The Casio has image stabilisation which works well enough. The LCD monitor, the only viewfinder, is bright but seems to lack resolution.

Exposure and focus are generally good but white balance is easily fooled. In a sequence of photos taken with window light the pictures were alternately blue and yellow.

The camera is supplied with a cradle that provides for USB connection to a computer and also connection to a power supply to charge the battery. SD cards are the memory medium.

Like this: The Casio is so small that it could be carried anywhere, ready for the famous decisive moment. The body is nicely made and feels robust. If your need is more for fashion accessory than for a real camera then the Casio will fit the bill. It comes in silver, blue and orange.

Dislike that: No optical viewfinder and a coarse LCD screen make assessment of pictures both before and after shooting difficult. The difficulty of accessing manual settings is frustrating. The user’s manual is totally inadequate -- in 7 languages!

Parting shot: The Casio Exilim EX–s600 is an attractive little camera, ideally suited to taking to a party in a pocket or bag. The Wow factor is high. That so much can be crammed into such a small volume is astonishing. But for anyone with big fingers or ambitions to be the antipodean Ansel Adams this is not the camera. There are slightly larger Casio cameras with excellent optical viewfinders and the EX–S600 is expensive for what you get. Compare before buying.

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