QV-2300UX
User Review

Click to take a 360-degree QTVR tour

The Casio QV-2300UX features a 2.11-megapixel CCD imager that yields 1600 x 1200 or 800 x 600 still images and 320 x 240 AVI movie clips up to 30 seconds in length. It features a 3x optical (12x digital) zoom lens with a macro mode that focuses as close as 1cm.   It also has multi-pattern, spot and center-weighted metering options, Program AE, aperture and shutter priority AE and full manual.

The QV-2300UX is bundled with an IBM 340MB Microdrive this combination lets you store 401 Fine mode 1600 x 1200 or up to 2,494 Economy mode 800 x 600 images. This is more than enough picture storage for an extended vacation and then some. The QV-2300UX bundle will be available in July 2000 for $799.

It has a 4-mode flash, special Night Mode using a CASIO original noise reduction system. The QV-2300 processes and stores Large/Fine mode images in seconds and has a fast USB port for downloading image data to the host computer. There's 28 different pre-recorded scene modes (beach, sky, twilight, night, etc) and the ability to save up to three of your own combinations of shutter speed, aperture, focus and other settings.

On the back is a bright 1.8" HAST color LCD display with a refresh rate close to 30fps. The display will slow down in low-light and get grainy as it increases its gain. There is no adjustment for backlight brightness.

The one thing lacking on this otherwise fully-featured digicam is an optical viewfinder. Without an optical viewfinder you must use the color LCD to do all your aiming and framing and this can be a problem outdoors in the bright light, not to mention a serious drain on the batteries.

The QV-2300UX uses an all-glass (9 elements in 7 groups) 3x (41-123mm 35mm equivalent) optical zoom lens with a F2.8 - F4.5 maximum aperture. It also features a 4x digital zoom option. 43mm threaded lenses and filters can be used with the optional (LU-8A) adapter. Casio has a 1.5x Tele Conversion lens (LU-8T) and a 0.7x Wide Conversion lens (LU-8W).

Autofocus from 10cm to infinity in normal mode and 1cm to 30cm in macro mode. The focal length in macro mode is fixed plus a 2x digital option. Manual focus is from 2.4 inches to infinity but it must be judged by looking at the color LCD, there are no distance indications. The focus can also be locked to infinity.

The tripod socket is not in a good place if you're using one of the newer tripods with the removeable platform mounts as it blocks the lens unit from rotating. It is best used with a smaller, table-top tripod. The CF card door is on the side, so cards can be removed without taking the camera off of the tripod.

The power switch is spring loaded so it won't be accidentally activated. The zoom control is rather small and somewhat difficult to operate. The shutter release is well positioned but could have better tactile feel and a more positive "half depressed" detent. Most camera features are selected from the graphical menu system using the "-" and "+" buttons, the shutter release acts as the Enter key.

The rest of the control buttons are located below the color LCD and perform double duty depending on whether you are in Record or Play mode.

The I/O ports are on the top behind a securely closing door. There's a USB port, Video out with selectable NTSC or PAL ouput format, RS-232 serial "digital" data port, and 6 VDC input jack,

The QV-2300UX uses a CompactFlash Type II slot and accepts all existing CompactFlash cards and CF/2 devices like the included IBM Microdrive.

Replacing batteries couldn't be simpler, move the safety latch to open and then slide the battery door open and all four batteries drop out in your hand. I like this type of "easy to swap" arrangement along with the sturdy door and a safety latch to prevent it from accidentally opening at the wrong time.

The documentation indicates that alkaline, lithium or nickel metal hydride (NiMH) types of batteries may be used. NiMH is preferable because of the power-hungry Microdrive and fulltime color LCD viewfinder.

For size comparison the QV-2300, Nikon 990 and Ricoh RDC-7