So why did the Casio FH100 and not eg. A Panasonic, Canon or Nikon in the same price range?
The reason are the two features that no other manufacturer offers except Casio in this price range:
* Super-fast continuous shooting
* Slow-motion movie function
With the continuous shooting function can shoot up to 30 images at a time in various speeds of up to 40 frames per second. The building - at least according to my research - no other manufacturer in a camera in this price range. So who photographed rapid action, for the FH100 is the camera.
A class feature that is only possible through the fast continuous shooting, is the pre-shot mode. Here you can set the camera so that it (press shutter button halfway) from the date on which it focuses, constantly takes pictures (with as has been said up to 40 frames per second) always the latest X retains images in memory and. The number X may pretend to. If you then (supposedly) triggers the crucial moment, the camera shoots the rest of the pictures up to the maximum number of 30. As a result, so you have a series of up to 30 frames with eg 20 before triggering and 10 thereafter. So you have guaranteed the decisive moment captured, even if the own reaction rate is rather moderate.
This naturally helps only in situations where you have the camera already at the ready, waiting for the right moment and not in unexpected situations Snapshot. But at least I can not remember much more photo-situations where I've been waiting for the right moment, only then to be too slow, as in situations where I have the (switched off) camera pulled up spontaneously. For the latter, the FH100 is anyway not suitable because of the rather long-time (see below).
The second highlight is the slow motion function with which you can record pictures per second with descending resolution movies in 120, 240, 480 and 1000. The resolution at 1000 frames is admittedly so tiny that it reaches a maximum for experiments, but at 120 fps has a resolution (640x480), which is only fit well to television. Whoever wants to study animals in motion, is the slow motion does not want to miss. Because really caused quite unique recordings.
But the FH100 does not have these special features, but also provides really good pictures with the "normal" photography. It has a large zoom range of 24-240mm (KB) with high detail resolution that very little falls just to the sides. Colors and white balance also agree. The autofocus is snappy and delivers very good focus. Flash photography works well - noted here, however, that the camera (for whatever reason) goes up to ISO 400 unnecessary while scanning with flash in ISO Auto mode. But the can counteract it by limiting the ISO value manually to 100 or 200, then the photos with flash still well illuminated and the image quality is better.
Rounding out the whole of various so-called high-speed modes, which all use the serial picture function in the background, thus enabling for example HDR images or sharper images in low light. The battery power is actually quite excellent.
But, the Casio FH100 has definitely also their weaknesses.
Mentioned here is especially the macro mode. It exists, but it takes so 8-10 cm distance from the object, at a - in my experience - not too big focal length 50-60 mm that to make a sharp photo. Others can do better cameras.
Another shortcoming is the rather long-time (approximately 5 - 6 seconds), which to me personally that is never negative attention in the operation, but I would imagine that one or the other might take umbrage.
Finally, a restriction for movie fans. The optical zoom during filming not (neither during normal films still in slow motion). For me, not a problem as I see movies with the camera rather than extra and me rather more interested in the slow motion, but for some the non-zoom-ability may be a knock-out criterion.
Conclusion:
The Casio FH100 is a class-travel camera with a good zoom range and high image quality, but clearly has its strengths in the unique continuous shot and slow motion function and certainly has some weaknesses.
All in all, probably not a camera for everyone, but a great camera for amateur photographers with special demands, but on a budget.
