At this week’s IFA expo in Berlin, electronics maker Casio is showing off a prototype 6 megapixel camera which can shoot full-resolution images at an astonishing 60 frames per second—a speed Casio is touting as the fastest in the world, for the moment. Right now, the burst mode can only be sustained for a little over about half a second—35 images—but it’s a rate much faster than other digital still cameras and certainly faster than the human eye. The camera can also shoot VGA-resolution movies at 300 fps in Motion JPEG format, enabling possibilities like clear, ultra slow-motion movies, a capability previously limited to pro-level video gear.
The prototype camera also offers a 12× optical zoom, mechanical image stabilization, and a new high-speed CMOS sensor and LSI image processing chip. The camera stores images to SD/SDHC media, which will offer a pre-buffering feature where the camera will capture and store frames prior to the user pressing the shutter, helping make sure crucial shots aren’t lost just because a user’s finger is a little slow.
Casio hasn’t decided on a name, price, or launch date for the camera, and notes that names and logos on the prototype are purely provisional.
