World's Smallest Optical Zoom Camera - Casio EX-S100

Aug 25 2004, 12:14pm EST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Casio puts its innovative ceramic lens to work right away in what Casio calls the World's smallest Optical Zoom Digital Camera called Casio EX-S100.

The EX-S100 features a 2.8x optical zoom and a 3.2MP in a volume of just 79 cc and measurements of 3.46x 2.24x.66 inch thick, and just .56 inch at the thinnest point. The EX-S100 features a stainless steel body. The card-size camera features a 2.0 inch LCD screen.

The Casio EX-S100 will be available in October, MSRP $399.99. More details in Casio Press-Release.

The EX-S100 is the follow-on model of the card-size EXILIM series Casio launched in 2002.

Casio EX-S100 Specification:

Recording Element:

1/3.2-inch square pixel primary color CCD (3.34 million total pixels; 3.2 million effective pixels)

File Record Format:

Snapshots: JPEG (Exif. Ver. 2.2), DCF standard, DPOF compliant
Movies: AVI (Motion JPEG), Audio: WAV (Monaural)

Recording Medium:

Built-in flash memory (9.3 MB image recordable area), SD memory card/Multi Media card compliant

Recorded Image Sizes:

Snapshots:
2048 X 1536 / 2048 X 1360 (3:2) / 1600 X 1200 / 1280 X 960 / 640 X 480 pixels
Movies: 320 X 240 pixels

Recorded File Sizes:

Snapshots	Image size (pixels)	Resolution / recording time	File size	Built-in memory (9.3MB)	SD Memory Card 64MB *1
	2048x1536	Fine/Normal/ Economy	Approx 1.6MB/ 1.2MB/630KB	Approx. 5/6/13	Approx. 34/45/88
	640 x 480	Fine/Normal/ Economy	Approx. 190KB/ 140KB/90KB	Approx. 44/58/94	Approx. 294/386/618
Movies	320 x 240	Recording time: unlimited *2	Approx. 300KB/sec. (15 frames/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.

*1 when using a Panasonic 64MB card

*2 limited only by the battery life and the available memory

Lens:

6 lenses in 5 groups, including transparent ceramic lens; F4.0(W) to 6.6(T); f=4.8(W) to 13.5(T) mm (equivalent to approximately 36 to 102 mm when converted to 35mm film)

Zoom:

2.8X optical zoom; 4X digital zoom (11.2X 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: 15.75" to Infinity; Macro: 6.69" to 19.69"

Exposure Control:

Metering: Multi-pattern by imaging element
Control: program AE
Exposure Compensation: -2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps)

Shutter:

CCD electronic / mechanical shutter; 4 to 1/2000 shutter speed (including night mode)

Aperture:

Auto; F4.0 / F8.0* Automatic switching *brightness conversion F values

White Balance:

Auto; Fixed (6 modes); Manual

Sensitivity:

Auto; ISO 50 / ISO 100 / ISO 200 / ISO 400

Recording Functions:

Snapshot; audio snapshot; movies with audio; Best Shot; Auto Macro; Business Shot; voice recorder; Flash Assist; 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 2.5 meters (W); 0.4 to 1.5 meters (T)

Viewfinder:

LCD screen

Monitor Screen:

2.0-inch digital interface TFT color LCD, 84,960 pixels (354�240)

Playback:

Zoom display (4X); 9 picture display; calendar; Photostand function

Timekeeping Functions:

Date and time recorded with image data; auto calendar up to 2049

World Time:

162 cities (32 time zones); city names; date and time; daylight saving time

Other features:

RGB histogram display; grid display; album function; favorites folder

Input/Output Terminals:

USB cradle terminal

Battery:

Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery

Battery life:

Approx. 180 snapshots (CIPA standard)
Continuous recording: approx. 540 snapshots (approx 1 hr. 30 min.)
*recording wide / tele alternatively each 10 secs, LCD on, flash off
Continuous playback: approx 2 hr. 30 min. (still photos)
Continuous recording: approx 2 hr. 30 min (voice recording)

Dimensions:

3.46” (W) x 2.24” (H) x .66” (D) (excluding protrusions, thinnest point .56”)

Weight:

Approximately 3.95 oz (excluding battery and accessories)

Bundled Accessories:

Lithium Ion rechargeable battery; USB cradle; USB cable; AC adapter; Strap; CD-ROM

where to buy

Buy from Amazon

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Luigi Lugmayr
Luigi is the founding chief Editor of I4U News and brings over 15 years experience in the technology field to the ever evolving and exciting world of gadgets. He started I4U News back in 2000 and evolved it into vibrant technology magazine.
Luigi can be contacted directly at ml@i4u.com. Luigi posts regularly on LuigiMe.com about his experience running I4U.