Japanese entertainment company Casio has unleashed two new digital cameras aimed squarely at the YouTube generation.

The new EX-V8 and EX-Z1080 offer different features but have one major feature that unites them – a YouTube capture mode that switches the cameras’ video capture options into the optimal settings for capturing video for upload to Google’s YouTube website.

The cameras also come with software designed to make the upload process easy.

The EX-V8 features an 8.1MP (megapixel) image sensor combined with a 7X-optical zoom lens in a compact ultra-slim chassis. The EX-Z1080 features a 10.1MP sensor in combination with a smaller 3X-optical zoom lens.

Both capture video in H.264/MPEG4 AVC format in three frame sizes – 848x480-pixel widescreen, 640x480-pixel standard and 320x240-pixel QCIF. Still image format is unfortunately limited to just JPEG in both models.

Casio EX-V8

Neither camera offers optical image stabilisation however Casio states that its Exilim Engine 2.0 image processor offers electronic stabilisation through increased shutter speeds and higher sensitivity settings. The EX-V8 however features a CCD-shift image stabilisation mechanism not found in the EX-Z1080.

Although Casio mentions the use of increased shutter speeds to improve blurring, the EX-V8 only has a top shutter speed of 1/800^th sec, well down on most other compact models on the market.

“Each year we strive to make advancements in our popular EXILIM digital cameras,” said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Sales for Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “These models are no exception, as they blend many of the standard features EXILIM cameras are known for, with groundbreaking new technology such as YouTube™ Capture Mode, and the EXILIM Engine 2.0 high performance image processing module. If you ever needed an excuse to shoot photos and videos of friends or family these EXILIM cameras are it!” 

Casio EX-Z1080

Maximum image frame size is 3264x2448-pixels on the EX-V8 and 3648x2736-pixels on the EX-Z1080.

The two higher frame size video modes offer multiple compression quality but both cameras have very different options for file size. While the EX-V8 can handle video capture up to 4GB per file, the EX-Z1080 is limited to 10minutes per recorded file.

According to Casio, 1GB of storage is enough to handle approximately 18mins30secs worth of H.264 video.

Unfortunately, despite using H.264 to compress the video, the mono (single channel) audio is captured in WAV format.

Casio expects the EX-V8 to retail for $US329.99 while the EX-Z1080 will sell at $US279.99. Both cameras will be available at retail this September.

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