Capturing Moments with Casio Exilim EX-S12: An In-Depth Review

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 is a compact digital camera that offers a sleek design, user-friendly interface, and impressive image quality. In this blog, we're going to dive deep into the features, pros, and cons of the Casio Exilim EX-S12 and help you decide if it's the right camera for you.

Written by Victor Chan | Updated: Mon May 01 2023

Casio Exilim EX-S12 article cover photo

Key Features

Jan 08 2009

Announced

12 megapixels

Resolution

BrandCasio
Sensor Type1/2.3-inch
SensorCCD
Weight111g
MSRP$249USD

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Overview of the Exilim EX-S12

Are you in need of a new camera that can capture your precious moments without breaking the bank? Look no further than the Casio Exilim EX-S12. This compact camera may not be the flashiest on the market, but it offers a lot of bang for its buck. With a 12.1-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, and the ability to shoot HD video, the Casio Exilim EX-S12 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable, no-nonsense camera. In this blog, we'll take an in-depth look at its features, image quality, and ease of use, so you can decide whether the Casio Exilim EX-S12 is the right camera for you.

Casio Exilim EX-S12 Pros and Cons

Now, we will look more closely at our review of the Casio Exilim EX-S12 camera. We will see what it can do and compare it to other cameras like it. We will tell you what's good about it and what's not so good. This way, you'll know if it's the camera for you!

Pros

Sleek design
Wide-angle lens
Good image quality
Face detection technology
Easy to use
Shake reduction feature
3x optical zoom
High ISO capability

Cons

Slow autofocus
Limited manual controls
Small LCD screen
No viewfinder
Short battery life
No HD video recording
Limited storage capacity
Low light performance could be better

Build and Construction

Body and dimensions

Casio Exilim EX-S12

Weather sealed
Dimensions95 x 60 x 23mm
Weight111g
Thickness23mm
Weight
Min
Avg
This
Max
Thickness
Min
Avg
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Max

Weather Sealing

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 is not sealed against water and dust, so it's important to be careful when using it in such conditions. If you often shoot in environments with water or dust, it's recommended to check out another camera with weather sealing.

Design and Handling

Main design features

View FinderNone
Screen TypeFixed Type
Screen Resolution230k dots
Body typeCompact

Suitable for:

PhotographyAbove Avg.
VideographyAbove Avg.
TravelAbove Avg.

LCD Screen

This camera has a fixed type 2.70" screen, with a display resolution of 230k dots. This makes the Casio Exilim EX-S12 not as suitable for those looking for a vlogging camera as you cannot view yourself while shooting selfies easily. Unfortunately, the camera does not have a touch screen, which may make it less user-friendly.

Viewfinder

Casio Exilim EX-S12 does not include a viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder on the Exilim EX-S12 camera may make it less suitable for outdoor photography in bright conditions.

Image Quality

Casio Exilim EX-S12 has a 12MP sized CCD sensor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 12 pixels. Casio Exilim EX-S12 has a native ISO range of 100 - 1600 which can be boosted to null - null.

Key Features

Jan 08 2009

Announced

100 - 1600

ISO Range

Sensor1/2.3-inch
Extended ISOnull - null
Max resolution4000 x 3000 pixels

DXO Sensor Scores

Overall

not tested

Color Depth

not tested

Dynamic Range

not tested

Low Light ISO

not tested

DXO mark sensor scores

The DXOmark rankings indicate that the Casio Exilim EX-S12 camera has excellent color depth performance, which refers to the number of colors the sensor can distinguish. Additionally, its dynamic range is also excellent, allowing it to retain high amounts of details in both bright and dark areas of a scene. The camera's low light ISO performance is excellent, which is an important factor to consider if you plan to use it in dimly lit indoor environments or at night. Overall the image quality of the Exilim EX-S12 is excellent

Crop Factor

Camera crop factor (or focal length multiplier) refers to how a camera's sensor size affects the apparent field of view of a lens. Crop factor is determined by comparing the size of a camera's sensor to that of a full-frame sensor, which is a standard reference size for camera sensors.

Size comparison

Medium FormatFull FrameAPS-C (Sony, Nikon)

Crop factor calculator

Crop factor

1x

Full frame equivalent

24mm

This camera: 1/2.3-inch

24mm

850100150200

Connectivity, storage, battery

StorageSD/ SDHC memory card, Internal
Battery Life
Battery ModelNP-60
HDMI
USD
Wireless Connectivity

Storage

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 supports SD/ SDHC memory card, Internal with 1 slots for storage. This may suffice for everyday use. However, for professional applications such as wedding photography, it is not recommended as a memory card malfunction could lead to the loss of all footage.

Battery

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 uses the NP-60 model of undefined. This is rated for undefined shots which is high. If you intend to take photos or record videos for an extended period, it might be a good idea to bring along additional batteries.

Photography Features

Flash

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 has built in flash which is great for event photography and in low light situations. However it lacks an external flash shoe, which limits you to using the built-in flash.

Shutter

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 boasts a maximum mechanical shutter speed of 1/2000s, which is ideal for shooting fast-moving subjects in bright environments, such as in sports photography. Faster shutter speeds enable you to freeze the action and capture every detail, making it easier to get the perfect shot.

With a continuous mechanical shutter speed of n/a or an electronic shutter speed of n/a, this camera is not capable of capturing the perfect moment more easily, making it not as suited for wedding, sports, and wildlife photography. Higher shutter speeds make it easier to capture fast-paced action, ensuring that you never miss the perfect shot.

Autofocus

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 includes contrast detection autofocus (AF), with null number of focus points.

While contrast detection is generally more accurate and precise, phase detection autofocus is faster and more effective in most situations, particularly when photographing moving subjects.

Phase detection autofocus works by dividing the incoming light into pairs and then analyzing how they intersect on the camera's sensor. This method allows the camera to determine not only if a subject is in focus but also the direction and distance needed to adjust the focus to achieve perfect sharpness.

On the other hand, contrast detection autofocus works by analyzing the contrast of an image and adjusting the focus until the highest contrast is detected. While this method is very accurate, it can be slow, especially in low light conditions or when photographing moving subjects.

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FAQ

What is the sensor size of the Casio Exilim EX-S12?

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 features a CCD sensor

Is the Casio Exilim EX-S12 weather sealed?

No the Exilim EX-S12 does not have weather sealing.

When was the Casio Exilim EX-S12 announced?

The Casio Exilim EX-S12 was announced on Jan 08 2009

Does the Casio Exilim EX-S12 have in-body image stabilization?

No the Exilim EX-S12 does not have in-body image stabilization that can compensate for camera shake, making it easier to shoot handheld in low light conditions.

What is the ISO range of the Casio Exilim EX-S12?

The Exilim EX-S12 has a native ISO range of 100-1600, which can be expanded to ISO null-null for even greater sensitivity in low light conditions.

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