If you want a small go anywhere camera that's lovely to use and produces great pictures in any lighting conditions, then the Casio EX Z4 has got to be way up on your list (as I am sure are any of the new small Casio cameras). Loads of different settings available or you can just point and shoot, or maybe pick one of the loads of "Scene modes" that suit any conditions. A cradle comes with the camera so you can easily download your pictures straigt to your pc via the USB port, the cradle charges the camera also.
I have a Panasonic FZ20 digital camera also and that's not pocket size by a long way, so the Casio compliments this and together they make a great duo. I purchased the Casio after 2 mates both purchased them and loved them, so don't let the fact it's not a Nikon or Pentax etc put you off, this is a top quality camera with a host of features that's just great to have and hold...go on buy one....

This Casio Exilim EX Z4 was an impulse purchase when I had lent my old Canon digital Ixus to a friend for a wedding, and didn't get it back in time for a trip to Japan and Malaysia. The size makes it a great little digital camera, but I end up correcting the images in Photoshop using the 'levels' setting, since its own analysis of the shots is not the best. The later Canon's have this built-in, and I have newer photos from Canons in my machine and they require very little correction. The Casio has a good selection of 'standard' photos, though. The display is large to be able to see images, with a good zoom to view how good your photo was. I really miss photo-stitching, and also, being a scuba diver, I miss the underwater housings available for many models nowadays. Great camera for taking very good quality snaps, but basic photo editing software won't make your pictures 'outstanding' - you need something that adjusts levels by colour rather than just brightness and contrast, but the Canon that does that is in another price range. If you like having pictures of you taken in front of monuments, sights, views, etc. by strangers, you can take a picture that they can line up with you in it, which is a great little feature. And for travelling, the time zone set-up is pretty easy, and that then links in to an alarm clock with three alarms - saves me taking more stuff on vacation with me!

I love the huge lCD display & the compactness of the Casio Exilim EX Z4 camera & 4Meg pixels all for just £265. I really like the cradle it sits in for charging & USB connection.

I bought it with the intention of comparing it to my 18 month old Sony DS-P5 3.2Mega pixel camera & then keeping the one I liked most. The Casio Exilim Z4 beats the Sony on just about everything except what really counts & that is image quality !

Graininess was slightly more apparent when zooming in on the Casio images on a PC & they seem to be a little noisy and perhaps becuase the colours seem unnaturally bright the pixelation seems more apparent than on the Sony, even though the Casio has slightly more pixels !

I only ever use optical zoom as digital zoom reduces the number of pixels used. However when you switch off the Casio digital zoom it only stays disabled until you switch the camera off then on again, which is irritating.

One possible way to reduce image noise on zoom in dull conditions might be to set a lower speed (ISO) number than seems to be set by auto. However this, like the digital zoom, returns to the factory default of auto when you turn the camera off then on again. This means that, unlike the Sony which stores new settings, you can't customise the Casio to your own personal preferences.

The Casio does have so many good points though & the images aren't that bad. I really am torn between it & the Sony. The Casio is the ideal very compact easy to use good quality snapshot camera for someone not as fussy about image quality as I am.

However though I love the huge LCD screen & compactness of the Casio, much to my dismay I shall be returning it to the supplier & keeping my Sony.

The Sony images are slightly less grainy on zoom & the colours seem slightly more natural. I guess I'll just have to put up with the irritatingly small LCD screen until Sony have the sense to bring out one with a decent size screen.