Casio USA Press Release

CASIO TO SHOWCASE AWARD-WINNING EXILIM DIGITAL CAMERAS AT 2005 INTERNATIONAL CES SHOW

Casio’s EXILIM EX-S100, EX-Z50, and EX-Z55 Offer State-of-the-Art Technology, High-Speed Performance, Elegant Compact Design, and Long Battery Operation

LAS VEGAS, NV January 6, 2005 – Casio, Inc., in conjunction with its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, a leading innovator in digital cameras will showcase its award-winning EXILIM digital camera line at CES 2005 in Las Vegas, January 6-9, 2005.  Casio’s EXILIM digital cameras, including the EX-S100, EX-Z50, and EX-Z55 will be displayed at the Casio booth # 9808 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Visitors will be able to learn about the superior technology that makes the EXILIM cameras unique.  They will also have the chance to personally examine the EX-S100, winner of the 2004 Best of What’s New Award by Popular Science Magazine and the 2005 CES Innovations Award in the camera category for excellence in design and engineering. 

Casio launched the first EXILIM digital camera in 2002, an ultra-thin business card-sized model with superior portability and highly responsive operation. Casio’s highly portable camera – which enabled photography for any occasion, anytime, anywhere – had a huge impact on the digital camera market overnight, helping the ultra-slim genre become a major segment of its own.

Since that first EXILIM, Casio has continued to create even thinner cameras with more rapid responsiveness and superior performance, creating an EXILIM lineup that has expanded to become a trend-setting force in the marketplace.  The new EXILIM CARD EX-S100 is the latest breakthrough model in the line.

“Casio is delighted to be part of this important event, and honored to have been selected to receive an Innovations award for the EXILIM EX-S100,” said John Clough, president of Casio, Inc.  “We are very proud of the EXILIM line, having brought the latest technology to make these digital cameras the best in the world.  We understand our customers needs, and have developed a product that offers superior quality, convenience, and value.”

EXILIM CARD EX-S100
The EXILIM CARD EX-S100 (MSRP $399.99) was developed to be the flagship model of the series, and as such, embodies all the brand concepts.  Key features of the EX-S100 include use of the world’s first transparent ceramic lens in an ultra-slim 2.8X optical zoom lens unit, and Casio’s proprietary EXILIM Engine, an ultra-compact image processing LSI module that enables the camera to achieve high-image quality, high-speed operation and low power consumption – all within an extremely slim and compact body package. As a result, the EX-S100 is the world’s smallest optical zoom-equipped digital camera, with a volume of just 79 cc and very compact measurements of 3.46” x 2.24”. Moreover, it is only .66” thick, and just .56” at the thinnest point.

The EX-S100 features a stainless steel body, a hallmark of the EXILIM CARD series, which has been polished to a brilliant shine through a special process. It is created entirely of metal, right down to the screws, for a true feeling of high quality. The front of the camera features a stylish theme of circular patterns that highlight the shape of the lens, while the back of the unit features a more square look that matches the impressively large 2.0-inch LCD screen. In keeping with the distinctive form of the other models in the EXILIM CARD series, the lens area itself protrudes slightly from the body of the camera.

With a 3.2 Megapixel CCD for superior high-resolution photo imaging, a unique quick-response design, and a Best Shot function that makes it easier to capture desired scenes, CASIO has again proven that it is the leader in ultra-compact cameras that offer astonishingly advanced performance.

EXILIM EX-Z50 & EX-Z55
The EXILIM ZOOM models, EX-Z50 (MSRP $349.99) and the EX-Z55 (MSRP $399.99), incorporate Casio’s heralded EXILIM Engine, the compact image processing module with a 3 layer stack LSI that enables high picture quality and speedy response using a 1.8V low-power system. They feature circuitry enabling even lower power consumption providing users with a much longer battery life, allowing them to take up to 400 pictures on a single charge. This means that these cameras are perfect for work or travel applications where it may not be possible to regularly charge the battery. 

In addition, both the EX-Z50 and the EX-Z55 introduce the ‘Business Shot’ function. This enables users to take a trapezoidal distorted picture of a projector, white board, document or business card from a side angle and correct it to a rectangle automatically. It also empowers the professional consumer with enormous convenience and flexibility.

The EX-Z55 is equipped with a high resolution 5-megapixel CCD, a 3X optical zoom lens and a larger 2.5-inch LCD screen incorporating an optical viewfinder. With its compact and stylish design, the EX-Z55 can take approximately 400 pictures (based on CIPA* standards) on a single charge.

The EX-Z50 has a 2-inch LCD screen and can take approximately 390 pictures. Both models offer extended battery life, making them ideal for use during long vacations and business travel, in fact any occasion requiring the amazing stamina that these cameras now offer.