Casio's magnesium-bodied 2004 compact — 5MP 1/1.8in CCD, 3x zoom, 2in LCD, SD/MMC, AA power
The Casio QV-R51 was a 5-megapixel compact that reached the UK in March 2004 as the follow-up to the QV-R40, sharing that camera's body design but with a magnesium-alloy build. It was announced alongside a 4-megapixel sibling, the QV-R41, and continued Casio's pitch of class-leading responsiveness with a claimed one-second start-up and 0.01-second release lag.
The camera uses a 5-megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD and a 3x optical zoom, with a 2.0-inch LCD monitor on the rear. It offers a seven-point multi autofocus system and records Motion JPEG video clips of up to 60 seconds at 320x240. Storage combines 9.7MB of internal flash memory with an SD/MMC slot, and power comes from two AA cells, with Casio claiming up to 900 shots per set thanks to its low-consumption Stack MCM circuitry.
Like the QV-R40, its appeal now is as a dependable early-2000s CCD compact with no proprietary-battery worries. The bigger 2-inch screen and 5MP output make it slightly more usable day-to-day than its predecessor, though video capability is token and there is little manual control. A sensible cheap starter digicam for the retro-compact trend.
Check the AA battery compartment for corrosion from leaked cells and use NiMH rechargeables for reliable operation. The SD/MMC slot predates SDHC, so cards of 2GB or under are the safe choice. Confirm the zoom extends smoothly, the LCD is unmarked, and USB transfer works, as card readers are otherwise needed for the MMC-era formats these cameras shipped with.