Casio Exilim EX-FH20 Camera Hits 1,000 fps

Casio's new Exilim EX-FH20 can take 40 shots per second...and can shoot high-speed movies at 1,000 frames per second.

At the beginning of 2008, Casio introduced the Exilim EX-F1, which could shoot up to 60 images per second and capture movies at speeds up up to 300 frames per second. Today, the company showed it was serious about the high-speed camera market by introducing the Exilim EX-FH20, which can shoot up to 40 images per second. That might seem a step back from the EX-F1, but hang on: the EX-FH20 can shoot high-speed movies at up 1,000 frames per second.

“Casio continues to create a new digital camera market focusing on high speed capabilities with the introduction of the innovative high speed Exilim EX-FH20,” said VP of sales for Casio’s digital imaging division Bill Heuer, in a statement. “The new high speed Exilim series allows for images to be captured faster than ever before without compromising image quality.”

The EX-FH20 features a 26mm equivalent zoom lens with a 20× optical zoom. The camera offers a 9.1 megapixel effective resolution, and includes mechanical image stabilization. The camera’s high-speed 40 images-per-second burst mode takes pictures at 7 megapixels (3072 by 2,304 pixels) and offers seven burst setting ranging from 1 to 40 images per second; the FH20 also includes the pre-recording feature Casio introduced for the EX-F1 that lets the camera start recording images before users press the shutter—that way they’re more likely to catch a quick event as it happens.

The high-speed movie mode offers speeds of 210, 420, or 1000 frames per second; the camera also offers a 30fps high-definition (1,280 by 720) movie mode that can rev up to 210 fps at the touch of a button while recording. However, the high-speed movie modes come with a loss of resolution: at 210 fps, the movies are at 480 by 360 pixels, but they drop all the way down to 224 by 56 pixels at 1,000 fps. So, if you’re looking to products a super slow-motion postage stamp, check out the EX-FH20.

The camera takes SD/SDHC memory, offers USB connectivity and an integrated flash, along with face detection, a YouTube movie mode, anti-shake movie modes, and a 3-inch LCD viewfinder. Expect to see it in October for a suggested retail price of $599.99.