Casio is developing what it claims to be the world?s fastest-shooting digital camera.

Images of a prototype have been released, together with its specifications. The camera is set to feature a six megapixel CMOS sensor, 12x optical zoom and sensor-shift image stabilisation.

Where it breaks new ground is with its 60fps shooting rate, at its maximum resolution; this speed qualifies as currently the fastest in the world. VGA-resolution movies, meanwhile, may be captured at a rate of 300fps. Casio claims that this allows movies to be replayed in ?ultra-slow motion, a function that has only been possible so far with a limited range of professional movie equipment.?

Exact specifications are yet to be confirmed, but Casio has released the following provisional list:

Effective pixels: 6.0 million
Imaging element: 1/1.8 inch high speed CMOS sensor (Total pixels: 6.6 million)
High speed burst shooting: 60 images per second at 6.0 million pixels, JPEG
High speed movie: 300fps, Motion JPEG, AVI format, VGA
Lens/focal distance: 12 lenses in 9 groups f/2.7 to 4.6, equivalent to approx 35 to 420 mm on a 35 mm film camera
Zoom: 12x optical zoom
Image stabilization mechanism: CMOS-shift image stabilization
Monitor screen: 2.8 inch widescreen TFT colour LCD, approx. 230,000 pixels
Viewfinder: Colour LCD, approx. 200,000 pixels
Dimension and weight: 127.5mm (W) x 79.5mm (H) x 130.0mm (D). Approx. 650 g (excluding battery and accessories)