As leaked by prominent advertising outside the CES Congress Center in Las Vegas, Casio today announced the launch of their new camera range. The focus of the range was the convert-a-cam Tryx.

The radical new design aims to give the user the ultimate in flexibility when it comes to creating shots. Incorporating a rotating 3-inch touchscreen housed in a frame, you’ll be able to hang the camera on the wall or change the position to get the most comfortable position to take your shot.

The camera features a 21mm wide angle lens which offers a max F/2.8, but doesn’t feature an optical zoom. Internally is a 12.1-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS back-illuminated sensor.

It will record Full HD video at 30fps with a micro HDMI socket to play your movies on the big screen. Images are recorded to SD card which slots into the side of the rotating screen.

In the hand and the Tryx is certainly unique, but it isn't clear whether this is designed to replace a conventional compact camera, or rather a more enhanced swipe at the pocket camcorder market. The flexibility does give you a wide range of holding options, but we can't see that we'd really make much use of them after the initial novelty wears off.

Casio were quick to tell us that the menu system seen on the display in these photos isn't what you'll get in the final retail version. Good job too, as it wasn't very responsive, is garish and fuzzy, and most of the time was upside down.

We're guessing the Tryx will appeal more to the likes of skaters who want to stick it on the end of a ramp, rather than your average tourist looking to capture vacation memories. 

Retailing for $249, the Tryx will go on sale in the US in April 2011.