The Casio EX-Z9 is a new 8.1 megapixel digital camera with a 3x zoom lens, 2.6-inch wide LCD and 23 scene modes. “Whether you are taking snap shots of your family at the park or your friends at a concert, this high-quality digital camera is sure to satisfy all of your photographic wants and needs,” said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “Casio’s innovative YouTube Capture Mode allows videos to be recorded and uploaded directly to YouTube in as few as 3 steps, making the EX-Z9 perfect for online video enthusiasts.” Available in March, the Casio EX-Z9 will be offered in pink, black, silver and orange for $159.99.

Casio America Press Release

Casio Introduces Stylish New 8.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

EX-Z9 Offers Increased Portability and 23 Best Shot Modes to EXILIM Zoom Series of Digital Cameras

DOVER, NJ, MARCH 6, 2008 — Casio America, Inc. introduced the latest addition to its stylish series of EXILIM® digital cameras today, the EXILIM Zoom EX-Z9. This newest member of the EXILIM line features a stylish, slim and compact design to increase portability, and provides an improved 8.1 megapixels of image resolution with 3X optical zoom.

This new model stays true to the user-friendly features that have become standard to the EXILIM Zoom series. The 2.6-inch wide LCD display enables users to easily navigate camera operations and enhance the review of images, while the 23 Best Shot Modes and face detection technology help users take high quality photos without having to adjust camera settings.

“Whether you are taking snap shots of your family at the park or your friends at a concert, this high-quality digital camera is sure to satisfy all of your photographic wants and needs,” said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “Casio’s innovative YouTube Capture Mode allows videos to be recorded and uploaded directly to YouTube in as few as 3 steps, making the EX-Z9 perfect for online video enthusiasts.”

The EX-Z9 comes loaded with other useful features including Anti Shake DSP which reduces photo blur from shaky hands or moving subjects, allowing users to shoot images with ease and confidence.  Easy Mode simplifies the camera settings to three easy menus (image size, flash and self timer).  With Easy Mode, the camera is set to take great photos in every situation without having to check presets or accidentally making a wrong adjustment. Casio’s Face Detection Technology maintains a sharp focus and the correct exposure for the human face.

Available at retail in March, the EX-Z9 will be available in pink, black, silver and orange and will have an MSRP of $159.99.

MAIN FEATURES

-    Stylish, slim, compact model featuring 8.1 million effective megapixels and 3x optical zoom.
-    Generous 2.6-inch wide LCD display
-    23 Best Shot Modes for high quality images
-    Anti Shake DSP for reducing photo blur due to shaky hands or moving subjects
-    Easy Mode for simplifying the camera settings
-    Casio’s Face Detection technology for maintaining a sharp focus

SPECIFICATIONS

File Format
Still images: JPEG (Exif Ver. 2.2, DCF1.0, DPOF)
Movies: Motion JPEG, AVI format, IMA-ADPCM (monaural)
Audio (Voice Recording): WAV format (monaural)

Recording Media
18.6MB built-in flash memory, SD Memory Card,
SDHC Memory Card, MMC (Multimedia Card),
MMC plus (Multimedia Card plus) compatible

Number of Recorded Pixels

Still images:
8M (3264x2448) / 3:2 (3264x2176) /
16:9 (3264x1840 / 6M (2816x2112) /
4M (2304x1728) / 2M (1600x1200) /
VGA (640x480)

Movies:
848 x 480 (HQ Wide)
640 x 480 (HQ/Normal) / 320 x 240 (LP)

Number of Effective Pixels
Approx. 8.1 megapixels (/million)

Image Sensor
1/2.5-inch square pixel CCD
Total Pixels: 8.29 megapixels

Lens/ Focal Length
F2.8(W) - F5.2(T) / f=6.2 - 18.6mm
(Approx. 37.5 - 112.5mm equivalent to 35mm film)
6 lenses in 5 groups, including aspherical lens.

Zoom Ratio
3 x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom (12 times both with optical and digital zoom)
HD Zoom Maximum 15.1x (@VGA, both with optical and digital zoom)

Focus

Focus Type
Contrast Detection Auto Focus

Focus Mode
Auto Focus, Macro Mode, Pan Focus, Infinity mode, Manual focus

AF Area
Spot, Multi

Focus Range
Auto focus:
Approx. 15.79” - Infinity (W)

(Still Images)
Macro:
Approx. 5.91”* -  19.69” (W)

Infinity Mode:
Infinity (W)

Manual focus:
Approx. 5.91* - Infinity (W)

* Using optical zoom causes the aperture to change.

Exposure Metering

Exposure Control
Multi pattern, Center Weighted, Spot by CCD
Program AE

Exposure Compensation
-2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps)

Shutter Type
CCD electronic shutter and mechanical shutter

Shutter Speed
Auto : 1/2 - 1/2000 second
Night Scene : 4 - 1/2000 second
?Depending on user’s setting of Camera?

Aperture
F2.8(W) - F5.6(W) (ND filter is being used.)
(Using optical zoom causes the aperture to change.)

White Balance
Auto WB, Daylight, Overcast, Shade, Day white Fluorescent, Daylight Fluorescent, Tungsten, manual WB

Sensitivity
(SOS/REI)*
Still images: Auto/ ISO64/ ISO100/ ISO200/ ISO400/ ISO800/ ISO1600
Movies: Auto

* SOS: Standard Output Sensitivity. REI: Recommended Exposure Index.

Self-Timer
10 seconds, 2 seconds, Triple Self-timer

Flash Mode
Auto, Flash off, Flash on, Soft Flash, Red eye reduction

Flash Range
Normal:
Approx. .49’ – 9.19’ (W)
Approx. 1.31’ – 4.92’ (T)

* Range is affected by optical zoom.

Flash Charge Time
Approximately 7 seconds

Recording Functions
Snapshot, Marco, Self-timer, Continuous shooting(Normal Speed CS), BEST SHOT, Face Detection, Movie(Normal Movie, For YouTube), Voice Recording
* Audio recording is monaural

Playback Functions
Playback Zoom (8X), 12-image Screen, Start-up Images, Rotate, Re-size, Trimming, Copy, BGM Slideshow

Other Functions
Key Customization, PictBridge, Video Output(NTSC/PAL)

Image Deletion
One image / All images
With memory protect function

Approximate Maximum Audio
Recording Times
After Recording: 30 seconds per image
Voice Recording: 56 minutes 4 seconds (when using built-in memory)

Monitor
2.6-inch TFT color LCD
114,960 dots (479 x 240)

Viewfinder
LCD monitor

Timekeeping Function

Built-in quartz digital clock
Date and Time: Recorded with image data

With time stamp function
Auto Calendar: To 2049

World Time
162 cities in 32 time zones
City name, date, time, summer time

Input / Output Terminals
USB/AV port (USB compatible)

Microphone
Monaural

Speaker
Monaural

Power Source
Rechargeable lithium ion battery (NP-60) x1

Power Consumption
3.7V DC, Approximately 3.2W

Dimensions
3.64” (W) x 2.17” (H) x .91” (D)
(excluding projections; .80” at thinnest point)

Weight
Approximately 4.48 oz. (excluding battery and bundled accessories)

Specifications subject to change without notice.

About Casio America, Inc.
EXILIM is a registered trademark of CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. “FSE” is a product provided by Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. For more information about “FSE”, visit OKI’s website at http://www.face-sensing-engine.com. YouTube is a registered trademark of YouTube, LLC. Any other company or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of those companies.

Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions, established in 1957.  Casio America, Inc. markets calculators, keyboards, digital cameras, mobile presentation devices, disc title and label printers, watches, cash registers and other consumer electronic products.  Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of “creativity and contribution” through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products.  For more information, visit www.casiousa.com

About YouTube™
YouTube is the world’s largest online video community allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share originally created videos.  YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube is based in San Bruno, CA and is a subsidiary of Google, Inc.

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