Casio Exilim Z1200 12.1Mp compact camera

The Casio Exilim Z1200 is the UK's first compact digital camera to break through the 12Mp mark.

Now, how many (mega) pixels do you need? For most compact camera pictures 8Mp is more than ample - 7 or even 6Mp is usually more than enough. What the Casio Exilim Z1200's 12.1Mp will do for you however, as well as giving you unbelievably crystal-clear shots, is allow you a second chance at composing your shot.

The Casio Exilim Z1200's 12.1Mp photos can be printed at high quality at poster size, which most people will rarely ever do. So you can zoom in and crop out certain elements of your shot, and still have a very high quality photo.

This way a full length photo of your partner standing in the middle of a landscape can, if taken with the Casio Exilim Z1200, become a portrait with a nice backdrop.

The Casio Exilim Z1200 isn’t just about incredible detailed shots, however. It has one of the most intuitive operating systems we have come across, too.

The usual functions are displayed on the right of the Casio Exilim Z1200's display, with nice easy-to-navigate icons. The Z1200 also has a one-touch best-shot function activated by a small button on the back of the camera which will make shot selection a dream for any beginner.

The Casio Exilim Z1200 is no simple point-and-click camera though, as with most decent digital cameras over the £200 mark you get full manual control over all aspects of the camera including shutter speeds and focal length, which nearly (but not quite) makes up for the minimal ISO selection.

Shutter lag isn’t too bad with the Casio Exilim Z1200. It can be further reduced by depressing the shot button, but the time taken to process your shot when using a high resolution mode is yawn inducing. And there's little point having a 12Mp camera and not taking hi-res shots...

Combine this with various problems when shooting in low light - including a hit-and-miss face recognition system and you're left with a camera that struggles when outside its comfort zone. But the Casio Exilim Z1200 is outstanding in perfect conditions.

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Total reviews: 5,068

• www.casio.com
• 020 8450 9131
• Casio
• £250 inc VAT

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