Casio: Two new EXILIM digicams By
Mike Tomkins
(Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - 13:42 EDT)
From its headquarters in Dover NJ, the American subsidiary of Japan's Casio Computer Co. Ltd. has today announced two new digital camera models that offer easy uploading to the popular YouTube website.
The Casio EXILIM CARD EX-S880 and EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z77 are the first digital cameras to offer the YouTube Capture mode, which in concert with a bundled software application makes it simple to upload multiple videos at once to YouTube. The Casio EX-S880 offers eight megapixel resolution coupled to a bright f/2.7 3x optical zoom lens that provides a 35mm-equivalent focal range of 38 - 114mm, a moderate wide angle to a moderate telephoto. The Casio EXILIM EX-S880 stores images and videos in 10.8MB of built-in memory or on SD / MMC flash cards including the newer SDHC high capacity types. Power comes from a proprietary Lithium Ion battery, and images are framed on a 2.8" LCD panel with 230,400 pixel resolution. ISO sensitivity ranges from 64 to 800, with the ability to extend this to ISO 1600 in "High Sensitivity" mode, and the Casio S880 is capable of shutter speeds from 4 - 1/2000 second. The Casio EX-Z77 meanwhile has a sensor resolution of seven megapixels coupled to a lens that has a maximum aperture of f/3.1 - f/5.9 across the zoom range - not as bright as the lens in the S880, although it has the same 35mm-equivalent focal range of 38 - 114mm. The Casio EXILIM EX-Z77 has slightly more built-in memory than the other model - some 11.4MB - as well as the SD / MMC / SDHC card storage. Power comes from the same NP-20 proprietary Lithium Ion battery, and the camera has a slightly smaller and lower resolution LCD than its sibling, with 114,960 pixels on a 2.6" panel. ISO ranges from 50 to 800 with an ISO 1600 high sensitivity mode available, and shutter speeds range from 4 to 1/2000 second. The Casio EXILIM CARD EX-S880 ships from August priced at about $300, with red and black being the body color choices. The Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z77 will also be available from August at the slightly lower price point of $230, and color selections for that model will be black, blue, pink and silver. Casio EXILIM CARD EX-S880 | | General | Camera Type | Ultra Compact | Manufacturer | Casio | Model Number | EX-S880 | Dimensions | 3.7 x 2.4 x 0.7" 95.0 x 61.0 x 17.0mm | Weight | 128.0 g 4.5 oz | Planned Price | $299.99 | Planned Availability | 2007 | Image Capture | Sensor Type | 1/2.5" CCD 8.29 megapixels (total) 8.00 megapixels (effective) | Aspect Ratio | 16:9, 4:3 | Image Dimensions | 3264 x 2448 (8.0 megapixels) 3264 x 2176 (7.1 megapixels) 3264 x 1840 (6.0 megapixels) 2816 x 2112 (5.9 megapixels) 2304 x 1728 (4.0 megapixels) 1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels) 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
| Image Quality | 3 levels | Image Preview / Review | Viewfinder | No | LCD | 2.8", 230,400 pixels | Lens | Lens Type | EXILIM Optical, 6 elements in 5 groups including 1 aspherical element 3x optical zoom | Image Stabilization | No | Focal Length | 6.2 - 18.6mm (actual) 38 - 114mm (35mm equivalent) | Aperture Range | f/2.7 (wide) / f/5.2 (tele) - f/8.0 | Focusing System | Contrast detect with face detection; spot , multi or tracking with AF assist lamp Manual Focus possible (0) steps | Focusing Range | Normal: 16" - infinity (40 cm - infinity) Macro: 6.1" - 20" (15 cm - 50 cm) | Exposure | ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600* (High Sensitivity mode) | Shutter Speed | 4 - 1/2000 second | Metering Modes | Multi-pattern, center weighted, spot by imag ing element | Exposure Compensation | +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments | White Balance | Image Sensor - Auto, 6 presets, manual, Manual | Internal Flash | Modes: Auto, On, Off, Soft Flash, Red Eye Reduction Range: Wide: 15 cm to 3.9 m; Tele: 40 cm to 2.0 m | Creative | Scene Modes | 39 "Best Shot" scene modes | Digital Zoom | Up to 4x | Self Timer | Yes, 2 or 10 seconds | Movie Format | H.264/AVC, MOV format with audio Max. clip length: 4,532 seconds () | Storage | Recording Medium | SD/MMC, Built-in | File System | FAT16, FAT32, complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF) | File Format | JPEG (EXIF 2.2) | Connectivity | Video | Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable | Computer | USB 2.0 High Speed | Other | Cradle | Power | Battery Type | Lithium Ion rechargeable | Battery Form Factor | Proprietary NP-20 | Product Bundle | Software | Casio Photo Loader, Casio Photohands, Ulead Movie Wizard | Battery / Charger | 1 x Proprietary NP-20 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger | Flash Memory | 10.8MB Internal | Other | Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant | Yes | Internal Microphone | Yes | Internal Speaker | Yes | Tripod Mount | Yes | Remote Control | No | More Photos | | | Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z77 | | General | Camera Type | Ultra Compact | Manufacturer | Casio | Model Number | EX-Z77 | Dimensions | 3.7 x 2.3 x 0.8" 95.0 x 59.0 x 19.8mm | Weight | 118.0 g 4.1 oz | Planned Price | $229.99 | Planned Availability | 2007 | Image Capture | Sensor Type | 1/2.5" CCD 7.38 megapixels (total) 7.20 megapixels (effective) | Filter Type | RGBG | Aspect Ratio | 16:9, 4:3 | Image Dimensions | 3072 x 2304 (7.1 megapixels) 3072 x 2048 (6.3 megapixels) 3072 x 1728 (5.3 megapixels) 2560 x 1920 (4.9 megapixels) 2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels) 1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels) 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
| Image Quality | 3 levels | Image Preview / Review | Viewfinder | No | LCD | 2.6", 114,960 pixels | Playback Zoom | 4.0x max | Lens | Lens Type | EXILIM Optical; 6 elements in 5 groups, including aspherical elements 3x optical zoom | Image Stabilization | No | Focal Length | 6.3 - 18.9mm (actual) 38 - 114mm (35mm equivalent) | Aperture Range | f/3.1 - f/4.4 (wide) / f/5.9 - ??? (tele) | Focusing System | Contrast detect with face detection; Spot, Multi or Tracking | Focusing Range | Normal: 16" - infinity (40 cm - infinity) Macro: 4.1" - 20" (10 cm - 50 cm) | Exposure | ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600* (High Sensitivity mode) | Shutter Speed | 4 - 1/2000 second | Metering Modes | Multi-pattern, center weighted, spot by imaging element | Exposure Compensation | +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments | White Balance | Image Sensor - Auto, 6 presets, manual, Manual | Internal Flash | Modes: Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Soft Flash, Red Eye Reduction Range: Wide: 0.1 to 3.5 m; Tele: 0.6 to 1.9 m | Creative | Scene Modes | 41 "Best Shot" scene modes | Digital Zoom | Up to 4x | Self Timer | Yes, 2 or 10 seconds | Movie Format | H.264/AVC, MOV format with audio Max. clip length: 600 seconds () / 600 seconds () | Storage | Recording Medium | SD/MMC, Built-in | File System | FAT16, FAT32, complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF) | File Format | JPEG (EXIF 2.2) | Connectivity | Video | Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable | Computer | USB 2.0 Full (LOW) Speed | Power | Battery Type | Lithium Ion rechargeable | Battery Form Factor | Proprietary NP-20 | Product Bundle | Software | Casio PhotoLoader, Casio PhotoHands, Ulead Movie Wizard | Battery / Charger | 1 x Proprietary NP-20 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger | Flash Memory | 11.4MB Internal | Other | Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant | Yes | Internal Microphone | Yes | Internal Speaker | Yes | Tripod Mount | Yes | Remote Control | No | More Photos | | | |
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Original Source Press Release:
Casio Introduces Two Stylish New EXILIM® Digital Cameras with YouTube™ Capture™ Mode Agreement with Popular Video Sharing Site, YouTube™ Connects Casio with Video Enthusiasts DOVER, NJ, JULY 10, 2007 – Casio, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today the release of two new digital cameras with the cutting-edge EXILIM Engine 2.0 image processing module. In conjunction with the release of these cameras, Casio, Inc. announced today their agreement with YouTube to include a unique YouTube Capture mode and bundle software to provide ideal settings for recording, storing and uploading video on the company’s newest EXILIM digital cameras – EX-S880 and EX-Z77. This agreement represents an effort by Casio, Inc. to directly engage the YouTube community by simplifying the process of creating and sharing videos. “The increased popularity of video sharing Web sites such as YouTube offers a great opportunity for innovation,” said John Homlish, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Casio, Inc. “We recognized that there was a demand for an easier way to upload high-quality video and are thrilled to be the first digital camera company to be able to offer a solution for consumers.” Casio’s YouTube Capture mode records in next-generation MPEG-4 H.264 high quality video format; this provides an ideal compression ratio that allows users to record longer without having to sacrifice the quality of their movies. This mode also provides sharp resolution (640 x 480) and a frame rate of up to 30 frames per second. Casio is providing consumers with a groundbreaking tool to get videos recorded and uploaded directly to YouTube in three easy steps – connect, upload and click! Casio has also included an exclusive software application that makes it seamless to upload movies to YouTube. This technology will also allow users to upload multiple videos at once, making it easier than ever before to share original content online. “We are constantly looking for ways to make it simpler for our community to create and share videos,” said Hunter Walk, YouTube product management. “The YouTube Capture mode featured on these Casio EXILIM cameras is remarkably innovative and easy to use, and will further expand and diversify the incredible range of originally-created content for which YouTube is known.” Casio Announces New Additions to EXILIM line…Add One The stylish 8.1 megapixel EXILIM Card EX-S880 is the latest addition to the popular EXILIM Card series, known for its sophisticated design in a thin card size. The sophisticated 7.2 megapixel EXILIM Zoom EX-Z77 joins Casio’s successful EXILIM Zoom series, whose excellent balance of superior functionality and stylish, compact look characterize the EXILIM brand. Both models add enhanced movie functionality and are the first within the line to feature YouTube Capture mode. The new cameras also feature a blur reduction function that uses motion analysis technology, an auto-tracking AF system, and face detection technology. The combination of face detection technology and the auto-tracking AF system ensures that, once the focus locks on to a person’s face, it will stay sharp and maintain the right exposure, even if the person moves. Casio has made it much easier to capture beautiful portraits. Exclusive to the Casio EXILIM line of digital cameras in the U.S., and featured in the EX-S880 and the EX-Z77 is the eBay™! Best Shot Mode. eBay Best Shot takes photos at a size that is image optimized for display on eBay, allowing picture takers to more quickly and easily create photos for selling items on eBay. For ease of use, eBay photos are stored in a special eBay directory. The EX-S880 is available in red and black with an MSRP of $299.99. The EX-Z77 is available in black, blue, pink and silver with an MSRP of $229.99. Both cameras will be available at retail in August. Casio will have the marketing exclusivity for the YouTube feature during the Holiday ’07 season. All cameras that feature YouTube Capture mode will feature a custom YouTube sticker logo, licensed by YouTube. YouTube Capture mode will be included in Casio’s 2007 Holiday line-up of EXILIM digital cameras. The cameras with YouTube Capture mode and the upload functionality software will be available in a bundle package to be sold during the holiday season, allowing users to receive all the hardware and software necessary for upload for one price. |
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