Casio EXILIM EX-ZR10 Pro Reviews

A very impressive camera with good high-speed video features, and not too expensive

There were unique features of the ZR10 that we came to admire, such as its HDR Art settings, even if they do resemble the 'gone crazy with the vision mixer' excesses of a 1980s pop video at their worst, plus the expansive 360° panorama function that any traveler is going to find useful. Our biggest disappointment then was probably the noticeable loss of focus at wide-angle settings - a setting that most of us are going to be wanting to use that setting if taking in new sights. This is in part made up for a better than expected showing at higher ISOs and the visual gizmos under its bonnet. Whilst not perfect then nor an enthusiast's dream by any means, the Casio EX-ZR10 looks good, is priced reasonably fairly, is simple to use and moreover fun.

Offering ease of use and a rucksack full of useful features that further enhance the status of this otherwise familiar point-and-shooter, the Casio Exilim EX-ZR10 would well serve those who value the convenience of an auto everything model with few manual features, yet just enough to prevent boredom from setting in. Without the GPS feature of the Casio EX-H20G to make it a more fully rounded travel option, it excels in other areas, such as speed of operation, crisp image quality at higher ISOs, and the creativity offered by its HDR BestShot settings. The EX-ZR10 is rather more enticing than your average point and shoot then, even if its boxy exterior does its best to blend in with existing rivals.

For those who just want to point and shoot in the main, but would occasionally appreciate a couple of extra gizmos at their fingertips for when they start to get bored, the EX-ZR10 comes into its own. The HDR features, Slide Panorama, slow-motion video clips and general speediness of operation impress. Sadly this is let down by corner softness at the maximum wide angle - one of the most often-used focal lengths for a compact camera. In this respect the Sony Cyber-shot WX5 may be a better bet for anyone looking for similar features and portability, yet sharper overall shots at extreme wide angle setting. Watch out for our full review next week.

On the face of it, the ZR10 is just another reasonably well specified compact camera in a pocket-friendly form. When out and about shooting, it will deliver shots that will keep most people happy. There’s no real manual control, this is more fly-by-wire. You tell the camera what you want to do and it goes and gets the best result for you.