Casio to launch digital camera aimed at foreign tourists

TOKYO - Casio Computer will introduce a new digital camera this month in a bid to capture demand from the flood of foreign tourists visiting Japan.

The camera will be based on the Exilim EX-ZR60, which has features facilitating selfies, and will come in a brilliant red colour. It will be available only in Japan in special packaging marked "Japan Limited."

The new model will add eight more display languages, including Thai, Indonesian and Arabic, to the standard five.

Users can choose from 13 levels of skin smoothness and tones, and they can later edit the photos. A self-timing feature for the secondary shutter button on the front will make for easier selfies.

The compact cameras will sell for 32,000 yen (S$367) without tax and be available at camera shops and consumer electronic stores that can handle tax-exempt purchases. Casio aims to sell a few thousand units by year-end and is planning a second sales launch next year.

Foreign visitors make up roughly 17 per cent of domestic sales of Casio watches and digital cameras.

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