Casio Exilim EX-S10 in Digital cameras

This is one of the older models on test here, but that isn't necessarily bad news. Prices on Exilims over a year old are low, and although the EX-S10 is long in the tooth it's still available, and worthy of consideration.

The main body is less than 15mm thick, and even if you add in the bulge of the lens housing it remains the thinnest on test at around 16mm. Despite that, it's no fragile waif - the metal body feels the most solid of all the models on test this month.

The major advances of the past year in digital compacts - ubiquitous optical image stabilisation and wide-angle lenses - post-date the EX-S10 and so it loses out in both respects. Image quality is disappointing overall too. On the upside, the lens is among the sharpest at full wide-angle, but that's probably down to the fact it's only a moderate wide-angle optic, at 36mm equivalent compared to the 28mm of the more modern competition.

Elsewhere, things are less rosy. Although there was a fair amount of detail in outdoor shots, contrast tended to be on the low side, a magenta cast was obvious, and there was evidence of blooming around highlights. High-ISO performance also leaves much to be desired, with our indoor low-light test shots showing much intrusive colour noise.

Although the EX-S10 is a good camera, it's by no means a great one and shows how much things have advanced since its release. It's an easy camera to like, but difficult to love.

Author: David Fearon