Casio EXILIM Pro EX-F1 60 frames per second stills camera with HD movie capabilities
Think of a Casio camera and a model from the compact EXILIM range is most likely to spring to mind. Casio has never really ventured far from the safety of its popular and thoughtfully designed compact range, other than the ‘prosumer’ model, the EXILIM Pro EX-505. So it’s with anticipation that the EXILIM Pro EX-F1 steps into the limelight. The ‘Pro’, we assume, stands for ‘prosumer’, as although the camera boasts some impressive specifications, this is not an SLR.
A first look at the Casio EXILIM Pro EX-F1 shows it to be a stylish and well crafted model with a large 7.3-87.6mm, 12x optical zoom lens and a generous 2.8-inch TFT colour LCD monitor. The camera is surprisingly lightweight considering its size, weighing in at 671g. In some ways it can be looked upon as a blessing to have such a lightweight prosumer, especially if you want to carry the camera around all day. However, the plastic casing does feel a little flimsy and cheap.
Controls on the EX-F1 are well positioned and it’s easy to adjust settings whilst keeping a good grip on the camera. The EXILIM Function Ring on the lens works well as a focus ring, although it would have been nice if this worked as the zoom control. Instead, zoom is controlled with a switch surrounding the shutter button.
Casio has always managed to give great scene mode options with its ‘Best Shot’ control. Through this you’re able to pick the most suitable shooting settings for scenarios like ‘Soft Flowing Water’, ‘For YouTube’ and ‘Digital Panning’. Although the EX-F1 has a fully auto mode as well as Aperture priority, Shutter priority and Manual mode, it’s good to see that Best Shot is still there, with more choice of modes than ever before. This is a great option if you want to get the best out of an unusual scene but don’t want to have to work out adequate manual settings. (more…)
