Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1

Reviewers say the 6-megapixel Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 is a ground-breaking camera, albeit with drawbacks that give pause for consideration. In addition to a 12x zoom, this high-speed camera has a shutter that snaps up to 60 photographs per second. The fast shutter allows the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 to take shots that no other camera can capture, like exploding fireworks or a golfer's swing. A special prerecord mode continually shoots photos until the shutter is fully pressed, discarding the oldest. Another mode -- motion detection -- lies in wait for hours until a subject moves within its field of view and then snaps off 60 fast frames, which is perfect for photographing wildlife. The Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 also records standard and slow-motion HD video at 60 and 1,200 frames per second, respectively, and can snap photos while recording video.

Compared to ultra-zoom leaders like the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS (*Est. $380) and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 (*Est. $275), the Exilim Pro EX-F1 lags in image quality. Across the board, reviewers and users lament its less-than-stellar photos. It also falls short with its relatively low 6-megapixel resolution and 12x zoom lens. Although the lens has dual optical/digital stabilization, its 36 mm to 423 mm focal length (35 mm equivalent) is about the same as the considerably cheaper DMC-FZ28. Likewise, the 2.8-inch LCD display on the Casio Exilim Pro is in the same neighborhood as the DMC-FZ28, and the EX-F1's internal memory lags behind its counterpart by nearly 20 MB.

On the upside, the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 has RAW format (uncompressed image file) support, an electronic viewfinder and a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. It also records to four formats: SD, SDHC, MultiMedia (MMC) and MMC Plus cards. Overall, however, reviewers conclude that most shoppers would be better served with a different digital camera, especially given the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1's image quality, steep learning curve and considerable price tag, higher even than some entry-level DSLRs. (Unlike many other camera models, that price has not budged since its release.) While the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 don't match the Exilim EX-F1's unrivaled shutter speeds, they do have burst modes for limited rapid shooting. Still, if you are serious about sports, action or nature photography, nothing else quite compares to the EX-F1.