Overview
The Casio Exilim EX-S10 is one of the slimmest digital cameras on the market. It has 10 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom lens.
Why Buy The Casio Exilim EX-S10
The Exilim EX-S10 is a true pocket camera. In fact it is one of the most compact models you will find. I found the camera easy to use and I was also impressed by the 2.7 inch LCD screen. You can also capture widescreen movies. In addition there is a special mode that makes it easy to upload videos to YouTube.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
10
3x
2.7 inches
94.2 x 54.6 x 15mm
113g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
15cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
The camera handles this contrasting scene well. Detail levels are very good in the light areas and the camera outperforms many of its rivals here. Some of the blue lines on the boats have a purple tinge and purple fringing is evident as well. This will only start to become noticeable if you start to make larger prints. I am also impressed by the overall sharpness of the photo.
With the lens zoomed all the way out there is a loss of sharpness in the photo, especially towards the edges. This is a common problem with digital cameras when shooting more distant scenes and the Exilim EX-S10 is roughly average in terms of sharpness when the zoom is not being used.
This is another test where the camera performs well. Again there is plenty of brightness in the shot. Sharpness does fall away towards the left hand side of the photo.
I must admit to being surprised at just how good the Exilim EX-S10 is when it comes to this test. The levels of sharpness and also overall detail in the shot rank with some of the best cameras I have tested.
Portraits
I am happy with all three of my portrait test shots. All the pictures are bright and clear. Perhaps with this outdoor shot I would liked to have seen a touch more warmth in the photo.
In terms of range the Exilim EX-S10 does not have the strongest flash unit. Even so it is perfectly adequate for the job here. The photo is well lit and there is plenty of detail in the shot.
This is one of the better results I have achieved using natural light. Again the Exilim EX-S10 manages to make the most of the light and produce a bright photo.
Macro, Colours and Noise
If macro or close up photography is important to you then the Exilim EX-S10 is not the camera for you. The quality of the shot it produces is good, but the camera has to be 15cm away from the subject before it is able to focus. I have cropped the sample photo for display purposes.
The colours produced by the Exilim EX-S10 have a natural look to them. They do not overpower the various scenes and aside from where blue lines pick up a purple tinge I like the colours.
At higher ISO ratings the Exilim EX-S10 falls roughly inline with so many other cameras. Noise creeps in at ISO 400, but picture quality remains acceptable in the lighter areas. At ISO 1600 picture quality is really struggling.
Summary
There are three technical factors I look for during my tests; sharpness, brightness and colour. The Exilim EX-S10 does well on all counts. All in all I think my test photos were a success for such a small digital camera.
Style
As mentioned at the top of the review this is one of the slimmest cameras on the market. It is available in silver, blue, red, white and black. With a button placed in the top right hand corner on the back of the camera I did find it hard to place my thumb. This led to me pressing the picture review button occasionally when I was trying to take a photo.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.48 seconds
14.5 seconds
1.82 seconds
16.76 seconds
2.48 seconds
Ease of Use
I find the menu system is easy to follow and the camera has very few buttons to get used to. You also have the option of displaying key menu options down the right hand side of the LCD screen. This helps to make them easy to access.
Points I Like
Size - LCD screen information - widescreen movies - bright photos
Where it Could Improve
Control positioning on back of camera
Verdict
I am more impressed with the Casio Exilim EX-S10 than I thought I would be. The really slim cameras do not always offer quite the same picture quality as larger models, but in this case I would be happy to own this camera.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Casio Exilim EX-S10 Review Casio Exilim EX-S10 Specification Casio Exilim EX-S10 Sample Images Casio Exilim EX-S10 Features
Review Date
July 2008
