When creating the Exilim EX-Z55 digital camera, Casio's designers seemed to do their homework on features that consumers demand in the newest models, such as large LCD screens, an extremely thin camera body, an optical zoom lens, and a large resolution.

Check out the EX-Z55's statistics: A 2.5-inch LCD, a body less than 1 inch thick, a 3X optical zoom lens, and 5.0 megapixels of resolution. Almost any beginner or intermediate photographer will find something to like in that list of features.

The EX-Z55's LCD screen will grab your attention immediately because it occupies nearly the entire back panel of the camera body. It can be difficult to hold the camera without smudging the LCD screen, but this will represent a minor drawback for most photographers. However, we'd like the LCD to be a little sharper--its pixel count is less than that of some smaller LCDs on similarly priced cameras. It also can be a little difficult to see the LCD in bright sunlight.

The EX-Z55's response times are very good. Shutter lag is a non-factor at a tiny fraction of a second, regardless of whether the photo is pre-focused. The camera is ready to shoot 1.6 seconds after you press the power button. Unfortunately, the EX-Z55 doesn't offer a continuous-shot mode, which can make the 2 to 3 second shot-to-shot delay a little frustrating.

You'll appreciate some of the EX-Z55's specialized features. The camera ships with a docking station that also charges the battery. With the Photo Slide button on the docking station, you can use the EX-Z55's large LCD screen to run a slide show of all photographs in memory. The EX-Z55 features 9.3MB of internal memory, which can be a handy feature when the memory card is full. (However, you'll have to purchase a memory card for the EX-Z55 separately.) The camera has a Business Photo feature that automatically squares a photo, even if the original photo was framed at a slight slant.

Even though the camera body of the Exilim EX-Z55 is only 0.9 inch thick, it contains a 3X optical zoom lens. A 3X zoom lens is an average accessory for most digital cameras, but it's an especially nice feature for a camera with a thin body. The lens is of a nice quality; the camera's photos are bright and sharp, both indoors and outdoors.

Pros: Tiny camera body, excellent photo quality and resolution, quick response times
Cons: Large LCD could benefit from higher resolution, no continuous-shot mode

Warranty
1 year