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Casio, Inc. and its parent company Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today the release of the 7.2-megapixel EXILIM Hi-ZOOM EX-V7, the most powerful zoom in the stylish EXILIM® series of compact digital cameras. This new model is the world’s slimmest digital camera with a 7X optical zoom lens*. Thinness is a defining quality in the EXILIM line, and the EX-V7 is no different as it easily fits in a shirt pocket or small purse. The EX-V7 will be on display at Casio’s Booth #9808. 

Announced at the beginning of August and available in September 2006, the Casio Exilim EX-Z700 comes to the market with 7.2 megapixels and all the typical bells and whistles of a Casio camera. It is skinny with a 3x telescoping optical zoom lens on the front and a 2.7-inch LCD screen on the back. This camera adds two more scene modes to the already extensive list for a total of 37 Best Shot modes. The middle-tier Casio Z700 will retail for $299 and is offered in blue, silver, and gray…

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Bottom line - I was a little disappointed with this latest addition to Casio’s Exilim Zoom line. While image quality is up to par with many other manufacture’s 7-megapixel models, the obvious Anti-shake high ISO noise issue and the average shooting performance might turn many users away. Therefore, with an MSRP of about US$250, I feel the EX-Z70 offers an Ok value for an “ultra-compact” 7-megapixel model. 

Bottom line - I was a bit surprised after testing the Z700. While image quality is a bit better than its predecessor, performance was a great deal slower, which is the opposite of what you’d expect from a newer model. The noise issue with the high ISO (800) mode that the Anti-Shake system uses is still present, however it has improved slightly. That said, I feel with an MSRP of about US$280, the Z700 offers an Ok value for a 7-megapixel model. 

DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ:DIVX) announced today that Casio will introduce a new model to its line of DivX Certified digital still cameras in Europe. The DivX Certified Casio EXILIM(R) Card EX-S770D model will be available online throughout Europe in November. The new model is a successor to the popular EX-S600D, the first DivX Certified camera from Casio. The EX-S770D improves on its predecessor by increasing the megapixel count to 7.2 and allowing for video capture in a wide-format movie function (16:9 aspect ratio) that combines with DivX functionality to create breath-taking video.