Casio EX-Z1200 Review

Casio Inc.'s new EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1200 couples its high-res 12.1 megapixel CCD imager to a 3x optical zoom lens. There's no optical viewfinder, with the Casio Z1200 instead providing a larger than average 2.8" LCD display with 230,400 pixel resolution. ISO sensitivity ranges from 50 to 400, with the ability to extend to a maximum of 1600 in high sensitivity mode. Images are stored on SD / MMC cards including the newer SDHC types, and power for the Z1200 comes from a proprietary NP-40 Lithium Ion battery.

Casio's ease-of-use features on the EX-Z1200 include what the company is calling an "Ebay Best-Shot mode", which automatically enables macro focusing and uses reduced image size, as well as grouping Ebay photos in their own separate folder.

Other EXILIM EX-Z1200 features include an H.264/AVC (also known as MPEG-4 Part 10) movie mode, CCD-shift type image stabilization, motion analysis technology which automatically adjusts ISO and shutter speed to reduce blur due to subject movement, and that latest digicam must have for 2007 - face detection autofocus. The Casio EX-Z1200's face detection is an implementation of OKI's "Face Sensing Engine" technology.

The Casio EXILIM Z1200 ships from mid July 2007, priced at US$399.99, and will be availabe in black or silver.