New EXILIM ZOOM Models Feature 5 Megapixel CCD and Long Battery Operation
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New
EXILIM ZOOM Models Feature 5 Megapixel CCD
and Long Battery Operation
2.5-inch
LCD EX-Z55 and 2-inch LCD EX-Z50 models available |
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August 25, 2004, TOKYO, JAPAN – CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. today
announce the release of the 5-megapixel EX-Z55 and EX-Z50, two new
models in the EXILIM® ZOOM range of digital cameras
with long battery operation and large LCD viewing screens.
Earlier this year, CASIO introduced the 4-megapixel EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40,
a thin-body digital camera with a large 2.0-inch TFT LCD screen. This
model offered high picture quality, high-speed response and energy
saving circuitry in a compact unit. Thanks to the incorporation of
CASIO’s proprietary compact image processing module, the EXILIM
Engine, the model also offered superior portability and exceptional
performance, providing 2.5 times longer battery life, and representing
a significant improvement over what remains a common drawback with
conventional digital cameras. This attention to the needs of consumers
in terms of features and usability ensured the EX-Z40’s extraordinary
popularity.
The two new models being announced, the EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z55 and EX-Z50,
both incorporate the EXILIM Engine, but now feature circuitry enabling
even lower power consumption. The EX-Z55 is equipped with a high resolution
5-megapixel CCD, a 3X optical zoom lens and a larger 2.5-inch LCD
screen incorporating an optical viewfinder. With its compact and stylish
design, the EX-Z55 can take approximately 400 pictures (based on CIPA*
standards) on a single charge, while the EX-Z50 can take approximately
390. Both models offer extended battery life, making them ideal for
use during long vacations and business travel, in fact any occasion
requiring the amazing stamina that these cameras now offer.
Like all models in the EXILIM series, they offer superior portability
and excellent picture quality, along with extremely high-speed operation
for quick response in a variety of shooting situations. One example
is the Best Shot function that allows the user to select settings
automatically by choosing from sample scenes. In addition, several
new functions have been incorporated to assure a higher level of performance,
such as the “Business Shot” function which provides automatic
correction for photos taken at an angle, and records these shots as
though they were taken from a straight front position; the “Auto
Macro” function which automatically switches between macro mode
and AF mode; “Flash Assist” which operates during flash
photography to compensate for brightness levels in darker areas not
reached by the flash; and “Icon Help” which uses an on-screen
display to guide the user during the switching of settings.
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| CIPA
standard “Standard Procedure for Measuring
Digital Still Camera Battery Consumption"
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| Until
recently there has been no standard measurement
for battery life. This has resulted in inconsistencies
between camera products and their catalogs and instruction
manuals. As of December 2003, CIPA (Camera &
Imaging Products Association) established the Standard
Procedure for Measuring Digital Still Camera Battery
Consumption, and hopes to reduce confusion among
consumers by having this adopted by the world’s
digital camera manufacturers and retailers. |
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| Main
Features of the EX-Z55/50 |
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| High
performance operation in an easy-to-use, compact
design |
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| • |
High-resolution
images captured by the CCD with 5 million effective
pixels. |
| • |
3X
optical zoom in a compact body |
| • |
Large
2.5-inch digital interface TFT LCD screen (2.0-inch
for the EX-Z50) |
| • |
The
viewfinder has been built into the LCD screen allowing
the use of an optical viewfinder in addition to
the image provided on the LCD screen (EX-Z55) |
| • |
High
quality lightweight aluminum body with comfortable
handgrip. |
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| Long
battery life for extended shooting on a single
battery charge |
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| • |
10%
longer battery life than the previous model (EX-Z40),
with a greater number of pixels and a larger display
screen (EX-Z55) |
| • |
Up
to 400 photos can be taken on a single charge, based
on CIPA standards for battery life measurement.
(390 photos for the EX-Z50) |
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| Quick
response thanks to high-speed design
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The
camera automatically selects fixed-focus Auto Pan
Focus mode for instantaneous response when the shutter
is pressed rapidly. |
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Direct
On function for one-touch operation of either picture
taking or playback modes. |
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Rapid
start-up allows shooting approximately 1.6 seconds*
after the power is turned on. |
| • |
Images
are recorded approximately 0.01 seconds*
after the shutter is released. |
| • |
0.1-second
high-speed playback for photo scrolling. |
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*
with
the flash off |
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| More
convenient functions |
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Business
Shot function compensates for photos taken at an
angle and records them as though taken from straight
ahead. |
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Best
Shot allows settings to be chosen by selecting from
a collection of sample images. |
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Extended
shooting of video with sound can be performed until
the memory is full. |
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Noise
Reduction processing makes night scenes more beautiful. |
| • |
Auto
Macro function enables automatic switching between
Macro and AF modes. |
| • |
7-point
Multi-Auto Focus automatically selects the optimum
focus point location. |
| • |
Flash
Assist function provides exposure compensation for
areas not reached by the flash. |
| • |
Icon
Guide function uses a pop-up guide to help the user
when switching settings. |
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| • |
Voice
recording function with playback from the camera’s
speaker. |
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Photostand
feature allowing a slideshow of images while the camera
sits in its cradle. |
| • |
Calendar
function shows thumbnail images of photos taken on any
specified date. |
| • |
World
Time function allows the user to set the camera to the
local time in one of 162 cities in 32 time zones around
the world. |
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Store
special photos or those you don’t want others to
see in your own Favorites folder. |
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Create
HTML albums in the camera which can be viewed directly
by Web browsers. |
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Connects
directly to PictBridge and USB DIRECT-PRINT compatible
printers. |
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9.3MB
internal flash memory, compatible with SD memory card
/ Multi Media Card (not included.) |
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Menu
display possible in one of 10 languages, including English,
French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese. |
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Photo
Loader software allows automatic transfer of images to
a PC at the touch of a single button on the USB cradle. |
| • |
Compatible
with ExifPrint (Exif 2.2) and PRINT Image Matching III. |
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| EX-Z55/Z50
Specifications |
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| Recording
Element |
1/2.5-inch
square pixel primary color CCD (5.25 million total pixels; 5
million effective pixels) |
| File
Record Format |
| Snapshots:
JPEG (Exif. Ver. 2.2), DCF standard, DPOF compliant |
| Movies:
AVI (Motion JPEG), Audio: WAV (Monaural) |
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| Recording
Media |
Built-in
flash memory (9.3 MB image recordable area), SD memory card/Multi
Media card |
| Recorded
Image Sizes |
| Snapshots
: |
2560
X 1920 / 2560 X 1712 (3:2) / 2048 X 1536 / 1600 X 1200
/ 1280 X 960 / 640 X 480 pixels |
| Movies
:320 X 240 pixels |
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| Recorded
File Sizes |
| Snapshots |
Image
size
(pixels) |
Resolution
/
recording time |
File
size |
Built-in
memory
(9.3MB) |
SD
Memory
Card
64MB *1 |
2560
x
1920 |
Fine
Normal
Economy |
Approx.
2.2MB
1.8MB
1.3MB |
Approx.
4
4
6
|
Approx.
26
32
44 |
640
x
480 |
Fine
Normal
Economy |
Approx.
190KB
140KB
90KB |
Approx.
44
58
94 |
Approx.
294
386
618 |
| Movies |
320x240 |
Recording
time: unlimited*2 |
Approx.
300KB/sec.
(15frames/sec.) |
Approx.
30 sec. |
Approx.
3 min.
20 sec. |
| Audio |
- |
Recording
time: unlimited*2 |
Approx.
4KB/sec. |
Approx.
39 min. |
Approx.
4 hr.
20 min. |
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*1
when using a Panasonic 64MB card
*2 limited only by
the battery life and the available memory |
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| Lens |
smc
Pentax Lens (6 lenses in 5 groups, including aspherical lens)
F2.6(W) to 4.8(T); f=5.8(W) to 17.4(T) mm (equivalent to approximately
35 to 105 mm when converted to 35mm film) |
| Zoom |
3X
optical zoom; 4X digital zoom (12X total when optical and digital
zooms are used in combination) |
| Focusing |
Contrast
type AF (selectable between spot, multi); pan focus; macro mode;
infinity mode; manual focus |
Approximate
Focus Range |
Normal:
40cm to ∞ ; Macro: 6cm to 50cm |
| Exposure
Control |
| Metering
: Multi-pattern by imaging element |
| Control
: Program AE |
| Control
Exposure Compensation: -2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps) |
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| Shutter |
CCD
electronic / mechanical shutter; 4 to 1/2000 second shutter
speed (including night mode) |
| Aperture |
Auto;
F2.6 / F4.3 Automatic switching |
| White
Balance |
Auto;
Fixed (6 modes); Manual |
| Sensitivity |
Auto;
ISO50 / ISO100 / ISO200 / ISO400 |
| Recording
Functions |
Snapshot;
audio snapshot; movies with audio; Best Shot; Business Shot;
Auto Macro; Flash Assist; voice recorder; Icon Help; sharpness/color
saturation/contrast/flash intensity settings |
| Self-timer |
10
seconds or 2 seconds; Triple Self-timer |
| Built-in
Flash |
Flash
Modes: Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Red Eye Reduction
Approximate Range: 0.4 to 2.6 meters (W); 0.4 to 2.0 meters
(T) |
| Viewfinder |
LCD
screen; optical viewfinder |
| Monitor
Screen |
EX-Z55:
2.5-inch digital interface TFT color LCD, 115,200 pixels (480x240)
EX-Z50: 2.0-inch digital interface TFT color LCD, 84,960 pixels
(354x240) |
| Playback |
Zoom
display (4X); 9 picture display; calendar; Photostand function |
| Timekeeping
Functions |
Date
and time recorded with image data; auto calendar up to year
2049 |
| World
Time |
162
cities (32 time zones); city names; date and time; daylight
saving time |
| Other
features |
Histogram
display; grid display; album function; favorites folder |
| Input/Output
Terminals |
USB
cradle terminal |
| Battery |
Lithium-Ion
rechargeable battery |
| Battery
life |
EX-Z55:
Approx. 400 snapshots (CIPA standard)
Continuous recording: approx. 1070 snapshots (3 hr. 30 min.)*
Continuous playback: approx. 6 hr. 50 min. (still photos)
Continuous recording: approx. 6 hr. 20 min. (voice recording)
EX-Z50: Approx. 390 snapshots (CIPA standard)
Continuous recording: approx. 970 snapshots (3 hr. 10 min.)
*
Continuous playback: approx. 6 hr. 20 min. (still photos)
Continuous recording: approx. 5 hr. 50 min. (voice recording)
* recording wide / tele alternatively
each 12 secs, LCD on, flash off |
| Dimensions |
EX-Z55:
87(W) x 58(H) x 22.5(D) mm (excluding protrusions, thinnest
point 19.7mm)
EX-Z50: 87(W) x 57(H) x 22.4(D) mm (excluding protrusions, thinnest
point 19.7mm) |
| Weight |
EX-Z55:
Approximately 130g (excluding battery and accessories)
EX-Z50: Approximately 121g (excluding battery and accessories) |
| Bundled
Accessories |
Lithium
Ion rechargeable battery; USB cradle; USB cable; AC adapter;
Strap; CD-ROM |
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| EXILIM
is a registered trademark of CASIO COMPUTER CO. LTD. PENTAX is a registered
trademark of Pentax Corporation. Any other company or product names
are registered trademarks or trademarks of those companies. |
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