Full review
Ever since its first so-called credit-card camera, the EX-S1, Casio has driven the market towards thinner and thinner point-and-shoot cameras. This year's waiflike model is the Exilim EX-S770. Like theBesides its slim, stylish body, one of the EX-S770's big draws is wide-aspect support. It has a 71mm (2.8-inch) widescreen LCD and can record MPEG-4 video at a 16:9 aspect ratio. Users with widescreen TVs will be able to replay their movie clips in full 16:9 cinematic glory.
Though no current snapshot cameras are quite as thin as the EX-S770, several models come close in compact size and features. The 10-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 is just 25mm thick and shares the S770's widescreen support, though it's significantly more expensive. Other notable alternatives to the S770 are the sleek and small Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS and the forthcoming Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T10.
The EX-S770 replaces the Exilim EX-S600 as Casio's ultraslimmest digital camera, and its design and widescreen support make it unique in Casio's product line.
The Casio EX-S600's tiny body impressed us, but its LCD washed out easily and its photos left a lot to be desired. The EX-S770's new LCD is brighter than the S600's and should weather sunlight much better. Since both models involve putting a lot of electronics into a very small case, and since the S770 shares the same tiny lens as its predecessor, we're not too confident there will be much improvement in image quality. Unless you really need a digital camera less than 18mm thick, you might want to consider a Z-series Casio camera instead -- they're almost as compact, and their photos are much more reliable.
The Casio Exilim EX-S770 ships in September, costing in the region of £250. It will be available in silver, red, and blue.