Steve's Digicams - Breaking News - Casio 02/26/2006 Press Release

EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z850 LAUNCHED WITH HIGH RESOLUTION 8.1 MEGAPIXEL IMAGES AND NEW eBay BEST SHOT MODE

New Digital Camera Offers Big Performance In A Small, Sleek Package

FEBRUARY 26, 2006, ORLANDO, FL – Casio, Inc., in conjunction with its parent company CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. announced the release of the latest addition to its EXILIM ZOOM digital camera series with the stylish, compact, and high-resolution EX-Z850, at the PMA 2006 Show that opened in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando today. Offering high quality 8.1 megapixel photos, the EX-Z850 includes a 3X optical zoom, and offers both manual aperture and shutter speed priority AE options for advanced users who prefer to create customized images. The impressive 2.5" Super Bright LCD generates approximately 1,200 cd/m2 of luminescent output, making the monitor even easier to view when outdoors. The EX-Z850 will be on display at Casio’s Booth # 4609.

New and exclusive to the Casio EXILIM line of digital cameras in the U.S., is the eBay Best Shot mode. The 21st of 34 Best Shot modes in the zoom series Z850 model, eBay Best Shot is currently incorporated into three newly introduced 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.

The EX-Z850 includes the latest version of the EXILIM Engine, featuring the Anti Shake DSP, which considerably reduces the capture of blurred images due to shaky hands or moving subjects, so you only have to worry about which shots to take, not how they will come out. In response to user’s high demand, the EX-Z850’s Super Life Battery supports 440 shots per charge, providing convenient, long-lasting usability.

Notably new features on the EX-Z850 include flash functions for a variety of settings and situations, including Rapid Flash, which enables three flash photos in only one second to completely capture a given moment; Soft Flash, which prevents overexposure of subjects photographed up close; and High Power Flash, which ensures that subjects are properly illuminated even when photographed as far away as approximately 39.7 feet. The EX-Z850 also includes "Old Photo" Best Shot Mode, which refreshes faded colors of old photos by bringing them back to life in digital format. Additionally, when taking high quality long duration MPEG-4 movies, the EX-Z850 instantaneously reduces camera shake electronically. For movies taken in dimly lit environments, the "built-in" Illumination LED Light provides additional illumination of the subject.

"We are very excited about the introduction of our latest EXILIM ZOOM model, said Bill Heuer, Senior Vice President of Sales of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. "The EX-Z850 represents the latest technology and functions the EXILIM digital camera line has to offer. Easy to use automatically or customizable to user specifications, this camera offers the stunningly high quality images and versatility that comes only from CASIO, he continued.

The EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z850 will have a suggested retail of .99 and will be available in silver by mid April.

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 ZOOM EX-Z850 MAIN FEATURES

Highly Efficient, Advanced Performance

• 8.1 megapixel CCD and retracting 3X optical zoom lens enable high resolution photography
• Large 2.5-inch, super bright TFT LCD display with 1200cd/m2 brightness1 for easy viewing outdoors
• Super Life Battery allows up to approximately 440 still images2 per charge on CIPA standards
• The EXILIM Engine features the Anti Shake DSP, which reduces blurring caused by shaky hands or moving subjects
• Once powered on, the camera is ready to take pictures in approximately 1.0 second3
• After the shutter is pressed, the image is recorded almost instantly, with only an approximately 0.005 seconds4 release time lag
• High-speed picture playback of approximately 0.1 seconds interval
• A bright, easy-to-see display monitor allows for easy shooting under low light conditions
• Manual aperture and shutter priority AE options can be set quickly via a convenient mode dial for customized photographs

Numerous Easy to Use Functions

• White LED illumination light enables both still images and movies to be taken in low light conditions and acts as an AF assist light
• "Rapid Flash" enables three consecutive, high speed flash photos in only one second
• "High Power Flash" compensates for objects to be taken in poorly illuminated areas up to 12.1m away5
• "Soft Flash" prevents over exposure when taking shots in Macro, etc.
• "Old Photo" refreshes the colors of old, faded photos and saves them in digital format
• Zoom Continuous Shutter Mode creates a shot within a shot—user selects area of image to zoom, taking 2 images with a single press of the shutter
• Tailor-made images can be created choosing a desired setting from one of the 34 different "BEST SHOT" still image samples

High Quality Movie Functions

• Movies recorded in VGA (640 x 480 pixels) size, 30 frames per second (MPEG-4)
• The movie stabilizer function instantaneously reduces camera shake when recording movies6
• Equipped with 9 different "BEST SHOT" settings for movies

High quality multi-use functions

• The "Quick Shutter" function reduces mistakes by facilitating simple and easy high-speed focusing
• The "Auto Macro" mode allows for automatic switching between macro mode and auto focus mode
• The "9-Point Multi AF" clearly indicates areas of focus when photographing subjects with multiple focus points
• The one-touch "EX" button allows easy manual adjustment of multiple camera settings on one simple screen
• The "Direct On" button function allows quick startup in both shooting and playback modes
• Equipped with a cradle for charging batteries and easy connections to AV equipment / PCs