Get a loaded 8-megapixel camera for $99.99

This gorgeous camera packs a 3-inch LCD and wide-angle lens.

(Credit: Best Buy)

In the market for a new camera? Best Buy has the 8.1-megapixel Casio Exilim EX-Z150 for just $99.99. It's new, not a refurb, and a pretty sweet deal considering that it sold for $200 just last year.

I actually own this model, and I reviewed it for Wired last September. Here's a recap of the highlights, along with some updates based on months of real-world use.

The EX-Z150's wide-angle lens absolutely rocks, especially for snapping group photos in close quarters. I also love its mammoth LCD, which has spoiled me for anything smaller, and 4x optical zoom.

Unlike previous Exilim models, which forced you to wade into the menus to enable video mode, the EX-Z150 sports a dedicated video button: One push and you're capturing YouTube-ready footage.

In my original review, I was a little hard on the camera for being chunky, but the truth is it's really not. In fact, it's slimmer than some of Canon's popular pocket models.

Battery life is excellent, but it's a huge pain to have to take out the battery every time it needs charging.

Also, while I've found image quality to be quite good overall, videos often come out jerky. I don't know if a faster SD card would help, but this has proven very annoying.

Even so, if you're looking for a feature-packed camera that's attractively styled, easy to use, and reasonably pocket-friendly, the Exilim EX-Z150 for a hundred bucks (plus sales tax) is mighty hard to pass up.

[bryanb867]

Not a bad deal at all. I just bought a camera (8mp) about 2 months ago. I paid about $129 for a Canon Powershot A590. It came down to Casio & Canon for me and I chose Canon because a free software called CHDK that only works on Canon. Basically, you load CHDK to an SD card and when you power-up, it overrides the camera's settings and makes it much more programmable...it enables you to do almost anything that cameras 3 to4 times the price can do (in manual mode). One thing it's not, though is pocket friendly. So, from all the research I did a couple of months ago, if you want a small, easy to use point-and-shoot, this Casio deal for $99 rocks. If you want to be an amateur photographer and really be able to customize the aperture, shutter speed, etc...then check out a slightly more expensive Canon where you can use CHDK software. Had it not been for my desire to experiment with manual settings, I would have bought the Casio (and paid more than $99 at the time).

[DetJMunch]

What kind of batteries does it take?

[rickbroida]

It uses a rechargeable Casio NP-70.

[brerfox69]

Hey Rick!

For a hundred bucks, that would make a good camera to keep in the car or in your pocket to have for those spur of the moment photo ops. Also, here is another hundred dollar deal.
http://www.buy.com/prod/apple-ipod-5th-generation-30gb-digital-multimedia-device-white/q/loc/111/202147349.html?adid=17070&dcaid=17070

Money's tight, times are hard. Gotta got maximum bang for minimum buck!

[carguy622]

Rick, May I suggest the Panasonic LZ8. The lens is a little narrower (32mm) but it's 5x. It has a 2.5" screen, but it does have manual controls for shutter and aperature. However, it's biggest advantage is optical image stabilization... no camera should be without it. It's also $99 at Buydig.

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PNDMCLZ8K

It won a comparison test on dpriview as well:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/Q408budgetgroup/page15.asp

[BlitzBoy1120]

Nice but there was a $99 dollar 10.1 megapixel camera by Sony the other day, new.

[Haroldnca]

You are absolutely right, Rick. I have the 10MP version of this camera...and taking the battery out of it to charge it is a huge hassle. The old design that came with a dock to charge and upload photos was infinitely better. It's just a matter of time before the little latch that closes the battery and memory card department breaks. I'm not sure why they decided to go with that design.

[TechnoMan475392]

I have a Canon SD790, which requires you to take out the battery to charge, and I have no issues charging it. I had an SD450 before this, and that also required the battery to be taken out. Not a big inconvenience. Of course, the battery door on the SD450 did break, but that was only because I dropped it right on that corner...

[dupublic]

Nice price, but i'm put off by slow performance. See
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=3883&review=casio+exilim+z150

[dupublic]

BTW don't buy batteries from the camera manufacturer. Recently i needed replacement battery for my Pentax Optio S4. I got couple of unbranded 1300 mAh batteries for $4 each. Pentax own OEM model, D-LI8, which is only 710 mAh, is over $50. lol

[TonyV1963]

I bought this camera when it was first released. I was really impressed by how compact it was, how easy it was to use, how bright the screen was, etc. Bit the pictures came out terrible. The color and overall look was OK, but there were issues with vignetting and blurring in the corners. And overall, the pics had a soft look, like the camera didn't focus properly. It was certainly because of the itty bitty lens. No matter how advanced the electronics are, if they use a crappy lens, the pics will look like crap. For you old-timers out there, think Kodak Instamatic print quality. Not the end of the world, but definitely nothing to show off.

Anyway, I spent around $300. For $99 I wouldn't have been quite as pissed off. But still, $100 for a camera that offers cheap snapshot quality is a waste of money.