Casio Exilim EXH10 Hi zoom Digital Camera Review

The marriage of the compact camera with the pretentions of a high-spec digital SLR has been an uneasy one in recent history. It has been difficult for manufactures to justify the high prices that ultra-slim, high quality compacts with extensive optical zoom levels fetch. However, the Exilim EXH10 is not only the slimmest addition to this range, it may also offer the most ‘bang per buck’ to the avid amateur photography fanatic. In the following in-depth analysis we will dissect the various features and functions on offer and hopefully expose the true nature of this superficially super digital camera.

Pictured left: Front view of the h10

 

Basic Technical Specifications
It is easier to get down to the nitty-gritty straight away, so let’s look at how the EXH10 performs on paper. The 10x optical zoom puts it in the lower echelons of the superzoom camera range, but is still a significant improvement over most other compact cameras in this area. The zoom is complimented by a 24mm wide angle lens and the EXH10 has a 12.1 megapixel CCD image sensor. On the back of the camera there is no optical viewfinder and you will take all your pictures and access the menus via a 3 inch LCD screen. The screen itself is not particularly high resolution and the true quality of the images you take cannot be appreciated on the small scale. As such any reviewing of shots you do in the field should be for reference only and is not representative of the final pictures.

One of the most impressive features of the EXH10 is its lithium-ion battery. In standardised tests endorsed by the Camera and Imaging Products Association the EXH10 was able to take 1000 shots before the battery ran out. This is near class-leading performance in this category and makes the EXH10 a great choice for extensive use away from the nearest mains outlet. Obviously your own usage and battery life will vary and with lots of shot reviewing and menu use the number of shots you can take per charge will obviously decrease.

You can adjust the shutter speed of the EXH10 for between 4 to 2000 seconds and an ISO of 3200 is the maximum on offer. Overall the EXH10 has a wide range of adjustable settings you would expect to find on similar cameras and though the image quality is impressive for basic shooting, it is not a world-beater by any means. The question is what exactly the EXH10 has to offer the market. If you are willing to delve a little deeper into its menu systems you will discover that there are a host of unique shooting options that most competitors do not offer. Whether this is enough to make the EXH10 the best choice for you will depend on your reaction to these software-based capabilities.

Dynamic Photo – Gimmick or Killer App?

There has been much debate about the main unique function offered by the EXH10. Casio are keen to instil their cameras with at least one quirky function that no other manufacturer has bothered to include and they should be partially praised for their ingenuity. The Dynamic Photo function on the EXH10 is almost like a built-in greenscreen capability, in which you can swap out the background of one photo for the background of another. The foreground image has to be a moving object, whether it is a waving hand or a crazily dancing friend or relative. Then you can overlay the image on a background of your choosing.

Without too many onscreen prompts and little information in the included documentation you may do well to consult the detailed web page that Casio have set up to help EXH10 users make the most of the Dynamic Photo function. But since the camera gives you hints and suggestions as you make your way through the Dynamic Photo process we will rely on these to make an assessment of the function.

The first step is to find a suitably blank background against which you can capture the ‘dynamic’ moving image. You need a uniform, plain surface such as a wall, because then the EXH10 will automatically detect the moving foreground object and be able to crop it out for use without too much bother. It may be slightly difficult to find an uncluttered piece of wall and a particularly keen user could hang a sheet up for complete uniformity.

Once you have your blank wall you need to take the dynamic shot. This consists of 20 frames of movement and of course you can make whatever you wish of the allotted frames. Because of the speed at which the shots are taken you will not be able to see what you are shooting on the LCD viewfinder. As such it is possible for your subject to move out of the frame as they flail and cavort, so it may take some practise and multiple uses to ensure you have captured the movement properly. The camera will quickly single out the moving portion of the picture, remove the background and then present it to you suspended in mid air against a grey backdrop. This will allow you to assess the suitability of the image and then you can move on to the next stage.

Once you have taken your dynamic shots you need to take a reference shot. You can combine the two, but you need to set the camera to Playback mode. You will be asked to select a reference image for use behind the dynamic image, though sadly you will only be able to use images shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is slightly disappointing considering the wide angle ability of the lens. The background image will be resized to 2 megapixels to make it suitable for conversion to a video file later on. You can choose where you want to place the dynamic picture on the background image and once you have made your decision the EXH10 creates a composite of the two layers and you can see roughly what the finished video will look like.

The composite images need to be transferred to your PC if you want to create a single video file of the 20 individual shots. If you have a bit of technical knowledge and access to your own software then you can use the images as you see fit, but for most people using the Casio Dynamic Studio site online is the quickest and easiest way to convert your images into a usable video file. All you need to do is upload the sequence and then you can download a video in many popular file formats, including FLV Flash and MP4. You can even turn the sequence into a GIF file.

The best thing about the dynamic photo is you have the choice to use the reference image you chose when you shot the picture in the first place, or use the dynamic image set separately over whichever background you choose to upload. The Casio Dynamic Studio is simple to use and most importantly it is free.

The Dynamic Photo mode can also incorporate moving clip art into the sequence and you can adjust the length of the sequence to a maximum of 4 seconds, though regardless of your choice you will only have 20 frames at your disposal. At the end of the day the Dynamic Photo mode is a fine addition to the EXH10, but it is little more than a fun function. If you are a serious photographer you may only use it once. On the other hand, there is no limit to the amount of creative fun you could have with the software if you are willing to spend a bit of time and exert a little imagination.

Other Unique Modes
There are two more noteworthy modes built into the EXH10. The first, called ‘Make-Up Mode’, is a glorified combination of face recognition and image re-touching. Simply take a shot of your face and the EXH10 will get to work on it, smoothing out lines and decreasing the shadows on your face, most notably the bags under any tired eyes. It is a slightly eerie mode to include, though it is given its own dedicated access button, suggesting that it is highly regarded by Casio. It will at least keep any particularly vain subjects happy.

The second is an enhanced version of a feature many compact cameras include; Landscape mode. According to the promotional material, the Landscape mode is not just a simple adjustment to contrast and colour levels when you are shooting outdoor scenes. Instead there are thousands of high-speed calculations made when you capture a scene using either the Vivid Landscape or Mist Removal options. Though these enhancements are welcome and can improve landscape shots, they are not as revolutionary as they sound in practise.

Ease of Use

If you are going to be living with the Exilim EXH10 every day and taking advantage of its ample battery life, the most important consideration will be how easy it is to get along with as a camera. In terms of design, the EXH10 is small enough to be easily slipped into a pocket or a bag and you can choose either a black or silver finish, the former being the least brash. The controls are laid out as you might expect, with the shutter and power buttons adorning the top, along with the zoom lever which actually circles the shutter button for ease of access. Both the Landscape and Make-Up mode dedicated buttons are also found on the top.

 

 

On the back you have two mode buttons, a menu button and navigation keys. There is also a dedicated record button which automatically begins capturing video when you select the Video mode. The button is slightly too small to be hugely helpful, but it is nice to see another dedicated button put to good use.

Conclusion
Overall the Casio Exilim EXH10 is an excellent compact superzoom camera that bolsters out some basic functionality with unique and interesting modes and features.

 

 

Our test shots

Sony Announces Release Of Smallest Ever High Definition Perv Cam

Sony has announced that it will be launching the world’s smallest HD video camera that is able to record in full glorious high definition 720p, 30fps video and will have a host of features to help ensure that your voyeur video recording is of a much better quality once you’ve secreted the camera somewhere suitable. The Image Sensing Solutions department claim that it is being aimed at security and industry but we reckon there’s probably some other intended uses for it in various specialist markets.

The camera is smaller than a £1 coin measuring a ludicrously tiny 9.5mm x 7.1mm and as well as boasting 8.3 megapixels it will also offer face recognition, image stabilisation, autofocus, and motion autofocus. The camera is already in mass production and it is believed that it will be placed in security cameras and other devices before hitting the shelves later in the year so not long to wait before you can get one of the world’s smallest and best quality nanny cams ever available on the market.

High sensitivity mode, slow motion, and a 16x zoom are also included as standard but we don’t expect the price to be all that low. One of the great benefits of releasing the world’s smallest, or indeed largest depending on the type of product you’re manufacturing, is that you pretty much hold the keys to the pricing city until other companies jump on the bandwagon and release something equally tiny or even more so.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Review and Specification

Panasonic are famous for their photography equipment, and the Lumix Range of digital cameras has established them in the brave new world of digital photography. The DMC-LX3 is aimed at the digital SLR market as a kind of mid-ranged support camera to compliment owners of other SLR equipment from Panasonic. It is designed to produce fantastic results in all conditions, even low light, and is aimed to provide the user with a simple interface that is also highly customisable, and to make shooting photos painless and fun.

Lumix DMC-LX3 Technical Specs
As a successor to the LX2, the LX3 adds many attractive aspects that will have photography fans drooling. Firstly there’s the 24mm wide-angle lens which may seem unusual to some but actually works to the LX3’s advantage. It gives the camera a wide focal range and allows pictures taken in quality lighting conditions to appear sharp and defined, and the 2.5xzoom will give you a whole new perspective on shooting. Many reviewers and users have commented on the way in which this lens allows users of the Panasonic DMC-LX3 to experiment and be creative with their photography in a way that a 35mm lens does not. The LX3 can take photos in 3 aspect ratios; 4:3, 3:2 and the wide angle 16:9 so there’s a perfect set up for every occasion available.

From a capture quality point of view the LX3 is also suitably endowed with 10.1 effective mega pixel resolution available, and on top of capturing pictures in high resolution the LX3 even has some decent video capturing capabilities. You can shoot in the HD resolution 720p with a 16:9 aspect ratio at 24 fps which as you may know is the same speed motion pictures are shot at. There’s also a component connection featured on this Lumix that will allow you to connect the LX3 to an HD TV and view your photos and movies on the big screen in high definition. This is a great feature, so it’s a bit of a pain that the cable is not included in the basic package and you’ll have to pick one up for yourself at additional cost.

Another key feature of the LX3 is its large 3″ LCD display that acts as view finder and menu on the rear of the camera. The resolution of the screen makes it a great way to set up shots and review past snaps, and the intelligent light detection system automatically increases the backlight intensity when you’re in low light conditions. This last feature is not only convenient but also helps save on energy and preserve the battery life.

Design
The Lumix DMC-LX3 is an understated piece of equipment, with a black finish that allows it to fit in with other SLR equipment without looking garish. The design also incorporates the LCD screen into the overall package without making it look out of place and anyone who has used another Panasonic digital camera or indeed any digital camera will be familiar with the layout of the buttons on the rear. In addition to standard buttons there’s the joystick control which allows you to adjust the many options and functions of the DMC-LX3 and acts as a shortcut key for speedy access of the most frequently used functions for context sensitive adaptability. It’s hard to fault the aesthetic value or the interface of the LX3 because it is a camera that means business presented in a way that shows this.

Ease of Use
Though the Lumix DMC-LX3 can allow advanced users to set up shots just as they want them and adjust all the features to taste, if you want great shots but don’t want to spend lots of time agonising over the settings then Panasonic’s iA (intelligent auto) setting will impress. It basically allows the camera to do all the work in changing the settings for you to suit the type of environment with which it is presented. Everything from image stabilisation, ISO control and face detection is handled automatically and with intelligent digression by the camera, leaving you free to concentrate on getting smiles or catching the moment of the goal.

Conclusion
The Panasonic DMC-LX3 is a very impressive DSLR camera that will almost certainly find its place in the market thanks to its wealth of features combined with its ease of use. Thanks to their background in computing Panasonic have made a great camera that is powerful as well as practical and looks the part without overselling itself. Though some have complained that the price for the camera isn’t justifiable, over time prices will fall and even in the current market it is a good buy.

Polaroid Two PoGo leaps into the market

Times change and sadly sometimes things that were once considered state-of-the-art and a ‘must have’ slip very easily into obscurity and it is only when you are reminded of them, you think… Oh yes, that was good, those were the days! If like us you remember the joy of experiencing instant Polaroid pictures (then you are knocking on a bit – oops sorry!) then be happy because you can enjoy all that instant heaven all over again with the release of the Polaroid Two PoGo next week.

The Polaroid Two PoGo instant digital camera will allow you to print off your favourite picture instantly using inkless technology. The Polaroid Two is a 5 megapixel digital camera, featuring a 3” LCD screen with 4 x digital zoom and of course the ability to print via the integral 300dpi printer instant 2” x 3” pictures.

The Polaroid Two PoGo instant digital camera will allow you to save to a memory card and can be uploaded to your PC via the USB cable. Whilst in use the camera will allow you to do simple editing such as removing red eye, adding borders and cropping and also has a very useful movie mode.

Now for the downsides of the Polaroid Two PoGo instant digital camera the special paper required will set you back £8 per pack of 30 sheets and the rechargeable battery will only provide the ability to print 15 before it will require charging again. The price tag is set to shock at just a smidgen under £230.00.

The Polaroid Two PoGo instant digital camera is what you would expect it to be a fun camera, with something just a little bit different to offer in today’s market. But it has to be said with mobile phones having 8 megapixel cameras, the ability to film videos, and the option to text or email them to friends or family whenever you wish instantly, we have to ask does the PoGo actually have a valid place in the modern world?

Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video Camera

Fun and funky, cool and compact – these are the first words that spring to mind when you talk about the very latest offering from Kodak, we are of course talking about the Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video Camera. This fantastic little video camera not only takes the most stunning 720p HD video film footage but it can also do it no matter what the conditions are, so bright sunshine, rain, snow, poor light, nothing will stand in the way of being able to record up to ten hours of amazing HD video film. So no matter where you are from the ski slopes to the beach the Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video Camera will deliver the very best of quality film but also will be resistant to any damage as the camera has a protection rating of IP43.

Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video camera films at either 60 or 30 frames per second or VGA and has an aspect ratio of 16:9, the audio quality is great too as the Kodak Zx1 also features a highly sensitive microphone with low distortion. Films created with the Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video Camera can be played back immediately in slow motion and can more excitingly be played back on an HDTV as there is a useful HDMI cable included with the video camera making it possible to view your films in all their glory on your television. The versatile Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video camera also comes complete with a video editing software suite, making it possible to even add music and additional content for your viewing enjoyment.

The Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video camera is about the same size as a mobile phone, and will fit neatly in a pocket for easy and quick access, so you will never need to miss a filming opportunity. The Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video Camera also comes in a range of beautiful colours including pink, yellow, red, black or blue. With an amazing price tag of £129 the Kodak Zx1 Pocket Video camera is going to be in most purchasers reach even with the current economic crisis! Expect to see this on every teenage skateboarders wish list this Christmas.

Buy today from Play.com and get a real bargain

Will the new Canon T1i EOS 500D bring out the Rebel in you?

Gadgets and Gizmos haven’t given you keen photographers any real news for a little while, but that hasn’t been an oversight on our part we have just been waiting for something extra special that we think will really take your fancy….. And here it is, introducing the Canon Rebel T1i EOS 500D DSLR.

So what does the Canon Rebel T1i EOS 500D DSLR have that other cameras don’t have? We here you ask, well for a start Canon have packed this DSLR camera with as many functions and improved specification as possible, in brief; 15.1 megapixels, DIGIC 4 image processor, variable shooting modes, extended ISO range up to ISO 12800, LCD monitor 3.0” TFT, 1080p & 720p HD Video recording (offering 20fps & 30fps respectively), recording up to 30 mins (or 4GB), wide view, DOF preview, LCD live view angle, 3.4 frames per second burst shooting, auto rotation, orientation sensor, auto lighting, external flash and auto pop-up flash, playback mode USB connectivity HDMI type C video out, direct printing, lithium-Ion 7.4v rechargeable battery, mic on front and speaker on rear, dust reduction, firmware upgrades, enhanced functionality with 13 custom functions allowing for 39 settings, 25 languages.

With an expected RRP price tag of £870 for the body only it certainly doesn’t come cheap, add the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens and the price rises to just shy of the £1,000 mark and if you wanted to add the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens then the price rockets to somewhere in the region of £1,400. With a price tag like that you will most certainly be more than a ‘wham bam thank you mam’ happy snapper, but if you are a keen photographer or somebody who just likes to have the best that you can afford then the Canon Rebel T1i EOS 500D DSLR is for you – go on, bring out the rebellious side!

Flip ultra camcorder takes the fun out of videos!

While for many people the fun of using the high-tech camcorders of today is gaffs and crazy shots which end up on the machine, what about that once in a lifetime moment, your child’s first smile, a beautiful view over the hills or just one of your friends making a fool of themselves. These are the shots which are very tricky to catch as you set up your portable camcorder, type in the settings, then……oh no the moment has passed!

Not any more!

The new Flip ultra camcorder offers that perfect chance to catch those moments of a lifetime on video. Simply point the device, press play and it will work out the focus, the light and anything else it needs to capture that perfect video footage. Then when you have finished simply slide out the attached USB connector and slip it into your computer – no software required!

The Flip ultra camcorder offers 30fps, 640 x 480 resolution and 2x digital zoom as a well as a 1.5 inch TFT screen for video playback and a long range microphone and speaker. Quite how this all fits into a machine which is only 4.17 x 2.16 x 1.25 inches in dimensions is hard to understand. The Flip ultra camcorder is small and light enough to slip in your pocket, ready for that once in a lifetime shot.

The Flip ultra also comes with the option to upload your videos to YouTube and AOL at the touch of a button.

Hyundai Phones Coming To The UK… Maybe

Sick and tired of making cars, Hyundai has turned its attention to digital cameras. I’m not sure if it’s a particularly logical step but diversity is apparently the key to success in business so you can’t blame them for giving it a whirl can you? To be fair to them, and even bearing in mind that despite a proposed release date of next month in the UK and having no retailers on board yet, the cameras look pretty good.

There’s actually three cameras set for release and features include 10MP photography, a touchscreen waterproof display, and alloy wheels. Currently available in Germany the cameras really are set for release in October, and if any retailers are interested then the new Hyundai cameras could be a welcome addition to the scene although they’re not pumping out anything particularly extraordinary just yet.

As Cnet points out, this was pretty much it in terms of interesting digital camera stories at IFA because Photokina is just around the corner. You can certainly tell that we’re well and truly in the middle of festival season that happily coincides with gadget event season too. Head for an exhibition centre near you, crack out your sleeping bag, and see what’s coming up.

Windows Photosynth Software

The words Microsoft and free aren’t lumped together that often and even when they are, most smart consumers are looking for the drawnback; the little glimmer of capitalism that inevitably rears its head at these times. In all fairness, of course, you can’t blame a business for wanting to make a profit and that’s certainly something that Microsoft has managed to excel at.

In the form of Photosynth, though, they’ve created some seriously useful software that is free. Photo editing and manipulation software isn’t that easy to get hold of unless you’ve got the cash to throw around that would probably buy you a new camera in most cases (and many of them come with some form of free software).

Photosynth, which includes an Internet based element and a desktop based section, enables you to take multiple pictures and then put them together in one image. It’s not only useful for panoramic effects ether and by taking pictures of an object from different angles it should be feasible that you can put a 3d image together, although the simplicity of that process remains to be seen because we’re guessing it isn’t going to be that easy.

A Digital Camera For The Blind

It’s more the picture than the technology that amazes me. The picture is promoting a camera that lets visually impaired users take and view pictures using senses other than sight. I can only begin to imagine the complexities of a braille based photograph (all those dots and dashes) never mind the kind of technology that enables blind people to take photographs.

The shutter button does, as you would hope in a digital camera, take a picture but it also handily records three seconds of audio. This is designed to make the recognition and storage of the media simple even when viewed later.

I’ve got to be honest, I’m not sure what holding it to your head achieves. There’s no LCD screen, because that would be pointless. However, as well as the audio clip, it uses a flexible braille sheet that “stamps” the pictures so that they can be recognised at a later date.

Very few details have actually been released – no price, no release, and no geographic target market have been announced as yet. I’ve got to be honest, I’m not entirely sure that any market will take to this. I can’t imagine that too many visually impaired people have always dreamed of being able to take and store digital photographs but I guess I could be wrong.

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