Casio Unleashes World's Slimmest Shock-Resistant Camera: The EX-G1

Earlier this year, Panasonic, Fujifilm, and Canon announced rugged cameras that could withstand drops, water, and much more. When these models were announced, we couldn't help but notice that Casio was absent from the list, especially since the company has its own G-SHOCK brand that already offers shock-resistant timepieces and a water-resistant mobile phone.

Fast-forward a few months, and Casio is now ready to join other manufacturers in offering a shock-resistant, waterproof, and dustproof camera. In addition to being rugged, the new EX-G1 offers many of the same features you'd find on today's newest digital cameras. For instance, this 12.1 megapixel camera can capture video in widescreen format at a resolution of 848x480 pixels. Thanks to its thin, 0.78-inch profile, the EX-G1 is also touted at the world's slimmest shock-resistant digital camera.
The EX-G1 also features an interval shooting function that can automatically take still photos or movies at fixed intervals. This feature is designed for people with active lifestyles who want to capture great shots while engaged in an active sport such as snowboarding or cycling.

The EX-G1 has a two-layer construction with a stainless steel outer-casing to help protect against shock and water. Near the shutter, a polycarbonate cover absorbs shocks to the body's side. A resin ring surrounds the glass casing to ease shocks to the lens area. In its tests, Casio claims the EX-G1 has been designed to survive multiple falls from seven feet and depths up to 10 feet for 60 minutes. The camera can also withstand temperatures as low as 14°F.

Like many of Casio's other point and shoot models, the EX-G1 offers BEST SHOT functions to help you easily capture the best photo in a variety of situations. The camera also offers an Intelligent AF function as well as Casio's Dynamic Photo function which lets you create composite moving images in camera.

On the back of the EX-G1, you'll find a 2.5-inch monitor with 230,400 dots of resolution. The camera's non-extending 3X zoom lens has a range of 38-114mm (35 mm film camera equivalent). The EX-G1 accepts microSDHC and microSD memory cards and has 35.7MB of built-in storage.

The EX-G1 will hit shelves in December with an MSRP of $299.99. It will come in black and red.