[Review & Sample Photos] CASIO EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40 | The Air of 2004, Captured by a 4-Megapixel CCD

The CASIO EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40 is a compact digital camera released in 2004.

In this review, we look at sample photos we actually shot and introduce the EX-Z40's image quality, handling, and what makes it fun to use again today.

Today, smartphone cameras automatically adjust brightness and color. When you shoot with an old compact camera from about 20 years ago, even blown-out white light, deep shadows and the harshness of direct flash remain in the photo as the air of that moment.

The CASIO EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40 is less a camera where the photographer controls everything, and more one for enjoying the world as the camera sees it.

Sample | A Blue Sky and Trees in Bold Color

The first sample is a shot looking up at a large tree standing in the city.

The sky holds not just blue but also purple and pale pink. Meanwhile, the trunk and leaves of the backlit tree sink into darkness, creating strong contrast with the sky.

If you shot the same place with a current smartphone, HDR processing would often lift the dark parts of the tree and automatically even out the brightness of the sky.

In the EX-Z40 sample, the difference between bright and dark areas remains as it is. As a result, the silhouette of the tree stands out powerfully, making the shot more striking than the actual scenery.

It may differ a little from accurate color reproduction. But this unpredictable color is exactly the fun of shooting with an old digital camera.

Equipped with a 3x Optical Zoom Equivalent to 35-105mm

The EX-Z40's lens covers roughly 35 to 105mm in 35mm equivalent.

The 35mm-equivalent wide end is an angle of view that is easy to use for walks around town, travel and commemorative photos with friends. It takes in the surroundings while still showing the main subject clearly.

Zooming to the 105mm-equivalent telephoto end lets you frame a person standing a little way off or just a part of a building. In macro mode you can get as close as about 6 to 50cm, so it also handles small objects and food.

Compared with modern high-magnification zoom cameras, the zoom range is by no means wide. But because you can try the basic angles of view, 35mm, 50mm and a medium telephoto, with one camera, it has the advantage of leaving you less indecisive when shooting.

Sample | Capturing Strong Light and Shadow in an Instant

In the next sample, I photographed the feet of a person walking and the shadow stretching across the ground.

By including only the movement of the feet and the shadow, rather than the person's face or whole body, the photo conveys the speed and passage of time of walking through the city.

The light coming in from the left shines white, while the person's clothes and shoes sink into black. The EX-Z40's rendering, which leaves the difference between light and shadow strong rather than evening out the tones, worked effectively in this scene.

The slightly tilted composition and the subject cut off at the edge of the frame are not flaws in this photo. It has the instability and momentum of a shutter pressed by reflex while walking.

An old compact camera reminds you of the joy of reacting to the moment in front of you, not just carefully building a finished image.

About 1.6-Second Startup and Auto Pan Focus

The EX-Z40 achieved, by CASIO's official figures, a fast startup of about 1.6 seconds and a shutter release time lag of about 0.01 seconds.

It also has an "Auto Pan Focus function" that shoots with pan focus, without waiting for autofocus, when the shutter button is pressed all the way down at once without a half-press.

Judged by modern standards, some aspects of its operation feel dated. Even so, as a slim compact camera of 2004, it was designed with a strong focus on never missing the moment you want to capture.

Shadows at your feet, a passerby, a sudden ray of light. When you spot such scenes, being able to pull it from your pocket and shoot right away is a big part of the EX-Z40's appeal.

Sample | The Y2K Atmosphere Created by Direct Flash

The last sample is a portrait taken on the street.

A tilted camera composition, direct flash fired from very close range, and a brightly blown-out background. The result is raw and improvisational, unlike today's polished portraits.

The flash hits the person's skin and clothes directly, instantly separating them from the background. The texture of the black clothing, the accessories and the tattoo on the arm are emphasized, bringing the subject's presence to the fore.

This way of shooting has the air of 2000s fashion snaps and party photos taken among friends.

Rather than reproducing natural light, you hit the place with the flash. Using the EX-Z40's built-in flash aggressively lets you enjoy photos with a so-called Y2K atmosphere.

What Only a 4-Megapixel CCD Can Preserve

The EX-Z40's maximum recording size is 2304 x 1728 pixels. Image quality can be selected from "Fine," "Normal" and "Economy."

For heavy cropping or fine large-format printing, today's high-resolution cameras are better suited.

On the other hand, for viewing photos on a smartphone, posting to social media or making small prints, 4 megapixels can still be plenty enjoyable.

Precisely because it isn't high-resolution, your eyes go to the overall color and light of the photo and the expressions of the people in it, rather than the fine details.

Instead of zooming in to check performance, you look at each photo as a single image. The EX-Z40 is a camera that suits that way of relating to photographs.

Who the CASIO EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40 Is Recommended For

The EX-Z40 suits anyone who wants to casually enjoy photos with an old-compact look.

It is also an interesting camera for those who want to try colors and tones different from a smartphone, who want to shoot portrait snaps with direct flash, or who like 2000s design and digital gadgets.

If you can enjoy even the fact that you can't fully predict the results, the EX-Z40 will make everyday scenery look fresh.

Summary | Because It Doesn't Look Too Clean, It Stays in Memory

The CASIO EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40 is a compact digital camera released in 2004, with an effective 4-megapixel CCD and a 3x optical zoom.

By current standards, the pixel count, LCD monitor and video features feel dated in places.

Yet in these samples, photos unlike a smartphone's were produced: the purple-tinged sky, strong shadows stretching across the ground, and flash light hitting a person directly.

Both the blown-out and the crushed-dark areas remain as proof that the shutter was pressed on the spot.

Not a neatly corrected photo, but one that brings home the light and air of that day, a little roughly.

The CASIO EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40 is an old compact camera that makes the very act of taking photos enjoyable.

View all CASIO EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40 listings here

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