Casio EX-S5 Review

The compact Casio EXILIM EX-S5 is based around a 1/2.3"-type 10.1 effective megapixel CCD image sensor and an EXILIM-branded 4x optical zoom lens with a 36mm wide-angle. Unlike several of the models it is announced alongside, the Casio EX-S5 lacks the true mechanical image stabilization - likely in the interest of saving cost. A 2.7-inch widescreen LCD display with below-average 114,960 dot resolution offers the EX-S5's only option for framing and reviewing images, as there's no optical viewfinder on this model. The Casio EX-S5 records 10.1 megapixel still images or movies at up to 848 x 480 pixel widescreen resolution on SD / MMC cards, and offers both USB (type unspecified) and NTSC / PAL video connectivity. Power comes from a proprietary NP-80 Lithium Ion battery.

Two slightly more unsual features on the Casio EXILIM S5 include the ability to choose the menu system color - either black, chocolate, cinnamon, rose, sky-blue or olive green - and to change the focusing frame. Focus frame choices include the traditional rectangular, as well as heart or butterfly shaped, and the focus indication can quirkily tie into this - for example, "breaking" the heart when focus can't be achieved.

The Casio EX-S5 will ship in the USA from March 2009, with pricing of about $180. Body colors will include blue, black, gold, silver, pink and purple.