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
- Point 1: It's tough and can be used outdoors with confidence
- 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
- Point 3: Easily capture impressive images with the attachment and panoramic photography
- Point 4: Multi-camera mode allows you to capture amazing 360° videos and shoot with two cameras at the same time
- Point 5: Photos taken are automatically sent to your smartphone, making SNS integration a breeze
- Points of concern
- Overall Review: Depending on how you use it, this is definitely a one-of-a-kind camera that can capture the excitement of outdoor activities and the atmosphere of the location
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
- Point 1: It's tough and can be used outdoors with confidence
- 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
- Point 3: Easily capture impressive images with the attachment and panoramic photography
- Point 4: Multi-camera mode allows you to shoot amazing 360° videos and two cameras at the same time (Page 2)
- Point 5: Photos taken are automatically sent to your smartphone, making SNS integration smooth (Page: 2)
- Points of concern (Page:2)
- Overall Review: Depending on how you use it, this is definitely a unique camera that can capture the excitement of outdoor activities and the atmosphere of the scene as it is (Page:2)
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
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
This is where the true power of this camera comes into play. Next, let's get two cameras recognized and see what kind of spherical video we can capture in multi-camera mode. There is an original multi-camera mount for positioning two cameras front and back, but there is no original mount for fixing that mount to the body, so we used a GoPro helmet mount instead
I attached it to my helmet as a multi-camera setup. The mount was a little high, so it felt a little heavier than I expected
a multi-camera (with a multi-camera mount and a helmet mount for GoPro) mounted on a helmet
a multi-camera (with a multi-camera mount and a GoPro base mount) mounted on skis
What do you think?! The 360° video captures the excitement of the downhill and the friends skiing with you. By the way, it seems that there is inevitably some misalignment at the joints between the front and rear cameras, and unfortunately, in the scope of this test, it does not seem to be as good as a fully fixed THETA. Also, some people may have noticed a slight blur in a few places in the footage, but please understand that this is due to scratches on the lens cover used
I glued a GoPro base mount to the front of the skis, and placed a multi-camera mount on top of it (charging). Since the impact from shaking is large, it might actually be safer to place it a little further back
However, just to be safe, gluing a GoPro base mount to a ski poses a significant risk of the mount coming off due to ski vibrations, making it a risky installation method that is not even acknowledged by the manufacturer, let alone GoPro. There have been various trial and error attempts online, and our editorial team has yet to find a mounting method that is "absolutely safe." While this experiment was conducted on a gentle, clear, fresh snow slope, please exercise caution and proceed at your own risk if you decide to try it. Avoid hard slopes and speeds, maximize adhesion, and install a flow stopper in case the mount comes off
multi-camera (with multi-camera mount and GoPro helmet mount) (passing through rocky terrain)
I tilted the camera a little too much, so the seams were noticeable, so I added lines to mark the boundaries when exporting. This level of rock gives a sense of height, so I'm sure you could get some pretty amazing footage on the rock faces of the Alps or on a variation route. Incidentally, YouTube and Facebook support the publishing of 360° videos, but because the screen's aspect ratio is 16:9, it's disappointing that even though the video is actually on a large, square screen, it's completely cropped at the top and bottom when you upload it
Point 5: Photos taken are automatically sent to your smartphone, making SNS integration a breeze
With photos and videos this impressive, you'll definitely want to post them to social media right away. Another appealing feature of the FR200 is its ability to share photos immediately after taking them, without any special operations. Images taken in panoramic mode are saved directly as 3888 x 3888 pixel panoramic photos, and if the camera and smartphone are connected via Wi-Fi, the camera has a function that automatically sends the captured images to the smartphone immediately. Basically, once you've set it up, you can post individual photos to various social media platforms without using a dedicated app (Wi-Fi connection requires the dedicated app "EXILIM CONNECT"). Below are the photos I uploaded when I took the obligatory 360° photo at the peak of Sugadaira the other day
In addition, by using the dedicated app "EXILIM ALBUM" to select the photos and videos you have taken that day from the photos transferred to your smartphone, you can create a slideshow-style video that can be shared on social media
Points of concern
The FR200 offered a variety of new experiences, but it is also true that as I used it more, I began to see a number of flaws
There is a lack of a system for sharing the 360° photos and videos you have taken
When viewed using a dedicated viewer on a PC, you can enjoy the original 360° images and videos, but there is currently no way to share them directly on the web
This is what I was most interested in
While 360° photos can be posted as still images to various social media platforms via smartphone, Casio does not provide a way to easily share VR images or videos that can be moved around with a mouse or finger via smartphone, which is a real shame
Currently, the only way to do this is to edit and export using a dedicated app and then upload to Facebook (still images and videos) or YouTube (videos), which currently requires the use of a PC. In this respect, THETA has a more comprehensive smartphone app that covers everything from shooting to editing and sharing. I have no doubt that the system and ease of sharing will be essential for future cameras, especially those that are used to take photos that look good on social media, so I would love to see more effort put into this
The battery life is not long enough to fully enjoy skiing, and the rechargeable battery cannot be replaced
The camera and controller batteries are originally separate, so when taking interval shots or videos, the camera's battery gradually drains
The battery drains significantly faster in winter, and after shooting just a few minutes of video, the camera's battery ran out quickly. However, I think this is probably the same for cameras from any manufacturer, so I can accept that this is unavoidable. However, the problem is that this model's battery is not replaceable. Normally, when shooting with an SLR in winter, I carry about four spare batteries and swap them out as they die, which is how I get through cold environments. But now that I can't do that, I'm honestly at a loss. Incidentally, even on a day when the temperature was relatively high (just under 10°C), using interval shooting and video on a full-day hike barely lasted until the finish line, so I really wish they'd do something about it. (On those days, there's nothing I can do, so I use a mobile battery whenever I can to charge the camera.)
The usability and stability of apps and software are poor
In reality, this is common with products from many hardware manufacturers, but this time too, I was bothered by the fact that the application and LCD screens were a little difficult to use, and that some of the functions I wanted were missing
For example, when shooting, the current camera mode display is hidden, so in multi-camera mode, even though I wanted to shoot in "spherical mode," it ended up in "circular mode." Even in normal single-camera mode, the main display is immediately hidden, making the settings difficult to understand and initially challenging to get started with. Also, every time you turn it on (and sometimes when waking it from sleep), you have to pair the two cameras with the controller and connect them to your smartphone's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but frankly, these operations are still confusing and tedious, and the connection is often unstable (sometimes this doesn't work properly and the camera itself freezes, requiring a reset to restore)
I wish the smartphone app had more image and video editing functions. While EXILIM ALBUM claims to be able to split panoramic images and create highlight movies, it honestly doesn't seem to work well with social media, so I'm not yet keen to use it. Also, even if you manage to shoot synchronously from different angles with two cameras, the only way to play them side by side is through the playback function on the controller, so it's disappointing that you can't edit the two synchronized videos side by side into a single video
As for the PC editing software (EXILIM 360 Viewer), I feel like it needs more features to fulfill users' desires, such as the ability to freely trim 360° photos and videos and extract still images
Overall Review: Depending on how you use it, this is definitely a one-of-a-kind camera that can capture the excitement of outdoor activities and the atmosphere of the location
The previous model, the FR100, attracted attention only for its action camera-like tricky angles and ease of use, but the FR200 allows for 360° shooting, and I personally love it as a very interesting camera with a charm that neither smartphones nor SLRs have. Rather than focusing on image quality and settings to take artistic photos, this is the perfect camera for people who simply want to capture the memories of fun they had together, the emotions they encountered on location, and the atmosphere they felt, or even better, to share images with an impact that cannot be captured normally
However, to be honest, to realize the true value of this camera, I would still need two cameras and some attachments, even though the price makes it a little out of reach. Even basic use is interesting, but I think this camera becomes even more interesting when you use your imagination and try out different ways of taking photos. At the same time, since the hardware is so appealing, I'd like to see the surrounding applications and the environment for sharing photos improved as well
For detailed specifications and accessories, please see the official product page.