Casio Exilim EX-Z55

The Exilim line of cameras are the thinnest cameras with optical zoom. This camera is about the thickness of a deck of cards, and is significantly thinner than either the Sony or the Canon we discussed previously.

Because Casio doesn't have the name recognition of either Sony or Canon, they have included some interesting features in this camera to try to stand out. Thinness is one, but it also has a docking station and a longer battery-life battery. It is generally the same price as the Sony DSC-W5, both of which are $50 more expensive than the Canon S500.

Casio Exilim EX-Z55

The thinnest of the 5 MP digital cameras

1. Resolution - Five megapixels. This will give you pictures that can make photo-quality 13x17 inch prints that are indistinguishable from prints made from regular film cameras.

2. Lens - The EX-Z55 has 3X optical zoom. lens made by respectable Pentax. The image quality is excellent, even in dim lighting condition despite the lens being so small.

3. Start-Up Time - Very similar to both the Sony DSC-W5 and Canon S500 in that it is ready to take a picture roughly 2 seconds after it is turned on.

4. Lag Times - Almost no shutter lag. The shot-to-shot delay averaged about 2 seconds without the use of the flash and 2.8 seconds with the flash.

5. Screen Size - This Casio has a large 2.5 inch LCD just like the Sony DSC-W5. Being only an inch thick AND having a large LCD is one of the most attractive things the Exilim series has to offer.

6. Battery - This camera uses a proprietary battery that can be recharged while the camera is in its cradle. A fully charged battery can take 400 shots, more than both the Sony and Canon.

7. Memory Card - The Casio EX-Z55 supports both SD and MMC cards and, unlike either the Sony or Canon, the Casio also has 9.3MB of built-in memory. This is handy if your card is full on the road, but 9MB can only store a few 5-megapixel images. Again, checkout our Tech Deals section for the latest deals available for memory cards.

8. Interface - This camera connects to a computer by docking it in a cradle and hooking the cradle up to USB 1.1 input. The high-speed USB 2.0 is not supported. There is also an A/V output so you can connect it to a TV to watch the movie clips.

9. Look and Feel - It has an all metal body that has a well-built feeling to it.

10. Main competitors - The Sony DSC-W5, Canon S500, and Fuji FinePix F700.

Bottom line - the Exilim EX-Z55 is an awesome digital package. If you're in the market for a digital camera that has great image quality, speedy performance, and can be slipped into almost any size pocket or purse, then this is the digicam for you!

Currently, the best reputable place to buy the Casio EX-Z55 is at DELL, where it is $279.20 shipped free. Buy.com may be a cheaper option if you have never bought anything there because we receive a special link that allows new customers to take $20 to $25 OFF of their first purchase at Buy.com, making it $279.99 there. The coupon code changes daily, so contact us if you would like the latest link.

The Casio EX-Z50 is almost exactly the same, differing only in that it has a 2.0" LCD instead of this model's 2.5" LCD. It is usually about $50 cheaper, so it is a good option.

DELL also sells this camera and using the codes that DELL releases every now and then, you can often get a better price. Join our DELL newsletter to get these codes email to you.

Update (6/18/05) - Buy.com's price went down. It is now $279.99 shipped free.

Update (5/2/05) - OneCall is now out of stock. Buy.com's shipped price of $299.99 is lowest price currently.

Update (4/27/05) - OneCall increased their price by $19.53 so it is now $299.41. Buy.com's shipped price of $299.99 is a better option currently.