Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1

Reviewers say the 6-megapixel Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 is a groundbreaking camera, albeit with several drawbacks. 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 pre-record mode continually shoots photos until the shutter is fully pressed, discarding the oldest. Motion-detection mode 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 with ultra-zoom leaders like the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS (Discontinued) and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 (Discontinued), the Exilim Pro EX-F1 lags in image quality. Across the board, reviewers and users lament its less-than-stellar photos. On the upside, the Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 has RAW format (uncompressed image file) support. 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 steep learning curve and considerable price tag. Still, if you are serious about sports, action or nature photography, nothing else quite compares to the EX-F1.

The Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 has plenty of reviews, among them photography and technical review sites like Steves-Digicams.com, Pocket-Lint.com and Laptop Magazine. Product evaluations from The New York Times and TrustedReviews.com are geared for more general readers, yet they address key performance factors. User reviews at Amazon.com are sparse but nonetheless confirm expert assessments.