Casio Unveils High-Speed ZR10 Camera for HDR Photo Buffs

Casio has been kicking out digital cameras like a boss, including a handful of new point-n-shoots just announced today. One of those is the new EXILIM EX-ZR10, a zoom-friendly camera Casio claims integrates high-speed shooting and high-speed image processing all rolled into one.

Casio goes to great lengths trying to convince the HDR crowd this is the point-n-shoot for them. As such, the ZR10 boasts Casio's HDR technology, whereby "each press of the button actually takes several shots with different exposures and instantly combines them into a single image with a high dynamic range," hence the need for a speedy image processor. According to Casio, you can expect less washed out or overly dark areas ruining your photos as a result.


Outside of its HDR wizardry, the ZR10 also comes with a 12.4MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor, the latest EXILIM Engine, the ability to record at up to 480FPS as well as 1080p Full HD movies, a 28-196mm equivalent lens, 3.0-inch LCD screen, 360-degree panoramic image capture, and a 7X optical zoom Casio says "offers zoom performance equivalent to a maximum of 14X optical zoom while maintaining the image quality needed for high-resolution photography."

No word yet on price or availability.

Press Release:

Casio have announced today the newest model in the Exilim range of digital cameras – the EX-ZR10. Powered by the new Exilim Engine HS that integrates high-speed shooting and high-speed image processing, the EX-ZR10 creates amazingly artistic photographs using Casio’s high dynamic range (HDR) technology. This next-generation high-speed camera represents a dramatic advancement beyond existing digital cameras.

The wide-angle 28 mm 7X optical zoom lens achieves zoom performance equivalent to 14X optical zoom with Casio’s Multi Frame SR Zoom, which actually combines a number of still images to create a sharp, clear photo. In addition, the dual image processing circuits built into the new engine dramatically reduce the interval between shots, and ultra-high speed burst shooting captures crucial moments at a maximum speed of 40 shots per second. These functions make sure you’ll never miss a shot.

The EX-ZR10 comes with the new Exilim Engine HS and a high-sensitivity, 12-megapixel, back-illuminated CMOS sensor. Its high-speed burst shooting brings a professional touch to basic camera functions like shooting, viewing and recording. The high speed engine enables the user to record high precision videos and detailed continuous shooting with the support of its multiple CPU’s, a reconfigurable processor, and dual image processing circuits.

With Casio’s HDR technology, several exposures will be combined to create a single sharp image at the press of a button. This ensures that both light and dark areas are clearly visible in the photograph and minimises washed out or overly dark areas. 

The wide range of shooting options also includes Premium Auto which takes beautiful photos with just a press of the button, and Slide Panorama that allows users to easily capture 360-degree panoramic images. The camera also offers a full range of movie functions. In addition to high-speed movie recording at up to 480 fps for slow motion movies, the EX-ZR10 also takes full HD movies (H.264). While shooting a movie, users can also capture still images with the optical zoom and burst shooting function.

New Exilim ENGINE HS with high-speed shooting and high-speed image processing
The EX-ZR10 incorporates the newly developed Exilim ENGINE HS for high-speed shooting and high-speed processing. Equipped with multiple CPUs, a reconfigurable processor, and dual image processing circuits, the engine can handle parallel operations such as movies and continuous shooting in a way that was impossible before. Further, the compositing function using high precision image analysis and processing records highly detailed images without losing any of the fine texture with high speed.

HDR technology accurately represents living colour
With Casio’s HS HDR technology, each press of the button actually takes several shots with different exposures and instantly combines them into a single image with a high dynamic range. This ensures that both light and dark areas are vividly reproduced in the photograph, minimising washed out or overly dark areas, reproducing the scene just as seen by the human eye. The EX-ZR10 uses algorithms that expand the dynamic range while maintaining sharpness, even when shooting subjects in strong contrast situations.

HDR ART creates artistic photographs
HDR ART combines continuous shots with differing brightness, performing high precision image analysis to locally change the contrast and the level of colour saturation. This allows users to create truly artistic photographs radically different than anything possible on conventional digital cameras.

Zoom up to 14X while maintaining refined image quality
The wide-angle 28 mm 7X optical zoom lens offers zoom performance equivalent to a maximum of 14X optical zoom while maintaining the image quality needed for high-resolution photography. This is achieved using multi-frame super-resolution technology which makes a composite image.

Ultra-high speed burst shooting captures crucial moments at a speed of 40 shots per second
The EX-ZR10 can take up to 30 shots of 10 megapixel high-resolution images with high-speed burst shooting at a maximum speed of 40 shots per second. What is more, if the camera is set to Prerecord Continuous Shutter, users will not miss a single critical moment even if they press the shutter a little late, since the camera starts shooting when the shutter button is only depressed halfway.

High-sensitivity, 12-megapixel, back-illuminated CMOS sensor
The EX-ZR10 uses a back-illuminated CMOS sensor. With 12-megapixel, high-resolution images, the EX-ZR10 achieves low-noise, high-quality photography even in dim lighting. The model also comes with CMOS-shift image stabilisation.

Premium Auto produces beautiful photos with just a press of a button
Premium Auto enables the camera to automatically analyse the scene being photographed — including distinguishing night scenes, back lighting, a blue sky, green trees or a sunset — as well as sensing whether there is a face in the frame, the movement and position of the subject, and whether a tripod is being used. It simultaneously optimises settings for exposure, ISO, sensitivity, focus location, photo blur correction, tonal range and colour balance, and level of noise reduction. Images are analysed pixel by pixel to apply different correction to people and backgrounds. Premium Auto delivers an advanced level of full auto photography, ensuring high quality photos with just a press of the button

Slide Panorama for capturing 360-degree panoramic images 
This function makes it easy to take panoramic images, simply by panning the camera across the scene with the shutter button pressed. 

High-speed movie recording at up to 480 fps for dramatic, ultra-slow motion movies 
The EX-ZR10 can record high-speed movies of motion that is ordinarily too fast for the human eye to see (480 fps, 240 fps, 30-240 fps,). 

Beautiful high-resolution full HD movies
The Full HD Movie function records beautiful videos at a size of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. While shooting a movie, users can also quickly capture still images with the Still In Movie function which uses the optical zoom and continuous auto focus.