Review: A smartphone and SLR-owning mountain enthusiast finds new joy in Casio's new freestyle camera, the CASIO EX-FR200

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Written by Yasushi Hisatomi

I know that SLR cameras take beautiful photos, but they're heavy and bulky, and sharing them is a hassle. And yet, photos taken with a smartphone tend to have mediocre compositions. I want to be able to easily take and share "great photos" that convey the excitement of outdoor activities more directly, even if I'm not an expert on cameras

The CASIO EX-FR200 is recommended for outdoor enthusiasts and beginner photographers who want to easily take great photos. Its waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof body allows for wide-angle shooting and 360° horizontal (all-around) shooting, and the ability to operate the lens and controller separately. Its exquisite usability fills the gaps in functionality that smartphones and SLRs struggle with, making it a great choice for a variety of outdoor activities

Our editorial team had the opportunity to try out this camera thoroughly over the course of February and March, and we used it extensively on mountain climbing and skiing. We'll share with you the unique charm of this camera, which adds a unique spice to mountain trips with an SLR, along with some interesting insights we discovered through extensive use

table of contents

table of contents
There are many cameras that can take impressive outdoor images,
I've found a camera that's perfect for mountain climbers in terms of both image quality and ease of use!
How does it actually work in the mountains and on skis? We tried it out in a variety of situations

There are many cameras that can take impressive outdoor images,

When thinking of outdoor usability, the first thing that comes to mind is action cameras like GoPro and Sony, which allow you to fix the lens in various places and shoot from various angles. However, these cameras are primarily intended for video recording, and the angle of view is almost the same as a regular camera, so they are far from being easy to use

Another example of cameras capable of capturing impactful outdoor photos and videos is the so-called "360° camera," capable of recording everything from front to back, left to right (up and down). While their image quality falls far short of that of a DSLR, they are the only cameras capable of capturing the unobstructed, open feeling of a mountaintop. In recent years, a variety of new products have been released almost every year, from camera manufacturers to hardware startups, creating a competitive landscape. I've been experimenting with various cameras behind the scenes for several years, but I haven't yet made one a regular part of my mountain climbing routine. Take the popular RICHO THETA . While it offers excellent overall performance for 360° photography alone, it lacks versatility and durability as an action camera, making it more of a street camera. So, I the KODAK SP360 . While its performance as an action camera is impeccable, its limited horizontal shooting range and the fact that remote control is limited to a smartphone connection have limited its use.

In short, whether it's an action camera or a 360° camera, I have yet to come across a product currently on the market that perfectly suits my way of using a DSLR camera, and to be honest, I didn't have high expectations when I first saw this camera

I've found a camera that's perfect for mountain climbers in terms of both image quality and ease of use!

However, the more I actually used it, the more I found myself getting addicted to it (although it was admittedly a little difficult to get started with)

In addition to being durable enough to rival an action camera, it offers high mobility, allowing you to shoot from a variety of angles, while also capturing a wide range of photos that DSLRs and smartphones can't match: ultra-wide-angle, panoramic, horizontal 360° (all around the sky), and even spherical 360° with the addition of a separate camera. Of course, you can easily connect it to your smartphone and post to social media. Compared to other models that can only be previewed via a smartphone app, it offers a familiar and stable feel, and I've come to believe that there is no camera more suited to outdoor use. Below, I'd like to explain specific points, including actual photos and video footage

However, since I've included a lot of examples in this article, I don't have the time to explain basic usage and specifications, so for those, please refer to the official product introduction page

EX-FR200

CASIO

Open price

How does it actually work in the mountains and on skis? We tried it out in a variety of situations

Point 1: It's tough and can be used outdoors with confidence

Continuing from the previous model FR100, it uses highly durable materials and construction, making it highly durable enough to withstand rough outdoor use

In terms of shock resistance, it has passed tests based on our proprietary standards, which were developed based on MIL-Standard 810F Method 516.5-Shock, meaning it can withstand minor drops without any problems. Its waterproof and dustproof performance is equivalent to IPX8 and IPX6, which means it can withstand prolonged submersion in water, and IP6X, which completely blocks out sand and dust. Its low-temperature resistance is -5 to 40°C, although this will shorten battery life. This means that you can use it outdoors anywhere, except in extremely extreme environments, without worry, which gives you a sense of security

However, this does not mean that the product will not break no matter what you do within this range. For more information, please refer to the manufacturer's FAQ page regarding protection performance and use at ski resorts and snowy mountains

Point 2: The detachable body makes it easy to take photos while doing other things, and you can use attachments to take photos at a variety of angles

The lightweight and slim camera unit can be mounted in a variety of positions and angles using a lockable hinge and a wide range of attachments (sold separately). Furthermore, because the camera and viewfinder/controller are separate, you can flexibly shoot in a variety of situations, including commemorative photos and selfies, as well as while walking, climbing, or skiing

It comes with a standard tripod nut, so it can be attached to a regular tripod like the one in the photo, as well as various other attachments of the same standard

It is attached to a backpack with a multi-angle clip. This is sufficient for walking, but for strenuous activities like running, it would be better to have something a little stronger

The multi-angle stick, also known as a selfie stick, allows you to place the controller at your fingertips, making it very easy to use

The possibilities are endless! However, in the sample photos from manufacturers, the situations are already impressive, such as underwater or on rock climbing walls. To be honest, I thought that casual hikers and skiers wouldn't need it that much

But it's surprisingly fun to use. Throw away the fixed idea that "you hold a camera in your hand, look at it, and take a picture," and try fixing it at an angle that you've never been able to achieve before while holding it in your hand*, setting it to automatically release the shutter (interval shooting), and leaving it for a while. The photo below shows an example of using the manufacturer's genuine "wrist strap" attached to the shin

I originally attached the standard optional multi-angle belt set (for wrist use) to my ankle. By the way, this is not a recommended way of using the camera for everyone, as there is a possibility that the camera may be damaged by tripping or hitting mud, stones, or branches

The reason I can just press the shutter without worrying about the composition is because of the ultra-wide 185° angle of view. Then, in about one in a hundred shots, I end up with an interesting image that I hadn't imagined (see photo below)

By using an ultra-wide-angle lens to capture the image from an angle below knee-level, even an ordinary road has become a powerful photograph (I think)

At first, it's like a gamble, but as you keep doing it, your instincts kick in, and you start to take better and better photos, which is fun. Before I knew it, I was addicted to the diverse shooting styles that increased the fun. With interval shooting, each shot is just ordinary, but if you keep shooting throughout your trip and take manual shots at key points, you can also record your actions, and afterwards, you can select some of the videos and compile them into a series of slideshows with the push of a button on the camera, which is useful for fondly recalling your journey

By the way, the adapter part has a normal tripod screw hole, so in addition to the original attachment, you can also use GoPro attachments, depending on the item. It's a good idea to try out various things at your own risk

I attached a GoPro attachment to a Peak Design camera holster and mounted the FR200 on it. I think that by making improvements to existing products like this, the ways in which they can be used can be expanded

*These homemade methods are not guaranteed to be safe by the manufacturer, and in some cases the fixation may come loose and damage the camera. While our editorial team encourages you to pursue fun, please enjoy them with the understanding that you are responsible for any consequences that may arise from doing so

Point 3: Easily capture impressive images with the attachment and panoramic photography

A major feature of the FR200 that other cameras don't have is that it offers the flexibility of an action camera and the convenience of a separate controller for multitasking, all while still allowing you to enjoy 360° shooting. Since this is a 360° video for mountain lovers, we tried out some backcountry skiing and climbing a rocky area with a bit of height to see what kind of footage we could capture. First, we took a panoramic (360° horizontal) video with a single camera mounted in various positions and angles

All footage was exported using the dedicated app "EXILIM 360 Viewer" and uploaded to YouTube as a 360° video. You can freely change the angle and view the video by dragging your mouse or finger

*The following video does not appear to play as a 360° video even when played directly in a smartphone browser. In this case, tap the video title to launch the YouTube app on your smartphone, and then view it in the YouTube app. This will allow it to play properly as a 360° video

Single camera (with multi-angle stick ) with lens facing upwards for full-dome photography

Single camera (with GoPro chest holder) for full-view shooting of the front

A single camera (with a head strap ) is attached to the back of the head to capture a full view behind the head.

It's a bit disappointing that the rear half of the camera is dark because it's a panoramic camera, but even this alone shows that it can capture unique footage that adds a little something extra to a regular action camera.By the way, the image quality for the panoramic camera is 1440 x 1440 pixels, but with a 16:9 aspect ratio, you can even shoot high-quality 4K video

From here on, I have been uploading videos of myself skiing downhill one after another, but please ignore that as my skiing skills are not at a level that I can brag about

Next, let's have two cameras recognized and see what kind of spherical video we can capture in multi-camera mode

Point 4: Multi-camera mode allows you to capture amazing 360° videos and shoot with two cameras at the same time