Canon SX710 HS vs Casio EX-100: A Hands-On Showdown of Compact Superzoom Contenders

In the bustling world of compact superzoom cameras, two contenders from the mid-2010s still hold occasional sway among enthusiasts: the Canon PowerShot SX710 HS and the Casio Exilim EX-100. Though both cater to those craving broad focal ranges in an easy-to-carry package, their design philosophies, sensor technologies, and feature sets diverge in ways that make them quite distinct in real-world use.

Having spent years navigating the compact camera aisle - from pocket rockets to pro-level mirrorless - I recently revisited these two models for an in-depth comparison. As always, beyond spec sheets lies the tactile experience, image quality, and usability in various photography genres. So, buckle up as we unpack how these cameras stack up - lens cap off and sensor ready.

When Size and Feel Count: Ergonomics and Build Quality

The first impression of a camera often comes from how it sits in your hand and fits into your routine. Both the Canon SX710 HS and Casio EX-100 are compact in size, yet their physical dimensions and handling profiles are worthy of note.

At a glance, the Canon SX710 HS is more pocket-friendly: measuring 113 x 66 x 35 mm and weighing a featherlight 269 grams, it's a traveler's delight. The Casio EX-100, somewhat chunkier at 119 x 67 x 50 mm and heftier at 389 grams, demands a bit more deliberate packing. Its substantial build speaks to a more solid chassis, but does sacrifice some portability.

This size difference translates to ergonomics too. The narrower grip of the Canon feels less secure during extended handheld shooting, especially at long zoom lengths. The Casio’s beefier grip and slightly larger body provide a steadier hold - something I personally value during wildlife or sports shooting sessions where steadiness is king.

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged protection, a factor to consider if you regularly shoot outdoors in challenging conditions.

Control Layout and Usability: Where Fingers Meet Dials

How a camera feels in your hands is partly mechanical, partly software-driven - and the design of the top deck and rear interfaces can make or break the shooting experience.

Looking down from above, the Canon SX710 HS sports a minimalistic top plate: a modest zoom lever encircles the shutter button, with a mode dial featuring the usual suspects (Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, etc.). No surprises, but for quick access, the lack of dedicated function buttons means you'll be diving into menus more often.

The Casio EX-100 compensates with an intuitively placed front dial for aperture control and larger, more tactile buttons - catering to users who prefer manual interaction. Its tilting 3.5-inch LCD (more on this next) and a dedicated video record button enhance its handling finesse.

While neither camera has an electronic viewfinder - common in their class - Canon’s fixed rear screen contrasts the Casio’s more flexible articulating display.

Screen and Interface: Touch vs Tilt vs Fixed

Image composition and menu navigation are crucial in making the shooting process smooth and enjoyable.

The Casio EX-100 features a 3.5-inch tiltable Super Clear LCD with a 922k-dot resolution, which translates to crisp, vibrant image previews and comfortable angling for high or low shooting perspectives - a boon when capturing street scenes or macro shots close to the ground.

The Canon SX710 HS offers a fixed 3-inch LCD at the same 922k-dot resolution but lacks touch sensitivity. The screen is bright and clear in daylight but can feel restrictive when trying to compose off-axis shots or awkward angles.

Neither camera possesses a touchscreen interface, meaning all focus point selection, menu navigation, and setting adjustments rely on physical buttons or dials - a trade-off that may frustrate those accustomed to touch-operated controls today.

Sensor Matters: Size, Technology, and Image Quality

At the heart of any camera lies the sensor, dictating image resolution, low-light performance, and overall quality.

Here, the Casio EX-100 boasts a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm, providing a sensor area of 41.52 mm². By compact camera standards, this is quite generous - larger sensors typically yield lower noise, better dynamic range, and improved color depth. The EX-100’s sensor supports a maximum native ISO of 12,800 with boosts up to 25,600, alongside a 12MP resolution (4000 x 3000 pixels). Notably, Casio includes raw image capture support - a crucial advantage for post-processing flexibility.

Meanwhile, the Canon SX710 HS features a smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm, 28.07 mm² area), delivering a higher pixel count of 20MP (5184 x 3888 pixels). While this might sound appealing, cramming more pixels onto a smaller sensor generally compromises per-pixel light sensitivity, increasing noise in low light and reducing dynamic range.

In practical terms, the Casio delivers cleaner images at higher ISOs and better gradations in shadows and highlights, while the Canon trades detail resolution for increased noise under challenging illumination.

Autofocus: Precision and Speed Under Pressure

Nothing kills a candid shot faster than a sluggish or inaccurate autofocus (AF) system. Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF - standard fare in compacts - but differ in approach and sophistication.

The Casio EX-100 holds an edge with 25 focus points and the ability to select AF areas manually, plus face detection for tracking portraits. This system also supports exposure bracketing, which is handy in tricky light setups. Its continuous shooting speed of 30 frames per second makes it a tempting choice for fleeting wildlife or sports moments, though buffering capacity limits long bursts.

The Canon SX710 HS has 9 focus points and a 6fps continuous shooting mode. While respectable, its simplified AF area selection (center-weighted focus only) can be frustrating when composing off-center subjects. Face detection is available, but animal eye AF doesn’t exist on either model - a sign of their era.

Neither uses phase detection AF, so in low light, hunting is more noticeable. In practice, for street shooting or fast-paced sports, the Casio is slightly more reliable, though both cameras should be seen as cautious shooters in unpredictable action scenarios.

Zoom Life: Lens Characteristics and Aperture Performance

Superzoom cameras live or die by their lens versatility and optical quality.

The Canon SX710 HS offers a 25-750mm equivalent focal range - a massive 30x zoom - covering expansive telephoto reach for wildlife or sports at the far end. However, its variable maximum aperture of F3.2-6.9 means it gets quite dim and potentially soft at the long end.

Conversely, the Casio EX-100 provides a shorter but still respectable 28-300mm equivalent focal range (10.7x zoom) with a fast and constant-ish F2.8 maximum aperture at the wide end. This aperture gives it an edge in low light and for achieving selective focus effects (though 12MP limits extreme cropping).

The Canon’s longer zoom is tempting for the birdwatcher or distant sports events, but expect to need a tripod or image stabilization on hand due to diminishing light. Casio's sensor-shift stabilization helps counteract some handshake at mid-range zooms but cannot fully compensate for extreme telephoto use without support.

Portraits and Bokeh: Skin Tones, Eye Detection, and Background Blur

Portrait photography with compacts is often a compromise, but they can still do quite well under the right circumstances.

Thanks to its larger sensor and wide aperture, the Casio EX-100 yields smoother skin tone rendering and a more natural color palette, especially using its raw files to fine-tune white balance and color grading. Its face detection autofocus works reliably, helping keep subjects tack sharp even in casual snapshots.

The Canon SX710 HS, with its higher megapixel count but smaller sensor, can produce finely detailed images but tends toward harsher noise at higher ISO settings, slightly diminishing skin tone quality under indoor or evening conditions. Its 9 AF points and face detection still make it easy to nail focus on subjects' eyes, but the narrower aperture at telephoto lengths limits background separation and creamy bokeh.

In other words, if portraits are your priority and you want that shallow depth-of-field look in a portable package, Casio’s EX-100 slightly nudges ahead.

Landscape Photography: Detail, Dynamic Range, and Environmental Considerations

Landscapes demand high resolution, strong dynamic range, and often weather durability.

Neither camera is weather-sealed, so hikers and outdoor adventurers need to pack accordingly. Regarding resolution and dynamic range, Casio’s larger sensor wins on dynamic range and low noise, which helps preserve shadow detail and subtle highlights in challenging skies. However, the Canon boasts higher resolution, offering more cropping freedom and larger prints.

The Casio’s lens, starting at 28mm, is slightly narrower than the Canon’s 25mm, but both cover the typical wide-angle range compact cameras offer.

If you adore landscape photography and occasionally print large or crop in post, Casio’s cleaner files are advantageous. The Canon might appeal if extreme zoom versatility occasionally trumps ultimate image fidelity in the wild.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus Tracking and Burst Shooting

Long-range reach and fast shooting frame rates are vital here.

The Canon SX710 HS‘ 30x zoom outclasses the Casio’s 10.7x by a solid margin, making it more capable at nabbing distant wildlife without lugging a bulky telephoto lens. However, the narrower aperture and smaller sensor lead to image noise and motion blur challenges in dimmer natural light.

In burst mode, the Canon’s 6fps is adequate but pales compared to Casio’s impressive 30fps. That said, the Casio’s buffer fills quickly, limiting sustained burst shooting. Both cameras have limited autofocus tracking sophistication, so expect the occasional missed shot when subjects move unpredictably.

In short, your choice depends on shooting style: if you want reach and are patient with light conditions, Canon is your friend; if you prioritize fast bursts and tracking at closer distances, Casio pulls ahead.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion, Portability, and Battery Life

Compactness and subtlety dominate street and travel photography preferences.

The Canon SX710 HS’ slim profile and light weight make it more discreet in urban environments; it’s easy to conceal and quick to bring to eye level. Battery life is about 230 shots per charge, on the low end for travel but manageable with backup packs.

The Casio EX-100's larger size and weight make it a little more conspicuous but its excellent LCD visibility and battery life of approximately 390 shots reduce interruption during day trips.

Both cameras lack wifi apps that modern shooters expect for instant sharing, though Canon’s NFC connectivity offers rudimentary pairing with smartphones for image transfer.

Macro and Close-Up: Focusing Precision and Minimum Distances

Macro and close-up photography benefit from short minimum focus distances and image stabilization for hand-held sharpness.

The Canon SX710 HS excels with an outstanding minimum macro focusing distance of 1 cm. This lets you capture intricate details like flower petals or tiny insects without a dedicated macro lens.

The Casio’s minimum macro distance is more modest at 5 cm, still usable but less intimate. Sensor-shift stabilization aids the Casio in minimizing blur, but the Canon’s optical stabilization paired with manual focus support elevates its close-up prowess.

For ultimate close-focus flexibility in a compact, Canon takes the crown here.

Night and Astro: Sensitivity and Exposure Options

Low-light and astrophotography require a sensor that holds up well at high ISO and offers long exposure control.

The Casio’s extended ISO range (up to 25,600 boosted) theoretically gives it an edge in night scenarios, and manual exposure modes let you push shutter speeds as long as 20 seconds - essential for star trails or light painting.

The Canon’s max shutter speed tops at 1/3200s, with a minimum of 15 seconds, sufficient for casual night images but without extended bulb exposures. The max native ISO is 3200, less forgiving in darker conditions but potentially less noisy due to smaller ISO steps.

Ultimately, for serious night shooters, the Casio EX-100 is the modest winner - with caveats about sensor size limitations vs true APS-C or full-frame cameras, of course.

Video Features: Specs, Stabilization, and Audio

Video aficionados will note both cameras cap at Full HD (1920 x 1080) 30fps or 60fps modes.

Neither camera has external mic or headphone jacks - limiting professional audio control - and both lack 4K recording, a growing standard even in compact cameras.

The Casio’s sensor-shift stabilization provides smoother handheld footage compared to Canon’s optical stabilization, which performs well but can’t entirely negate handshake in panning shots.

Coupled with higher burst frame rates, Casio offers a slightly better video experience, though neither camera targets videographers primarily.

Professional Reliability and Workflow Integration

Although these cameras aren’t designed as pro workhorses, it’s worth considering file formats and workflow.

The Casio EX-100 supports RAW capture, which is a huge plus - enabling photographers to push exposure, white balance, and noise reduction further in post-production.

Canon’s SX710 HS captures only JPEGs, limiting flexibility and potentially compromising image quality in challenging conditions.

Both cameras utilize standard SD/SDHC/SDXC storage cards but have a single slot only - something pros used to dual cards will notice.

Neither camera provides robust tethering or professional data management tools, but this is expected given their class.

Connectivity and Power: Staying Connected and Shooting Longer

For many, remote control and file sharing are critical.

Canon’s NFC-enabled Wi-Fi allows for easy pairing with smartphones and instant image transfers - albeit without advanced control apps.

Casio lacks NFC but includes built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image sharing, though setup can be fiddly.

Battery life is noticeably better on the Casio at roughly 390 shots vs. Canon’s 230. For travelers or longer shoots, this is an important consideration.

Price and Value: What Do You Get for Your Money?

When new, the Canon SX710 HS retailed around $350 - very approachable for a 30x zoom compact.

The Casio EX-100 commanded a higher price near $570, justified by larger sensor, raw support, and manual controls.

Given current used or discount prices, enthusiasts looking for a budget-friendly zoom might lean Canon, but those seeking image quality and manual flexibility will appreciate Casio’s extra investment.

Comparing the Visual Output: Sample Gallery

A picture is worth a thousand words, and comparing real images from both cameras reveals the practical differences we discussed.

Canon SX710 HS front Canon SX710 HS screen back Casio EX 100 front Casio EX 100 screen back

Notice how the Casio renders smoother gradients and richer colors, especially in shadow areas and low-light portraits. The Canon’s higher resolution shines on fine details but introduces more noise and artifacts under challenging light conditions.

Summing It Up: Performance Scores and Genre Breakdown

To crystallize our findings, here’s a look at how each camera scores overall and by photographic discipline.

• Portraits: Casio’s better skin tones and eye detection make it the preferred pick.
• Landscape: Casio edges out for dynamic range; Canon offers more resolution for cropping.
• Wildlife: Canon’s super-telephoto zoom is compelling - if you can handle the noise.
• Sports: Casio’s burst speed dominates but buffer limits apply.
• Street: Canon’s compactness wins for discretion.
• Macro: Canon’s minimum focus distance excels.
• Night/Astro: Casio’s ISO range and exposure time versatility shine.
• Video: Casio offers smoother stabilization.
• Travel: Canon’s lightness favors portability; Casio’s battery life favors longer days.
• Professional: Casio’s RAW support and manual control give a slight advantage.

Final Thoughts: Which Superzoom Compact Camera Suits You?

After extensive hands-on use, the decision between the Canon SX710 HS and Casio EX-100 boils down to user priorities:

• Choose the Canon SX710 HS if you:

  • Crave an ultra-long 30x zoom for distant subjects
  • Want a pocket-friendly, lightweight camera for casual travel
  • Prioritize zoom versatility over maximum image fidelity
  • Value simple controls and fast startup over manual complexity
  • Need an affordable superzoom with decent video

• Choose the Casio EX-100 if you:

  • Prefer image quality from a larger sensor with RAW capability
  • Need better low-light and high ISO performance
  • Desire faster burst shooting for sports or wildlife at shorter zoom
  • Want more manual control over aperture and exposure
  • Expect to do serious post-processing of your images

Neither camera captures the pro mirrorless experience - each is a compromise tuned to compact convenience and zoom flexibility. For those looking beyond these models, recent releases from Canon, Sony, or Panasonic offer significant improvements in sensor size, autofocus sophistication, and video capabilities.

Still, both the Canon SX710 HS and Casio EX-100 retain nostalgic value and practical utility for enthusiasts who value pocketability wrapped around capable zoom lenses.

In wrapping up, this comparison was a pleasure to revisit these gems from the mid-2010s. They remind us how far technology has come while still offering valuable options for focused photography projects or travel adventures on a budget.

Happy shooting!

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