Introduction

When Casio introduced the first Exilim cameras a few years ago, they set the standard for the compact digital camera segment of the market. The first Exilim came out with a 1.2 megapixel CCD followed shortly by a 2 megapixel model 6 months later. In 2003, Casio unveiled the 3.2 megapixel Exilim EX-Z3 and today we’ll be spending some time evaluating the Z3. I’ve had the opportunity to work with the camera for a few months now under a variety of conditions and find the camera hard to let go. Though Casio has actually increased the footprint of the Z3 as compared to earlier models, it has at the same time bolstered up the quality of the camera and output as well as the overall feature set. Let’s take a look at what the Z3 has to offer and see if it’s a worthy successor to the other Exilims from Casio.

Packaging

The Casio EX-Z3 comes in a small rectangular box and is very nicely packaged. You’ll find everything you need to get yourself up and running. In depth user manuals can be found on the included CD. Casio doesn’t bundle a printed manual. Here are some pictures of the box and the insides:

The EX-Z3 comes with the following accessories:
Camera
Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery (NP-20)
USB Cradle (CA-21)
Strap
CD-ROM
USB Cable
Special AC Adapter
Basic Reference Guide