Casio EX-S600 Optics

Zoom
A typical 3x optical zoom range, with some noticeable distortion, though fair performance.

The Casio Exilim EX-S600's optical zoom covers the equivalent of a 38-114mm range, which is average among consumer digital cameras. Results were fair at wide angle, with some noticeable corner softness and coma distortion. The lens captured some detail, but the tonal handling in the foliage in particular, and also among the bricks and tile, resulted in a painterly effect. The 4x digital zoom effectively increases the zoom range to 12x, though with lower resolution and stronger artifacts.

Macro
An average-sized macro area, though mushed-up, watercolor-like detail. Flash exposure was uneven up close, though still usable.

The Casio Exilim EX-S600's macro setting performed about average, capturing a slightly larger minimum area of 3.89 x 2.92 inches (37 x 28 millimeters). Detail and resolution were both hampered by a watercolor paint look, probably due to overagressive noise filtering, and there's a fair amount of softening in the corners from the lens. (Most cameras have some softening in the corners in macro mode.) The flash produced an uneven exposure here, with a strong hot spot on the brooch. Despite the falloff in the corners and the hot highlight, the flash is still quite usable up close.

Distortion
Very high barrel distortion at wide angle, and a moderate amount at telephoto.

This is the tendency for the lens to bend straight lines outward (like a barrel -- usually at wide angle) or inward (like a pincushion -- usually at telephoto). The Casio Exilim EX-S600's 1.06% barrel distortion at wide angle is uncomfortably high, and quite noticeable in its images. At the telephoto end, the EX-S600's 0.43% barrel distortion is moderate, and more than we'd expect.

Chromatic aberration
Quite high, though likely intensified by strong blurring in the corners.

Chromatic aberration is rather high at both wide angle and telephoto, showing quite a few pixels of bright coloration on either side of the target lines. (This distortion is visible as a very slight colored fringe around the objects at the edges of the field of view on the resolution target.) However, corner softness is also a bit strong, and is likely intensifying the effect.

Corner Sharpness
Strong blurring in the corners of the frame at both zoom settings.

The Casio Exilim EX-S600 produced strong blurring in the corners at both wide angle and telephoto zoom settings. In both cases, the upper right corner had the strongest blurring, with less intense blurring in the other three corners of the frame. While the center is sharper, the lines and boxes in the shot are rounded and show evidence of strong edge enhancement to give the illusion of sharpness.

Coverage
Excellent accuracy with the LCD monitor.

The Casio Exilim EX-S600's LCD monitor proved very accurate, capturing about 100% frame accuracy at wide angle, and about 98% at telephoto.