Casio's 12 megapixel Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200

Pfff, 10 megapixels is for sissies. Casio, like Panasonic earlier today, just pumped out their own 12.1 megapixel shooter, the Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200. A 1/1.7-inch CCD and 3x zoom lens will be responsible for collecting the photons while the Exilim Engine 2.0 processing attempts to make sense of it all. Casio's flagship compact also delivers CCD-shift image stabilization and range of blur-reduction technologies bent on making the most of that ISO 1600 sensivity -- if reviews of its EX-Z1000 cuz are anything to go by then that's probably not saying much. Face detection and motion analysis technologies enable the camera to lock focus onto a subject's face and then track it as the person moves. Rounding things out are a decent 2.8-inch wide LCD, SDHC card support, a lazy 3 shot per second burst mode, and H.264 video recordings at a maximum 848 x 480 resolution and just 20fps. No price listed, but it had better slide in for less than the superior spec'd DMC-FX100 if they hope to compete.

[Via Digital Photography Review]

[Dan @ May 21st 2007 8:29AM]

Another lame camera from Casio. Woo!

[Jagannath A @ May 21st 2007 8:56AM]

3X zoom.. meh meh

[Jason @ May 21st 2007 10:34AM]

How is 3 shots per second lazy? That's excellent.

[Jason @ May 21st 2007 5:44PM]

OK, I will. Here's a few examples from DPReview's latest review cameras.

Fuji F31fd: 2.4 FPS
Panasonic DMC-TZ3: 3.0 FPS
Olympus SP-550UZ: 1.1 FPS
Pentax Optio A20: 0.8 FPS
Kodak C875: 2.0 FPS
Nikon Coolpix S10: 1.4 FPS

[Mike @ May 21st 2007 11:32AM]

Awesome! I was just complaining to my girlfriend the other day that there wasn't enough noise and smearing in my photos as is. THANK you Casio!

[TIMMAH! @ May 21st 2007 1:17PM]

Meh. I'll wait for the 25 megapixel version because you know I really need 25 megapixels...

[Z @ May 23rd 2007 5:32AM]

I'm done with these silly pocket cameras. NONE of them are really any good. Too many photos end up blurry or too noisy. The flashes are weak, the optical zoom range is lame to say the least, and the pixel wars are going to continue until the photos they produce are barely recognizable; don't these manufacturers EVER learn? Hey, it's just something to throw in your pocket.

For a portable camera - that is to say, something that isn't a DSLR - I'm waiting for the Canon S5 IS. Granted, it won't fit in your shirt pocket, but it will fit in a coat pocket. The thing is, with its 12x optical zoom, great lens, and strong flash, (and based on what I know of the S3) that camera will actually take great photos, and isn't great photos what it's all about?

I'll choose consistently great photos over pocketability, anyday.

[KozmoNaut @ May 23rd 2007 9:12AM]

@Z

I'm very well satisfied with my Fuji F40. I've had it for 1½ weeks now, and I've taken more than 600 pictures with it so far. The only ones that have turned out blurry have resulted from me shaking and definitely not from anything the camera did.

Buying a Powershot S5 (which does look like a damn nice camera) would set me back over $150 more than what my F40 cost. Plus, the F40 is small enough for me to take it along with me where ever I go. Missing a great photo because your camera is too chunky and you left it at home really sucks.