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Rick Rizner
Casio's $399, 5.1-megapixel EX-S500 may be one of the thinnest zoom-lens-equipped digital cameras you can buy--just 0.6 inch front to back with its 3X zoom lens retracted. That makes it small enough to take with you almost anywhere. Casio offers this model in three colors: dark gray, white, and an eye-catching orange. The 2.2-inch LCD is slightly smaller than the 2.5-inch displays found on some competing models of comparable size, but it's perfectly adequate for composing shots or sharing snaps with friends. The EX-S500's small size and large LCD does mean that you'll have to forgo the luxury of an optical viewfinder.
The EX-S500 starts up in less than 2 seconds and has minimal shutter lag. At first glance, its stylish controls suggest a victory of form over function. But though the buttons are tiny, I found them surprisingly simple to use. Menus are easy to navigate, too, and that's a good thing, since almost all of this camera's controls--...