Casio announces Exilim Hi-Zoom EX-H10: thinnest, lightest wide-angle megazoom

Regular readers know I'm a big fan of the compact megazoom and also have a preference for wide-angle lenses.  My current favorite point-and-shoot is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3, a compact megazoom with a wide 25-300mm equivalent, f/3.3-4.9 12x zoom lens.  Well, after today's announcement of the Casio Exilim Hi-Zoom EX-H10, it looks like the ZS3 is about to get a little more competition.

Casio's new megazoom sports a 24-240mm equivalent, f/3.2-5.7 10x zoom lens, and its claim to fame is that (as of today) it is the thinnest and lightest megazoom (10x or higher) on the market. At just 4.0x2.5x0.96 inches and 5.8 ounces, the EX-H10 sports a noticably slimmer physique than the ZS3 (4.07×2.35×1.29-inch, 7.3-ounce), but its 3-inch LCD only offers 230,400 dots, compared to the Panasonic's gorgeous 460,000-dot high-resolution 3-inch LCD.  As with the ZS3, it is capable of shooting 720p HD video (albeit at 24 fps rather than 30 fps like the ZS3).

But what the EX-H10 really stands out for is its claim of shooting 1,000 shots on a single battery charge, based on Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards. That's significantly more than the 300 shots per charge that Panasonic reports for the ZS3 (also based on CIPA standards).  Of course battery life and a svelte body will only take you so far if image quality isn't up to snuff, so I'm looking forward to seeing this camera in action. Look for it to hit store shelves in mid-July for $299.99.