Casio launches new compact cameras

Written by Adorama News Writer
|
Published on January 10, 2012
Adorama News Writer
Adorama ALC

The new Casio EX-ZR200 becomes Casio’s flagship camera. A 16MP compact with a 12.5x optical zoom that starts at the 35mm equivalent of 24mm, the ZR200 continues the Casio tradition of being a high-performance camera. It is capable of shooting up to 30 full-resolution frames per second and can record high-speed movies at lower resolution up to 240 fps. The camera also offers high dynamic range, HDR Art modes, Super Macro Mode, high-speed anti-shake and a host of bells and whistles. The EX-ZR15 offers most of the same features but with a shorter 7x optical zoom lens. The cameras will list for $379.99 and $329.99, respectively, and are expected to ship in April.

Casio also unveiled four fashion-friendly entry-level cameras, the EX-ZS150, EX-ZS20, EX-ZS12, and EX-ZS6. All offer a 16MP sensor and typical Casio high-performance features. Key differences are:

  • EX-ZS150 (List: $229.99; shown): 12.5x optical zoom that starts at 24mm (all focal lengths 35mm equivalent).
  • EX-ZS20 (List: $159.99): 6x optical zoom that starts at 26mm, in slim, stainless steel body
  • EX-ZS12 (List: $139.99): 5x optical zoom starting at 26mm, stainless steel body.
  • EX-ZS6 (List: $119.99): 5x optical zoom starting at 26mm

All models will be available in April.


For details, read the Casio press releases

CASIO RELEASES FLAGSHIP EXILIM WITH ADVANCED AUTO FEATURES AND RAPID SHUTTER

State-of-the-art Premium AUTO PRO takes beautiful pictures every time; shoots in as little as 0.27 seconds between photos

Las Vegas, NV January 9, 2012 – Casio America, Inc., today announced the release of the new EXILIM® EX-ZR200 compact digital camera. The new digital camera, boasting Casio’s new Rapid Shutter feature, makes it easier than ever to shoot beautiful pictures.
CASIO EXILIM EX-ZR200
high resloution images

Casio is a pioneer in the digital camera market, and the new EX-ZR200 introduces a whole new world for compact digital cameras. As the new flagship model in the EXILIM lineup, the EX-ZR200 uses Casio’s own high-speed technology to achieve new heights in camera performance, effortlessly taking beautiful pictures at any time.

The camera also comes with Casio’s HDR-ART function, which creates impressive artistic images with nothing more than a press of the shutter button. The Blurred Background function processes images to make a soft background that accentuates the subject, and the manual shooting function gives users control over shooting parameters. As one expects from a flagship EXILIM camera, the EX-ZR200 delivers advanced ease of use that raises that bar for functionality in a compact digital camera.

Main Features of the EX-ZR200

EXILIM ENGINE HS with high-speed shooting and high-speed image processing
Premium AUTO PRO function produces beautiful photos with just a press of the shutter button
The Premium AUTO PRO function incorporates all the features of Premium AUTO mode-which automatically analyzes the shooting scene to choose the best settings and perform image processing-while making it even better. Premium AUTO PRO can now automatically combine images from high-speed continuous shooting according to shooting conditions, to create gorgeous photos. Users can easily take sophisticated photos at the press of the shutter button, thanks to the automatic activation of functions such as HDR technology for high-contrast conditions, High Speed Night Scene mode for night shots, and High Speed Anti Shake for high-power zoom shooting.

HDR technology faithfully reproduces images as they really appear
With Casio’s HDR technology, each press of the shutter button actually takes several shots at different exposures and instantly combines them into a single image with a high dynamic range. This minimizes over exposed or under exposed areas in the image, creating a photograph that captures all the rich tonal gradation of the scene just as it appears in real life. The HDR technology also reduces the blur caused by a subject’s movements during continuous shooting, leaving only beautifully crisp, clear photographs.
HDR-ART creates artistic photographs
The EX-ZR200 features Casio’s HDR-ART function for enabling anyone to create truly artistic photographs at the press of the shutter button, unlike anything possible with conventional cameras before. The function works by combining continuous shots with differing exposures and performing highly precise image analysis to locally change levels of contrast and color saturation. Users can select from three different processing levels of art effects. The HDR-ART function can also be applied to movies (only one level of art effect available), allowing them to produce dramatic movies from everyday scenes.

Blurred Background function lets users take impressive photographs like a single-lens reflex camera
Casio has employed its high-speed burst shooting technologies to create an original technique for processing the background scene of a shot like the soft blur effect attainable using a single-lens reflex camera, thereby accentuating the subject of the photo.

Scenes come alive in their full expansiveness with the Wide Shot function
The EX-ZR200 combines continuous shots taken with high-speed burst shooting when the user is moving the camera, enabling powerful super-wide-angle shots. Users can choose wide-angle shooting modes equivalent to 14 mm or 18 mm.

Casio’s Multi Frame SR Zoom maintains refined image quality to a maximum zoom of 25x
The wide-angle 24 mm, 12.5x optical zoom lens offers zoom performance equivalent to a maximum of 25x optical zoom with Casio’s Multi Frame SR Zoom, which actually combines a number of still images to maintain the image quality needed for high-resolution photography.

Users can enjoy producing high-resolution Full HD movies
The EX-ZR200 enables beautiful high-resolution Full HD movies. Even while shooting a movie, users can take still 16-megapixel high-resolution images with high-speed burst shooting using the Snapshot In Movie function, and can also use the optical zoom and continuous auto focus.

Mode dial for rapid access to shooting modes
The mode dial enables users to choose from 10 shooting modes, including scene modes and Premium AUTO PRO, Multi Frame SR Zoom and HDR modes.

The EX-ZR200 will be available in Black, White, Red and Blue and will ship in April for $379.99.

New EXILIM Compact Digital Camera with More Advanced Shooting Functions

Enjoy Ease of Use with Start-Up Time of 0.99 Seconds and Time Between Photos as Short as 0.29 Seconds

Las Vegas, NV January 9, 2012 – Casio America, Inc., today announced the release of the EX-ZR15, a new addition to the EXILIM lineup of digital cameras. This new model is equipped with an array of shooting functions that set it apart from conventional compact digital cameras, including super-wide-angle shooting and a background blur function that makes the most of Casio’s original high-speed technologies.
CASIO EXILIM EX-ZR15 CASIO EXILIM EX-ZR15
high resolution images

The EX-ZR15 is powered by the EXILIM ENGINE HS, a high-performance engine that combines high-speed shooting and high-speed image processing. Further leveraging Casio’s high-speed technologies, the new EX-ZR15 compact digital camera significantly improves on operability and functionality. The new model boasts a start-up time of 0.99 seconds, 0.13-second high-speed auto focus, and time between photos as short as 0.29 seconds. The EX-ZR15 allows users to experience the pleasure of continuous shooting so no important moments are missed, even when using shooting modes that apply complex image processing needed for difficult scenarios, such as the HDR and HS night scene modes.

While the EX-ZR15 is a very compact digital camera, it is loaded with an array of powerful functions that make picture-taking even more fun, including a background blur effect that accentuates the subject and softens the background, and the new Wide Shot function that lets users create impressive super-wide-angle shots by panning the camera (equivalent to 17-mm wide-angle when converted to 35mm film format). Furthermore, the EX-ZR15 is equipped with a more advanced HDR-ART function that can create artistic images. The improved function now enables users to produce dramatic movies from everyday scenes.

Main Features of the EX-ZR15

EXILIM ENGINE HS with high-speed shooting and high-speed image processing
The EX-ZR15 incorporates the EXILIM ENGINE HS for high-speed shooting and high-speed processing. In addition to a multiple CPU and dual image processing circuits, the camera is equipped with a reconfigurable processor that delivers functional and performance flexibility plus high-speed processing based on Casio’s latest technologies. With the engine, the EX-ZR15 is fast from the time the power is turned on until the unit is turned off, with 0.99-second start-up time, 0.13-second high-speed auto focus, 0.29-second minimum time between photos, and approximately 1.8-second shutdown time, making picture-taking virtually carefree. The EXILIM ENGINE HS also achieves functions that were simply impossible before, such as HDR-ART, which creates artistic photographs, and enables simultaneous movie and continuous still image shooting.

HDR technology faithfully reproduces images as they really appear
With Casio’s HDR technology, each press of the shutter button actually takes several shots at different exposures and instantly combines them into a single image with a wide dynamic range. This minimizes washed out or overly dark areas, creating a photograph that captures all the rich tonal gradation of the scene just as it appears in real life. The HDR technology also reduces the blur caused by a subject’s movements during continuous shooting, leaving only beautifully crisp, clear photographs.

HDR-ART function for creating artistic photographs is now available for shooting movies
The EX-ZR15 features Casio’s HDR-ART function for enabling anyone to create truly artistic photographs* at the press of the shutter button, unlike anything possible with conventional cameras before. The function works by combining continuous shots with differing exposures and performing highly precise image analysis to locally change levels of contrast and color saturation. Users can select from three different processing levels of art effects. The HDR-ART function can also be applied to movies shot by the user, allowing them to produce dramatic movies from everyday scenes.

Background blur function lets users take impressive photographs like a single-lens reflex camera
Casio has employed its high-speed burst shooting technologies to create an original technique for processing the background scene of a shot like the soft blur effect attainable using a single-lens reflex camera, thereby accentuating the subject of the photo.
Scenes come alive in their full expansiveness with the Wide Shot function
The EX-ZR15 combines continuous shots taken with high-speed burst shooting when the user is moving the camera, enabling powerful super-wide-angle shots. Users can choose wide-angle shooting modes equivalent to 17 mm or 21 mm.

Casio’s Multi Frame SR Zoom maintains refined image quality to a maximum zoom of 14x
The wide-angle 28 mm, 7.0x optical zoom lens offers zoom performance equivalent to a maximum of 14x optical zoom with Casio’s Multi Frame SR Zoom, which actually combines a number of still images to maintain the image quality needed for high-resolution photography.

Slide Panorama captures 360-degree panoramic images
The EX-ZR15’s high-speed burst shooting and automatic composite image functions allow users to create natural-looking panoramic images just by panning the camera across a scene.

Users can enjoy producing high-resolution Full HD movies
The EX-ZR15 enables beautiful high-resolution Full HD movies. Even while shooting a movie, users can take still 16-megapixel high-resolution images with high-speed burst shooting using the Still In Movie function, and can also use the optical zoom and continuous auto focus.
Premium Auto function produces beautiful photos with just a press of the shutter button
Premium Auto enables the camera to automatically analyze the scene being photographed – including distinguishing night scenes, back lighting, a blue sky, green trees or a sunset – as well as sensing any human faces in the frame, the movement and position of the subject, and whether a tripod is being used. It simultaneously optimizes settings for exposure, ISO sensitivity, focus location, photo blur correction, tonal range and color balance, and level of noise reduction. Images are analyzed pixel by pixel to apply different correction to people and backgrounds. Premium Auto delivers an advanced level of full auto photography, ensuring high quality photos with just a press of the shutter button.

The EX-ZR15 will be available in Black, White, Red and Gold and will ship in April for $329.99.

CASIO RELEASES FOUR STYLISH NEW EXILIM DIGITAL CAMERAS WITH ENTRY LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHERS IN MIND

High Performance Features Simplified with easy Mode and Premium Auto

Las Vegas, NV, January 9, 2012 – Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., today announced the release of four new models to the EXILIM® family of digital cameras: the EX-ZS150, EX-ZS20, EX-ZS12, and EX-ZS6. These compact cameras feature a powerful zoom lens and 16.1 effective megapixels and provide high-performance features that are typically not available in entry level digital cameras.

The four new models have dedicated buttons for the basic digital camera operations of capturing, reviewing, and deleting images. They also feature the “easy Mode” interface, which clearly displays frequently used functions with large lettering and icons. By following instructions from the on-screen guide, users can take photos with the optimal photographic settings. Also, by merely pointing the camera at a subject, the new models automatically focus on the face of the subject or on the landscape. Once the focus frame turns green, the user just presses the shutter button, and a sharply focused image is captured. The new EXILIM cameras are designed to be easy for everyone to operate, even novices.

The EX-ZS150 is equipped with a 24mm wide-angle lens and a 12.5x optical zoom ready to capture any kind of scene, while the EX-ZS20 is equipped with a 26mm wide-angle lens and a 6x optical zoom in a slim, stainless-steel body. Both models come with Premium Auto mode, which automatically analyzes the shooting scene to choose the best settings and performs image processing. When set to Premium Auto mode, the cameras will automatically analyze the scene being photographed and simultaneously optimize settings for exposure, ISO, sensitivity, focus location, photo blur correction, tonal range, color balance, and level of noise reduction. Premium Auto mode will automatically distinguish night scenes, back lighting, a blue sky, green trees or a sunset and can sense whether there is a person’s face in the frame, the movement and position of the subject, and whether a tripod is being used. All images are analyzed pixel by pixel to apply different corrections depending on the subject. For example, if Premium Auto mode recognizes that the subject of the image is a person, it will automatically apply Makeup Mode, and will automatically apply Landscape Mode if it detects that the subject of the image is a landscape. For those who value simplicity and want to capture beautiful images with each press of the shutter, Casio’s Premium Auto is the mode to use.

Meanwhile, the EX-ZS12 and EX-ZS6 are equipped with a 26mm wide-angle lens and a 5x optical zoom. The EX-ZS12 features a slim, stainless-steel body for a high-quality look.

“Casio’s latest introductions continue to offer today’s consumers the very best digital imaging has to offer,” said Shigenori Itoh, Chairman and CEO of Casio America. “With their high-performance features and array of shooting modes, these new cameras will deliver an overall digital imaging experience that’s far from entry-level.”

All four models come in a wide variety of colors and offer BEST SHOT Mode, which optimizes photo settings when the user selects the type of scene about to be photographed. Every BEST SHOT Mode was designed to help users capture the best images possible of a wide range of subjects in just about any environment. Users will also benefit from helpful images and descriptions which accompany each mode and give a detailed explanation of when to use them and what each will provide in regard to results. The new EXILIM models also offer a self-portrait function that automatically takes a beautiful shot when the camera detects the user’s face and focuses on it. What’s more is that each camera is also capable of HD movie recording (1280 x 720) for stunning clips.

In addition, the cameras feature a 2.7-inch LCD screen as well as USB charging, which provides users the ability to recharge the battery in camera while connected to a computer.

The EX-ZS150 will be available in Black, Gold, Green and Vivid Pink and will ship in April for $229.99.
The EX-ZS20 will be available in Black, Silver, White, Pink, Red and Blue and will ship in April for $159.99.
The EX-ZS12 will be available in Black, Silver, Red and Blue and will ship in April for $139.99.
The EX-ZS6 will be available in Black, Silver, Pink and Red and will ship in April for $119.99.