INTRODUCTION:

The $1,000 EX-F1 was introduced at the beginning of 2008 and became available in March. The EX-F1 claims to shoot at a real 60 full-resolution still-frames-per second, as well as stereo HDTV movies. It also can run at 1,200 FPS in a movie mode and has a 12x zoom, shooting at 6 Megapixels at 60 FPS.

The EX-F1 has a 60 frame buffer and can run from 1 FPS to 60 FPS at full 6MP resolution. (It can run even faster at reduced resolution) That means it shoots at up to 360 MP/s, which is over three times the pixel rate of the $5,000 Nikon D3 (109 MP/s) and the $5,000 Canon 1D Mark III (100 MP/s). The Nikon and Canon have longer continuous shooting times, but the EX-F1 still beats them on frame rate and temporal-spatial resolution product.

The EX-F1 is not a DSLR, it has no reflex mirror or direct viewing. However, like many Casios, the EX-F1 can run in a continuous bugger mode, so that it is recording images continuously—saving the images just before you press the shutter. A very clever built-in sorting mode allows you to see the images quickly after they are captured and save the ones that are relevant. This feature eliminates the need for exotic sorting software. It also has an automatic shutter which can be set to shoot when a hand shake stops, or a smile happens.

The traditional xenon flash runs at up to 7 FPS and the continuous LED light works at up to 60 FPS. This potentially opens up new avenues in practical ultra-high-speed photography. I know I've never been about to shoot above 60 FPS with anything—hollywood movies are only projected at 24 FPS. With shooting above 60 FPS, the EX-F1 shoots at reduced resolution: 512 x 384 at 300 FPS, 432 x 192 at 600 FPS and 336 x 96 at 1,200 FPS. The maximum shutter speed is 1/40,000.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Lens:	15.3mm. 12x optical zoom 7.3~87.6mm f/2.7~4.6, or as we say in TV, 7.3x12.35mm still photo equivalent: 36~432mm
Optics:	12 elements in 9 groups, including an aspherical element
Filter Size:	62mm
Shutter:	CMOS electronic and mechanical: 1~1/2,000 in program and aperture priority modes. 1 minute to 1/40,000 in manual and shutter-priority modes, which is way beyond any digital still camera from Canon or Nikon even at eight times the price.
ISO:	Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,600
Optical Viewfinder:	No
Image Sensor:	6MP; larger 1/1.8" size
Stabilization:	Moving sensor
Still Image Sizes:	2,816 x 2,112 native. Also many other smaller sizes.
Still Image File Formats:	RAW and JPG
Moving Image Formats:	Standard 640 x 480 at 30 FPS, also 720p and 1080i 16:9 HDTV. High-speed movies at 512 x 384 at 300 FPS, 432 x 192 at 600 FPS and 336 x 96 at 1,200 FPS.
Movie File Format:	MOV H.264.

This review was excerpted from KenRockwell.com, a personal website dedicated to photography including a thorough section on equipment reviews as well as a section on useful tips and advice.

Ken Rockwell, the editor-in chief of his website, has been taking pictures since he was five years old and quickly progressed to shooting in medium format and aerial photography by the age of ten. Being the son of an electronic engineer, Rockwell began studying digital imaging in the 1970s and got his formal engineering degree in 1983. Rockwell worked at TRW LSI Products Inc., where he helped design digital imaging systems used in motion picture special effects, television broadcasts, spacecraft and even scanners.

Rockwell’s photography has won numerous awards and is featured in both public and private collections worldwide. He teaches at several workshops throughout the year including the Route 66 workshop, a workshop for the Yosemite Association as well as a workshop for the Polytechnic University in Turin, Italy.

To get more tips on photography and to read additional reviews by Rockwell visit his site at www.KenRockwell.com