Casio Exilim EX-F1
Digital Camera Review
Jul 23, 2008
- By Steve Morgenstern
2.2
Unquestionably the most futuristic camera of 2008, the Casio EXILIM EX-F1 offers unparalleled capabilities. It can take 60 full-res pictures in a second, It shoots both standard- and high-def video and, for its most jaw-dropping trick, offers super-slow-motion shooting at up to 1200 frames per second. The EX-F1 looks like an SLR, but it’s actually a rocket-powered point-and-shoot with a 12x optical zoom lens, priced at $999. The killer feature turns out to be rapid-fire still photography, though image quality is good, not great. For more details, read the full review that follows.
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Unquestionably the most futuristic camera of 2008, the Casio EXILIM EX-F1 offers unparalleled capabilities in both still and video shooting. We expect respectable digital SLRs today to take roughly three photos per second. The EX-F1 can take 60 full-resolution pictures in a second. It can even shoot 7 frames per second while firing the flash with each shot.
The ability to shoot video clips is standard on most compact cameras today, and a few even venture into the realm of 720p "high-definition." The EX-F1, though shoots both standard-definition video and full 1920 x 1080 true high-definition video. And for its most jaw-dropping trick, it offers super-slow-motion shooting at up to 1200 frames per second – in other words, you get to watch a moment in time slowed down by a factor of twenty. At that rate, when you burst a balloon full of water, you see the water hesitate before realizing gravity wants it to splatter. Flicking a butane lighter becomes a Tarantino-esque slow-motion dance of spark and flame.
We learned in January, at the Consumer Electronics Show, that the EX-F1 would deliver these extraordinary capabilities, thanks to a new high-speed CMOS sensor paired with a fast LSI processor. It took a full six months before the company could deliver a production model so we could determine how well any or all of these features actually performed. After working with the camera for a few weeks, both in the labs and shooting out on the streets, we’re excited, but with reservations. The ultra-slow-motion video gets lots of attention, but the gee-whiz appeal faded after a day or two. The killer feature turns out to be rapid-fire photography. The ability to shoot continuously anywhere from 1 to 60 frames per second lets you catch the perfect sports moment, or baby’s smile, or animal zipping across your field of view. That said, still image quality is good but not great, and the video can’t equal dedicated camcorder output, though most casual users will probably be satisfied with the results. Our complete report, including hands-on experience and lab results, follows.
Section
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The Good
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The Bad
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Tour
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Sleek futuristic design with minimal clutter
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Bulky compared to other ultra-zoom cameras
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Testing/Performance
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Continuous shot mode delivers a true 60 shots per second
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Surprising lag in start-up and single-shot shutter performance
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Components
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Smooth 12x zoom lens, high flash position
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Electronic viewfinder tough to use for eyeglass wearers
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Design/Layout
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Well-organized menu system, clever 4-way controller / control dial combo
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Dual-shutter system leads to accidental movie shooting
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Modes
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Variety of high-shutter-speed, continuous-shooting and prerecord opportunities
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HIgh-def movies incompatible with popular software
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Control Options
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Manual focus works well, one-button backlight compensation is useful
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Auto focus is unreliable, manual exposure settings are difficult to meter
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| Image Parameters |
Option to save RAW files, wide range of image sizes available
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No problems here |
Connectivity/Extras
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HDMI out for HDTV connection,accepts external mike
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Windows-only software, no component out connection
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Value
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Undeniably expensive for a camera with middling image quality
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Considering the tricks the technological EX-F1 pulls off, the price makes sense
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