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Casio's EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z700 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Casio USA: EX-Z700 unveiled
By Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Tuesday, August 8, 2006 - 09:00 EDT)

Casio USA has today announced a new digital camera model that was first disclosed in Europe a couple of weeks back.

The Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z700 combines a 1/2.5" CCD imager with seven megapixels and an EXILIM-branded 3x optical zoom lens with a fairly standard 38 - 114mm equivalent focal range. There's no optical viewfinder, but a 2.7" LCD display with 153,600 pixels dominates the camera's rear panel. With the lens retracted, the Casio Z700's smooth, clean lines and 21mm thick body should prove friendly for storing in a pocket. Images are stored on Secure Digital / MultiMediaCards, or in 8.3MB of internal memory. As well as regular SD / MMC cards, the Casio EXILIM EX-Z700 has support for the new SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) standard, which extends the maximum flash card capacity to a theoretical 32GB (4GB cards being the largest at the time of this writing), with sustained transfer rates of up to six megabytes per second.

The Casio EX-Z700 has a whopping 37 scene modes, dubbed "Best Shot" modes in Casio parlance, such as an eBay mode that captures images at reduced resolution with auto macro focusing. The Exilim Z700 also has some more unusual features - including an "Auto Framing" mode that tracks moving subjects and crops the frame so that they're located at the center of the resulting photo, plus a Rapid Flash mode that allows three flash shots to be captured in a single second, the trade-off being that flash range is roughly halved.

Announced in Europe some two weeks ago, the Exilim EX-Z700 will ship in the USA this September, priced at $300.

Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z700
Casio's EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z700 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera Type Compact
Manufacturer Casio
Model Number EX-Z700
Dimensions 3.5 x 2.2 x 0.8"
88.0 x 57.0 x 21.0mm
Weight 112.0 g
3.9 oz
Planned Price $299.99
Planned Availability Sep 2006
Image Capture
Sensor Type 1/2.5" CCD
7.41 megapixels (total)
7.20 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio 4:3
Image Dimensions 3072 x 2304 (7.1 megapixels)3072 x 2048 (6.3 megapixels)2560 x 1920 (4.9 megapixels)2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder No
LCD 2.7", 153,600 pixels
Lens
Lens Type EXILIM Optical
3x optical zoom
Image Stabilization No
Focal Length 6.2 - 18.6mm (actual)
38 - 114mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range f/2.7 or f/4.3 (wide) / f/5.2 (tele) - f/???
Focusing System Contrast detection with AF assist lamp
Manual Focus possible (0) steps
Focusing Range Normal: 16" - infinity (40 cm - infinity)
Macro: 6.1" - 20" (15 cm - 50 cm)
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800* (Anti Shake / High Sensitivity mode)
Shutter Speed 4 - 1/2000 second
Exposure Modes Program
Metering Modes Multi-pattern, center weighted, spot by imaging element
Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance Image Sensor - Auto, 6 presets, manual, Manual
Internal Flash Modes: Auto, On, Off, Soft Flash, Red Eye Reduction
Range: Wide: 15 cm to 3.4 m; Tele: 40 cm to 1.8 m
Creative
Digital Zoom 4x
Self Timer Yes, 2 or 10 seconds
Movie Format AVI (Motion JPEG) with audio
640x480 and 512x384
Max. frame-rate: 0 frames per second
Storage
Recording Medium SD/MMC, SDHC
File System Complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File Format JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
Connectivity
Video Yes
Computer USB 2.0 Full (LOW) Speed
Power
Battery Type Lithium Ion rechargeable
Battery Form Factor Proprietary NP-40
Product Bundle
Battery / Charger Proprietary NP-40 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory 8.3MB built-in memory
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant Yes
Internal Microphone Yes
Internal Speaker Yes
Remote Control No
More Photos
Casio's EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z700 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Casio's EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z700 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Casio's EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z700 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Casio's EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z700 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
 

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Original Source Press Release:

CASIO INTRODUCES 7.2-MEGAPIXEL EXILIM® ZOOM EX-Z700, A SLIM STYLISH DIGITAL CAMERA WITH SUPER BRIGHT LCD

New Features Include Auto Framing and Layout Shot Modes

DOVER, NJ, August 8, 2006 — Casio, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the release of the EXILIM® Zoom EX-Z700, the latest addition to its stylish series of EXILIM digital cameras. This newest member of the EXILIM family combines the high-resolution performance of an effective 7.2 megapixels with Casio’s Super Bright LCD for easy viewing in broad daylight.

The EX-Z700’s Super Bright LCD is both big and bright: the 2.7-inch screen with 1200cd/m2 brightness is easy to see, even on a sunny day. At 7.2 megapixels, the high-performance EX-Z700 ensures crystal-clear image output for both printing and screen, delivering extraordinary photographic detail. The long-life battery packs enough power for around 460 still images on a single charge, and the camera comes with Casio’s Anti Shake DSP to reduce photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects. All in all, the EX-Z700 strikes an extremely attractive balance between slim, stylish looks and high-performance functionality. It also adds brand new picture-taking functions in BEST SHOT mode.

New BEST SHOT Modes

  • Auto Framing
    Casio’s new Auto Framing mode keeps dynamic subjects like playful, active children at the center of the photograph, solving one of photography’s most perplexing challenges. This original new function is based on Casio-developed “auto-follow” technology for tracking the movement of photo subjects. In Auto Framing mode, a thin, outlined frame appears on the LCD, centered on the moving subject of the photo. The area within the frame indicates the image that will be saved when the shutter is fully depressed.
  • Layout Shot
    With new Layout Shot mode, photographers can combine multiple shots of friends taken with the same scenic backdrop into a single collage, or even mix shots with different compositions to create a single artistic layout. Users simply select one of two predefined layout templates, then take two or three photographs, and save the results to create a single composite image. Layout Shot delivers a whole new way to enjoy expressive photography.

Key Features of Superior Performance

  • 7.2 million effective pixels; 3X optical zoom
  • Large 2.7-inch LCD with a brightness of 1200cd/m2 *1
  • Takes up to 460 still images on a single charge of the long life battery *2 (CIPA standard)
  • Anti Shake DSP for reducing photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects
  • BEST SHOT modes deliver great photo results simply by selecting one of 37 sample images to represent the current photo scene.
    *1. On the highest brightness setting, measured at the center of the screen.
    *2. With LCD display set to standard brightness

New and exclusive to the Casio EXILIM line of digital cameras in the U.S., is the eBay Best Shot mode. The eBay Best Shot is the 23rd of 37 in the EX-Z700 and is currently incorporated into six EXILIM model digital cameras. eBay Best Shot takes photos at a size that is image optimized for display on eBay, allowing picture takers to more quickly and easily create photos for selling items on eBay. eBay Best Shot mode also includes Auto Macro, an ideal setting for capturing images of small items such as jewelry, tags, etc., thus automatically adjusting the focus from acquiring fine details in close up shots to capturing large items from a distance. eBay Best Shot mode allows users to capture optimized images at an ideal size for eBay.

“We are proud to introduce the latest addition to our award winning EXILIM series of stylish and compact digital cameras,” said Bill Heuer, Senior Vice President of Sales for Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “The EX-Z700 embodies Casio’s continuing commitment to offer digital camera users cutting-edge technology and convenient user-friendly functionality in a small, stylishly designed package. Providing the freedom to take high quality pictures and movies anywhere, anytime, the new EX-Z700 makes taking memories as easy and fun as making them,” he continued.

The EX-Z700 will have a suggested retail price of $299.99 and will be available in September in blue, silver and gray.

Casio, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipments solutions, established in 1957. Casio Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products. Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of “creativity and contribution” through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. For more information, visit www.casiousa.com

EXILIM is a registered trademark of Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Any other company or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of those companies.

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