NewsSeptember 2010

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Casio announces Exilim EX-H20G with Hybrid GPS

Pre-Photokina 2010: Eight months after exhibiting a prototype in CES 2010, Casio has announced the Exilim EX-H20G with Hybrid GPS. The technology enables the camera to track the camera when indoors or away from the GPS satellite signals. It uses three-axis accelerometers and its three-way direction sensor to determine the location since it last received a signal. The H20G is built around the company's EX-H15 inheriting its 14.1MP sensor, 10x (24-240mm) zoom lens and 3.0" LCD . It can also record 720p HD videos with H.264 compression, and features a faster Exilim Engine HS engine.

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Press Release:

Casio releases Compact EXILIM Camera with Hybrid GPS

World's First Camera Combining GPS with Motion-Sensor Driven Autonomic Positioning, the EX-H20G tracks user’s location and displays where photos have been taken on a map

September 20, 2010 — Casio Computer Co., Ltd., today announced the latest edition to the EXILIM Hi-Zoom line-up of compact digital cameras with a high-power optical zoom lens—the EX-H20G. Perfect for travelling, the EX-H20G employs Casio’s unique Hybrid GPS system which can track a user’s position against map data stored in the camera’s internal memory. This, when combined with Casio’s original low power consumption technology, means the EX-H20G is ideal for people capturing their memories on the move.

A digital camera first, the EX-H20G can track a user’s position even while indoors. This is due to the Hybrid GPS system which combines a GPS engine with autonomic positioning made possible by a motion sensor. This enables users to take a photo with position information no matter where they are, displaying the user’s location and the photos and movies taken at any place on a map on the screen.

In addition to these features, the camera is pre-loaded with world atlas data and information on about 10,000 sightseeing photo spots around the globe, dramatically changing how people use their digital camera when travelling. The EX-H20G allows users to plan travel while viewing destinations on the on-screen map before departing, and then to confirm their present location, planned destinations, photo locations, photo angles, and route travelled on the map during their trip. After returning home, users can upload their photos to network services which offer location data such as Picasa and Google Earth, clearly displaying the locations visited and the photos taken at each. By integrating camera and map as well as location data and photos, this camera creates a whole new way to make the most of you travels.

Equipped with the new EXILIM Engine HS, the EX-H20G features all of the essential capabilities expected from a camera. When used with Casio’s Single Frame SR Zoom function, the wide-angle 24mm optical 10x zoom lens actually offers a 15X zoom range that maintains the image quality needed for 14.1-megapixel high-resolution photography. This represents 1.5 times the range of the optical zoom, with virtually no loss in quality. Other features include a three-inch, high-resolution 460K super clear LCD that is easy to view even when outdoors. The EX-H20G also comes with Casio’s advanced, fully automatic Premium Auto function for taking high quality shots of scenery and people with just a press of the button, and various useful functions for travelling such as Panorama Photo mode, which can take 360-degree photos, as well as auto-time adjustment of travel sites.

EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-H20G Features

The first digital camera with autonomic indoor positioning through Hybrid-GPS
The EX-H20G is equipped with a Hybrid-GPS system that combines a GPS engine with autonomic positioning made possible by a motion sensor. Even if no signals are received from GPS satellites when indoors, the system consecutively tracks the user’s location by employing an original algorithm using a three-way accelerometer and a three-way direction sensor. When the user goes back outside, the system automatically updates the positional information of the indoor location based on the exact location determined by GPS reception. This is an ideal system for a digital camera, allowing it to immediately track location data at any time and any place. 

Highly accurate and speedy position tracking with low power consumption
Through tracking and power control suited to each situation, such as camera not in use, power on, and power-off camera being carried, the camera enables highly precise and speedy position tracking while consuming only a small amount of power.

Complete with a wide range of functions useful for travelling

• Contains world atlas data including detailed maps of 140 world cities
• User’s location and photos and movies taken are displayed on a map
• Photos are saved with the location information, including longitude and latitude, shooting direction, and place names
• About 10,000 photos of popular sightseeing spots around the world are included in the internal memory and the camera can determine and display the most direct route from the user’s current position to a sightseeing spot
• A location name database with approximately one million items is included , enabling the camera to display the name of the shooting location on the screen
• Location name and other data can be embedded in the photo when taken
• The routes taken during the user’s journey are recorded into the memory even when the power is off
• H.264 video format HD Movies can be taken for long durations
• Travel memories can be reproduced vividly on a large-screen TV in a slide show with a map using an HDMI terminal

Premium Auto function produces beautiful photos with just a press of the button
Premium Auto enables the camera to automatically analyse the scene being photographed — including distinguishing night scenes, back lighting, a blue sky, green trees or a sunset — as well as sensing whether there is a face in the frame, the movement and position of the subject, and whether a tripod is being used. It simultaneously optimises settings for exposure, ISO, sensitivity, focus location, photo blur correction, tonal range and colour balance, and level of noise reduction. Images are analysed pixel by pixel to apply different correction to people and backgrounds. Premium Auto delivers an advanced level of full auto photography, ensuring high quality photos with just a press of the button. Landscape Makeup processing, which creates clearer landscape photographs, operates automatically.

Equipped with newly developed EXILIM Engine HS
The newly developed EXILIM Engine HS for advanced image processing boasts a multi-CPU and two parallel image processors, enabling the EX-H20G to accurately capture the genuine character of photo subjects with high-speed.

Powerful zoom that maintains high-resolution image quality through 15x
The EX-H20G is fitted with a wide-angle 24mm optical 10x zoom lens. Going beyond this, the camera offers a 15X zoom range that maintains image quality for 14.1-megapixel high-resolution photography when using the optical zoom with the Single Frame SR Zoom, which maintains image quality through 1.5 times the range of the optical zoom. CCD-shift image stabilisation is also built in to reduce photo blur from hand movement. These features allow users to photograph any kind of scene, from enormous structures in sightseeing areas to scenic views at a distance.

Dynamic Photo function for creating composite moving images
The EX-H20G also features Casio’s Dynamic Photo for creating moving photos. It works by combining moving characters from the preset memory with a background selected by the user, which can be either a still image or moving images.

Casio Exilim EX-H20G specifications

Sensor	• 1/2.3" Type CCD • 14.10 million effective pixels • 14.48 million total pixels
Image sizes	• 14M (4320 x 3240) • 14M 3:2 (4320 x 2880) • 14M16:9 (4320 x 2432) • 10M (3648 x 2736) • 6M (2816 x 2112) • 3M (2048 x 1536) • VGA (640 x 480)
Movie clips	• 1280 × 720 (HD, 30 fps) • 640 x 480 (30 fps)
File formats	• Stills: JPEG (Exif Version 2.3), DCF 2.0 standard, DPOF compliant • Movies: H.264/AVC • IMA-ADPCM (monaural)
Lens	• F3.2 (W) to F5.7 (T) • Approx. 4.3 to 43.0mm • Approx. 24 to 240mm (equiv) • 11 lenses in 10 groups, including aspherical lens
Image stabilization	CCD-shift image stabilization
Optical zoom	10x
Digital zoom	4x
Focus	• Contrast Detection Auto Focus • Auto Focus, Macro Mode, Super Macro, Infinity Mode, Manual Focus
AF area modes	Intelligent, Spot, Multi, Tracking
AF assist lamp	Yes
Metering	Multi-pattern, Center Weighted, Spot by CCD
ISO sensitivity	Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Exposure compensation	-2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps)
Shuttter speed	• 1 to 1/2000 second (Auto) • 4 to 1/2000 second (Night)
Aperture	F3.2 (W) to F5.7 (T)
White balance	• Auto WB • Daylight • Overcast • Shade • Day White FL • Daylight FL • Tungsten • Manual WB
Self timer	10 seconds, 2 seconds, Triple Self-timer
LCD monitor	• 3.0-inch TFT color LCD • 460,800 dots (960 x 480)
Connectivity	• Hi-Speed USB • HDMI • AV out
Storage	• SDXC/ SDHC / SD Memory Card
Power	Rechargeable lithium ion battery (NP-90)
Wieght (no batt)	172g
Weight (inc batt & card)	216g
Dimensions	103(W) x 68 (H) x 29 (D)mm

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