Casio Compact Digital Cameras

Casio compact digital cameras are remarkable for being thinner than other small digital cameras, around about 10-15mm thick whereas others digital compacts are around 25-35mm thick. Since their introduction, other manufacturers began producing ultra thin cameras (around 2004) but Casio Exilim digital cameras are still the market leader in this field. So if you are looking for something to literally pop in your pocket, then Casio is probably your best choice. You need never miss another shot!

Main Differences

There are three main types: the Exilim Card cameras are ultra compact digital cameras - around 9-16mm thick; Exilim Zoom cameras include an optical zoom as well as digital zoom; Exilim Professional cameras have higher quality optics and a more powerful zoom.

All Casio compact cameras use SD (Secure Digital) or MMC (Multi Media Cards) but you have to buy the card separately as it is not included with the camera.

Is a Compact Digital Camera Right for Me?

Compact digital cameras (or point-and-shoot cameras) are very small and totally portable, designed to fit in your pocket or handbag easily so you can take it with you everywhere you go. Casio compact digital cameras were among the smallest and thinnest when they started the ball rolling around 2002 but today many other manufacturers are producing lightweight, slim and elegant point-and-shoot cameras.

Most compacts have a lens which retracts into the body of the camera which means that even with the smallest of them, the focal length can be relatively long allowing your to zoom in on your subject.

If your camera is in your pocket or handbag, keys and other loose objects are a danger to the optics! To counter this, the lens usually has a built-in lens cap which automatically closes when the camera is shut down to protect the optics.

Compact cameras come with a wrist strap. If you keep the strap wound around your wrist when shooting, it helps to protect against accidentally dropping it. Some of the thicker compacts allow you to attach a neck strap for extra security.

Compacts don't have the advanced features of an SLR camera such as the ability to change lenses for example and picture quality is not as high as it would be with an SLR but ease-of-use and compactness make them an attractive buy. Compact cameras are great for holiday, parties, weddings, in fact just about every situation you find yourself and the beauty of them is you need never miss a shot as they are so lightweight you can always keep your camera with you.

This year (2011) some manufacturers have started producing compact digital cameras which can take 3D still photos which can be played back on a 3D television, an exciting development for the future.