Casio's EX-FS10 and EX-FC100 compacts burst faster than your DSLR

Casio knows a thing or two about high-speed image capture as demonstrated over the last year and half. Now they've squashed that innovative circuitry and imaging technology into compact cameras offering high-speed 30 shots-per-second, 6 megapixel still image burst rates and high-speed movies at up to 1,000 fps. Amazingly, Casio's 9.1 megapixel EX-FS10 does this in a 16.3-mm thin compact shooter with a not so amazing 2.5-inch LCD and 3x zoom lacking any kind of optical image or sensor stabilization. The 9.1 megapixel EX-FC100 is larger thanks to a 5x zoom, 2.7-inch LCD and CMOS anti-shake technology -- yet it's still small enough to easily fit in the palm of your hand unlike Casio's other fast bursting cams. These compacts will (attempt to) automatically select only the best image (no blur, eyes opened, subject smiling) captured in high-speed burst mode or slow things down on the viewer so that you can select the best image yourself. HD movies? Yup, that too in a 720p pixel resolution. Of course you also get that goofy ability to insert moving subjects into static images. The EX-FS10 should hit by March for $350 in blue, gray, red and white while the EX-FC100 will roll out in gray and white for $400.

Gallery: Casio's EX-FS10 and EX-FC100 compacts burst faster than DSLRs

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[bandigolo @ Jan 8th 2009 2:17PM]

um, sweet? What's the downside?

[000000 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:08PM]

I like the way you think. I'm thinking the downside might be their "anti-shake" is not true O.I.S. but some proprietary crap. Could be wrong. Also the video compression and quality might be so so.

On the upside my last Casio EXZ750 has OUTSTANDING battery life. Seriously took it to Florida for a week and used it every day. Never needed to recharge and it still had 3 bars on the way home. I don't know how they did it in that camera but I've had it for about 4 years and probably fully recharged it maybe a dozen times. I hope these cams have that "technology".

I'm still pretty positive about these though. That 1000fps sounds so fun. Wonder what the resolution is on that though. Their last 1000fps was like 176x96 or something...

[000000 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:09PM]

Make that about 3years. I had the z750 for about 3years.

[Jason @ Jan 8th 2009 4:11PM]

The downside is the added cost, and relatively slow (f stop) lenses. (I don't know why the lenses are slower, honestly.) They do have true CCD-shift IS. The only other downside I see is that the lenses aren't as wide as their other offerings, but it's a pocket camera so it's not a big deal.

I wonder if the 30fps burst is layered or consecutive? For instance, if the shutter speed is slower than 1/30s, can it still maintain a 30fps burst? I will ask around about this.

[Jason @ Jan 8th 2009 4:26PM]

Self-correction: It looks like the FC100 has true CMOS-shift IS, while the FS10 does not. These model numbers are confusing.

[bandigolo @ Jan 8th 2009 4:55PM]

So many sweet cameras these days, so little money...

So right now I want the following items set for 2009 releases (with est. street prices):
a) the best consumer/prosumer handheld HD camcorder ($800-$1100?)
b) EX-FC100 ($325?)
c) Olympus e-system micro four-thirds retro camera
d) Pentax k2000 (if it retro-fits to my old Pentax SLR lenses... I need to find that out)

Who wants to give me a loan?

[Plothole @ Jan 8th 2009 5:02PM]

Pentax hasn't changed their SLR mount in decades. So there should be no problem mounting your old lenses on a new dSLR.

Just be aware of the 1.5x crop factor.

[Plothole @ Jan 8th 2009 5:30PM]

Oh yeah... I believe they are also coming out with a Pentax to µ4:3 adapter... and there is already a Pentax to 4:3, which works with the 4:3 to µ4:3 adapter... so you could also use them on the Olympus. Though without any Autofocus (if applicable). The crop factor would be an even smaller 2x. And of course the the center of gravity is going to be right at the lens.

[bandigolo @ Jan 9th 2009 1:59PM]

@Plothole

You obviously know a lot more about this than I do, 'cause I have no clue what you're talking about. Can you point me in the direction of an online piece of literature that will explain what this "crop factor" thing is?

Cheers,
bandigolo

[Plothole @ Jan 10th 2009 12:08AM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_factor

The link above goes into greater detail, but basically it's like this: The sensor in all but the most high end dSLRs are smaller than the popular 135 (35mm) film negative. Because of that, the field of view you get for a given focal length is narrower. You can think of this almost like cropping off the edges of a photo. "Crop factors" are a convenient way to estimate how much narrower the view will be, by figuring an equivalent focal length that would produce the same view on film. For example if you multiply 50mm by a crop factor of 1.5, you get 75mm. So that means a 50mm lens will give you roughly the same view as a 75mm on your film SLR.

[rektide @ Jan 13th 2009 8:38PM]

The downside is that these things still have tiny little sensors inside of them and small lenses with high f-stops that dont capture much light: what you get is lots and lots of noise making for a very poor image quality. Check out a Casio FH-20 review, then imagine its twice as bad.

[LondonConsultant @ Jan 8th 2009 2:43PM]

The EX-FC100 looks pretty good. Anyone know the format and bit rate of its 720p video?

[000000 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:11PM]

I would assume the format would probably be mp4(.mov) and the frame rate around 30fps. Maybe 60 for 720p. That would be sweet. My z750 used mpeg(.avi) for it's compression and it has been the best I've tried since. Smallest file size to best quality to best editing capabilities.

[000000 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:12PM]

My main complaint about the z750 was it's non image stabilization. In any type of low light you WILL get blurry pics. That did suck.

[LondonConsultant @ Jan 8th 2009 6:44PM]

Thanks, but note I was asking about bit (not frame) rate...

[Patriks7 @ Jan 8th 2009 3:42PM]

I'm ready to sell my Exilim EX-Z65 right now and buy this beauty!

[Sean M @ Jan 8th 2009 3:43PM]

I bought my fiancee the 10mp exilim and indeed it is a nice travel camera, but the image quality doesn't even compare to any SLR I know. The noise levels are WAY to high and the color can look very faded. I have tinkered with all the settings, but it is just very difficult for such a small lens to take in so much detail and light.

[Plothole @ Jan 8th 2009 4:44PM]

Compacts having faster burst rates than dSLRs is not exactly new. These cameras don't have to content with the mechanical complexity of an articulating mirror or focal plane shutter.

[Blastar @ Jan 8th 2009 5:07PM]

The have actually installed a micro black hole to the back of the lens so it ll be able to close even if its that thin.

[skyblaze @ Jan 8th 2009 5:23PM]

thats one disturbing avatar you got there