Casio EX-10 vs Nikon Coolpix L810: A Detailed Hands-On Comparative Review for Serious Buyers

In the world of compact cameras, the balance between versatility, image quality, and user experience often defines whether a camera becomes a trusted tool or just another gadget on the shelf. Today, I’m diving deep into two intriguing candidates from the small sensor compact segment that cater to quite distinct user needs: the Casio EX-10, a shining example of a stylish, feature-packed compact, and the Nikon Coolpix L810, a classic superzoom powerhouse from an earlier era. Both target photography enthusiasts looking for pocketable convenience, but as you’ll see, their design philosophies and technical approaches diverge meaningfully.

Drawing on extensive hands-on testing - including dozens of real-world shooting sessions across genres from landscape to macro, and careful evaluation of their guts like sensor architecture, autofocus systems, and ergonomics - this comparison lays bare what each camera offers and where compromises lie. Whether your passion lies in portraits with flawless skin tones, landscape vistas, or fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports, I’ll help you decide which camera suits your style and budget.

Let’s start by examining their physical design and handling because ergonomics often dictate how happily you shoot day after day.

First Impressions & Ergonomics: Size, Build, and Handling

At a glance, both cameras fit neatly in the compact category, but their silhouettes and weight distribution tell a story. The Casio EX-10 sports a relatively slim and contemporary frame measuring 120x68x49mm, weighing a modest 384 grams with battery - ideal for those who value portability without sacrificing grip comfort. Conversely, the Nikon L810, though still pocketable, tips the scales at 430 grams and features a chunkier profile (111x76x83 mm), largely due to its generous superzoom lens barrel.

Ergonomics-wise, the EX-10’s thoughtfully sculpted grip and control layout make it a joy during extended shoots. The slight curve and lightweight nature reduce hand fatigue, and the camera feels balanced, even with the 4x zoom engaged. Nikon’s L810 has a sturdier feel but less sophisticated ergonomics; its grip is more utilitarian and can feel bulky for prolonged handheld use, especially for smaller hands.

For casual to intermediate shooters valuing comfort and ease of carry, the EX-10’s refined dimensions are a big plus. The L810, though, offers a firmer hold for zoom-heavy shooting, but at the expense of overall trimness.

Command Centers Compared: Controls & Interface

Looking down at the top panels of both cameras reveals how their makers prioritized user control. The EX-10 impresses with a clean yet functional design: physical dials and buttons dedicated to key settings like aperture priority, manual exposure, and ISO allow swift, tactile adjustments - a boon for photographers who like direct creative control without delving into menus.

In contrast, Nikon’s L810 adopts a more simplified control approach. There’s no aperture or shutter priority on offer, resulting in a more point-and-shoot style experience with limited manual override. This reflects its focus on convenience and zoom flexibility rather than nuanced control.

Both cameras lack electronic viewfinders, relying solely on their rear LCDs, but the EX-10’s touch-enabled swivel screen offers more user-friendly navigation and creative framing possibilities.

Sensor Architecture & Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The sensor is the soul of any camera, dictating much of image quality potential. Here, the Casio EX-10 boasts a 1/1.7” CMOS sensor, measuring 7.44×5.58mm with 12MP resolution. The larger sensor area (41.52 mm²) inherently results in better light gathering capacity, improved dynamic range, and cleaner high ISO performance compared to smaller sensors. The CMOS technology further benefits from faster readout speeds and more advanced noise management.

The Nikon L810 houses a smaller 1/2.3” CCD sensor (6.17×4.55mm, 16MP resolution, 28.07 mm² sensor area). These sensors were common in earlier compacts but tend to struggle with noise and dynamic range, especially in dim conditions. Its higher megapixel count doesn’t translate to better quality due to decreased pixel size, which increases noise and reduces high ISO usability.

In practice, the Casio’s sensor delivers more detailed, cleaner images with richer color depth and highlights retention - qualities essential for landscape and portrait shooters demanding fidelity. The Nikon L810 performs reliably under bright conditions but tends to falter as light drops or shadows deepen.

Display & User Interface Usability

Casio’s 3.5-inch Super Clear LCD with 180-degree upward tilt and touchscreen functionality empowers photographers to compose shots from creative angles and navigate settings intuitively. The touch interface is responsive, supports touch autofocus, and speeds up menu browsing - essential in fast-paced shooting.

On the other hand, Nikon’s L810 leans on a more basic 3-inch fixed TFT LCD with an anti-reflection coating. While sufficiently bright and detailed, it offers no touch features nor articulation, thus limiting creative framing and user interaction.

For anyone valuing flexibility and modern controls, the EX-10’s display is a clear advantage that enhances shooting versatility, especially in street or macro photography where unusual angles prevail.

Optical Versatility and Lens Performance

Lens quality often shapes the user experience as much as sensor specs - here they tell contrasting tales.

The Casio EX-10’s 28-112mm equivalent (4x optical zoom) lens features an impressively fast aperture of f/1.8-2.5, unusual in compact cameras. This means more light reaches the sensor, significantly aiding low-light photography, night scenes, and portraiture with creamy bokeh. The relatively short zoom range focuses the EX-10’s strength toward everyday walk-around use and portraits rather than distant subjects.

Conversely, the Nikon L810’s mighty 23-585mm (26x zoom) lens affords tremendous telephoto reach, making wildlife and sports shooters’ hearts beat faster. The lens aperture, however, is slower at f/3.1-5.9, which reduces performance in low light and makes isolating subjects with shallow depth of field challenging.

So: choose the Casio for speed and low-light advantage or the Nikon if you need extensive zoom for distant subjects. Neither lens is interchangeable, but their built-in versatility serves distinct user priorities.

Focusing Systems and Speed: Who Nails the Shot First?

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus, but with different feature sets and performance.

The Casio EX-10 shines with its suite of AF modes, including single, continuous, tracking, selective area, and face detection. The touch AF adds an interactive way to select focus points - a rarity at this price point - increasing accuracy for portraits or macro. Its AF speed is swift and reliable under a broad range of conditions, and continuous AF helps capture minor subject movements.

The Nikon L810 offers simpler AF options with center and multi-area modes and face detection but lacks continuous or tracking AF support. Autofocus is notably slower, and hunt is common in low light or contrast-challenged scenes. This impacts shooting action or moving subjects, where responsiveness is critical.

For wildlife or sports photographers craving precision and speed, the EX-10 holds a decisive edge.

Burst and Shutter Performance: Action Shooters, Take Note

Casio’s EX-10 supports a rapid 10 fps continuous shooting rate, impressive for a compact, offering better chances to freeze motion or catch fleeting expressions. Shutter speed ranges from 1/250s to 1/4000s, covering most shooting needs - though very fast action shooting might demand faster shutter speeds.

Meanwhile, the L810 can manage only 1.2 fps, well below modern expectations. Shutter speeds max out at 1/8000s, but the lack of fast burst severely limits capturing fast-paced moments reliably.

For photographers focusing on sports or wildlife, the EX-10’s capability to “spray and pray” with confidence is a real advantage.

Low-Light and ISO Performance: How Do They Handle the Shadows?

Thanks to the larger sensor and faster lens, the Casio EX-10 supports native ISO up to 12,800, though practical noise-free images emerge up to around 800-1600 ISO. Its CMOS sensor design coupled with advanced noise reduction algorithms means the EX-10 keeps image quality surprisingly clean for a compact.

In contrast, the Nikon L810 tops out at ISO 1600, but the CCD sensor shows noise and softening at even moderate ISO levels (around 400-800). Under dim conditions, expect grainier, muddier images. Night or astro photography enthusiasts will find this limiting.

Macro Capabilities: Get Close and Personal

Both cameras allow focusing down to approximately 1cm, allowing pleasing macro images. Casio’s EX-10 is especially enjoyable here because the tilting touchscreen aids framing from low or awkward angles, and its lens’ bright aperture also helps freeze subtle subject movements.

The Nikon’s fixed 3-inch screen and slower lens make macro work a tad less convenient, though still feasible. Neither camera offers focus stacking or bracketing, limiting creative macro workflows.

Video: Moving Images and Sound Capture

The EX-10 outperforms the L810 in video features. It captures Full HD 1080p at 30fps with H.264 compression, providing clear, detailed footage. Its electronic image stabilization is a plus for handheld recording. Unfortunately, it lacks external microphone input, limiting audio capture options.

The L810 records up to HD 720p at 30fps only, with no stabilization or audio input either, producing comparatively softer video footage.

Neither model targets serious videographers, but if your video needs are casual yet quality-conscious, the EX-10 is the stronger choice.

Battery Life and Storage Practicalities

The Casio EX-10 uses a proprietary lithium-ion battery rated for around 455 shots per charge, efficient for day-long use without spares under moderate shooting.

The Nikon L810 relies on four AA batteries, a practical choice in some travel scenarios (easy replacements worldwide), but it offers only about 300 shots per charge. Over time, this can become cumbersome or expensive.

Both cameras support SD/SDHC/SDXC storage cards, with single slots sufficient for enthusiast use.

Connectivity and Extras

The EX-10 includes built-in wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi), allowing easy photo transfer and remote camera control, features absent on the Nikon L810. Such modern connections increase workflow flexibility for casual sharing and backup.

Both feature HDMI and USB 2.0 ports for wired connections.

Practical Use Cases: Which Camera Shines Where?

To help you decide, here’s my take on how they stack up across major photography disciplines:

Casio EX 10 front Casio EX 10 screen back Nikon L810 front Nikon L810 screen back

• Portraits: Casio EX-10’s fast lens and nuanced AF deliver superior skin tones and nice background separation. Nikon L810’s slower aperture limits bokeh; less refined AF can lose eye sharpness.
• Landscapes: EX-10’s larger sensor captures richer dynamic range and clarity; tilting screen aids composition. L810’s 26x zoom allows distant details but compromised image quality.
• Wildlife: Nikon L810’s extended reach excels if major distance coverage is key, but EX-10’s quicker AF and burst help nail closer, faster subjects.
• Sports: EX-10’s faster burst and AF outperform L810’s limited capabilities, crucial to capturing fast action.
• Street: Casio’s discreet size, touchscreen LCD, and fast lens win here for low-light candid shots; Nikon is bulkier with slower operation.
• Macro: Both capable, but EX-10’s screen and lens speed offer more creative freedom.
• Night/Astro: EX-10’s ISO range and sensor superior for low light, while L810 produces noisy images early.
• Video: Casio again leads with Full HD and stabilization.
• Travel: L810 AA battery convenience balances Casio’s wireless features and compactness; EX-10 wins for overall versatility.
• Professional Workflows: Casio’s RAW support and exposure modes support editing and creative flexibility; L810 lacks RAW and advanced exposure controls.

Scorecards and Overall Verdict

While neither camera is a flagship, the Casio EX-10 demonstrates a more modern, versatile design appealing to enthusiasts who want quality images, creative control, and decent video in a compact form factor. The Nikon L810’s superzoom reach is compelling for casual zoom-hungry users but comes at the cost of slower operation and image quality compromises.

Final Recommendations: Match Your Priorities and Budget

• If image quality, low-light performance, and manual controls matter most - particularly for portraits, street, landscapes, and travel - the Casio EX-10 is your choice. Its sharper images, rich colors, and versatile interface reward the modest price premium.

• If your focus is long reach superzoom for wildlife or distant events, and you value battery convenience for casual shooting, then the Nikon L810 remains a reliable, budget-friendly option despite older specs.

Both cameras remain relevant for enthusiasts seeking compact solutions, but hands-on experience shows the Casio EX-10’s more advanced sensor and controls truly elevate creative potential. It’s a solid investment for photographers ready to step beyond basic point-and-shoot limitations.

In conclusion, this deep-dive illustrates how sensor size, lens speed, AF sophistication, and ergonomics make tangible differences you can see and feel in real shooting. While both cameras have unique strengths, it’s the Casio EX-10's deliberate design choices and modern features that convince me it deserves top honors in this head-to-head.

Happy shooting - whatever your choice!