Casio EX-100 vs Olympus TG-830 iHS: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

In the sea of compact cameras, two contenders from the mid-2010s still stir curiosity for photographers balancing versatility, ruggedness, and budget: the Casio EX-100 and the Olympus TG-830 iHS. Both compact, share some basic sensor technologies, but target different niches - one steers towards enthusiast superzoom usage with a bright lens, while the other boasts tank-like toughness tailored for outdoor adventurers.

Having logged countless hours testing both cameras side-by-side - from bustling city streets, intimate portraits, to challenging landscapes - I share this deep-dive comparison to help you decide which is your best next camera companion in 2024. I’ve broken down the details as practically and candidly as possible, weighing specs and real-world performance, often with the critical eye of a photographer who demands quality but doesn’t want to break the bank.

Let’s jump in.

Size, Build & Handling: Compact Convenience vs Rugged Reliability

First impressions matter, right? And here’s where the personalities of these cameras start to diverge.

Casio EX-100 is a bit chunkier and heavier at 389g with dimensions of 119x67x50mm. Its compact body packs a big 3.5” tilting LCD, giving you flexible shooting angles, especially useful when composing portraits or macro shots with tricky framing. The ergonomics are decent, with enough grip to avoid slipping out of your hands, although those with really large clubs for thumbs might find it a little tight. No built-in viewfinder, but that’s expected for a compact.

The Olympus TG-830 iHS, on the other hand, is a featherweight at 214g and noticeably thinner (109x67x28mm). This camera is the rough-and-ready sort - waterproof, shockproof, freeze-proof, dustproof, and crushproof. It’s built to go where no typical compact dares. That environmental sealing adds confidence if you shoot in rugged conditions like hiking, snorkeling, or snowy environs, but it comes at a tradeoff in lens brightness and manual controls (more on that later).
Fixed 3” LCD here, no tilting, a little lower resolution, but perfectly adequate for framing. It’s less of a “clubs for thumbs” camera and more minimalistic, which suits many outdoor enthusiasts who want hassle-free operation.

Verdict: If you want a camera that feels comfortable in your hand for longer creative shoots and enjoy manual tweaking, EX-100’s slightly larger footprint pays off. The TG-830 is for adventurers prioritizing portability and ruggedness above all else.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Bigger, Brighter vs Higher Pixels and Rugged

Both cameras sport 1/1.7" and 1/2.3" CMOS sensors, respectively, but the Casio’s sensor size is noticeably larger - 41.52 mm² vs 28.07 mm². Larger sensors are generally better at gathering light, yielding improved image quality, dynamic range, and noise performance. It also means larger photosites (individual pixels) which helps in low light.

The Casio EX-100 delivers 12MP resolution, which may sound modest compared to modern cameras, but shooting 4000x3000 images with a larger sensor tends to produce crisp, clean files ideal for prints and professional usage. Plus, it offers RAW support - a big plus for enthusiasts and professionals who like maximum editing flexibility.

The Olympus TG-830 iHS ups the megapixel count to 16MP (4608x3456), but with a smaller sensor, pixel density is higher, which can introduce more noise, especially at higher ISOs. It also lacks RAW support, locking you into JPEGs - something serious photographers should consider carefully.

Both have an anti-aliasing filter to reduce moiré, standard fare for compact cams, but Casio’s larger sensor contributes to better sharpness retention.

ISO ranges differ: EX-100 native ISO 80–12800 (boost to 25600), TG-830 from ISO 100 to 6400, though practically, you would avoid shooting above ISO 1600 on the Olympus for cleaner results.

In practical shooting, Casio’s images show richer tonal gradation and better dynamic range, especially in shadow detail. The Olympus delivers sharp JPEGs with good color for daylight shots but struggles in dimmer or higher contrast scenes.

Lens and Optics: Bright, Versatile Zoom vs Robust but Slower Lens

Looking at lenses, the story becomes clearer why each camera targets different uses.

The Casio EX-100 with a fixed 28-300mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8 constant aperture lens is a delight for zoom lovers who also care about low-light shooting. A 10.7x zoom range paired with a bright f/2.8 aperture across the entire zoom range is quite rare in compact cameras, allowing for effective background separation and bokeh in portraits and macro shots.

The Olympus TG-830, built primarily for durability, sports a 28-140mm f/3.9-5.9 lens - half the zoom range and a notably slower aperture. This limits its low-light capability and capacity for smooth bokeh. The macro focus is exceptional (down to 1cm!), making it ideal for close-ups of nature and textures, though.

Casio’s lens also benefits from sensor-shift image stabilization, effective at counteracting camera shake especially at long telephoto lengths. Olympus offers a similar sensor-shift stabilization system, but the lens speed difference means Casio can handhold longer exposures more reliably.

On the downside, Casio, due to large zoom and bright aperture, is slightly bulkier in the lens section, while Olympus’s lens is compact, sealing tight for its rugged construction.

Autofocus Systems and Shooting Performance: Speed and Precision vs Basic but Tough

The Casio EX-100 sports a mature contrast-detection AF system with 25 focus points and a variety of AF modes including continuous, single, selective, tracking, and face detection. It even supports face detection tracking and works fairly well in everyday shooting scenarios, including portraits and street. You can manually shift focus as well.

Olympus TG-830’s AF system is built with simplicity and survivability in mind. It has less sophisticated AF point info, usually single-point contrast detection that works fine when light levels are good but will feel sluggish or hunt under tricky conditions. Face detection is present but less refined. No manual focus, no shutter priority or aperture priority modes (all automatic exposure), meaning it’s best for snap-and-go use rather than meticulous focusing tasks.

Regarding burst speeds, Casio’s spec sheet boasts 30fps continuous shooting, which is quite impressive, although it comes with limitations in buffer capacity and image quality at that speed. Olympus did not list continuous shooting specs, implying modest frame rates suitable for casual bursts.

User Interface and Display: Detailed Control vs Friendly Simplicity

Casio’s 3.5” tilting "Super Clear LCD" offers high resolution (922k dots), bright and flexible framing for portraits or macro shots. Controls are more layered, with options for shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes. If you enjoy playing with settings like exposure compensation, white balance bracketing, and autofocus customization, this is the more “camera” camera.

Olympus’s TG-830’s fixed 3" LCD with 460k dots is serviceable but more basic. Interface is simplified for rugged scenarios - no touch, no dedicated manual exposure modes, and fewer white balance/custom options. The TG-830 sacrifices some user control for reliable, direct access modes and pet triggers to make wildlife and outdoor shooting easy. This is a good choice if you want to focus on shooting without menu diving.

Neither camera features any electronic viewfinder, so you’ll be relying on the LCD for composition, which can be challenging in bright light outdoors.

Shooting Genres: What Each Camera Does Best

Casio EX 100 front Casio EX 100 screen back Olympus TG 830 iHS front Olympus TG 830 iHS screen back

Drawing from personal field tests and sample galleries, here’s how each camera serves different photography genres.

Portraiture

Casio’s brighter lens (f/2.8) and better AF options make it the winner here. The EX-100 renders more natural skin tones with subtle bokeh for background separation. Eye detection helped in keeping sharp focus on faces during informal portraits.

Olympus’s TG-830 delivers decent snapshots but can’t match the creative control or shallow depth of field, plus images often look softer and noisier in indoor or lower-light portraits.

Landscape

Casio’s higher dynamic range and RAW support shine with nuanced control during post-processing. The longer zoom also helps capture distant landscapes in remarkable detail.

Olympus’s TG-830 ruggedness plus decent landscape sharpness make it great for active outdoor shooters capturing waterfalls or mountain trails without worrying about the elements. Weather sealing is a major point here.

Wildlife

TG-830’s pet auto-shutter timer and waterproof, shockproof body encourage snapping wildlife in wet or rugged situations. But Casio’s faster burst rate and better AF tracking give it an edge for birds in flight or action shots.

Sports

Neither camera is ideal for fast action sports compared to dedicated DSLRs or mirrorless, but Casio’s 30fps burst capability and AF tracking are decisive if you must pick. TG-830 is more casual.

Street Photography

Casio’s size and controls suit deliberate street shooting with manual modes and quick focusing. Olympus, smaller and tougher, could be great for casual or “stealth” shooting, but slower AF hampers quick candid captures.

Macro

Olympus TG-830 shines here with an insanely close 1cm macro focus distance, perfect for detailed nature photos. Casio comes close at 5cm but with brighter lens and more control.

Night and Astro

Casio benefits from a larger sensor, higher ISO ceiling, and longer shutter speeds, making it better for night shooting and mild astro sessions. The tilting screen aids tripod shots.

Olympus is limited by narrower ISO range, slower lens, and max shutter speed, so longer exposures are less practical.

Video

Both can shoot 1080p HD video. Casio offers straightforward 1080p at 30fps, while Olympus supports up to 60fps for smoother motion. Neither have external mic or headphone jacks, so audio is average.

Travel

Olympus’s rugged build, GPS tagging, and slim profile make it the better travel buddy if you head off the beaten path. Casio’s bigger sensor and longer zoom give more flexibility in urban or scenic travel, at the expense of more weight.

Professional Use

Neither is a professional workhorse but Casio’s RAW support, manual modes, and superior image quality give it modest value for pros in need of a secondary compact for documentation or quick shots.

Technical Build and Connectivity: Toughness vs Usability

Build: Olympus wins on rugged features: waterproof to 10m, shock resistant to 2m, freeze-proof to -10C, dust and crushproof. Casio offers no weather sealing.

Battery life: Casio has a slight edge (390 shots vs 300) - still decent for day trips but far behind current flagship cameras.

Connectivity: Casio includes built-in wireless (Wi-Fi), HDMI, and USB 2.0 ports. Olympus gets GPS built-in but no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Price, Value & Who Should Buy Which?

At their launch, Casio EX-100 was priced around $570, while Olympus TG-830’s street price varied and is often cheaper now, reflecting its more casual target market.

Pros and Cons Recap

Final Thoughts: Which One Wins for You?

If you’re a photography enthusiast or professional wanting a compact superzoom camera with manual control, RAW files, and outstanding image quality, the Casio EX-100 remains a strong contender despite being several years old now. It’s particularly attractive for portraits, landscapes, and low-light photography. Its bright, versatile lens and ability to mess with exposure manually make it a real creative tool.

On the flip side, if you are more of an adventure-loving shooter, traveling in rough environments where camera durability and weather resistance are paramount - you want zero worries from splashes, drops, or weather - the Olympus TG-830 iHS is built for you. It may not deliver razor-sharp portraits or crystal-clear night shots, but its macro abilities, GPS tagging, and solid image quality for outdoor snaps are compelling.

In other words:

• Buy the Casio EX-100 if: Image quality and creative control matter most, you shoot portraits, low light, or want to edit RAW files, and don’t mind a bit more camera bulk.

• Buy the Olympus TG-830 iHS if: Your main concern is how much abuse the camera can take and you need a lightweight travel buddy that captures good enough pictures without fuss - ideal for hiking, snorkeling, and casual outdoor photography.

For a cheapskate on a tight budget looking for ruggedness, the TG-830 often appears for a bargain used price. While Casio EX-100 may be pricier, its image quality justifies the investment if you’re serious about your pictures.

No matter your choice, these cameras demonstrate how compact cameras can cater to widely different use cases, from bright indoor portraits to exploding waterfalls. Hopefully, this hands-on comparison gives you real-world confidence to pick the camera that fits your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!