May 29
Casio EX-F1 Captures Battlebot Devastation In Super Slow-Mo [Robots]
Robots, Video, Clips, casio, exilim, battlebots, ex-f1, robert woodhead, carolina combat robotics, robogames, robot combat No Comments »
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Our friend Robert Woodhead is at it again: He took his battlin’ bot Totally Offensive—and his trusty Casio Exilim EX-F1—to Carolina Combat Robots for some “test procedures” in preparation for the RoboGames in San Francisco June 13-15. End result: Mayhem ensuing at 300 frames per second, with some sparks flying, some parts flying and some fax machines and other stand-in electronics getting shizammed to oblivion. Grab a sandwich and press play, cuz you’ll probably watch this four-minute fest of cyberviolence a few times. And remember, this was only a test! Thanks again, Robert! [Robert Woodhead]
Original post by Wilson Rothman
Our friend Robert Woodhead (of 
Giz reader Robert Woodhead combined two things that I just can’t seem to get sick of seeing: Stuffing 
OK, say it: What the hell? What’s with all the 
Let’s recap exactly what talents the camera has that have not, in any meaningful combination, been seen before in a consumer-level camera:
Also, to recap: when shooting at 300fps, you get “standard” video resolution of 512×384. At 600fps, it drops to a tolerable widescreen, 432×192. But when you shoot in 1200fps, you end up with a bizarre 336×96, really long and thin. There’s also a major loss of light when switching from standard to slow-mo, and then each subsequent jump. 1200fps is only good outdoors on a very sunny day, but even 300fps is no good in any kind of dim light. It makes sense, of course, but you need to consider it, especially if you’re into experimental amateur porn cinematography.
As with slow-mo video, you do lose the higher f-stop settings when you set it for 60, as everything would just be pitch black. What you do get, though, to compensate, is a strobe flash. Though Pogue thought it was too explosive, I thought it works well when you need it. As you can see from the screenshot above, you can use a real flash up to 7fps, and then you have to switch to a mellower LED light, which can’t illuminate everything, but is better than nothing. We intend to subject this camera to some further in-the-trenches club shooting courtesy of Gawker video guy Nick McGlynn (shown here helping me demonstrate flash-strobe mode):
The other mode does the opposite. You aim it at a critter that is not moving, and when it starts to move, and exit the frame, the camera saves the shots, so you get a dramatic action shot of its departure.
Shadows are even pretty noisy at lower ISO settings—here’s 800:
What’s the first thing we did with our 
This is probably the happiest tradeoff of resolution to slow-mo devastation. The first video records at 512×384, while this one drops you down to a funky widescreen 432×192.
The 1200fps setting is pretty much a novelty more than anything else, since you need a ton of light, and it records at an all too wide 336×96. We had to crop it so that it made any kind of sense, but here’s a screengrab of the original vid:
There’s more to come with this fun little camera, but we wanted to give you a rather violent taste straight away. You’re welcome. [
Some Casio Exilim 720’s have gotten dressed up by their cruel, older sisters in wuss gear. Rebranded the Hello Kitty Camera, the device still takes 7.2MP pictures, but it’s been covered in pink and stickers and evilness. AND during startup, the camera makes weird, gross Hello Kitty noises and shows weird, gross Hello Kitty pictures. For those into weirdness, the Japan exclusive will run you $400. Go pick one up while your friends plan the intervention/your long-term disappearance.
We just stopped by Casio’s booth to get our eyes on the new Exilim 
Like you, I suffer from jealousy of Jamie and Adam’s high-speed cams, so I’m all jazzed that a new Casio Exilim can pull off 300fps at VGA quality thanks to a new high-speed CMOS.