New models capture video at 640x480-pixel resolution with H.264 compression built-in.

Digital camera vendor Casio has today launched two new digital cameras that include a special YouTube capture mode. The release comes at the same time as a joint announcement between Casio and YouTube over the new feature.

The new models – the EX-S880 and EX-Z77 – also feature bundled software that simplifies the process of recording, storing and uploading video to the YouTube website.

The EX-S880 is an 8.1-megapixel model that continues the EXILIM card series with a 3X-optical zoom lens and 2.8-inch widescreen LCD while the EX-Z77 is a 7.2-megapixel model also with 3X-optical zoom lens and 2.6-inch widescreen rear LCD.

Both cameras come with H.264 video encoding, a rare feature in digital still cameras, and have the ability to capture video at up to 640x480-pixel resolution at 30 frames per second (30fps).

Both cameras come with anti-shake technology that relies on higher sensitivity and higher shutter speeds to reduce hand-motion blurring. It appears that neither camera comes with optical image stabilisation.

Casio has incorporated a YouTube capture mode that automatically sets the camera up to capture video with the right frame size and bit rate for easy uploading to the video-sharing website. The cameras also come with YouTube Uploader for Casio software that requires just two steps to upload video to the website. The software will also support uploading multiple video clips at once.

“We are constantly looking for ways to make it simpler for our community to create and share videos,” said Hunter Walk, YouTube product management.  “The YouTube Capture mode featured on these Casio EXILIM cameras is remarkably innovative and easy to use, and will further expand and diversify the incredible range of originally-created content for which YouTube is known.”

While Casio will be heavily marketing its YouTube licensing over the US summer period, any digital still camera that can capture video can be used to create videos for YouTube.

The YouTube website recommends that videos be in 320x240-pixel resolution, be less than 10 minutes in length and be under 100MB in file size. Most digital cameras use either Motion-JPEG in AVI or QuickTime MOV file format to store video clips, formats that work with the website. Many of Sony’s cameras use MPEG1 file compression.

Regardless, the YouTube website conversion takes care of converting video clips into the required format. The Casio offerings claim to simplify the process by combining hardware and software in one package designed to give optimum results for the YouTube website.

Casio will sell the EX-S880 in red or black for US$299 while the EX-Z77 will be available in black, pink, silver and blue for US$229.

Casio expects the two models to be on store shelves in August 2007.