Casio QV-700 review

The QV-700 is one of only three digital cameras in this group test not to have an optical viewfinder. The absence of such a feature helps to reduce the overall cost of the unit, but the disadvantages outweigh the financial savings. Having to use the LCD panel for framing a scene will drain batteries at a faster rate. Also, under extreme light conditions (both bright and dim) the LCD can be difficult to view. The QV-700 redeems itself with the swivel design of the lens. It can rotate through 270 degrees, thus rendering a fixed optical viewfinder redundant.

The distinctive design of the QV-700 is stylishly contoured but functional. A rotary dial for selecting options is conveniently placed near the right thumb. The power, record, playback and shutter buttons are also within easy reach of thumb and forefinger. The less frequently used function buttons are unobtrusively placed along the top of the case.

Apart from normal recording, there are special modes for continuous and panoramic shots. Three levels of image detail exist - economy, normal and fine. On the 2Mb CompactFlash card supplied with the QV-700, approximately 47, 26 and 14 images can be stored at each quality level respectively.

The LCD panel measures 50 x 38mm, making it the joint largest display area in the group test (the Sony Mavica FD71 uses a screen with equally impressive proportions). The QV-700 exploits the benefits of the screen area with multiple image playbacks, displaying four or nine pictures simultaneously. The maximum output resolution is a disappointing though, at 640 x 480 pixels.

The CCD has a 350,000 pixel count - four times less than the 1.5 million pixels of the Fuji MX-500 and MX-700. Even so, 640 x 480 is adequate for uses like Web images. Sadly, the test pictures from the QV-700 showed disappointing image quality. The studio shots of the bowl of fruit gave very grainy captures, with the edge of the fruit and bowl appearing noticeably blocky. Outdoor shots in subdued natural light produced a dull overall image. Generally, the detail resolution was unsatisfactory and the colour balance often inaccurate. The QV-700 was also unable to cope effectively with luminous reflections. The reflected light from water droplets makes them look more like snowflakes.

The QV-700 may be cheap, but the disappointing image quality makes it hard to recommend unless you're on a tight budget.