Casio EX-FH100 10.1MP High Speed Digital Camera with 10x Ultra Wide Angle Zoom with CMOS Shift Image Stabilization and 3.0 inch LCD
Brand | Casio |
Model Name | EX FH100 |
Photo Sensor Size | 1/2.3-inch |
Image Stabilization | Sensor-shift |
Max Shutter Speed | 1/2000 seconds |
Min Shutter Speed | 4 seconds |
Metering Description | Multi, Center-weighted, Spot |
Form Factor | Compact |
Effective Still Resolution | 10.1 MP |
Special Feature | 24mm |
About this item
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
- High-speed movie recording at up to 1,000 fps; High-resolution HD Movie function
- 10x Ultra Wide Angle Zoom with CMOS Shift Image Stabilization
- 10.1-megapixel resolution; highly-sensitive CMOS sensor
- Capture 40 shots per second for still images (maximum image size of 9.0 megapixels and maximum shooting capacity of 30 shots)
- 10.1-megapixel resolution; highly-sensitive CMOS sensor
- 10x Ultra Wide Angle Zoom with CMOS Shift Image Stabilization
- Capture 40 shots per second for still images (maximum image size of 9.0 megapixels and maximum shooting capacity of 30 shots)
- High-speed movie recording at up to 1,000 fps; High-resolution HD Movie function
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
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Important information
Legal Disclaimer
Rarely used, manual, 16M SD Card, box, charger, warranty card, CD all included.
What's in the box
Product Description
From the Manufacturer
This 10.1 effective-megapixel high-speed digital camera boasts a wide-angle 24 mm 10x optical zoom lens in a compact body that makes it easy to carry anywhere. It also gives users a maximum burst rate of 40 shots per second for still images (maximum image size of 9.0 megapixels and maximum shooting capacity of 30 shots) that can now be used to photograph distant subjects thanks to the high-power zoom. It also enables up to 1,000 fps high-speed movie recording that captures motion that is ordinarily too fast for the human eye to see. The EX-FH100 allows users ranging from advanced amateur photographers to beginners to enjoy high-speed burst shooting. It is equipped with a mode dial that enables manual exposure burst shooting and also has a mode that makes high-speed burst shooting easy, a feature that sets the burst shooting speed to the optimal rate just by selecting the type of scene. Plus, enjoy high-quality photography even in dim indoor lighting by using a highly sensitive CMOS sensor.
Casio EX-FH100 Highlights
Wide-angle 24 mm 10x optical zoom lens in a compact body
The EX-FH100 features a high-power zoom lens in a compact body measuring just 105.0 mm wide x 63.2 mm tall x 29.9 mm thick. The lens delivers all the freedom of zoom photography--from a wide-angle 24 mm to a 10x optical zoom that brings distant subjects right up close.
Ultra-high speed burst shooting captures crucial moments at a speed of 40 shots per second
This model can take up to 30 shots of 9.0 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 those critical moments even if they press the shutter a little late, since the camera starts shooting when the shutter button is only depressed halfway.
High-speed movie recording at up to 1,000 fps
The EXILIM EX-FH100 can record high-speed movies of motion that is ordinarily too fast for the human eye to see. Users can select a recording speed of 1,000 fps, 420 fps, 240 fps, or 120 fps. This model also has a mode that lets users to switch to high-speed recording at 240 fps or 120 fps by pressing a single button during normal movie recording (30 fps). High-speed recording allows users to enjoy dramatic, ultra slow-motion playback.
Highly sensitive CMOS sensor
Casio continues the quest for ever-higher picture quality, the foundation of every camera’s performance. This model incorporates a back-illuminated CMOS sensor that boasts nearly twice the usual sensitivity. This lets users take beautiful photos outside as well as high-quality, low-noise photos indoors or in other dim lighting. And of course, the model also comes with CMOS-shift image stabilization.
Best Shot modes facilitate high-speed burst shooting and high-speed movie recording
High-speed Night Scene and Portrait
With the EX-FH100, users can take beautiful photos--even of human subjects at night--without worrying about photo blur. The camera can do this by internally combining images taken with a single press of the shutter button using highly sensitive high-speed burst shooting with the flash into a single, crystal-clear image.
High-speed Lighting
The EX-FH100 takes three images using high-speed burst shooting, adjusting the exposure for normal (standard), bright, and dim subjects, respectively, with a single press of the shutter button. These images are then combined into a single image inside the camera, enabling reproduction of full brightness throughout the photo and helping to avoid bad photos with washed out or overly dark areas when the scene is strongly backlit.
High-Speed Burst Shooting Best Shot / High-Speed Movie Best Shot
The EX-FH100 also has "High-Speed Burst Shooting Best Shot" and "High-Speed Movie Best Shot" modes that optimize the burst shooting or high-speed movie settings simply by selecting the type of scene to be photographed--such as a child, pet, or sports scene--at the critical moment or in slow motion.
High-resolution HD Movie function
The EX-FH100 also features an HD Movie function. Just press the dedicated Movie button to take beautiful movies at 1280x720 pixels. The camera is equipped with an HDMI terminal and stereo microphone, which enable users to enjoy a beautiful picture and realistic sound by connecting the camera to a large display TV.
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Product information
Auto Focus Technology | Single, Live View, Contrast Detection |
---|---|
Display Resolution Maximum | 230,400 |
Photo Sensor Size | 1/2.3-inch |
Photo Sensor Technology | BSI CMOS |
Effective Still Resolution | 10.1 MP |
White balance settings | Flash torch |
Image Stabilization | Sensor-shift |
Video Capture Format | MJPEG |
Video Capture Resolution | 1280 × 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 448 x 336 (30, 240 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps), 448 x 336 (240 fps), 224 x 168 (420 fps), 224 x 64 (1000 fps) |
Screen Size | 3 Inches |
---|---|
Display Fixture Type | Fixed |
Flash Memory Installed Size | 89.5 |
---|---|
Batteries Required? | No |
Number of Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. |
Are Batteries Included | No |
Rechargeable Battery Included | No |
Battery Cell Composition | Lithium Ion |
Battery Description | Rechargeable lithium ion battery (NP-90) |
Battery Weight | 59 Grams |
Digital Scene Transition | zoom |
Audio Input | Microphone |
Connectivity Technology | USB, HDMI |
Continuous Shooting Speed | 4 |
Wireless Communication Technology | yes |
Flash Memory Type | SD/SDHC card, Internal |
Special Feature | 24mm |
Water Resistance Level | Not Water Resistant |
Skill Level | Amateur |
Form Factor | Compact |
Hardware Interface | HDMI, SDHC |
Photo Sensor Technology | BSI CMOS |
Lens Type | Zoom, Fisheye |
---|---|
Optical Zoom | 10 |
Digital Zoom | 4 |
Zoom Type | Optical |
Compatible Mountings | Micro Four Thirds |
Focus Type | Autofocus & Manual |
Maximum Focal Length | 240 Millimeters |
Minimum Focal Length | 24 Millimeters |
Expanded ISO Maximum | 3200 |
---|---|
Expanded ISO Minimum | 100 |
Max Shutter Speed | 1/2000 seconds |
Min Shutter Speed | 4 seconds |
Metering Description | Multi, Center-weighted, Spot |
Shooting Modes | Portrait, Scene |
Model Name | EX FH100 |
---|---|
Brand | Casio |
Model Number | FH100 Black |
Customer Reviews |
3.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #252,256 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #1,724 in Digital Point & Shoot Cameras |
ASIN | B0032ANBXI |
Color | Black |
Included Components | Casio High Speed Exilim EX-FH100 Digital Camera - |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 4.09 x 1.1 x 2.36 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 0.44 Pounds |
Warranty & Support
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, ease of use, and shutter speed of the digital camera. For example, they mention it has great capabilities, very useful modes, and is capable of reasonably nice macro shots. That said, they appreciate the value, and appearance of the product. Opinions are mixed on the image quality, zoom, and size.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the digital camera. They say it has great capabilities, has a good feature set, and is capable of reasonably nice macro shots. They appreciate the high-speed photo feature and the clever presets. Overall, customers find the camera quite usable and successful.
"...The options available to the photographer, using this camera, are mind boggling...." Read more
"...Fortunately, this camera's pictures start out fairly big, and most people don't require giant poster-sized copies of all their photos...." Read more
"...While the Amazon reviews were luke warm, the feature set seemed good, and I'd always wanted to try a Casio camera...." Read more
"...In my office, the pictures were very good, but in regular house lights, the camera is one of the worse low light cameras I have ever purchased...." Read more
Customers find the digital camera easy to use. They say the basic functions are easy to understand, and the menu system is simple to use after a while. They appreciate the clever presets that make switching between modes quick and easy. Customers also mention that the camera fits well in the hand and is easy to operate one-handed.
"...Most shots will be blurred. Easy to use menu system after you use it a while. Photos have to be cropped to print to 4 X 6 paper." Read more
"...looks as good or better than many dedicated HD camcorders, and it's easy to use. On a tripod, especially, the results are attractive...." Read more
"...capture action moments, great night shots and quick and simple use for the wife, makes this a winner." Read more
"...While the basic functions are easy to use - even switching from HD video to slow motion is just a toggle switch -- I suggest reading the full manual..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the shutter of the camera. They mention that it has a fast speed for action shots, and a faster continuous shutter mode. The shutter speed is manually controlled, and it is a must for having clear photos and HD video. The high-speed features are tremendously fun, and the camera is quick to acquire focus. The camera offers slow motion video in four modes, and customers can switch between functions quickly. They appreciate the ability to change the frame rate and dial it in for the best results.
"...You also appear to have some manual control (shutter speed, aperture?)..." Read more
"...The fast shutter speed action mode captures great photos of running kids and dogs, gives you the option to choose the best expression/position of..." Read more
"...The picture quality is great, it is quick and the 10X optical Zoon rally lets you zoom in on the daughters Soccer moments...." Read more
"...fairly nice-looking photos and HD video, and the high-speed features are tremendously fun...." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the digital camera. They say it's worth the price and offers 720p video.
"...I'm excited to use it while skiing and skijoring this winter!Worth the price. Movie quality video. Good audio as well." Read more
"...This is a really great camera for a great price...." Read more
"...telescope (easier to break in my newly formed opinion) and it is fairly cheap while still offering 720p video." Read more
"...Overall I think it's great value and I would recommend it." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the digital camera. They mention that the colors look spectacular, it looks nice, and it's amazingly fun to play. The technique tends to create a nice bokeh or background blur, while the camera makes skin look natural.
"...Overall colors are true, as if in a well lighted environment, except for the center subject keyboard which is whiter...." Read more
"...This technique tends to create a nice "bokeh" or background blur, while the subject is well-focused...." Read more
"...Overall, the colors come through very well, photos are sharp and focused...." Read more
"...Brilliant color and clarity in daylight, very workable images in lower light, great buttons and features and programmability...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the image quality of the camera. Some mention that the high-speed photo and 450 fps videos are awesome, while others say that the image is poor.
"...The high-speed videos were a brief novelty, but as others (and DPR) have said, the low resolution and high light levels needed to capture anything..." Read more
"...On that front I have not been disappointed. The slow motion video is awesome, I've had fun filming my dogs running and playing, analyzing my running..." Read more
"...The slow motion video is fun, things just seem more entertaining slowed down.This is a really great camera for a great price...." Read more
"...Desireable features:- High-speed photo: This is an incredible feature for photographing action (and babies, children, animals, etc).-..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the zoom of the digital camera. Some mention that the 10x zoom is great and the high-powered zoom are all superb. They also appreciate the ability to zoom in on video in playback. However, others say that it can't zoom while shooting video, the zoom has a fairly long reach, and it does not respond to the zoom lever once startup is finished.
"...One nice thing about the Casio with video is it lets you zoom in on video in playback, a feature I liked a lot for HD videos on such a small screen,..." Read more
"...and a high powered zoom are all superb. Not much I would change about the camera...." Read more
"...Limited aperture range:. It's a beefy camera, but it's still a point-and-shoot.-..." Read more
"...However, the Casio has a few advantages - a larger aperture, longer battery life (520 shots vs. 310 shots), a faster continuous shutter mode..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the size of the digital camera. Some mention that it fits well in the hand, is very compact, and easy to use one-handed. However, others say that it has a small pixel size and small format videos.
"...High Speed Burst PhotosPhysical size - roughly 3/4 inch longer and 3/8th inch wider than a pack of Marlboro and just about the same..." Read more
"...were a brief novelty, but as others (and DPR) have said, the low resolution and high light levels needed to capture anything definitely keep it as a..." Read more
"...It properly fits the camera, fits the charger, has an equivalent battery life. As for the camera's battery power usage, I think it's great...." Read more
"...Also super slow motion video is somewhat useless and has such a small pixel size it's an option I have rarely used...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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The camera should be delivered at no cost in two days on 11/17, using a zero cost trial subscription to Amazon Prime.
I looked a variety of reviews, primarily imaging-resource.com and dpreview.com. I looked at the reviews by fellow customers for this and many other cameras. All camera manufacturer customer services have horror stories about them, so picking a camera based on one being more response than another did not enter into my decision making process. Quality control at manufacturing facilities appears to be horrible. Customer service will probably leave you banging your head against the wall. Whether you get a good camera or not is more luck than anything else.
I weighed the cost of the camera against a wide range of cameras. Cost was not a significant deciding factor. However, it does not make sense to buy a throwaway item, which is expensive. (I considered Fuji FinePix HS10 10 MP CMOS 30X for $368, but it had horrible customer reviews and was a much larger camera. I also considered the Nikon D5000, but avoided it because of its large size and 3X standard lens.)
Small cameras with small sensors CCD or CMOS don't have the ability to produce large perfect color pictures. To get those you need to part with major bucks, like $11K for a Mamiya. Excellent photo quality is only available on large CMOS or film based DSLRs. I don't own one and am not interested in carrying one around, as I did when I owned an old fashioned Minolta SLR.
I wanted a real pocket camera. I had a Sony H20, which was not pocketable unless you have really big pockets. I don't take videos, so the quality of those and consumer comments about those were not considered in my camera selection.
A highly rated Canon S95 is about the same size as the FH100, but it is 3.8X, costs about 50% more than the FH100, and had to many negative consumer comments about it. Panasonic's DMC-ZS series are plagued with hardware problems. Negative write-ups exceeded a level that I was comfortable with. The $171 ZS1 is the best buy unless you want to take movies of limited value and want a GPS, which drains you battery. The 12X camera appears to take sharper photos, but with hardware problems I did not want to bother with it. The top of line ZS7, which is a ZS1 with bells and whistles, runs $258 from Amazon. A number of `nice on paper' cameras did not make the cut, based on customer reviews about faulty equipment.
I wanted a camera with a zoom in the 5X to 10X range. Larger zooms come with larger photography and equipment problems.
Why Casio? It was probably more a whim of the moment than anything else was.
Big factors in selecting the FH100 were:
Long battery life
CMOS sensor
Manual control - ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed
Best Shot photo process - the camera takes 5 photos and merges them to give the best shot or you can select amongst the five.
High Speed Burst Photos
Physical size - roughly 3/4 inch longer and 3/8th inch wider than a pack of Marlboro and just about the same thickness.
I wanted a camera, which would be delivered before Friday. My super hot girl friend and I are going gambling Saturday through Monday. I want to take photos of her playing the slots. The ambient light in casinos (L'Auberge and Delta Downs in Lake Charles, Louisiana) varies from marginal to really dark. She is 70 and I am 65.
I downloaded the FH100 user manual. It is 203 pages long. I have scanned it. The electronic manual is exceptionally well written and comprehensive. The options available to the photographer, using this camera, are mind boggling. I question anyone's negative comments about the picture quality of this camera, unless they have read and understand the whole manual and have experimented with the options available.
The FH100 is not in my opinion meant to be a simple point and shoot camera. It can be used that way, but I'll bet that will not get you the best pictures that the camera can take.
I'll get back to this review and adjust my star rating, as necessary, based on my experience with it, considering my limited knowledge of the camera and its capabilities.
Day 1
First photo experiences with the Casio EX-FH100 - Transcend 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6E installed.
Charged battery, bought $10 case and $10 travel tripod, formatted SDHC card.
Two test photos
Amazon1 = 1.41MB JPG reduced to 240KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held Ambient light - computer monitor and lighted painting behind photographer (that positioning accounts for shadows left and center bottom of the photo. Setting are standard shipped AF (auto focus) with flash turned off.
The photo is sharp and clear on 22 inch full monitor size and beyond to some unknown amount.
The subject color reproduction in the non-flash mode closely approximates that seen by me. The computer monitor is bright, as is the speaker red light on the upper right. That is normal even on quality DSLRs under similar conditions.
Amazon2 = 1.9MB JPG reduced to 300KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held Flash on - Setting are standard shipped AF (auto focus). The photo is exceptionally sharp, clear, and detailed. The photo represents the subject color, which would be seen in an excellent bright light condition. The numbers lock green light is reasonably true to color. The red speaker light on the right top is washed out. The computer monitor colors are accurate.
Amazon3 - 907KB JPG reduced to 157KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held - BS mode high speed night scene - default settings - flash is default off in this mode
Computer screen image is soft and blue tinted. Keyboard is dark and difficult to see. Keyboard green and speaker red indicators are truer to actual colors.
Amazon4 - 1.61MB JPG reduced to 289KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held - BS mode high speed night scene and portrait - default settings - flash is default on in this mode
Overall colors are true, as if in a well lighted environment, except for the center subject keyboard which is whiter.
Amazon5 - 1.09MB JPG reduced to 201KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held - BS mode high speed night scene and portrait - default settings - default flash on over ridden to flash off.
Result is similar to amazon 3 photo results.
Note: Due to the hand held nature of the photos and changed computer screen display there are variations in photo brightness and clarity over and above those caused by the variing camera settings.
Several month usage - Performance is so so, but at the price not bad. Best in full light. Indoors, like taking action shots of a basketball game, use high speed and pick the best of the bunch. Most shots will be blurred. Easy to use menu system after you use it a while. Photos have to be cropped to print to 4 X 6 paper.
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2010
The camera should be delivered at no cost in two days on 11/17, using a zero cost trial subscription to Amazon Prime.
I looked a variety of reviews, primarily imaging-resource.com and dpreview.com. I looked at the reviews by fellow customers for this and many other cameras. All camera manufacturer customer services have horror stories about them, so picking a camera based on one being more response than another did not enter into my decision making process. Quality control at manufacturing facilities appears to be horrible. Customer service will probably leave you banging your head against the wall. Whether you get a good camera or not is more luck than anything else.
I weighed the cost of the camera against a wide range of cameras. Cost was not a significant deciding factor. However, it does not make sense to buy a throwaway item, which is expensive. (I considered Fuji FinePix HS10 10 MP CMOS 30X for $368, but it had horrible customer reviews and was a much larger camera. I also considered the Nikon D5000, but avoided it because of its large size and 3X standard lens.)
Small cameras with small sensors CCD or CMOS don't have the ability to produce large perfect color pictures. To get those you need to part with major bucks, like $11K for a Mamiya. Excellent photo quality is only available on large CMOS or film based DSLRs. I don't own one and am not interested in carrying one around, as I did when I owned an old fashioned Minolta SLR.
I wanted a real pocket camera. I had a Sony H20, which was not pocketable unless you have really big pockets. I don't take videos, so the quality of those and consumer comments about those were not considered in my camera selection.
A highly rated Canon S95 is about the same size as the FH100, but it is 3.8X, costs about 50% more than the FH100, and had to many negative consumer comments about it. Panasonic's DMC-ZS series are plagued with hardware problems. Negative write-ups exceeded a level that I was comfortable with. The $171 ZS1 is the best buy unless you want to take movies of limited value and want a GPS, which drains you battery. The 12X camera appears to take sharper photos, but with hardware problems I did not want to bother with it. The top of line ZS7, which is a ZS1 with bells and whistles, runs $258 from Amazon. A number of `nice on paper' cameras did not make the cut, based on customer reviews about faulty equipment.
I wanted a camera with a zoom in the 5X to 10X range. Larger zooms come with larger photography and equipment problems.
Why Casio? It was probably more a whim of the moment than anything else was.
Big factors in selecting the FH100 were:
Long battery life
CMOS sensor
Manual control - ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed
Best Shot photo process - the camera takes 5 photos and merges them to give the best shot or you can select amongst the five.
High Speed Burst Photos
Physical size - roughly 3/4 inch longer and 3/8th inch wider than a pack of Marlboro and just about the same thickness.
I wanted a camera, which would be delivered before Friday. My super hot girl friend and I are going gambling Saturday through Monday. I want to take photos of her playing the slots. The ambient light in casinos (L'Auberge and Delta Downs in Lake Charles, Louisiana) varies from marginal to really dark. She is 70 and I am 65.
I downloaded the FH100 user manual. It is 203 pages long. I have scanned it. The electronic manual is exceptionally well written and comprehensive. The options available to the photographer, using this camera, are mind boggling. I question anyone's negative comments about the picture quality of this camera, unless they have read and understand the whole manual and have experimented with the options available.
The FH100 is not in my opinion meant to be a simple point and shoot camera. It can be used that way, but I'll bet that will not get you the best pictures that the camera can take.
I'll get back to this review and adjust my star rating, as necessary, based on my experience with it, considering my limited knowledge of the camera and its capabilities.
Day 1
First photo experiences with the Casio EX-FH100 - Transcend 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6E installed.
Charged battery, bought $10 case and $10 travel tripod, formatted SDHC card.
Two test photos
Amazon1 = 1.41MB JPG reduced to 240KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held Ambient light - computer monitor and lighted painting behind photographer (that positioning accounts for shadows left and center bottom of the photo. Setting are standard shipped AF (auto focus) with flash turned off.
The photo is sharp and clear on 22 inch full monitor size and beyond to some unknown amount.
The subject color reproduction in the non-flash mode closely approximates that seen by me. The computer monitor is bright, as is the speaker red light on the upper right. That is normal even on quality DSLRs under similar conditions.
Amazon2 = 1.9MB JPG reduced to 300KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held Flash on - Setting are standard shipped AF (auto focus). The photo is exceptionally sharp, clear, and detailed. The photo represents the subject color, which would be seen in an excellent bright light condition. The numbers lock green light is reasonably true to color. The red speaker light on the right top is washed out. The computer monitor colors are accurate.
Amazon3 - 907KB JPG reduced to 157KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held - BS mode high speed night scene - default settings - flash is default off in this mode
Computer screen image is soft and blue tinted. Keyboard is dark and difficult to see. Keyboard green and speaker red indicators are truer to actual colors.
Amazon4 - 1.61MB JPG reduced to 289KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held - BS mode high speed night scene and portrait - default settings - flash is default on in this mode
Overall colors are true, as if in a well lighted environment, except for the center subject keyboard which is whiter.
Amazon5 - 1.09MB JPG reduced to 201KB via MS Digital Image Pro 10
Hand held - BS mode high speed night scene and portrait - default settings - default flash on over ridden to flash off.
Result is similar to amazon 3 photo results.
Note: Due to the hand held nature of the photos and changed computer screen display there are variations in photo brightness and clarity over and above those caused by the variing camera settings.
Several month usage - Performance is so so, but at the price not bad. Best in full light. Indoors, like taking action shots of a basketball game, use high speed and pick the best of the bunch. Most shots will be blurred. Easy to use menu system after you use it a while. Photos have to be cropped to print to 4 X 6 paper.
About the Casio photo quality... I've posted three nature close-ups to show that this camera is capable of reasonably nice macro shots. The trick in shooting tight close-ups with this camera is to move back from the subject and zoom all the way in on it (camera set to "macro" focus). You can get a larger subject that way, essentially seeming to be closer to your subject. This technique tends to create a nice "bokeh" or background blur, while the subject is well-focused. The camera usually takes an attractive photo, although it also produces a large share of duds. It does a fair job of autofocusing, although sometimes it hunts or focuses on the background even when the center spot is clearly aimed at the foreground subject. To be sure that you have a good shot, take lots and lots of pictures -- this is the digital age, you don't have to pay for film and processing just to see whether a picture is any good, so why not fill up your camera card? Delete the duds and extras later.
Unless you have a full minute or two between shots, you need to set it to take JPEGs, and even then it isn't very fast at saving the highest quality shots. And when it comes to saving RAW photos, this is one of the slowest cameras I've ever worked with. Much as I prefer RAW, on on the Casio EX-FH100 it's way too slow for nature photography, where a few seconds delay is enough for your subject to walk, fly, or swim away. The camera's JPEG photos, when greatly enlarged, show an odd splotchy characteristic that reminds me of the paint effects filters you find in image software such as Photoshop. This means that cropping and enlarging is iffy. Might look good, might not. I'm Photoshop fanatic, and I have over a decade of experience at photo editing, so I don't have a lot of trouble fixing some of the quirkier JPEG artifacts produced by this or other cameras. Most people aren't inclined to play with photo editors, however. Fortunately, this camera's pictures start out fairly big, and most people don't require giant poster-sized copies of all their photos. For snapshots and pictures up to 11-inches, it's not too bad, and every now and then it produces a great photo worthy of poster size.
With its good-to-great but sometimes bad-to-terrible photo performance, I might have chosen a different camera, but the video swayed me, and I'm happy I bought the Casio. The HD quality is very nice. It looks as good or better than many dedicated HD camcorders, and it's easy to use. On a tripod, especially, the results are attractive. As many have mentioned, don't look for crisp HD quality in slow-motion videos from this camera. With the slow-motion features, you're getting VHS quality at best, and the quality and image size greatly diminish as you select slower and slower video speed. For my purposes, I usually select the 30-120 option, which provide VHS video quality that you can easily switch between normal speed of 30fps to 1-fourth speed of 120fps. The camera was great for slowing down butterflies and other flying insects, and it did a good job of muffling the effects of a windy day when trying to videotape wildflowers on the prairie, making the rolling fields look mesmerizingly musical. I had a lot of fun setting up this camera on a pond's edge and capturing leaping frogs and playful dragonflies. The slow motion helped when panning the camera by hand, reducing my spazzy shakes and jitters. I don't do sports video, but that would be an interesting use as well, especially for coaches helping athletes review their performance.
Be warned however, if recording an event, or shooting vacation footage, or working on any other project using HD and a variety of slow-motion video: because of video size and quality differences in each of this camera's settings, it takes a bit of editing and resizing work to combine all of that footage into a single movie. I use Vegas Studio, or Pinnacle, or Adobe After Effects and Premier, whichever is easier for a particular project. (If you're looking for an easy photo editor with great features, you couldn't go wrong with Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack.)
All in all, I really liked the video features in the EX-FH100, and I'm excited to see how Casio evolves this line of cameras. Could you use this as a sole camera for amateur to prosumer level nature photography/videography, or if you're on a trip and want to carry just one camera? I think so, particularly if you have suitable image and video editing software.
For this camera, I also purchased the Maximal Power DB CAS NP90 Replacement Battery, a cheap knock off that works as well as the Casio battery, and has functioned well for me over 100 hours of nature photography. It properly fits the camera, fits the charger, has an equivalent battery life. As for the camera's battery power usage, I think it's great. I get a full 6-8 hour fieldtrip of photos, HD video, and slow-motion video from a single charge, so Casio is to be commended for remarkably efficient use of resources with its camera engineering.
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2010
About the Casio photo quality... I've posted three nature close-ups to show that this camera is capable of reasonably nice macro shots. The trick in shooting tight close-ups with this camera is to move back from the subject and zoom all the way in on it (camera set to "macro" focus). You can get a larger subject that way, essentially seeming to be closer to your subject. This technique tends to create a nice "bokeh" or background blur, while the subject is well-focused. The camera usually takes an attractive photo, although it also produces a large share of duds. It does a fair job of autofocusing, although sometimes it hunts or focuses on the background even when the center spot is clearly aimed at the foreground subject. To be sure that you have a good shot, take lots and lots of pictures -- this is the digital age, you don't have to pay for film and processing just to see whether a picture is any good, so why not fill up your camera card? Delete the duds and extras later.
Unless you have a full minute or two between shots, you need to set it to take JPEGs, and even then it isn't very fast at saving the highest quality shots. And when it comes to saving RAW photos, this is one of the slowest cameras I've ever worked with. Much as I prefer RAW, on on the Casio EX-FH100 it's way too slow for nature photography, where a few seconds delay is enough for your subject to walk, fly, or swim away. The camera's JPEG photos, when greatly enlarged, show an odd splotchy characteristic that reminds me of the paint effects filters you find in image software such as Photoshop. This means that cropping and enlarging is iffy. Might look good, might not. I'm Photoshop fanatic, and I have over a decade of experience at photo editing, so I don't have a lot of trouble fixing some of the quirkier JPEG artifacts produced by this or other cameras. Most people aren't inclined to play with photo editors, however. Fortunately, this camera's pictures start out fairly big, and most people don't require giant poster-sized copies of all their photos. For snapshots and pictures up to 11-inches, it's not too bad, and every now and then it produces a great photo worthy of poster size.
With its good-to-great but sometimes bad-to-terrible photo performance, I might have chosen a different camera, but the video swayed me, and I'm happy I bought the Casio. The HD quality is very nice. It looks as good or better than many dedicated HD camcorders, and it's easy to use. On a tripod, especially, the results are attractive. As many have mentioned, don't look for crisp HD quality in slow-motion videos from this camera. With the slow-motion features, you're getting VHS quality at best, and the quality and image size greatly diminish as you select slower and slower video speed. For my purposes, I usually select the 30-120 option, which provide VHS video quality that you can easily switch between normal speed of 30fps to 1-fourth speed of 120fps. The camera was great for slowing down butterflies and other flying insects, and it did a good job of muffling the effects of a windy day when trying to videotape wildflowers on the prairie, making the rolling fields look mesmerizingly musical. I had a lot of fun setting up this camera on a pond's edge and capturing leaping frogs and playful dragonflies. The slow motion helped when panning the camera by hand, reducing my spazzy shakes and jitters. I don't do sports video, but that would be an interesting use as well, especially for coaches helping athletes review their performance.
Be warned however, if recording an event, or shooting vacation footage, or working on any other project using HD and a variety of slow-motion video: because of video size and quality differences in each of this camera's settings, it takes a bit of editing and resizing work to combine all of that footage into a single movie. I use Vegas Studio, or Pinnacle, or Adobe After Effects and Premier, whichever is easier for a particular project. (If you're looking for an easy photo editor with great features, you couldn't go wrong with Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack.)
All in all, I really liked the video features in the EX-FH100, and I'm excited to see how Casio evolves this line of cameras. Could you use this as a sole camera for amateur to prosumer level nature photography/videography, or if you're on a trip and want to carry just one camera? I think so, particularly if you have suitable image and video editing software.
For this camera, I also purchased the Maximal Power DB CAS NP90 Replacement Battery, a cheap knock off that works as well as the Casio battery, and has functioned well for me over 100 hours of nature photography. It properly fits the camera, fits the charger, has an equivalent battery life. As for the camera's battery power usage, I think it's great. I get a full 6-8 hour fieldtrip of photos, HD video, and slow-motion video from a single charge, so Casio is to be commended for remarkably efficient use of resources with its camera engineering.