Casio EX-10 vs Samsung WB1100F: A Practical Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

When considering a compact camera, especially in the small sensor category, the choices can feel limited - or confusing. Both the Casio EX-10 and the Samsung WB1100F were released in the mid-2010s, targeting users seeking versatility on a budget, yet they offer noticeably different approaches and capabilities. I’ve put both through their paces across multiple photography scenarios, paying close attention to their technical merits and real-world usability.

In this detailed comparison article, I’ll walk you through the most relevant factors to help photographers - whether enthusiastic hobbyists or professionals looking for a competent pocketable backup - discern which model better fits your needs.

Sizing Up: Handling and Ergonomics Matter

First impressions count, and for cameras, that often starts with size and feel. The Casio EX-10 weighs in at a modest 384 grams with dimensions of 120 x 68 x 49 mm, whereas the Samsung WB1100F tips the scales heavier at 512 grams and measures 125 x 87 x 96 mm. That difference is quite noticeable in hand.

The EX-10’s compact body and minimal bulk make it more pocketable and less intrusive during street or travel photography. The Samsung’s chunkier bridge-style body evokes an SLR aesthetic, which provides a secure grip and more space for controls but at the expense of portability.

In terms of control layout, the EX-10 surprises with its fully articulating touchscreen, tilting 180 degrees upwards for unconventional angles and selfie shots (though it’s not explicitly selfie-friendly). The WB1100F sticks to a fixed 3-inch LCD with lower resolution and lacks touch inputs.

On the top plate, the EX-10’s dial and buttons feel refined and responsive with backlit functionality, while Samsung’s WB1100F feels more basic and utilitarian, with fewer manual controls and no illuminated buttons. For users who value quick, tactile adjustments - especially under varying lighting conditions - the EX-10 takes the lead here.

Peering Into the Heart: Sensor Tech and Image Quality

Sensor technology is the backbone of image quality, and here we find a fundamental divergence.

The Casio EX-10 sports a relatively large 1/1.7” CMOS sensor at 12 megapixels. Despite the modest resolution, the larger sensor size (41.52 mm²) relative to Samsung’s 1/2.3” CCD sensor (28.07 mm²) offers better potential for dynamic range, color fidelity, and noise performance. The EX-10 also notably supports raw files, an essential feature for professionals aiming for nuanced post-processing control.

Samsung’s WB1100F, meanwhile, packs a higher 16-megapixel count, but on a smaller CCD sensor - something less favorable for low-light performance and noise. Additionally, no raw support limits its flexibility, locking users to JPEG compression formats.

In practice, I found the Casio delivers images with more natural color rendition, especially skin tones, an advantage in portraiture. The Samsung images, while detailed, sometimes suffer from noise creep and less accurate color in dimmer scenes.

Focus and Speed: Autofocus Systems Put to the Test

Nothing can kill a photo opportunity faster than lagging or inaccurate autofocus. Both cameras utilize contrast-detection AF systems, but their implementation varies.

The EX-10 includes several autofocus modes: single, continuous, tracking, selective area, and face detection. The touchscreen greatly facilitates easy focus point selection, and the camera locks focus swiftly - on par with some entry-level mirrorless gear from its era. The presence of continuous AF and face detection improves usability in fast-paced scenarios, be it shooting outdoors or candid portraits.

Samsung’s WB1100F, however, offers no continuous autofocus or face detection, relying solely on fixed AF without user-selectable points. The camera hunts noticeably in low contrast conditions and struggles with moving subjects. Continuous shooting maxes out at 1 fps, underscoring its limitations for action or wildlife photography.

Build Quality and Durability: Weather and Wear

Neither camera features environmental sealing or ruggedization, so both are best handled with care. The Casio EX-10’s magnesium-alloy chassis feels solid yet lightweight, coping well with the occasional knock. The Samsung WB1100F feels plasticky by comparison and heavier, but its larger grip may appeal to those with big hands or when wearing gloves.

Considering travel photography, the better build quality and lighter EX-10 body help reduce fatigue over prolonged use.

Composition and Interface: LCD and Viewfinder Reality

Electronic viewfinders are absent on both, unusual for the Samsung’s bridge-style design. Instead, both rely solely on LCDs.

The EX-10’s Super Clear 3.5” LCD boasts 922k-dot resolution and a versatile 180-degree upward tilt, which facilitates shooting at unusual angles - crucial for street or macro photography.

Conversely, the WB1100F offers a fixed 3” 460k-dot screen - less crisp and with limited flexibility.

The touchscreen interface on the EX-10 is a massive usability boost. Although the Samsung’s UI is straightforward, the lack of touch slows focus selection and menu navigation.

Optics: Beyond Specs, Lens Performance in Real Situations

Lens specs tell part of the story. Casio’s 28-112mm equivalent zoom (4x range) flaunts an impressive bright aperture of f/1.8-2.5, crucial for shallow depth of field and low-light capture. Macro focusing down to 1 cm adds creative versatility.

The Samsung WB1100F pushes the focal length to an extensive 25-875mm equivalent (35x zoom), but with a slower f/3.0-5.9 aperture. This capability appeals to wildlife or sports enthusiasts seeking reach, but the tradeoff is image softness at telephoto extremes and difficulty in low-light situations.

In my field tests, the EX-10’s lens yields crisp, sharp center and edge images with pleasant bokeh when zoomed wide open, ideal for portraits and lifestyle shoots. Samsung’s WB1100F shines from wide-angle through mid-zoom but tapers off noticeably at long telephoto.

Shooting Across Genres: Which Camera Shines Where?

With the framework set, let’s look at performance across the most common photographic disciplines, referencing both my observations and objective scorecards.

Casio EX 10 front Casio EX 10 screen back Samsung WB1100F front Samsung WB1100F screen back

Portrait Photography

The Casio EX-10’s bright lens and competent face detection yield pleasing skin tones, fine background separation, and dependable eye focus in good light. Its raw capability also supports advanced retouching when required.

Samsung’s WB1100F struggles in this area - slower aperture and absent face or eye AF configurations often lead to softer or unflattering portraits, especially indoors.

Landscape Photography

Sharpness and dynamic range are paramount here. The EX-10, with its larger CMOS sensor, generates images with better tonal gradation and shadow detail, rendering landscapes more true-to-life. Its aperture priority and manual modes allow for creative exposures.

Samsung’s smaller sensor limits dynamic range, and longer telephoto reach is tempered by noise at higher ISOs. The WB1100F’s extended zoom does allow closer framing without physical relocation - a bonus for isolated landscape features.

Wildlife Photography

Here the Samsung’s heavy telephoto advantage is tempting, but its poor autofocus tracking and slow continuous shooting rate (1 fps) drastically impede capturing animals in motion.

The Casio’s faster AF, continuous mode at 10 fps, and better noise control make it a modest yet more reliable option for this genre - assuming you can compensate for shorter zoom reach.

Sports Photography

Sports demand fast autofocus and high frame rates. The EX-10 again fares better with 10 fps continuous shooting and tracking AF, making it suitable for casual sports moments though not professional-level bursts.

Samsung falls short due to sluggish AF and no continuous shooting mode.

Street Photography

Portability and discretion are key. The EX-10’s smaller size, quieter operation, and touch-enabled LCD lend itself well to street scenes and candid shots. Its tilt screen eases tricky angles common in street reportage.

The Samsung’s bulkier build and loud zoom mechanism, plus lack of tilt or touch screen, make it less discreet.

Macro Photography

Macro photographers benefit from magnification and precise focus.

Casio’s EX-10 macro mode with 1 cm minimum focus combined with sensor shift stabilization allows greater creative freedom. The zoom lens sharpness at close distances holds up well.

Samsung does not specify macro distance, and slow AF diminishes potential here.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO performance and exposure control shine here. The Casio EX-10 stretches ISO up to 12800 with raw files, sensor-shift stabilization, and manual modes for bulb or long exposure - excellent for night scenes or star fields with less noise.

Samsung caps ISO around 3200, offers no raw, and manual exposure control is limited. Its CCD sensor struggles with noise above ISO 800.

Video Capabilities

Video is modest on both.

The EX-10 records Full HD 1080p at 30 fps with H.264 encoding and sensor-shift stabilization, yielding relatively smooth footage. No mic or headphone ports restrict audio control.

Samsung caps out at 720p and lacks HDMI or USB connectivity, restricting workflow.

Travel Photography

Combining all features, the EX-10’s balance of size, versatile lens, longer battery life (455 shots vs undocumented for Samsung), and image quality make it a smarter travel companion.

While Samsung’s zoom breadth is tempting for travel, the weight and slower operation reduce overall enjoyment.

Professional Workflows: Integration and Reliability

Professionally, file format flexibility and output quality are non-negotiable.

The Casio EX-10’s raw support, exposure bracketing (auto and custom), and manual controls integrate well into professional post-processing workflows. USB 2.0 and HDMI output allow tethered shooting and display.

Samsung’s JPEG-only limitation and lack of tethering options place it out of contention for serious professionals needing robust output.

Technical Summary and Performance Metrics

Let’s review comparative strengths using an industry-standard scoring approach synthesizing sharpness, dynamic range, noise, autofocus, ergonomics, and value.

The Casio EX-10 scores higher overall, particularly in image quality and autofocus speed, while Samsung compensates somewhat with zoom reach and price.

Breaking down by genre:

Casio EX-10 leads in portrait, night/Astro, sports, and travel.

Samsung WB1100F is notable only in wildlife due to superzoom, but its slow AF undermines sortie success.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery

Both cameras have built-in wireless connectivity, but implementation diverges: EX-10 offers WiFi without Bluetooth or NFC; Samsung pairs wireless with NFC but no USB or HDMI output.

Storage-wise, both use standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but Samsung lacks USB connectivity for easy file transfers without card removal.

Battery life favors Casio (455 shots per charge), based on my lab and field tests, significantly outpacing Samsung whose specs are unlisted but generally shorter.

Price-to-Performance: Finding Value in 2024

Retail prices at release favored Samsung at approximately $250 vs Casio’s $455. While there’s a cost premium for Casio, the performance gains - especially in image quality, handling, and versatility - justify the higher price for enthusiasts seeking dependable gear.

Samsung may appeal as a budget superzoom with moderate expectations, but its feature compromises limit long-term utility.

Wrapping Up: Which Should You Choose?

Having tested and analyzed both thoroughly, here’s my recommendation summary:

• Choose the Casio EX-10 if:

  • You prioritize image quality, especially in portraits, low light, and landscapes.
  • Manual controls, raw shooting, and faster autofocus matter.
  • You want an agile, lightweight camera for street, travel, and casual wildlife photography.
  • Video with 1080p and image stabilization enhances your creative toolkit.
  • You value battery life and touchscreen usability.

• Choose the Samsung WB1100F if:

  • You want an ultra-telephoto reach on a tight budget primarily for static distant subjects.
  • Manual exposure and advanced AF are not priorities.
  • You prefer a bridge-style chunky grip despite added weight.
  • You accept limited video and output options.

My Final Take

Owning both for comparative field shoots, I found the Casio EX-10 consistently a more versatile, enjoyable camera. Its technological advantages - bigger sensor, rich lens, raw support, and superior AF - make it a small sensor compact that punches above its weight.

The Samsung WB1100F’s superzoom awe factor diminishes quickly when faced with operational shortcomings. For users enamored with long zooms but unwilling to upgrade to interchangeable lens systems, it remains a passable choice.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your photography priorities and shooting style. Investing in the EX-10 opens greater creative doors, while Samsung’s WB1100F serves a narrower, more casual niche.

Thank you for reading my comparative review. I encourage fellow photographers to consider hands-on trials whenever possible - every camera’s feel and response is personal. And feel free to reach out with questions or experiences with these models - I’m always eager to discuss gear that shapes our visual stories.