NewsFebruary 2004

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Casio Exilims with 2.5 times battery life

Casio has today announced the 4-megapixel EX-Z40 and the 3.2-megapixel EX-Z30, two new models in the EXILIM® ZOOM range of digital cameras with long battery operation and 3X optical zoom. These two new cameras have a battery life of 2.5 times that of previous models (comparison between the EX-Z4 and EX-Z40), allowing up to 360 photos to be taken on a single charge. Other features common to both models include a 2.0-inch TFT LCD screen and the Direct On function for one-touch record and play modes.

Press Release:

New EXILIM ZOOM Digital Cameras with Long Battery Life

Thin, Stylish Models with 3X Optical Zoom and up to 2.5 Times Longer Battery Life

February 25, 2004, TOKYO, JAPAN - CASIO COMPUTER CO. LTD. today announced the 4-megapixel EX-Z40 and the 3.2-megapixel EX-Z30, two new models in the EXILIM® ZOOM range of digital cameras with long battery operation and 3X optical zoom.

Over the last few years the digital camera market has undergone rapid change. Not only have there been improvements in picture quality because of higher resolution, the great usability of digital cameras has also been the focus of attention as they became more compact with faster response and larger LCD monitors. One area of particular concern has been the battery life of these cameras per charge, with many users asking for digital cameras offering longer operation times.

CASIO's new EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40 / EX-Z30 models incorporate an EXILIM Engine, a newly developed compact image processing module with a 3 layer stack LSI that achieves high picture quality and speedy response using a 1.8V low-power system and makes the cameras' compact dimensions possible. These two new cameras have a battery life of 2.5 times that of previous models (comparison between the EX-Z4 and EX-Z40), allowing up to 360 photos to be taken on a single charge (based on CIPA standard battery life measurement). This means that the cameras are not only handy for travel and work applications, they are ideal for any occasions when a lot of photos must be taken. Another handy feature is Auto Pan Focus. When photos need to be taken in a hurry, one rapid push of the shutter button will make the camera use pan focus, thus removing the need to wait for auto focus. In combination with the approximate 1.6-second high-speed start up time and approximate 0.01-second release time lag, the features of these cameras allow for even faster, more satisfying photography.

Other impressive features common to both new EXILIM models include the large 2.0-inch TFT LCD screen and the Direct On function for one-touch record and play modes. In addition to being USB DIRECT-PRINT compliant for direct connection to printers, the EX-Z40 and EX-Z30 are also compatible with the PictBridge standard.

CIPA standard "Standard Procedure for Measuring Digital Still Camera Battery Consumption"

Until recently there has been no standard measurement for battery life. This has resulted in inconsistencies between camera products and their catalogs and instruction manuals. As of December 2003, CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) established the Standard Procedure for Measuring Digital Still Camera Battery Consumption, and hopes to reduce confusion among consumers by having this adopted by the world's digital camera manufacturers and retailers.

EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z40/EX-Z30 features

High performance, easy to use thin card size

• High picture quality 4-megapixel and 3.2-megapixel models
• Thin card-size body incorporating 3x optical zoom lens
• Large, easy to see 2.0 inch digital interface TFT LCD monitor (with acrylic scratch-resistant panel)
• The Direct On function for one-touch recording or play modes
• New, easy to hold grip with a high-quality light weight aluminum body

Long battery life on a single charge

• 2.5 times the battery life of current cameras (comparison between EX-Z4 and EX-Z40)
• CIPA standard for battery life indicates 360 photos on a single charge

Quick response

• The camera automatically switches to Auto Pan Focus when the shutter is pressed in one action
• Rapid start-up time allows you to start taking pictures approximately 1.6 seconds* after turning on the power
• Release time lag after pressing the shutter is approximately 0.01 seconds*
• 0.1 second high-speed playback scrolling of photos
  *with the flash off

More convenient functions

• Record movies with audio, limited only by the available memory
• The 'Best Shot' mode provides sample images allowing you to take the photos you want
• Noise reduction processing makes night scenes more beautiful
• 7-point Multi-Auto Focus for automatic selection of the optimum focus point location

Features for fun

• Includes a voice record function with playback from the camera's speaker
• A 'Photostand' feature that lets you view a slideshow of images with the camera on its cradle
• A 'Calendar' feature that shows thumbnail images of photos on the day they were taken
• World Time lets you select one of 162 cities in 32 time zones as your home or destination time
• Store special photographs or photos you don't want others to see in the Favorites folder
• Create HTML albums in the camera that can be viewed directly by web browsers

Other features

• Connects directly to PictBridge and USB DIRECT-PRINT compliant printers
• 9.7 MB built-in flash memory / SD memory card / Multi Media card compliant *does not include memory card
• Menu can be displayed in 10 languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese
• "Photo Loader" software is included to allow automatic transfer of images to a PC with one touch of the USB cradle button
• Complies with "ExifPrint (Exif 2.2)" and "PRINT Image Matching II"

Casio EX-Z40 and EX-Z30 Specifications

Recording Element	EX-Z40: 1/2.5-inch square pixel primary color CCD (4.23 million total pixels; 4 million effective pixels) EX-Z30: 1/2.5-inch square pixel primary color CCD (3.34 million total pixels; 3.2 million effective pixels)
File Record Format	Snapshots: JPEG (Exif. Ver. 2.2), DCF standard, DPOF compliant Movies: AVI (Motion JPEG), Audio: WAV (Monaural)
Recording Medium	Built-in flash memory (9.7MB image recordable area), SD memory card/Multi Media card
Recorded Image Sizes	Snapshots : EX-Z40: 2304 X 1728 / 2304 X 1536 (3:2) / 1600 X 1200 / 1280 X 960 / 640 X 480 pixels EX-Z30: 2048 X 1536 / 2048 X 1360 (3:2) / 1600 X 1200 / 1280 X 960 / 640 X 480 pixels Movies :320 X 240 pixels
Recorded File Sizes	Snapshots Image size (pixels) Resolution / recording time File size Built-in memory (9.7MB) SD Memory Card 64MB *1 EX-Z40 2304 x 1728 Fine Normal Economy Approx. 1.9MB 1.5MB 1.1MB Approx. 4 6 8 Approx. 30 37 50 EX-Z30 2048 x 1536 Fine Normal Economy Approx. 1.6MB 1.2MB 630KB Approx. 5 7 14 Approx. 34 45 88 common 640 x 480 Fine Normal Economy Approx. 190KB 140KB 90KB Approx. 46 61 98 Approx. 294 386 618 Movies 320x240 Recording time: unlimited*2 Approx. 300KB/sec. (15frames/sec.) Approx. 30 sec. Approx. 3 min. 20 sec. Audio - Recording time: unlimited*2 Approx. 4KB/sec. Approx. 40 min. Approx. 4 hr. 20 min. *1 when using a Panasonic 64MB card *2 limited only by the battery life and the available memory
Lens	smc Pentax Lens (6 lenses in 5 groups, including aspherical lens) F2.6(W) to 4.8(T); f=5.8(W) to 17.4(T) mm (equivalent to approximately 35.0 to 105.0 mm when converted to 35mm film)
Zoom	3X optical zoom; 4X digital zoom (12X total when optical and digital zooms are used in combination)
Focusing	Contrast type AF (selectable between spot, multi); pan focus; macro mode; infinity mode; manual focus; focus lock
Approximate Focus Range	Normal: 40cm to ? ; Macro: 6 to 50cm (optical zoom 1 to 1.8X)
Exposure Control	Metering : Multi-pattern by imaging element Control :Multi-pattern by imaging element Exposure Compensation :-2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps)
Shutter	CCD electronic / mechanical shutter; 4 to 1/2000 shutter speed (including night mode)
Aperture	Auto; F2.6 / F4.3
White Balance	Auto; Fixed (5 modes); Manual
Sensitivity	Auto; ISO50 / ISO100 / ISO200 / ISO400
Recording Functions	Snapshot; audio snapshot; movies with audio; Best Shot; macro; voice recorder
Self-timer	10 seconds or 2 seconds; Triple Self-timer
Built-in Flash	Flash Modes: Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Red Eye Reduction Approximate Range: 0.5 to 3.4 meters (W); 0.4 to 1.8 meters (T)
Finder	LCD monitor; optical viewfinder
Monitor Screen	2.0-inch digital interface TFT color LCD, 84,960 pixels (354x240)
Playback	Zoom display (4X); 9 picture display; calendar; Photostand function
Timekeeping Functions	Date and time recorded with image data; auto calendar up to 2049
World Time	162 cities (32 time zones); city names; date and time; summer time
Other features	Histogram display; grid display; album function; favorites folder
Input/Output Terminals	USB cradle terminal
Battery	Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
Battery life	Approx. 360 snapshots (CIPA standard) (both models) Continuous recording: EX-Z40 approx. 1140 snapshots (3 hr. 10 min.) EX-Z30 approx. 1260 snapshots (3 hr. 30 min.) *recording wide / tele alternatively each 10 secs, LCD on, flash off Playback: Approx. 6 hours of snapshots (both models) Voice recording: Approx. 5 hours of recording time (both models)
Dimensions	87(W) x 57(H) x 23.1(D) mm (excluding protrusions, thinnest point 19.7mm)
Weight	Approximately 121g (excluding battery and accessories)
Bundled Accessories	Lithium Ion rechargeable battery; USB cradle; USB cable; AC adapter; Strap; CD-ROM

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