Casio Exilim EX-S200: Video and Image Quality

Video Quality
The S200 records 720p HD video at 20 fps. A framerate of 24 fps is generally considered to have a "cinematic" look and will produce good results when panning slowly or following action. Based on those numbers, it would be reasonable to assume that video recorded at 720p with the S200 would look choppy.

It was indeed somewhat choppy. The videos I shot indoors (again, at the train display) are also fairly noisy. Results may be better outdoors, but a setting like this shouldn't have been such a challenge for the camera. The S200 also records at standard VGA resolution at a 30 fps rate. The reduced resolution looks much more pleasant and the video isn't quite as choppy.

Image Quality
As is the case with so many of its point-and-shoot brothers and sisters, the Casio S200 takes very nice pictures in plenty of sunlight at low ISOs. The details in the image of the penguin below are pleasantly sharp, and the text in the sign is relatively crisp. Both images were captured at ISO 50, the S200's lowest setting.

Moving indoors produced mixed results. The print on the bag below is clear, and details in the woven material are somewhat sharp. This image was shot using Auto ISO, and the camera selected ISO 640. There's some noise visible in the brick background, but the image is definitely usable.

I saw some tendency to lose highlights in scenes with a wide range of light and dark tones, but nothing unexpected. The Casio S200 has no options outside of a default evaluative metering mode, though there is an extra level of "brightness correction" available in the quality menu. Colors are reproduced nicely, though problems occur there too when ISO increases and colors are clipped. Contrast is slightly strong and flat.

Auto white balance was fairly reliable. It tended to give images under incandescent lighting an orange cast, which is typical, but performed nicely under our studio fluorescents.

Auto White Balance, 5500k fluorescent light

It's a given that image quality will decline as ISO is raised, it's just a question of when it will become unacceptable. Sadly, for all of its good looks the S200 doesn't offer great-looking images at mid-to-high ISO sensitivities. While most images will look fine on the camera's LCD or reduced to an e-mail-friendly size, inspecting images shot at ISO 400 and beyond reveals significant amounts of digital artifacts.

The image below of the miniature figures on the skating rink is a good example. It's fine as is for posting on Facebook, or resizing and sending as an e-mail attachment. Looking closely though, it appears that details are somewhat soft, especially in the house and the merry-go-round.

Images were generally acceptable for web or email below ISO 800. From 800 and beyond, even at reduced sizes the noise level is apparent and impacts image quality significantly. Our tests in the lab support this assessment.

ISO 50	ISO 50, 100% crop
ISO 100	ISO 100, 100% crop
ISO 200	ISO 200, 100% crop
ISO 400	ISO 400, 100% crop
ISO 800	ISO 800, 100% crop
ISO 1600	ISO 1600, 100% crop
ISO 3200	ISO 3200, 100% crop

The S200 mercifully limits ISO in auto mode to 800. ISO 1600 would only be acceptable at very small sizes, and ISO 3200 is best left alone.

Additional Sample Images