CASIO EX-MR1, TR-50 & ZR50 comparison

CASIO Is A #SELFIE Addict’s Best Friend!

CASIO EX-MR1, TR-50 & ZR50 comparison
CASIOs latest range of selfie cameras EX MR1 TR 50 ZR50

“Hey! Let’s take a Selfie!” This phrase has become so commonplace in our lives! As Oxford Dictionary’s 2013 word of the year, #Selfie has truly made its way onto every social media possible. My Instagram feed is no exception, I have fallen to my narcissism several times and posted a couple of pictures of my smug mug. The only problem is – I am no model and the grainy low megapixel quality of my iPhone front camera highlighting all my flaws was hardly flattering!

Looks like I am not the only one having this problem, because CASIO has released a series of cameras specifically for making selfies an incredibly easy and satisfying snap!

What’s the best part about this? I got to try out all three cameras!

 

CASIO EX-MR1

CASIO EX-MR1 Singapore Price
CASIO EX MR1 is not just a camera It also double up as a mirror

First up is the The “Kawaii” petite Mirror Cam CASIO EX-MR1! Fitting right into the palm of my hands in its adorable pastel colour (White, Baby Pink and Mint Green), it definitely fits right into a young lady’s purse.

Interestingly, the 21mm wide-angle lens are position right within the “mirror” of the front body. So, basically, this camera sort of acts like the front camera of our phone. It is like I am holding a hand mirror and checking my reflection when I am taking a selfie. Except, it comes with a whopping 14.0 megapixels (that my iPhone can hardly keep up with), and an in-built Make-up mode for making my skin look as smooth as a baby’s. Or if that is too much for your liking, you can actually manually adjust between six levels of Skin Tone and Smooth Skin to your preference. That means, not only do I get to take a well-positioned shot of myself, and making sure that there are no photobombs, I get to look fresh and bright instantly in every photo.

CASIO EX-MR1 Singapore Price
Playing around with the Make Up Mode to look fresh faced even though Ive been running around all day

Right after taking a great selfie, it is time to share it on social media of course! Using the EXLIM Link app available on iOS and Android devices, the photos can be sent into your phone within seconds through Wifi. I have been waiting for something like this for ages! I get to skip the arduous process of uploading the pictures, which also requires me to have a computer, and having it instantly in my phone to share!

 

CASIO EX-ZR50

CASIO EX-ZR50 Singapore Price
CASIO EX ZR50 is a beauty camera in disguise

The next contender is the all-rounder High Speed CASIO EX-ZR50. Available in a sleek silvery finish (of White, Bronze or Silver), this lightweight power Digi-cam is aiming to be a jack-of-all-trades – all while fitting right into your palm.

Looking more like a traditional digi-cam we are all familiar with, it transforms into a selfie camera when the 3.0 inch LCD monitor screen is flipped upwards to face you. Just like the EX-MR1, it has the Make-up Mode easily accessible through the main menu. The difference from the previous will be the upgrade in specs with 16.1 megapixels and 24mm wide-angle lens, and a much more superior auto white balance and saturation adjustments – all for the perfect HQ shot!

CASIO EX-ZR50 Singapore Price
Looks like the Make Up mode works just as great in the EX ZR50

While it works well at taking a great selfie in every occasion, it actually works even better taking landscape shots etc. Essentially, it encompasses all you need for a casual photographer with a narcissistic side (someone like me!). As a camera that was meant for something more than just selfies, it is that middle ground you need. It has multiple settings and image-processing combinations, including Intelligent Colour that helps adjust for more natural colour tones. You can bring it on trips knowing that you can take great pictures of you and your friends in amazing locations without worry.

 

CASIO EX-TR50

CASIO EX-TR50 Singapore Price
CASIO EX TR50 is still the ultimate selfie camera

Last but not least, it’s the famed CASIO EX-TR50 – the 4th iteration of their famous selfie genie. Always with the female customers in mind, this series of camera has always maintained a simple yet elegant look. This time, they upped the ante, with a beautiful ultra-slim metallic finish featuring vivid colour options (Gold, Rose Red and Blue) as well as a decorative jewel-cut lens circle.

The appeal of this camera is not just in this appearance of course. With a 3.0 inch Super Clear LCD coupled with a 21mm Wide-angle lens, the camera features a touch-screen and a newly updated user-friendly interface – making it even easier to adjust my Skin Tone and Smooth Skin for the perfect portrait at 11.0 megapixels. What’s more, it has an in-built Beauty Mode Bracketing function that takes a series of three shots – each with varying levels of skin tone enhancements. This means, regardless of day or night, you’re sure to get a shot that makes you look amazing.

CASIO EX-TR50 Singapore Price
With the 3 Shot Beauty Mode Bracketing function I am sure to get the perfect selfie

Of course, the much loved flip-out handle capable of a 180 degree swivel remains popular as ever. On top of giving more flexibility in getting the angle I need, but it also serves as an instant stand. With the EXLIM app, I can place the camera in an upright position and snap a #OOTD with my phone! If that is still too “hands-on” for you, there’s even a Posing Shot mode that triggers on voice command for five successive shots. Talk about being convenient.

What’s more, if you’re born in the nineties or before like me – you will be familiar with neoprints! The EX-TR50 even has a Paint Mode that reminiscent of that. With several original picture frames and stickers on board, you can edit your selfie’s just like on those neoprint machines.

EX-MR1 EX-ZR50 EX-TR50
Price S$429 S$449 S$1300
Megapixels 14.0 16.1 11.1
Battery Life (still images) 230 175 240
Actual Movie Recording Time 35 mins 40 mins 55 mins
Weight (Including Battery) 133g 179g 167g
Aperture F5 F3.1 (W) to F7.8 (W) F2.8
Image-Processing No Yes No
Make Up Mode Yes Yes Yes
Beauty Mode Bracketing No No Yes
Paint Mode No Yes (Known as Dynamic Mode, but not as extensive) Yes
WiFi App Support Yes (Only File Transfers) Yes (File Transfers & Remote Shooting) Yes (File Transfers & Remote Shooting)

 

Verdict

All in all, feature wise as a selfie camera, the stylish CASIO EX-TR50 is the ultimate winner for me. It is truly meant to be coveted selfie camera, boosting functions to, as CASIO advertised, “bring out feminine beauty”. That is, if you have the money to spare – as it costs a whopping S$1,299. On the other hand, if you’re purely looking for a selfie camera that looks great when you’re out and about you can just invest S$429 on the CASIO EX-MR1. While it is indeed missing out on several functions and capabilities, it is much more affordable. Then again, as someone who is cash tight 365 days of the year, I would prefer the more-value-for-money CASIO EX-ZR50. While acting as a selfie camera, its heightened specs doubles as a decent digi-cam at S$449.

So, which of these cameras is worth investing for your selfie addiction?

REVIEW CASIO EXILIM FR10 - Change The Way You Take Selfie
CASIO EXILIM FR10 Change The Way You Take Selfie

Do check out our review for CASIO EX-FR10, which will change the way you take selfie and it is a selfie camera made for lone travellers.

 

About the Writer
SUPERADRIANME Writer _ Jessica ChanJessica is a young lady of many obsessions. She gets herself into everything ranging from the latest in the monochrome fashion world (she only wears black, and sometimes, white) to convincing the masses that Community is the best TV series ever made.
Currently, she enjoys looking like Sailor Mercury had a baby with Wednesday Addams.

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