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Casio's EXILIM EX-V7 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture! Casio: 7mpix, 7x zoom ultracompact
By
(Tuesday, January 9, 2007 - 01:06 EST)

Alongside its announcement of a new atomic solar wristwatch and the celebration of the company's one billionth calculator at CES in Las Vegas, Casio Inc. has unveiled what could turn out to be one of the more interesting cameras announced at the show...

The Casio EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V7 is said to be the world's slimmest digital camera with a 7x optical zoom lens, as of the current date. Just 25mm thick, the EX-V7 also crams in a seven megapixel CCD image sensor and a CCD-shift type mechanical image stabilization function - something users are bound to appreciate when using the telephoto end of that powerful prism-folded lens. A new EXILIM Engine 2.0 image processor boasts features such as Auto Tracking AF and selective noise removal. There's also a 30 frames-per-second movie mode that reaches a maximum of 848 x 480 pixels, with stereo sound - something found on few compact digicams, let alone an ultracompact. Even more unusually, the traditional MotionJPEG AVI file format is supplemented with an optional H.264 AVC MOV-encoded format (also known as MPEG-4 Part 10). H.264 encoding is intended to offer good video quality at substantially lower bitrates than other codecs, which should translate to exceptional video quality, reduced movie file size, or both...

Pricing and availability for the Casio EXILIM Hi-ZOOM EX-V7 have not been announced at this time.

Casio EXILIM Hi-ZOOM EX-V7
Casio's EXILIM EX-V7 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera TypeUltra Compact
ManufacturerCasio
Model NumberEX-V7
Dimensions3.8 x 2.4 x 1.0"
96.0 x 60.0 x 25.0mm
Weight149.0 g
5.2 oz
Image Capture
Sensor Type1/2.5" CCD
7.41 megapixels (total)
7.20 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio4:3, 3:2
Image Dimensions3072 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
ViewfinderNo
LCD2.5", 230,400 pixels
Lens
Lens Type7x optical zoom
Image StabilizationYes
Focal Length6.3 - 44.1mm (actual)
38 - 266mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Rangef/3.4 / 4.6 / 9.2 (wide); f/5.3 (tele) - ???
Focusing SystemContrast Detection, Spot / Multi / Tracking with AF assist lamp
Manual Focus possible (0) steps
Focusing RangeNormal: 12" - infinity (30 cm - infinity)
Macro: 4.1" - 16" (10 cm - 40 cm)
Exposure
ISO SensitivityAuto, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600* (High Sensitivity Best Shot mode only)
Shutter Speed60 - 1/800 second
Exposure ModesAperture, Shutter, Manual
Metering ModesMulti-pattern, center weighted, spot by imaging element
Exposure Compensation+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White BalanceImage Sensor - Auto, fixed (6 modes), manual, Manual
Internal FlashModes: Auto, On, Off, Soft Flash, Red Eye Reduction
Range: Normal: 0.3ft to 7.2ft (W), 3.3ft to 4.6ft (T); Rapid Flash: 1.3ft to 6.9ft (W), approx. 3.3ft to 4.6ft (T)
Creative
Digital Zoom4x
Self TimerYes, 2 or 10 seconds
Movie FormatH.264/AVC MOV / MotionJPEG AVI with audio
848x480 and 640x480
Max. frame-rate: 30 frames per second
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC, Built-in, SDHC
File SystemComplies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File FormatJPEG (EXIF v2.2)
Connectivity
VideoYes
ComputerUSB 2.0 High Speed
OtherCamera cradle
Power
Battery TypeLithium Ion rechargeable
Battery Form FactorProprietary NP-50
Product Bundle
Battery / Charger1 x NP-50 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery and charger
Flash Memory11.6MB built-in memory
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliantYes
Internal MicrophoneYes
Internal SpeakerYes
Tripod MountYes
Remote ControlNo
More Photos
Casio's EXILIM EX-V7 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Casio's EXILIM EX-V7 digital camera. Courtesy of Casio, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
 

Original Source Press Release:

Casio Introduces the World�s Slimmest Digital Camera with a 7X Optical Zoom Lens

Motion Analysis Technology Reduces Photo Blur, Enables Auto Tracking AF Function and Built-in Camera Shake Compensation Uses Mechanical CCD Shift Technology

LAS VEGAS, NV, January 8, 2007 – Casio, Inc. and its parent company Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today the release of the 7.2-megapixel EXILIM Hi-ZOOM EX-V7, the most powerful zoom in the stylish EXILIM® series of compact digital cameras. This new model is the world’s slimmest digital camera with a 7X optical zoom lens*. Thinness is a defining quality in the EXILIM line, and the EX-V7 is no different as it easily fits in a shirt pocket or small purse.

In recent years, a number of compact, high-performance digital cameras have appeared on the market, but the trade-off between zoom power and camera size was evident in those models. Users who wanted to capture subjects at a distance were forced to buy bulkier cameras while other consumers sacrificed zoom for portability.

“The newest edition to the EXILIM line, the EX-V7, solves this problem, giving users the best of both worlds,” said Bill Heuer, Senior Vice President of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “It’s an exceptionally portable, great-looking digital camera with a powerful zoom lens — just what the world has been waiting for.”

The new camera also introduces an innovative function for reducing photo blur, made possible by Casio’s mechanical CCD shift technology. It also combines Casio’s well-received Anti Shake DSP, which reduces blur due to shaky hands or a moving subject by using higher ISO sensitivity and faster shutter speeds, with new motion analysis technology that uses the most appropriate ISO sensitivity and shutter speed to capture a moving photo subject. Even at high zoom settings, the EX-V7 reduces most occurrences of image blur. Everyone from first-time photographers to seasoned professionals will love this latest photographic marvel from Casio.

* As of January 8, 2007, for digital cameras with a zoom ration of 7x or above. Based on a Casio survey.

Main features

  • The world’s slimmest* digital camera with a 7X optical zoom lens, as stylish as any EXILIM
    • 59.8 mm high, 95.5 mm wide, and 25.1 mm thin (20.8 mm at the thinnest part)
    • Incorporates a cutting-edge, non-protruding 7X internal optical zoom lens.
    • Offers 10X-equivalent zoom without loss of picture quality (in 3.0-megapixel mode).
  • Four blur reduction technologies with new CCD shift system
    • New CCD shift system actually mechanically compensates for camera shake.
    • Automatically analyzes the velocity and vector of a moving subject and sets the most appropriate ISO sensitivity and shutter speed.
    • Anti Shake DSP reduces blur due to shaky hands and subject movement, using high shutter speeds and high sensitivity settings.
    • Electronic camera shake compensation function eliminates blur when shooting in movie mode.
  • Newly designed EXILIM Engine 2.0 image processor
    • “ Auto Tracking AF” function follows moving subjects, keeping them continuously in focus until the photo is taken.
    • Tonal control lets users keep bright areas of the scene bright by limiting the occurrence of dark pixels.
    • Offers ability to selectively eliminate noise in designated color regions, such as the sky.
    • Boasts faster image processing functions that enable instantaneous color correction or angle adjustment.
  • High-quality movies using next-generation H.264 video encoding method
    • Creates movies at high compression ratios that save storage space.
    • Records about 1.5 times longer, with the same capacity and same picture quality as conventional MPEG-4.**
    • Silent lens motion enables optical zooming while recording movies in stereo sound.
    • Records 16:9 wide-aspect movies compatible with wide-screen TVs.

* As of January 8, 2007, for digital cameras with a zoom ratio of 7x or above.
Based on a Casio survey.
** Casio comparison, at Normal picture quality setting.

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

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.

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