Although the new 6 megapixel EX-P600 carries
the name Exilim, which is associated with Casio's very thin cameras,
it is a bit more substantial in terms of its dimensions than
others in that well-known series.
The top right of the EX-P600 is
a bit lower than the section housing the optical viewfinder,
and supports the On/Off button, the shutter release and the zoom
control. And, as is often the case, the zoom control is also
used in Playback. The wide angle side, ,
also presents thumbnails ;
while the telephoto side of the zoom, ,
can also be used to magnify an
image displayed on the monitor up to 8 times.
Worth noting, the camera does not have the usual LED to indicate that it
is On.
The upper right part of the EX-P600's
back supports a Mode dial and a button to call up the menu.
The Mode dial has 8 positions, 7 of which are for recording:
The Auto Mode of the EX-P600
is referred to as the Snapshot mode. Although in this
mode the camera decides what aperture and shutter speed to
use, the user has access to all other settings, much as is
normally available with a Program mode.
Best Shot Mode is an
elaborate Scene selection mode with 25 preset scene types,
and one that can be based on the camera settings that were
used for a specific image that has already been shot. Each
of the 25 scene modes feature a sample photo and a short
description that explains the settings used.
Aperture Priority allows
setting the value for any of 10 apertures from f2.8 to
f8 when the lens is set to the widest angle, and from f4
to f11.1 when the lens is at its maximum telephoto setting,
while the camera sets the shutter speed.
Shutter Priority lets
the user select the shutter speed from 1/2000 sec down
to a Bulb mode or a 60 second exposure while the camera
selects a matching aperture.
Manual Mode provides
complete control over both the aperture and the shutter
speed. The user is guided to a proper exposure by the aperture
and shutter speed values on the monitor: inappropriate
settings are shown in red when the shutter release is half-pressed,
and white when acceptable.
Movie Mode captures
video as long as there is space on the memory card. All
movies are captured at a frame size of 320 x 240 pixels
while mono sound is recorded at 16-bit by the microphone
concealed behind the three rows of holes next to the viewfinder
in front of the camera. During movie recording the optical
zoom is disabled so as to avoid having the microphone pick
up the noise of the zoom motor. However, if the digital
zoom is enabled, it can be used.
Audio Recording mode makes
it possible to use the EX-P600 as a digital voice recorder.
The length of the recording depends on the size of the
memory card in use, but as an example, a 256MB card allows
a 17 hour 34 minute and 50 second recording.
Still in the upper part of the camera, two small buttons are aligned on
the right of the viewfinder:
Although only labelled with
an icon for the macro mode, this button controls the selection
for any of the 5 focus modes of the EX-P600:
Normal auto focus: no indications on the monitor.
Macro mode: provides a focus range of 10 to
50 cm (3.9 to 19.7 inches).
Infinity focus: sets the focus to infinity.
Ideal for night scenery or distant landscape shots.
Manual focus: allows adjusting the focus using the
right/left arrows of the multi-direction controller
near the LCD monitor (see further) while the
central portion of the image is enlarged to assist
focusing.
Pan focus, only available in the movie mode, sets
the lens at the point where it offers the greatest
depth of field.
Serves to select the Flash
mode. The modes available are: Auto; Flash Off; Flash
On; Flash with with Red-eye Reduction, and the strength
of the flash's output can be regulated in the menu. In
addition, the EX-P600 is equipped with a standard external
flash synch jack on the left side of the body, and can
be used when the camera is in Manual mode.
The flash mode selection button
has an additional use in Playback. It serves to display
a 1-month calendar that shows a thumbnail of a photo taken
on a specific date. Using the multi-direction control,
a a day can be selected and the images captured on that
day displayed by pressing the SET button at its
centre.
The Multi-direction control is not
only used to navigate the camera's menus and the display of images
in Playback, it also serves to select apertures and shutter speeds
in the Manual, Aperture or Shutter priority modes. Moreover,
in the Recording mode the right/left arrows can be customized
to operate exposure compensation (the default); or the white
balance, ISO, metering mode, and AF area selection if so set
in the Recording menu.
Three more buttons are clustered near the multi-direction control:
This button cycles through
the Self-timer and Remote Control options:
10-second self-timer;
2-second self-timer;
Triple self-timer (after countdown the camera captures
3-images one after the other);
Remote Control operation;
Remote Control operation with a 2-second self-timer.
Casio includes an excellent remote
control with the EX-P600. The control can be used for long exposures
as the camera picks-up its signal even if it comes from behind.
The zoom can be controlled, and it also offers a multi-direction
control with a SET button at the centre as well as MENU and DISPLAY buttons,
making it very useful when the camera is in playback mode and
connected to a TV.
The PREVIEW button, directly below the Self-timer and Remote Control
button, serves to see the last captured image without having to turn the
Mode dial to the Playback position.
The DISPLAY button is last
on that side of the camera. The Casio EX P-600 is equipped with
a highly unusual and complex interface that looks a bit like
the heads up display of a jet. Called the Ex Finder, the
display, which can be made to appear in a variety of colours,
shows shutter speed; aperture; focus distance; focal length;
white balance; flash mode; ISO setting; exposure compensation
and a histogram.
Furthermore, pressing the SET button
at the centre of the multi-direction controller displays an explanation
of the effect of aperture selection in the Aperture priority
mode, or an explanation of shutter speed selection in the Shutter
Priority mode, or both in the Manual mode.
However, in our opinion, while the
display is certainly interesting, its major drawback is that
it covers so much of the screen it becomes difficult to see the
image.
An alternate — a much more traditional — display is available,
and while providing less detailed information is generally more practical
and can be used in conjunction with a composition grid.
The final group of external controls
on the EX-P600 is on the left of the 2 inch LCD monitor, and
two of these buttons call up special menus of options.
The uppermost is for selecting any of either the burst or auto bracketing
modes. The middle button controls the Auto Exposure Lock and has no menu.
While the button
provides a quick access to some of the most commonly needed options. (See
the Characteristics section for details on the functions offered by the
Bracketing and EX buttons).
In all other respects the EX-P600 is a user-friendly camera, and is beautifully
finished.
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Ergonomics
,
also presents thumbnails 
;
while the telephoto side of the zoom, 
,
can also be used to magnify 
an
image displayed on the monitor up to 8 times.
button
provides a quick access to some of the most commonly needed options. (See
the Characteristics section for details on the functions offered by the
Bracketing and EX buttons). 
