Did one of our favourite compacts just get better? Casio reckon it might have done - they have announced the EX-Z1050 which we are assuming is a replacement for the EX-Z1000 which we like so much. From the bare facts in front of me it's not 100% clear how it's better but since they have had several months to work on it you can bet there's new stuff under the bonnet. Here are some differences:
- It's smaller. Actually that's pretty shocking - the Z1000 is one of the smallest cameras with a great screen you can get and stuffs 10MP into a tiny body. The Z1050 is even smaller but has a 2.6 inch screen. Wow.
- It has the Exilim Engine 2.0 - let's just agree that they tuned the firmware and so will give better images faster. Casio are claiming 7 frames a second but that's surrounded with a couple of disclaimers (most importantly that you shoot at 2MP not 10MP!)
- There is also something very clever going on with moving subjects - the camera detects moving subjects and automatically increases the ISO to freeze them. There's also an auto tracking function that means this could be a useful action compact.
As you'd expect from Casio the EX-Z1050 will be available in a whole rainbow of colours. There are no details yet on availability but RRP will be worthy of their flagship compact at £230.
If that wasn't enough, they have also announced the EX-Z75. Imagine they took a Z70, whacked on a huge 2.6 inch screen and said you could get one in February for £180 and you'd pretty well have summed up their press release.
