"Picky Details" for the Casio Exilim Z50 digital camera
(Timing, Power, and Storage Info)

Timing

When you press the shutter release on a camera, there's usually a lag time or delay before the shutter actually fires. This corresponds to the time required for the autofocus and autoexposure mechanisms time to do their work, and can amount to a fairly long delay in some situations. Since this number is rarely reported on (and even more rarely reported accurately), and can significantly affect the picture taking experience, I routinely measure both shutter delay and shot to shot cycle times for all cameras I test, using a test system I designed and built for the purpose. (Crystal-controlled, with a resolution of 0.001 second.) Here are the numbers I collected for the Casio Exilim Z50:

Power

Absolutely exceptional battery life! The Casio Exilim Z50 uses a custom rechargeable LiIon battery for power, and connects to the AC power only through its cradle, so I couldn't conduct my normal exacting power measurements on it. I did conduct a "rundown" test on it, in its highest power-drain mode (capture mode, LCD turned on). The results amazed me, as the camera ran for almost exactly four hours (!), longer than almost any other consumer digital camera on the market, regardless of size or price point.

Storage Capacity

The Casio Exilim Z50 stores its photos on SD / MMC memory cards, or in 9.3 MB of internal memory. No memory card is included with the camera. (I strongly recommend buying at least a 64 MB card, preferably a 128 MB one, as the internal memory is about limited to turning the camera on to check that it works.) The chart below shows how many images can be stored in the internal memory at each size/quality setting.