Hot wired: Powerful camera still easy to use

The slim new Casio EX-S600 digital camera packs a lot of punch for its size.

When I pulled the new Casio EX-S600 digital camera from my bag for the first time it drew gasps of admiration - which makes you feel better about not adhering to the Government's personal-savings plan.

The gasps were for two reasons. First, the size - or rather lack of it - at just 9x6x1.5cm the EX-S600 is as slim and small as any cellphone. Second, because the sticker on the front proclaims that despite being so teeny it captures 6.0 megapixel images and MPEG-4 movies.

Two prerequisites for user satisfaction with any digital camera are ease of use and a decent monitor screen. The EX-600's 6cm colour LCD screen fills half the back face and includes an incredible range of information about the camera setup.

Even for SLR buffs this camera provides flexibility with the ability to control a remarkable number of variables - from simple three-step snapshot image quality (fine, normal or economy) right through to aperture and ISO sensitivity.

The range of movie recording options includes a 5-second past movie buffer so you can play "catch up" and not miss the start of a sequence even if you are slow to press record.

Storage is on SD memory card, which come in sizes ranging from 128MB to 1 GB and the long-life battery provides 300 shots off one charge.

For all its in-built complexity (the pdf version of the manual is a whopping 240 pages long), the ES-600 is dead easy to use straight out of the box. The 10 or so control buttons are all matchingly small - the on-off particularly so. Fingernails are necessary for convenient operation, making this camera better suited to life in a handbag than a contractor's back pocket.

Accessories include software, charging and download USB cradle and cables, but it really needs a case to avoid damage.

As a Mac user I appreciated that the software for this great little camera works on OS9, not just OSX.

PC people will be just as happy because Windows 98, 2000 and XP are all catered for. Either way, installation is easy and the editing software included for both still and movie images is inspiring.

Combine all that with 3x optical zoom, up to 12x with digital zoom added, and the EX-S600 is a $750 pocket-sized creative powerhouse.