(Updated with US launch info) Casio on Thursday ventured into compact but high-zoom cameras with the advent of the EX-H10. The 12.1-megapixel point-and-shoot is centered on a 10X, 24-240mm equivalent that both permits long range as well as wide-angle shots up close. Its battery is as much of a strong point: through a combination of increased capacity and power-saving refinements, the H10 can last for about 1,000 shots before it needs a recharge, or almost three times longer than a typical compact.

In software, the new Exilim has full software features that vary from Auto Best Shot through to face recognition and a new but undescribed Make-up Shot mode. New landscape and mist removal modes emphasize distance shots and improve the colors in those particular scenes. The camera can record video at up to 720p and has a relatively wide ISO range of 64 through 3,200, though it relies on this sensitivity rather than hardware to stabilize shots.

European and Japanese versions of the EX-H10 launch first; in Britain, it should be available shortly for £299 ($491) after tax, while in the company's native Japan it sells for ¥40,000 ($408) in early July. The US edition arrives in mid-July for $300.