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Durable Casio camera phone boasts optical zoom
- 5.1-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom
- Waterproof
- Shock- and vibration-resistant
- Expensive
- Non-standard headphone jack
- Poor web browser
- Camera auto-focus issues
Innovative but pricey camera phone
The Casio Exilim C721 is the first camera phone for the U.S. market -- and one of few anywhere -- to have 3x optical zoom. Some camera phones offer digital zoom, but that simply blows up the picture, rather than actually zooming in on the subject, resulting in degraded image quality. The Exilim C721 also has relatively high resolution (5.1 megapixels) and outperforms most other camera phones. However, reviewers all point out that the Exilim C721 can't replace a dedicated digital camera, as shutter speeds are slow and the auto-focus unreliable.
Available to Verizon Wireless customers, the Casio C721 is a clamshell phone with a swiveling, 2.3-inch LCD that can turn around completely so that it faces outward when the phone is closed, great for self portraits. Measuring 4 inches by 2 inches by 0.8 inches, the Exilim is on the larger side, about the same size as the LG enV3. Critics are divided on the phone's aesthetics; some find it sleek and stylish, others say it looks dated. Most also find call quality (especially via the speaker phone) to be mediocre at best, and the user interface garners little praise. Media playback is adequate, but reviewers bemoan Verizon's web browser. Rated talk time is 3.8 hours, and testers at PCMag.com, CNET, PhoneArena.com and InfoSyncWorld.com confirm that the battery meets or exceeds that.
Zooming in on the camera
Because it carries the Exilim name, expectations for the phone's 5-megapixel camera are high -- but reviews are mixed. CNET's Nicole Lee loves the camera's BestShot preprogrammed shooting modes, which include portrait, night view and sports. Her tests yield sharp, vibrant photos, and she says the image stabilizer effectively reduces blurriness. Lee also lauds video quality and notes that you can zoom during video mode, a rarity even in point-and-shoot cameras.
On the other hand, while PCMag's Sascha Segan calls it "Verizon's best camera phone by far," his tests yield washed out, fuzzy images, and he says "it pales in comparison" to the 8-megapixel T-Mobile's Samsung Memoir. Segan points out that the Casio Exilim C721's images are not as bad as those from Verizon's 5-megapixel Samsung Omnia smartphone. Most reviewers say the Exilim's 3x optical zoom works like a charm, though MobileBurn.com's Michael Oryl says it "wreaks havoc on the phone's ability to focus automatically." Tests indicate that shutter lag, at almost one second, is "barely acceptable," but better than the Memoir's nearly two-second delay.
Standing up to the elements
The Exilim meets military standards for such stresses as water immersion, salt-fog exposure, shock and vibrations, solar radiation, dust and temperature extremes. Reviewers put these claims to the test, and all find that the Exilim can be dropped and dunked repeatedly without any significant damage. It can also take pictures under water. No reviewer tests this function, but most note that the camera performs poorly in low-light situations, which would indicate that underwater photos may be murky. The consensus is that consumers looking for a rugged camera phone will be pleased, but those not needing such a specialized model should definitely look elsewhere, particularly since the Casio Exilim C721 carries a rather high price tag. Alternatives for Verizon customers include the LG enV3 and enV Touch, both of which have decent cameras and cost less.
The Casio Exilim C721 does not garner extensive critical attention, but the sites that do review it all take a thorough look at the phone and its camera. CNET is the most positive, while reviewers at PCMag.com and PhoneArena.com are less enthusiastic. InfoSyncWorld.com and MobileBurn.com also have comprehensive reviews, but both sources express disappointment with the Exilim C721.
Our Sources
1. PCMag.com
PCMag.com's Sascha Segan says the Casio Exilim C721 camera phone is better than competing phones like the Samsung Omnia (also on Verizon), and likes the Exilim's waterproof exterior. However, Segan criticizes the Exilim C721's web browser as "crippled," and says the phone isn't particularly good for listening to music.
Review: Casio Exilim C721 (Verizon Wireless), Sascha Segan, July 1, 2009
2. CNET
Nicole Lee's review of the Casio Exilim C721 is quite positive, praising its sleek design and toughness. After dropping the phone and immersing it in water, she finds that it still works fine. Call quality is described as very good, but only the manufacturer's rated talk time is cited. Minor complaints include a "clunky" web browser, poor speaker and high price.
Review: Casio Exilim C721 (Verizon Wireless), Nicole Lee, June 10, 2009
Although the Exilim C721 is described as Casio's best camera phone, PhoneArena.com's testers say the photo quality on the LG enV Touch is better, though neither phone can replace a dedicated digital camera. The review is backed up by copious pictures documenting the Exilim C721's camera performance and screenshots of various menus.
Review: Casio Exilim C721 Review, Editors of PhoneArena.com, June 19, 2009
The Casio Exilim C721 gets a mediocre rating from InfoSyncWorld.com's Philip Berne. While he likes the waterproof casing and durability, he finds that the phone has a "cheap, plastic" feel, and that it scratches easily, despite being able to survive much abuse. He is impressed with the camera's 5.1-megapixel resolution and 3x optical zoom, but says it falls short of the Motorola Zine ZN5 and the Nokia N85. Berne also criticizes call quality, messaging and media playback.
Review: Casio Exilim C721 Review, July 2, 2009, July 2, 2009
Reviewer Michael Oryl, a self-described "avid photographer," is disappointed in the Casio Exilim C721's camera, and finds the optical zoom more trouble than it's worth. Call quality is described as a bit above average, though the speakerphone is panned. Oryl calls the design and interface awkward and dated-looking. He says the phone's saving graces are its durability and its ability to work (and take pictures) under water, though his recommendation seems half-hearted.
Review: Casio Exilim C721 Review, Michael Oryl, July 10, 2009
