Casio just announced its new flagship model from their EXILIM family of digital cameras, the 12.1 megapixel EX-ZR100. Blazingly fast, the EX-ZR100 is powered by Casio's new EXILIM ENGINE HS with dual core processors, which work together to offer consumers a high-speed shooting experience unlike any other. From high-speed image processing to slow-motion video recording, the next generation EXILIM EX-ZR100 represents a dramatic advancement beyond today's traditional digital cameras.
High-Speed Processing Power
The EX-ZR100 incorporates a 12.1 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor which will help users capture high-resolution, low-noise images even in dimly lit environments. The camera also features sensor-shift image stabilization to help reduce the blur associated with hand movement for even better results. The sensor-shift stabilization technology also allows users to capture impressive 1920×1080 full-HD video at 30 frames-per-second (fps) with continuous auto focus. In addition, the EX-ZR100 features a built-in stereo microphone, and even offers users the ability leverage the camera's full optical zoom and capture digital still images with high-speed burst shooting (10 megapixel), all while recording video.
The camera's high-performance CMOS sensor is complimented even further by Casio's advanced EXILIM ENGINE HS with dual core processors, which further enhance the digital imaging experience for consumers. Together, the EXILIM ENGINE HS with dual core processors drive the high-speed capabilities of the EX-ZR100 and are responsible for the camera's industry leading, .37 second shot-to-shot time, slow-motion video recording as well as high-speed burst shooting. With burst shooting, consumers can capture 30, 10 megapixel images at a maximum speed of 40 shots per second. Adding even more versatility, the EX-ZR100's Pre-record Continuous Shutter will begin pre-recording images when the shutter button is pressed halfway, ensuring users will not miss a single critical moment even if they're a little late in snapping the photo. All photos and video can be reviewed on the camera's high-resolution three-inch LCD (460k).
Getting Creative
The new EX-ZR100 encompasses a number of unique shooting modes, such as slow-motion video recording, Slide Panorama, and Casio's HDR-ART technology, which consumers can use to build on their creativity and better express themselves through images. With slow-motion, users can record fast-action events at a maximum speed of 1,000fps (224×64), revealing detail that's simply too fast for the naked eye to see. Additional high-speed frame rates include 480fps (224×160) and 240fps (432×320).
With Casio's HDR technology, each press of the shutter button actually takes several shots with different exposures and instantly combines them into a single image with a high dynamic range. This ensures that both light and dark areas are clearly visible in the photograph and that washed out or overly dark areas are minimized. The HDR-ART function uses this HDR technology to create beautifully artistic photographs. It locally controls the contrast and the level of color saturation of the analyzed subject, and achieves the kind of awe-inspiring effects that used to be possible only using dedicated software, all with just one press of the shutter button. The effects of the HDR-ART function can be set at three different processing levels, so now anyone can easily create dramatic, eye-catching HDR images that suit their artistic tastes and are sure to impress.
Users can also get creative with Slide Panorama, which will give them the ability to pan the EX-ZR100 across a scene, such as an expansive landscape, to capture 360-degree images. Unique about Casio's Slide Panorama is the fact that the function can detect moving subjects or peoples' faces and will not use these subjects for the combined points. This makes it easy to take more natural panoramic images. The EX-ZR100 also makes using the camera fun thanks to its Dynamic Photo function. With Dynamic Photo, users can combine moving characters preloaded to the camera's memory, with a still image or movie background of their choice.
Optics That Pack a Punch
Casio's new flagship EXILIM model doesn't fail to impress thanks to a robust lens that boasts a powerful 12.5x optical zoom and a focal length of 24mm-300mm (35mm film equivalent). Packed within a compact body that measures under an inch thick (0.95-inches), the ultra-wide-angle and telephoto capabilities of the EX-ZR100's lens will allow users to fit more into the frame or get in close, no matter how near or far they may be. Furthermore, Casio greatly enhances the 12.5x optical zoom of the EX-ZR100 with its Multi Frame SR Zoom technology, which doubles the camera's zoom to achieve a zoom that's equivalent to a 25x optical zoom. Far more advanced than traditional digital zooms found on today's digital cameras, Multi Frame SR Zoom leverages the high-speed processing power of the EXILIM ENGINE HS to capture and combine several images at once to produce a final photo with no loss of image quality.
Price and Availability
The Casio EX-ZR100 will be available in black or white, and will ship in March 2011 for $299.99.
Also becoming available this month is EX-ZR100's younger sibling, the EX-ZR10 for $249.99.
