By and large, there are two approaches to combating camera shake which results in blurred photos. The first is via optical image stabilization and the other is via the use of high ISOs coupled with fast shutter speeds. At CES this year, Casio introduced its first Exilim with a mechanical CCD shift-type image stabilizer, not to be confused with earlier models equipped with the company's Anti-Shake DSP that boosts ISOs and increases shutter speed to freeze motion.

Joining the optically stabilized league which currently counts among its members the Canon Digital IXUS 850 IS, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX07, Nikon Coolpix L5, Samsung NV7 OPS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T10, the 7.2-megapixel Exilim EX-V7 compensates for camera shake by shifting the image sensor.

Casio claims the EX-V7 is the world's slimmest digicam with a 7x optical zoom lens as of January 8, 2007, based on the company's survey. The increased focal length may be attractive to some, but we'd have preferred a wider and faster lens that begins at 28mm and F2.8.

For movie buffs, this Exilim encodes motion images in H.264 format that allows for higher data compression onto the camera's meager 11.6MB internal memory or SD/SDHC/MMC external flash media.

The EX-V7 also comes with a new image processor that offers an auto-tracking AF function, better tonal control and noise correction. As to how these features would play out in actual use, we'll find out in our review once we get hold of a unit.