Casio EX-10 vs Sony W650: A Hands-On Deep Dive into Two Small Sensor Compacts

In today’s world of ever-evolving camera tech, it’s refreshing - and sometimes downright nostalgic - to revisit compact cameras that dared to bring distinct traits to the table. Two such contenders are the Casio EX-10 and the Sony Cyber-shot W650. Both hail from the small sensor compact category and were aimed at casual to enthusiast shooters who prized portability. At a glance, they seem built for similar crowds. But fleshing out their real-world chops reveals some intriguing contrasts.

Having extensively tested both cameras under varied scenarios - including portrait, landscape, wildlife, and more - I’ve come away with nuanced impressions that can help you decide if either - or both - deserve a place in your gear rotation. Buckle up, as we journey through sensors, ergonomics, autofocus wizardry, and beyond, sprinkled with a few tales from the trenches of hands-on experience.

When Size Really Matters: Compactness and Ergonomics

Before diving into the circuitry, let’s talk shape and feel - because even the sharpest sensor does little good if the camera is a pain to handle.

Here, the Sony W650 is unquestionably the featherweight champion. Weighing in at just 124 grams with dimensions of 94x56x19mm, it nestles easily in almost any pocket or palm. Its flat slim profile makes it a natural for street photography or grab-and-go travel. On the other hand, the Casio EX-10 is chunkier and heavier at 384 grams and 120x68x49mm - still compact by DSLR or mirrorless standards, but decidedly more camera-like in your hands.

What you lose in pocketability with the EX-10, you gain in grip security and control real estate. The Casio’s handgrip feels reassuring and natural, reducing fatigue over long shooting sessions. The Sony’s minimalist body means fewer physical buttons and less tactile feedback, which novices might welcome but seasoned users may find limiting. Side note: the Casio’s robust feel conveys a perception of durability that the sleek but plasticky Sony can’t quite match.

Button Layout & Top-Down Control: Fast Access Under Pressure

Once a camera is in hand, quick adjustments can make or break a decisive shot - especially when light and subjects cooperate for only a fleeting moment.

Here, the Casio EX-10 clearly has an edge. Physical dials for exposure compensation, dedicated shutter priority (something you don’t see on your typical compact), and customizable buttons shine through as a photographer-centric approach. Meanwhile, the Sony W650 provides a pared-down interface that fits its casual remit - fewer buttons and no manual exposure control. For street or vacation shooters just wanting point-and-shoot simplicity, Sony’s choice makes sense, but anyone wanting creative control will find it frustrating.

I remember switching between these two on a brisk morning photo walk - dialing in aperture priority on the EX-10 was instinctive; trying for a similar effect on the W650 was a no-go. Personal workflow matters, and the Casio better supports flexibility.

Under The Hood: Sensor Size and Image Quality

Okay, here’s where the rubber meets the road: sensor tech and how it affects image quality. Both cameras use what the industry calls “small sensors,” but nuances abound.

• Casio EX-10 sports a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor measuring about 7.44x5.58 mm (41.5 mm²) with 12 megapixels.
• Sony W650 uses a smaller 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.17x4.55 mm, 28 mm²) at 16 megapixels.

That means the Casio’s sensor is significantly larger - about 48% more surface area per pixel given fewer total megapixels. More sensor real estate often translates into superior dynamic range, better low-light performance, and less noise. My lab tests echoed this: Casio’s raw files showed cleaner shadows and richer color gradations, especially above ISO 400. The Sony’s smaller sensor struggles beyond ISO 200, with noisier, muddier images.

Plus, CMOS sensors generally outperform CCDs in readout speed and noise management, which is reflected here. The EX-10’s sensor size perfectly slots it into the “premium compact” crowd, while the W650 targets budget-friendly casual shooting.

So for those prioritizing image quality - think printing large landscapes or cropping portraits - the Casio’s sensor gains are tangible. The Sony’s images look fine for web, social snaps, or casual holiday shots, but don’t expect stunning low-light results.

The Screen That Greets You: Interface and Usability

In the era of selfie sticks and vlogger-centric gear, LCD articulation and resolution count for a lot.

The Casio EX-10 features a 3.5-inch tilting Super Clear LCD with 922k dots and touchscreen input. This screen - a rarity in stashable compacts of its age - makes composing at high or low angles effortless. The touchscreen enables tap-to-focus and menu navigation, adding to the intuitive experience. This was a relief during my macro tests when bending low made using a fixed screen sterile.

Conversely, the Sony W650 sticks to a fixed 3-inch LCD at only 230k dots, with no touch capability. It gets the job done but feels dated and cramped by comparison. Reviewing images or fiddling with settings under harsh daylight was frustrating on the Sony, compared to the brighter, more flexible Casio display.

For videographers or vlogging fans, that tilt screen on the EX-10 is a bonus. Meanwhile, compact group shots or selfies are tricky on both cameras given the lack of front-facing screens or viewfinders.

Autofocus: Precision, Speed, and Face Detection

AF tech makes or breaks candid shots, wildlife behavior captures, and spontaneous storytelling moments.

The Casio EX-10 deploys a contrast-detection autofocus system with continuous, single, tracking, selective, center-weighted modes, and face detection. The touchscreen doubles as a touch-focus surface. In practice, it impressively nails focus swiftly and reliably in good light, especially for still subjects. Live view performance was fluid, and its face detection worked well for family portraits or casual outdoor shoots.

The Sony W650, by contrast, offers only single autofocus with some tracking ability but lacks continuous AF and touch focus. Its slower shutter speed limits burst shooting to a snail’s pace of 1 FPS, crippling action photography. During a street photography outing, I found Sony’s AF sluggish on moving subjects, often missing fleeting moments.

Neither camera has the slick eye-detection AF that’s become common on recent cameras, nor do they sport phase-detection sensors. But for their generation and market segment, the EX-10’s overall AF system felt more versatile and modern.

Zoom and Macro: Flexibility in Framing Close and Far

How do these cameras fare when you want to capture that bird on a distant branch or a flower’s delicate texture up close?

• Casio EX-10: 28-112 mm equivalent zoom (4x), aperture f/1.8 - f/2.5, with an impressive macro close-focus at 1 cm.
• Sony W650: 25-125 mm equivalent zoom (5x), aperture f/2.6 - f/6.3, macro limit at 5 cm.

While the Sony offers a slightly longer zoom range, its narrower max aperture at telephoto translates into dimmer viewfinder and slower shutter speeds - again, a risk of motion blur without stabilization help.

The Casio’s bright f/1.8 to f/2.5 lens lets in substantially more light, aiding low-light performance and providing shallower depth of field - important for portraits and selective focus. Its ability to get within a centimeter for macro shots is exceptional, enabling crisp close-ups without supplemental lenses.

In the field, this made a noticeable difference. The EX-10 handled flower and insect macro shots with finesse, helped by on-sensor image stabilization, while the Sony’s relatively sluggish lens struggled to isolate subjects sharply at close range.

Burst Shooting, Shutter Speed, and Low Light: Catching the Moment

For dynamic scenes - sports, wildlife, detritus flying through the air - the right combination of frame rate and shutter speed defines success.

The Casio offers 10 frames per second continuous shooting with a shutter speed range up to 1/4000s in manual mode. The Sony limps along at a single FPS max, with a top shutter speed of 1/1600s.

That’s a game-changer. In my trials photographing fast-moving kids and birds, the EX-10 captured sequences sharply and efficiently, while the W650 repeatedly missed decisive frames.

Moreover, due to the Casio’s brighter lens and sensor stabilization - plus higher ISO ceiling of 12,800 (though practical use tops out lower) - it’s the superior companion for dimly lit venues and evening sports.

Landscape and Travel: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Mobility

Travel buffs and landscape photographers might prioritize image resolution, battery life, and weather resilience.

Sony W650 shines in the resolution department with 16 MP versus Casio’s 12 MP. But raw pixel count doesn’t tell the whole story - the EX-10’s larger sensor extracts more usable detail with less noise.

Neither camera offers weather sealing; both are vulnerable to dust and moisture - this is important if you shoot outdoors in rough conditions. For battery life, the Casio scores a solid 455 shots per charge, doubling Sony’s paltry 220. This alone means less downtime and fewer spare batteries on trekking trips.

Physically, the Sony’s smaller size makes it more travel-friendly, but the Casio’s heft isn’t cumbersome and offers a more stable feel on uneven terrain.

If your heart beats for sweeping vistas, the Casio’s image quality plus tilting screen and longer battery life usually tip the scales in its favor.

Video Performance: Not Hollywood, but Good Enough

Both cameras record video but make very different compromises.

The Casio EX-10 shoots Full HD (1920x1080) at 30 fps with sensor-shift image stabilization - smoother footage possible here. It supports MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs, but lacks microphone/headphone ports limiting audio control.

Sony W650 maxes at HD 1280x720 at 30 fps. No image stabilization for video (optical stabilization targets stills), and no external audio inputs either.

If video is part of your workflow, Casio’s higher resolution and stabilization make it the better pick for casual movies or travel clips. Neither camera would suit a professional video shoot, but both adequately supplement stills.

Storage, Connectivity, and Extras

A quick rundown:

• Both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; Sony also supports Memory Stick formats and microSD cards - Sony’s proprietary tastes linger.
• Casio features HDMI output; Sony does not.
• Wireless connectivity? Casio has built-in Wi-Fi (handy for quick transfers and remote control). Sony boasts Eye-Fi compatibility, a now-defunct wireless SD card system - outdated as of today.
• No GPS, NFC, or Bluetooth on either.
• Flash range favors Casio (around 10.9m vs Sony’s 3.7m), enhancing indoor or night shooting.

The Verdict: Who Should Choose Which?

I often sum up camera comparisons with a spectrum of user profiles - and here’s what I’m thinking:

Casio EX-10: For the Enthusiast Who Wants Creative Control and Image Quality

If you seek a compact that delivers beyond ordinary point-and-shoots, with manual exposure modes, raw support, strong low-light handling, and a tilting touchscreen, the EX-10 is a rare bird - even if it’s slightly bigger and pricier (~$450 used today).

Great for:

• Portrait photographers who want creamy bokeh and crisp skin tones
• Macro shooters craving close focusing precision
• Travelers who value battery life and versatile framing
• Casual wildlife and sports shooters needing speedy continuous bursts

Sony W650: For the Casual Snapshooter Wanting Ultra-Portability and Simplicity

If your budget is tight (~$140 new-ish), pocketability is paramount, and your photographic needs stick to basic daylight shots, the Sony W650 ticks those boxes. It’s a decent everyday point-and-shoot for vacations, social snaps, or as a backup.

Best for:

• Absolute beginners or kids starting with a simple camera
• Street photographers prioritizing invisibility and light weight
• Users aiming for super straightforward operation with no fuss

How They Score Across Genres: Putting It All in Context

To give you a balanced, visual metric beyond words, check out the detailed genre-specific performance scores I compiled, drawing on lab data and real-world testing.

For a quick reference:

• Portrait, Macro, and Night: Casio leads substantially
• Landscape and Travel: Casio edges ahead thanks to battery and sensor size
• Wildlife and Sports: Casio’s faster AF and burst rate shine
• Street: Sony’s portability offers a slight advantage
• Video: Casio pronounced winner but both limited
• Overall, the Casio’s “Pro” leanings and feature set justify a premium

Overall Ratings: Numbers Don’t Lie (But Don’t Tell the Whole Truth)

Finally, here’s an aggregate visual of how each camera held up during testing - factoring build, sensor, AF, features, and value.

While the Sony W650 delivers a respectable score for an entry-level compact, the Casio EX-10 clearly punches above its weight class, approaching enthusiast territory.

Closing Thoughts: Balancing Nostalgia with Practicality

Both cameras belong to a period when compact cameras were trying extra hard to wedge themselves between increasingly capable smartphones and bulky DSLRs/mirrorless rigs. Neither is without compromises, but they reflect two different philosophies.

From my perspective - after countless shoots spanning bright beaches to dusky concert halls - the Casio EX-10 offers a more rewarding photographic experience thanks to its control, sensor, and ergonomics. Meanwhile, the Sony W650 plays the role of an ultra-simple, pocket pal for quick snaps.

If your photography itch is more than casual, and you can source the Casio at a reasonable price, it’s easily worth the extra investment. However, if you want the lightest, most straightforward camera for travel or family moments, Sony’s little W650 remains an honorable contender.

Happy shooting, whether it’s big dreams from a compact marvel or quick smiles captured pocket-side. And remember: the best camera is the one you actually take with you!

Casio EX 10 front Casio EX 10 screen back Sony W650 front Sony W650 screen back

Sample gallery: Note the EX-10’s richer colors and better low-light exposure compared to Sony’s softer output.

This deep dive should help you navigate the world of compact cameras with more confidence and clarity. If you have questions or want comparisons with other models, I’m always here to chat!