Casio Exilim EX-FS10 9MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5 inch LCD
- 9.1-megapixel resolution
- 3x optical image-stabilized zoom
- 30 shot-per-second high-speed burst shooting (6 MP images)
- HD Movie function
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Product Description
The compact high-speed EX-FS10 camera is extremely slim, concealing amazing high-speed functions in its elegant, ultra-slim designer case for breath taking photos and film in every situation. Superbly displaying high resolution photos of 9.1 megapixels on a 2.5 cm clear LCD screen, the EX-FS10 enables sharp and detailed images in full brilliant color – with outstanding quality and no loss of image detail even in poster size.Take high speed burst shooting images of up to 30 photos per second and record high speed movies of up to 1000 fps to make sure you never miss that special moment. The ultra slim EX-FS10 camera is 3x optical zoom, offering features such as pre- record mode, HD recording, slow motion function, high speed anti- shake and high speed night time photos…. More >>
Casio Exilim EX-FS10 9MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5 inch LCD
The slow motion function didn’t work. I did exactly what the manual said and the screen showed different information. I still don’t know if this was a software gitch or what. Casio promised a call back from a technical support rep who could do something besides read the manual and ask you to try it again. Never got a call back after days and days. Finally a supervisor told me they just don’t have people to do real technical support. Earlier I was told, “corporate is still working on it.” This is the actual quote. Some people obviously like their units but don’t expect any help if yours doesn’t work perfectly.
The EX-FS10 is by far the greatest pocket camera I have ever touched. I have owned the S10, a thin and extremely nice pocket camera and the FH20, a larger, high speed professional camera, both made by Casio. The new FS10 takes the amazing slow-mo video and burst imaging features of the FH20 and puts them in a package that is even more elegant than the S10. The fact that the lens doesn’t pop out of the camera case is a great plus – it makes it more durable than other cameras. The slow-mo nature of the EX-S10 really helps get rid of motion blur. It even has great battery life. I’ll say it again: This is the best pocket camera on the market today. If you have a little over $300 to spend on a camera, do not waste your money on one that isn’t the EX-FS10.
If you are thinking about buying this camera, it’s probably because of one major thing: the high speed burst/movie mode (an extremely cool feature that, at this time, isn’t found on many cameras… and this one is definitely the smallest and most portable right now).
This functionality branches off into 3 very unique modes:
1) a fast 30 frame per second high speed burst shot that lets you keep all, some, or none of the shots you take while holding down the shutter button.
2) a slow motion button that literally slows down the image of your target on the LCD screen and allows you to snap the exact moment you want.
3) a high speed movie mode that lets you capture up to 1000 frames per second for super-slow motion movies.
These functions sold me, and were the main reason I wanted the camera. I have to say that they are slightly disappointing after working with them for a little over a month. All of the slow motion modes are completely unusable under even the slightest of low light conditions. Because of this, I can’t use any of these modes indoors at all. Anything shot without the flash comes out as a dark, grainy mess. With regards to the high speed movies, this should really have been labeled as a 210 fps or maybe 420 fps movie mode, because 1000 fps is completely unwatchable. It shoots at an extremely low resolution and requires an immense amount of light to even show up.
Image quality for normal shots is slightly below average. Photos usually come out as very grainy and again require a lot of light. Flash photos come out decent. I seem to have much better luck from other cameras I’ve owned from Canon and Sony for any kind of indoor photography. The one area the ex-fs10 does seem to work well with is some still low-light photographs. A feature called high speed nightscene uses a method of taking several highspeed photographs at once and melding them into one photo to produce a better photo than you would get under normal circumstances. This prevents a lot of the blur you normally get when using higher ISO’s during low light conditions. The same principle is also used in an anti-shake best shot mode, which works reasonably well.
The high definition (720p) movie mode is a nice feature, but also tends to come out grainy in low-light conditions, and again is virtually unusable indoors. It has extreme difficulty staying focused and often tends to go in and out of focus.
As for size and quality of build: The camera is extremely small and light, and will easily fit in medium-sized pockets. It also has a very sturdy and nice feel to it.
Overall, I still think the only reason to buy this camera is if you are extremely interested in the slow-motion modes. They are great if you want to capture fast paced action under high-light conditions (outdoors); however, they severely suffer under low-light conditions. If you are worried about image quality, I’d probably look elsewhere though.
I had been very happy with my previous Casio Exilim camera, so I thought that I would love this upgrade. Unfortunately, Casio has taken a few steps backwards with this camera. I would not recommend it.
1) The battery life is horrible. I haven’t counted the number of photos or videos per charge, but it is very low. I took this camera to the Zoo and the battery was dead by the afternoon after maybe a 40 photos and a few short videos. My previous Casio camera would last for several days between charges.
2) To charge the battery, you must remove it from the camera and put it into a separate charger. Removing the battery is a little tricky for people with big fingers. My previous Casio could charge the battery without removing it.
3) The high-speed video is a neat gimmick, but it isn’t practical in real life for two reasons. First, the resolution is drastically reduced. At the highest speed, the video is a very thin sliver that is so small, you can almost not see what is going on. Second, the high speed video is very grainy and requires a ton of light. There is no way that you can get a usable high-speed video indoors. It’s just too dark.
David Pogue, the NY Times tech reviewer, effused about Casio’s new cameras, so I tried out the smaller version. The main attractions for me were the slo-mo movies and high-speed “still” shooting. Both were tough to figure out initially because the printed manual covers little more than turning the camera on, and the CD manual is large and opaque and gives little indication where those key features are to be found.
Finally figuring out most of it, I am particularly fond of Slow Motion View, which is great when you’re waiting for your granddaughter to kick the soccer goal, the hummingbird to feed on your flowers, or the salmon to jump up the waterfall. You know, the kind of shot you always miss because the camera shutter was too slow. With this Casio, you just hold the shutter button halfway down and the camera will start recording in a buffer up to three seconds of 10 to 30 frames-per second photos at 6 megapixels (NOT the camera’s full 9). The buffer doesn’t fill up your SD card, but stays in the camera memory until you push the shutter button all the way down. At that point, you’ve captured up to 30 still pics of what just happened in the last few seconds. Later on (or immediately, if you want), you can pick out the best one or two freeze-frame shots of that rare event.
Haven’t tried the High Speed Night Scene function or the Multi-Motion Image Procedure, but I like the idea behind each of them. The Night Scene takes a fast series of stills of a night scene, any one of which might be underexposed, and then combines them to give a single shot with vivid colors and lighting. Multi-Motion takes a series of shots of a moving object — like a skier getting air — and places several images of that object against a stationary background.
I like the camera and will continue to explore its many features, especially for taking pics of my fast-moving granddaughters.