offers 7 megapixels on a relatively generous sensor plus manual controls, which is rare in a card camera. The EX-Z1000 reached 10 megapixels early but on a small sensor, so lower-resolution EX-Z bodies often give cleaner tone.

Casio EXILIM CCD Cameras: The Slim Card-Camera Guide

Casio's EXILIM line practically invented the credit-card-thin digital camera, and its CCD sensors give clean, snappy daylight files people love today.

When people picture an early-2000s slim digital camera, they are usually picturing something that looks like a Casio EXILIM. Launched in 2002, the EXILIM line took the point-and-shoot and squeezed it into a body barely thicker than a stack of cards. For most of its life the EXILIM ran on CCD sensors, and those sensors, paired with Casio's quick, punchy processing, are why these little cameras have found a second life with people chasing the CCD look.

The EX-S series: the card camera

The camera that started it all was the EX-S1 (2002), a 1.3-megapixel body so thin it was marketed as a wearable accessory. The follow-ups, the EX-S2, EX-S3, EX-S100 and later EX-S500, EX-S600 and EX-S770, kept the ultra-slim card format while pushing resolution and adding a proper zoom. The trick that made this possible was a folded-optics lens, where the light path bends inside the body so the lens never extends outward. That design is central to the EXILIM identity and is why an EX-S can slip into a shirt pocket.

The EX-Z series: the everyday EXILIM

The volume line was the EX-Z series, and it is the one most buyers will meet today. Models like the EX-Z3, EX-Z750, EX-Z850, EX-Z1000 and EX-Z1050 offered a telescoping zoom, a large bright screen, and CCD sensors ranging from around 3 to 10 megapixels. The EX-Z1000 (2006) was notable as one of the first compacts to reach 10 megapixels, on a 1/1.8-inch CCD. The EX-Z750 is a favorite among enthusiasts because it shot at 7 megapixels on a relatively generous sensor and offered manual controls, which is unusual for a slim compact.

The EX-Z, EX-V and Pro EX-F outliers

Casio also made a few standouts worth knowing. The EX-V7 and EX-V8 packed a 7x internal folded zoom into a slim body, an impressive feat for the time. At the high end, the EX-F1 (2008) was a bridge camera famous for very high-speed burst and slow-motion video, built around a fast CMOS sensor rather than CCD, so it sits outside the classic EXILIM CCD story. Most of the pocketable EXILIMs you will find, though, are CCD, and that is the family to target for the look.

What the EXILIM look is

Casio tuned these cameras for immediate, shareable results. The JPEGs tend to be bright, contrasty and slightly saturated, with a clean rendering in good light. Skin tones lean neutral to slightly cool compared with, say, a warm Canon. The startup and shot-to-shot speed were selling points, so an EXILIM feels responsive for its class. Combine that snappy processing with a CCD's highlight handling and you get files that look crisp straight off the card, which is exactly the appeal for casual and street use.

Buying a used EXILIM: what to check

The EXILIM line has a few specific things to watch for:

Battery. Most EXILIMs use small proprietary lithium packs, commonly the NP-20, NP-40, NP-50 or similar. Genuine cells are long discontinued, so expect aftermarket batteries, and test that the camera holds a charge.
Memory card. The vast majority of EXILIMs use SD/SDHC cards, which is a big convenience compared with the Memory Stick or xD systems on rival brands. Older or larger-capacity cards should be tested, since early bodies may cap the capacity they accept.
Folded-optics zoom. On EX-S and EX-V bodies the internal zoom mechanism is the most likely failure point. Run the zoom fully in and out and listen for grinding or check for a lens error.
Screen. These cameras rely entirely on the rear screen, with no viewfinder, so a dim, scratched or dead screen makes the camera hard to use.
Body wear. The thin metal shells scratch and dent, and a bent card or battery door is a common sign of a hard life, so inspect the edges and the door hinges closely.

Getting the best out of an EXILIM

Because Casio tuned these for bright, contrasty output, they can clip highlights in harsh sun. Shoot at the lowest ISO, usually ISO 50 or 64, and dial in a touch of negative exposure compensation on bright days to protect skies and skin. Keep to good light overall, since the small sensors get noisy quickly above ISO 200 and the noise reduction smears fine detail. The EX-Z bodies with manual modes let you set aperture or shutter, which is worth using to keep the lens at a sharp middle aperture. Macro mode on the EXILIM is genuinely good, so use it for close-ups of food and objects, a natural fit for the snappy color. And because there is no viewfinder, brace the camera against your body in dim rooms to avoid shake at slow shutter speeds.

One more practical point: these cameras write JPEG only, with no RAW on the pocket models, so the in-camera look is the final look. That is part of the appeal for people who want a finished file straight off the card, but it means getting exposure right in the moment matters more than on a RAW-capable body.

Which EXILIM to pick

For the pure card-camera experience, an EX-S body is the icon, just accept the modest zoom and the fragile folded optics. For the best balance of image quality and control, the EX-Z750 or a clean EX-Z850 is a smart pick, and the EX-Z1050 adds resolution if you want it. If you simply want a cheap, SD-card, pocket CCD to try, almost any working EX-Z will get you there. Every Casio EXILIM at Boston Camera is tested and confirmed working before we sell it.