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CASIO DOES A great job integrating user-friendly features and solid manual controls wrapped in a sleek, sexy package called the EX-Z750.
Like most digital cameras, the EX-Z750 isn't very Mac-friendly when it comes to software--but iPhoto or Photoshop Elements are generally better options than bundled software, so it's not a big deal. However, Mac users will have to fuss a little to get the camera's movie files to play, which is a shame, because the movie quality is quite high. You'll need to buy a high-capacity (and preferably high-speed) SD card because the camera's internal memory holds only one high-resolution image. We tested ours with a C-Guys 512MB high-speed card.
We loved the camera's oversized 2.5" LCD, but found little use for the microscopic optical viewfinder--which is almost as small as the diminutive control buttons. However, those buttons are the gateway to what makes the EX-Z750 a great camera. More than two-dozen Best Shot (scene) modes and built-in help wherever you look, make the EX-Z750 an ideal camera for snapshooters who want to take pictures quickly and easily without having to fuss with settings. For enthusiasts who want a little more control, the EX-Z750 has enough features to keep them happy, too. Plus, everyone will benefit from extras like flash intensity adjustment and the ability to adjust brightness and white balance in the camera's playback mode.
This little camera is surprisingly speedy when it comes to startup, shutter lag (there's practically none) and autofocus, and battery life is outstanding. However, flash recycling slows things down, and its continuous shooting speed won't capture really fast-moving action. Bright colors, accurate exposures and sharply detailed macro shots all contributed to this camera's surprisingly good image quality. Noise was rarely a problem, and we noticed very little purple fringing. All in all, the Casio EX-Z750 is an excellent 7-megapixel camera with style and substance.
-THEANO NIKITAS
EX-Z750: 
Casio | www.casio.com | 800-836-8580 | $450
Pros: Versatile feature set, 30 Best Shot modes, good image quality, fast start up and minimal shutter lag.
Cons: No SD card included, movie mode playback is fussy on Macs, full documentation only on CD-ROM.
Requires: Power Mac, USB port, OS 9 or OS X
macHOME recommends: High-speed, highcapacity SD card, DivX or QuickTime 7 for AVI/MPEG-4 movies
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