Casio launches Exilim EX-H10 compact ultrazoom

[David Rasnake]

Casio announced this morning that it will soon be getting into the blossoming compact ultrazoom market with the launch of the 10x zoom Casio Exilim EX-H10.

Following a format familiar to many of its competitors, the H10 features a wide-angle zoom lens covering the 35mm equivalent of 24-240mm. Images are captured via a 12.1 megapixel CCD imager that's also capable of laying down 720p HD video at 30 fps.

A 3.0 inch, 230,000 dot LCD handles shot composition duties, and the H10 rounds out its basic specs with the inclusion of sensor-shifting image stabilization and an SD/SDHC media slot.

Ultrazoom features, ultracompact build
Casio's latest-gen Exilim Engine 4.0 processor drives the H10's feature set, with an array of soft features including an update of Casio's Dynamic Photo function (which automatically slices backgrounds from subjects, a la Photoshop) and a new Landscape shooting mode that processes images to boost saturation and cut haze.

In the same vein, Casio is highlighting this processor's basic performance and shooting speed advantages, as well as its impressive power management. According to Casio, the H10 is good for 1,000 CIPA-standard captures on a single charge of its li-ion battery pack.

When it comes to compact ultrazooms, the "compact" portion of the equation is at least as important to many users as the "ultrazoom" component. In the case of the H10, Casio lists the new model at under an inch thick, placing it among the thinnest ultrazooms out there at the time of this writing.

Beyond the basics, we're still a little short on shooting-mode specs at this point. Presumably the H10 will, like most of its consumer-friendly competitors, feature Casio's standard complement of auto-exposure modes – including Best Shot and Auto Best Shot scene preset settings.

Pricing and availability
All in all, the H10 – which will be available in black only – is an impressively stylish little camera from Casio, a manufacturer that has been on the rise in the last year with the launch of several technologically unique high-speed compact cameras. With this in mind, it seems a bit of an odd choice that Casio didn't, as far as we can tell at this point, opt to include any high-speed still or video functions in this model.

Even so, with a 10x wide-angle lens, a large LCD, 720p video capture, and image stabilization, the H10 should be well set to compete with rivals from the likes of Panasonic, Canon, Samsung, and Olympus when it hits stores in July. Expect a retail price just under the $300 mark.

[Andy Stanton]

It looks very nice. I'll be interested to read DCR's review.

[KCook]

At least the flash doesn't insist on popping up . . . .

[John Lee, roaddawg]

For me, it's between waiting for this one, and the Panasonic Lumix TZ5. This one is skinnier (more compact) from what I can tell... A few things will sell me on this one:

1) use of zoom (autofocus) capability in HD video mode
2) high-speed modes (burst, slow-mo)

I'll be the first in line, if those are the case.