• Good resolution
• Low noise but high noise reduction
• Good automatic white balance
• About a third of a stop more sensitive than indicated
• Good performance - startup and AF notably
• Good build quality, compact size
• External flash support via PC Sync terminal
• Supplied InfraRed remote control
• Compact and lightweight
• Good range of image parameter adjustment (+/-2)
• Unique and slightly crazy 'EX Finder' live view overlay
• Good on-screen help with manual exposure modes
• Quick 'Check Focus' magnification in play
• Customizable controls

• Intrusive noise reduction
• Some vignetting at wide angle
• No RAW format
• USB 1.1 transfer (slow)
• Slower power off than on (?)

Overall conclusion

It's always nice to review a camera which surprises you, the EX-P700 was one of those cameras. I have to admit to not having great expectations of it, ok so it has a Canon branded lens (so many cameras these days do, although not all branded), but a seven megapixel CCD backing onto it in such a compact body, could it be any good?

The P700 has an almost pocketable (I'll say almost) size, it's easy to understand and use and yet still has pretty much all the features a shutterbug could need. In addition it also has a huge range of pre-programmed camera configurations ('BESTSHOT' scene modes) which make life much easier for the novice. It's also got some gadget appeal, the EX Finder has no use in everyday shooting but it's a great demo for your mates, and the perspective-correcting 'Business Cards and Documents' scene mode is almost theatrical (handy sometimes too).

Image quality was very good, although to our eye it fell just short of being good enough to influence the overall camera rating to a 'Highly Recommended' (but it really wasn't that far off). Casio need to cool off on image processing too, their noise reduction was just there all the time and you can see it (not good). In use it's a fairly nice camera to shoot with, I never really found myself waiting for it or wanting it to do more, and the final outcome was nearly always what I wanted.

Overall some Kudos for Casio who are often overlooked as just another consumer electronics manufacturer in the digital camera market, but have shown that they still know how to put together a camera which is both compact and has photographer appeal.

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