|
Casio's QV-10 digital camera was designed for
the backpack, beach bag or picnic basket.
Water-resistant, dust-resistant and shockproof,
the chunky QV-10 is an interpolated 2 megapixel device aimed at
the outdoor enthusiast for whom photography is an important
sideline.
With a maximum submersible depth of three feet,
the QV-10 is not, repeat, is not an underwater camera. But it's
built like one.
All doors and latches are double-locked and
sealed with o-rings. The shell of the camera is cushioned
fiberglass/polymer and all of its electronic components ride on
gel-filled internal cushions.
The QV-10 is definitely built for amateur use.
It has a 35mm f:2.8 (equiv.) fixed focus lens plus a two-step
digital zoom. Depth of field handles focus problems with a range
from two feet to infinity. I found it very difficult to get
sharp macro shots using the camera's macro toggle switch (4
inches).
Automatic shutter speeds from one second to
1/500, with continuous shooting modes are available. A rare
storm for our part of Florida gave me a chance to test the
Casio's ruggedness. Raindrops turned to hail as I made this
flash shot on our patio.
Exposures are written to a CompactFlash (type I)
card. Four AA batteries power the camera. My test camera came
with alkaline batteries installed. I made more than 100 photos
without running out of power.
Casio's ìbest shotî feature, in which a typical
scene (sunset, beach, etc.) is selected, is the strongest part
of the QV-10's feature set. Once the best shot is selected, the
camera adjusts its settings for that type of exposure.
The QV-10 has a suggested retail price of $349,
perhaps a bit high for a camera of relatively limited features.
Plus, its 13 ounce weight might keep it out of a few serious
backpacks. |