Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200, the Second 12MP Compact

(UPDATE: The first to offer 12 megapixels was neither Casio nor Panasonic, it was Sony with the DSC-W200)
Casio is upping the ante in the quest for more megapixels with the launch of their new Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200, the second after Panasonic's DMC-FX100 to incorporate 12.1 effective megapixels. The good news is that the sensor is somehow larger than normal imaging units found in other compacts, this one measuring 1/1.7".

Hopefully, this will keep noise at acceptable levels; otherwise, get ready for some truly awful images. There's a reason why superior, APS-C and full-frame sensors achieve excellent image quality and that's size. When manufacturers cram as many pixels as possible on a tiny, fingernail-sized sensor, the result is worse than when having less pixels on the same sensor.

But enough with the ramblings. We'll assume that Casio is handling the noise issue with excellent results.

Compared to the previous Exilim Zoom EX-Z1050, the new EX-Z1200 has real image stabilization via the already known CCD-shifting technology, which allows for longer than normal exposure times to be used.

Other features, such as the Exilim Engine 2.0 image processing module with motion analysis technology, are identical with the EX-Z1050; this means that you get the same aperture, shutter times and ISO values. Speaking of Exilim Engine 2.0, the auto-tracking AF system combines both face detection and motion analysis technologies, which give the camera focus tracking capabilities.

Image composition and playback are achieved via the 2.8-inch wide and bright LCD display, which sports a maximum brightness of 1400cd/m2 at the center of the screen; Casio says that this "makes viewing in bright outdoor light easier than ever before".

There's no word on pricing or availability, but since the previous EX-Z1050 has a MSRP of around the $300, it's likely that the new EX-Z1200 will have a similar price tag.

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