Although the Casio Exilim EX-FH100’s ability to shoot up to 30 nine-million-pixel images at 40fps is enough to grab the attention of most enthusiasts, the fact that this is combined with a wideangle-to-telephoto lens with a 35mm focal length equivalence of 24-240mm, a backlit CMOS sensor to help keep noise levels down, sensor-shifting image stabilisation and the capacity to shoot DNG raw files (at ISO 100 and 200) makes it even more interesting.
Further good news is that aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual-exposure modes are available, albeit with just two aperture settings at any given focal length. There’s also an option to record images shot immediately before the shutter release is pressed fully, to help capture unpredictable action, so you can see the decisive moment before you actually shoot it.
Slow-motion video enthusiasts will also appreciate the fact that, as well as HD video (1280×720 pixels at 30fps), the EX-FH100 can record movie footage at a range of frame rates up to 1,000fps (224×64 pixels). Naturally, the video resolution goes down as the frame rate goes up, but full VGA footage (640×480 pixels) can be recorded at 30fps-120fps.
Build and handling
Despite the impressively wide span of its zoom lens, the EX-FH100 is fairly slim and can be slipped into a trouser pocket. It also feels tough enough to survive being transported in this way. The shallow finger-grip provides just enough purchase on the front of the camera body, but those with large thumbs may find it tricky to locate a resting point between the controls on the rear.
Like many modern compact cameras, the EX-FH100 doesn’t have a viewfinder. However, I found the 3in, 230,400-dot LCD screen has a wide viewing angle and provides a clear view of the scene in many situations, even in quite bright ambient light, despite its relatively low resolution.
Many of the most commonly used controls can be accessed by pressing the Set button and then scrolling through the options. It’s rather strange that the time and date should be included in this list, though. I’d prefer to see the option for changing the AF point selection mode located here rather than halfway down the first screen of the Record menu.
Conveniently, there is a dedicated button for activating the high-speed continuous shooting mode, and the Set menu contains the options to select the frame rate, the maximum number of shots (up to 30) and how many shots will be recorded before and after the shutter-release button is pressed fully home.
Performance
Low-sensitivity images from the EX-FH100 have a respectable level of detail considering they are produced by a camera with a 1/2.3in, 10.1-million-pixel sensor, but they are not up to the standard of some Canon Digital IXUS models we have tested. At 100% on the computer screen, some out-of-focus details and patterns look rather smudged, even at the lowest sensitivity settings.
I found that the JPEG files recorded by the EX-FH100 at ISO 100 and 200 look a little less natural and have a bit more smudging than the raw (DNG) files that may be recorded simultaneously. However, the 10-15 second wait while each raw image is processed is torture.
I have no complaints about the automatic white balance or the multi-pattern metering systems. My images generally have natural colours and are well exposed, even when there are large dark or bright areas present.
Although the EX-FH100’s headline feature is its maximum frame rate, and it is great fun to freeze water droplets and so on, there are a limited number of occasions when this is really useful. As it takes around ten seconds to write the 30 images that are recorded in less than a second when shooting at 40fps, it isn’t something you want to do all the time.
However, the frame rate can be adjusted between 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 30 and 40fps (as well as an auto option), which makes the EX-FH100 much more versatile for recording action.
I found 10fps worked well when shooting BMX bikers showing off a few tricks. Also, as the camera can be set to record to its buffer while the shutter-release button is half-pressed, up to 25 images can be captured at 40fps immediately before the shutter-release button is pressed home. This meant that by following the action with the shutter release half-pressed, and only pressing it home after the main trick, I could be confident of getting the shot I wanted.
Verdict
Using the Exilim EX-FH100’s high-speed continuous shooting mode is great fun and it enables users to capture images that would not normally be possible with a compact camera.
Chromatic aberration and distortion are well controlled, especially bearing in mind the wide focal-length span.
Most images captured at ISO 100 or 200 are suitable for making A3 prints, but some shots taken at higher sensitivity settings are best kept to A4 or smaller.
