Casio QV-3EX

Click to take a QTVR tour of the QV-3EX

Casio's QV-3EX is currently the smallest and lightest (7.5 ounces) three-megapixel digital camera in the world (as of Jan 2001.)   Inside there is LSI (large scale integration) that combines image processing circuitry and DRAM onto a single chip. It also features a high-speed image processor that makes it possible to record consecutive images with an interval of less than a second between shots. Outside the QV-3EX sports a highly durable and lightweight aluminum alloy body with a builtin lens protector that automatically closes over the lens when powered off.

The QV-3EX is equipped with a CompactFlash Type II card slot and includes a 340MB IBM Microdrive or can be used with any CompactFlash Type I or II solid state card. The Microdrive makes the 16MB memory card that comes with most other 3mpixel digicams look rather pathetic. This will be the third Casio camera to be bundled with the 340MB Microdrive. The lens, although fixed focal length, does have a 12-step digital zoom (up to 3.2x) function. The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery pack, the charger also serves as an AC power supply.

Still images are captured in either 2016x1536 or 1008x768 size in any one of three JPEG quality levels. Motion sequences of up to 30 seconds can be captured as 320x240-pixel AVI format movie clips. Exposure options include Multi, Spot or Average metering, Program AE, Aperture Priority AE and Manual as well as Panorama, Night Scene and Landscape modes. Auto exposure bracketing (AEB) records three images with different exposure values and there's a histogram screen display. The user controls all of this from a very graphical interface menu system. The QV-3EX has a multitude of playback modes with the ability to turn your captured images into HTML-based albums that can be viewed with any web browser.

Physical Views

The lens retracts when the camera is powered down and a builtin lens cap closes over it for protection. The body is constructed from an aluminum alloy.

On the back is a 1.8-inch HAST (122,100 pixel) color LCD. It can serve as the viewfinder, picture review, menu and data display.

The Casio QV-3EX and Olympus C-2040 for comparison.

Casio QV-3EX Specifications