Casio adds YouTube to Exilim camera mix

Casio on Tuesday tried to capture the web generation by launching two uniquely upgraded cameras in its extra-thin Card and Zoom lines. Both the EX-S880 (pictured) and the EX-S77 share a YouTube Capture mode that streamlines the process of getting video to Google's premier website. Video is optimized to a web-friendly 640x480, H.264 format and is accompanied by a special tool that helps upload the resulting clips to the web; the full process takes no more than three steps and as little as two, Casio says. Either camera can also produce an eBay-optimized shot and includes software-based motion compensation as well as face detection.

The S880 is the most conspicuous upgrade, jumping from 7.2 to 8.1 megapixels while including a burst shot mode that captures 4 frames per second at 2 megapixels. Owners of the S77 get the same 7.2 megapixels of the S75 but also see an Easy Mode for simplified camera settings and a faster 5 frames-per-second burst mode at the lowered 2-megapixel resolution.

Casio expects the two cameras to reach shops in August with choices of multiple colors. The S880 will be available in black or red for $300, while the S77 is the company's mainstream effort with blue, black, pink, silver, and white versions arriving in stores for $230. More cameras with YouTube Capture are expected towards the end of the year.