Casio's Exilim EX-Z1000 10 megapixel shooter

Casio just gave a bump to the top-end of their Exilim Zoom line-up by introducing the 10.1 megapixel EX-Z1000. The Z1000 features the same anti-shake DSP and meager 3x zoom we saw in Casio's 8.1 megapixel Z850, but doubles the pixels count on the LCD to 230k. They also double the ISO sensitivity to a massive ISO 3200, (likely) just for show -- but let's hope that tiny 1/1.8 inch CCD can cut through the noise a bit better than Z850 can, eh? All this largenessing of the camera impacts the device's size as well, giving the case a bump by a few millimeters in all directions. Still, at 22.4-mm thin, she ain't no fatty. Hey Casio, how about some pricing and release date? Picture of the LCD on the flip.

[Via Akihabara News]

[PEZ @ Apr 26th 2006 8:14AM]

Thats one fancy-ass screen. But, I too am curious about the noise, and that alleged ISO.

You would think SONY would be the one to release something liek this first - they like to be first with everything, crappy or not.

[Brian Short @ Apr 26th 2006 9:36AM]

You know, I'd be more excited about a 3 megapixel cam that had super-low noise than a 10 megapixel camera that can barely shoot at ISO 100.

[js @ Apr 26th 2006 9:40AM]

The million dollar question -- how many megapixels is too much?

[Rob @ Apr 26th 2006 9:58AM]

I'm holding out for 20 megapixels...

[Tomas @ Apr 26th 2006 10:05AM]

This line of Exilims is really nice. I picked up the Z750 a while back, and it has turned out to be the best digital camera that I've had. Yeah, some people don't go for the dock - I don't either - but it's convenient when I'm at home, and I can always pull the memory out when I'm on the road. Travel chargers are cheap too.

[nilram @ Apr 26th 2006 10:50AM]

Gee, maybe if they're claiming ISO 3200, then it'll have a decent 800.

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?

[IvanAndreevich @ Apr 26th 2006 11:17AM]

If you guys want a good compact camera with great low-noise photos, look at Fuji F10, F11 and now the F30 is coming out. F10 and F11 have useable ISO 1600 mode and F30 is rumored to have a useable ISO 3200 mode. Trust me, it's that good.

[Tush @ Apr 26th 2006 12:39PM]

Pf, you all think you're so cool with your megas when we all know GIGA is way cooler!

http://gigapxl.org/

[Patrick Austin @ Apr 26th 2006 1:47PM]

Wow, ISO 3200 and 10 megapixels? I may have to sell my 20D and get this bad boy. I bet it makes great 4x6 prints.

[ishy dee @ Apr 26th 2006 4:52PM]

10mpix is nice and all... but iso3200?? talk about ricepaper prints!! and what about the quality of the lens? the manufacturers love to push pixel count but do they ever improve (or for that matter enlarge) the optics?

[colbert @ Apr 26th 2006 8:02PM]

I have the s600 but this one kicks ass and I love 10 megs

[colbert @ Apr 26th 2006 8:11PM]

Its $399.99 and coming out June 2006. Just saw this from pcmag.com

[and-rew @ Apr 26th 2006 9:10PM]

#5-
just get a USB SD card. sandisk makes them up to 1GB. standard SD dimentions with a built in USB port, so u dont need the dock anymore. just pull the card out of your camera and plug it into your laptop etc.

[Z @ Apr 27th 2006 6:08AM]

I own a Casio Z750, but I have to say, that I'm not impressed simply with the res being bumped up more and more and more.

They've now reached (or maybe gone past) the threshold where they're not going to be able to increase the res anymore and maintain image quality without increasing the size of the sensor. It's about time sensors increase in size anyway - that would help the quality of the photos immensely.

I am glad, however, that they doubled the res of the LCD screen. It's about time they did that. On a 2.5" screen, 230k pixels is a necessity, IMO.

What would really impress me if they're going to bump up anything, would be to increase the optical zoom on the lens. When on earth are we going to get past the stupid 3x mark??? Talk about B O R I N G!!! Give us 5x-7x already or shut it!!! The megapixel wars are tired! GIVE US MORE OPTICAL ZOOOM!!!!!

[manjita @ Apr 27th 2006 2:51PM]

wat u goin on about 'noise' its 10 megapixels!

[mooney101 @ Apr 28th 2006 12:50AM]

Correct me if i'm wrong but a big complaint was that the video quality on the z850 was awfull compared to the z750 and now it looks like the dropped mpeg4 all together now on this modle? So instead of fixing the problem they have now just dropped the mpeg-4 all together? Am i correct on this? To me that sucks, a no go on this one if so.

[Z @ Apr 29th 2006 5:42PM]

This camera does in fact have video. It records in Motion JPEG @ 25 fps. Why they dropped it from 30 down to 25 is unknown to me, but it would seem most likely that it must have to do with the bump up in res vs. processing power. If not, then I have no idea. I suppose that's not a huge loss, as movies are recorded @ 24 fps.


On another note, I do wish that Casio would make like Sony and begin including smart batteries and offer down-to-the-minute estimates of time remaining on the batteries. That's the one nice thing about Sony cameras - you can see how much time is left. Whereas with the Casios, all a person sees are those big clunky three bars indicating power left in the battery. If they're going to use "bars" as a graphic to indicate how much power is left, then at least break it down into ten increments, so we have a better estimate. Three bars tells people nothing.

[Patrick @ May 4th 2006 6:55PM]

Smart Batteries? No. Bad. Increase the price tremendously. AA or AAA with 2000+ Mah are the way to go. Lots of power and cheap. If you want to measure how much life is left in your batteries just invest in a $10-$25 meter from Radioshack.

Noise because an issue once you start cramming too many sensors per area of sensor space although I'm not sure what the magic number is.

Optics hitting the limit at 3x are probably simply a matter of physical requirements right now. I know some manufacturers have done creative things like placing some of the reflecting barrel inside the camera.

[Matt Goddard @ Sep 17th 2006 5:15AM]

you guys might like what Casio are doing to promote the camera.... they've created a viral campagign which use the high detail of the camera to comic effect.

[shazeena @ May 14th 2007 3:01AM]

i have a camera casio with 10.1mega pixel, n i cant take a photo with the flash on why is that .... i need a reply very soon ... i need a help from u

[estefany jarrin @ Apr 7th 2008 5:35PM]

hello does somebody can tell me which is the diferrence in casio cameras of 10mp because i was searching on the web and it appears like 3 different casio camaras of 10 mp can you tell me which is the best, i saw ex-s10, ex-z1050, ex-z1000, ex-z1080, ex-s10be but i dont know which is the diferrece between them