Casio's Upcoming Cameras do 1,000 FPS

Slow motion shots may have been hacked to death since the release of the Matrix, but that’s Hollywood. Casio is now bringing slow-mo into the hands of the consumer.

Casio announced two new point-and-shoot cameras that are capable of capturing slow-motion video. That’s right, point-and-shoot cameras that you’ll be able to fit into a (decently sized) pocket.

The traditional method for capturing slow motion involves recording many, many frames in rapid succession. The images are then played back at a speed that’s standard for video or film. This gives a smooth image that is completely unlike the cheap, false slow-mo feature on DVD players, which just stretches out the same number of frames over a longer period of time.

Casio’s two upcoming nine megapixel cameras, the EX-FC100 and EX-FS10, are capable of recording video at 1,000 frames per second. Presumably the video can then be played back at various speeds for different speeds. Of course, we don’t expect exceptionally high-resolution video at that level of capture, but the cameras are capable of 720p video. Whether or not it will do 720p at 1,000 fps remains to be seen.

At 6 MP resolution, both cameras can do burst shooting at 30 fps. This could translate into 6 MP flip books--or more accurately, one could compose an ultra high-definition video by using the JPEG images as individual frames.

The EX-FC100, with its 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD, will retail for around $400. The EX-FS10 will be priced at $350, but will have only a 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD. Casio hasn’t announced availability, but we hope to see them soon.