Casio EX-100 vs Olympus XZ-1: An In-Depth Comparison of Two Compact Champions

When diving into the realm of advanced compact cameras, there's always a charming tug-of-war between versatility, image quality, and portability. Today, I’m pitting two intriguing models against each other: the Casio EX-100, launched in early 2014 with its ambitious 10.7x zoom and bright F2.8 lens, against the slightly older but still charismatic Olympus XZ-1 - boasting a famously fast F1.8-2.5 lens and Olympus’s signature TruePic processing from 2011.

Having tested and put hundreds of compact cameras through their paces over 15 years, I’m excited to deliver a balanced, detailed, and relatable comparison focusing on real-world performance and suitability across photography genres, from portraits to wildlife to travel. Let’s unpack these two contenders, starting at the very beginning: size, handling, and build.

Size and Ergonomics: Pocketability vs Comfortable Control

For many photographers, the “how it feels” factor is just as crucial as specs on paper. And here, we have two compacts with slightly different approaches.

Looking at the dimensions and weight, the Casio EX-100 is noticeably chunkier - 119x67x50 mm and about 389 grams - compared to the Olympus XZ-1’s more compact form of 111x65x42 mm, tipping the scales at just 275 grams.

What this means in practice: The EX-100 feels more substantial, closer to a lightweight mirrorless camera, providing a confident grip that’s advantageous during longer shoots or when using its longer zoom. The XZ-1, meanwhile, slips easily into pockets or smaller bags, ideal for street or travel photogs who prioritize minimalism.

Ergonomically, both cameras employ classic compact layouts, but the EX-100’s heft and chunkier controls give it a more DSLR-esque feel. The Olympus’s smaller size places some operational buttons and dials tighter together, potentially challenging for larger hands but great for portability.

Top-Deck Design: Control Layout Showdown

Behind the tactile experience lies the intuitive control interface - essential for working swiftly and creatively in the field.

The Casio EX-100 features an aging-but-capable control scheme without a dedicated top screen, relying on accessible, though somewhat plasticky-feeling, buttons. Its tilting 3.5” LCD complements this control set but I’ll get back to that in a moment.

The Olympus XZ-1, built earlier in the decade, sports a more straightforward yet functional layout, including an aperture ring around the lens - a rarity in compacts and a clear nod toward enthusiast usability. This is a joy for photographers who like tactile aperture control akin to a ‘real’ camera.

While neither offers illuminated buttons or touchscreen functionality, both cameras are easy enough to navigate once you get familiar, but the EX-100’s more modern firmware accelerates response times and menu navigation noticeably.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

In the end, what distinguishes cameras is their ability to capture stunning images. Sensor size, resolution, and technology tell an important story here.

• Casio EX-100: 1/1.7” CMOS sensor, 12 MP, 7.44x5.58 mm sensor size
• Olympus XZ-1: 1/1.63” CCD sensor, 10 MP, 8.07x5.56 mm sensor size

Despite the Casio boasting a slightly higher resolution, the Olympus edges out with a marginally larger sensor surface area - approximately 44.87 mm² vs Casio’s 41.52 mm². Sensor type divergence is also notable; Casio uses CMOS tech, which generally excels at high ISO noise control and readout speed, while Olympus sticks with the older CCD sensor known for vibrant color reproduction but weaker low-light performance.

This translates into some meaningful performance differences:

• Dynamic Range: Olympus’s CCD sensor scopes around 10.4 EV (according to DxOMark data), providing respectable latitude for landscape and high-contrast shooting.
• Low-Light Usability: Casio’s CMOS sensor shines here, with a max native ISO of 12,800 (boost up to 25,600), enabling cleaner images at elevated ISO settings. Olympus tops out at ISO 6400, with a notably noisier output above 800 ISO.

Overall, Casio offers better sensor tech for modern shooting needs, while Olympus offers excellent color fidelity and better base dynamic range - a balance classic enthusiasts will appreciate.

The Lens Battle: Brightness Versus Zoom Range

Lens specs shape your creative options dramatically - and these cameras couldn’t be more different here.

The Casio EX-100 wields a 28-300 mm (equivalent) 10.7x zoom and a constant F2.8 aperture. That’s a remarkable feat for a compact - offering ultimate flexibility from wide landscapes to distant wildlife or sports scenes. The lens’s physical design implements 12 elements in 9 groups, allowing this huge range without too much distortion.

Olympus opts for a more modest 28-112 mm (4x zoom) focal range but brings a speedy lens with an aperture opening of F1.8 to F2.5 depending on focal length - which translates to meaningful low-light and shallow-depth-of-field advantages.

In practice:

• I found the Casio’s zoom a handy Swiss Army knife for travel or wildlife, able to snatch distant subjects sharply given good light.
• The Olympus’s fast lens makes it a dream for portraits or street photography with beautifully blurred backgrounds and better performance indoors or at dusk.

Zoom junkies will lean Casio; low-light and portrait lovers will favor Olympus.

LCD and Viewfinders: Composing Your Masterpiece

Both cameras lack traditional eye-level viewfinders but try to compensate with differing LCD tech.

The Casio EX-100 sports a beefy 3.5” tilting Super Clear LCD with 922k-dot resolution; it’s bright, detailed, and tilts upward to help shooting from low or awkward angles - a huge operational plus.

Olympus XZ-1, meanwhile, offers a slightly smaller 3” OLED fixed LCD at 614k dots, providing punchy colors but lacking tilt functionality, which somewhat limits flexibility for creative composing.

Neither feature touchscreens or built-in electronic viewfinders, though Olympus offered an optional EVF accessory. This impacts usability in bright daylight or for those used to eye-level framing.

In summary, the Casio’s screen feels more modern and adaptable, enhancing usability across genres like macro or street.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy Under Pressure

Auto-focusing capabilities can make or break shots in fast-moving or unpredictable environments.

The EX-100 impresses with 25 contrast-detection focus points and continuous autofocus - a relative rarity in this class - enabling better tracking for moving subjects such as kids or pets. Olympus is more limited with 11 points and no continuous AF mode, relying instead on single-shot focus with tracking possible in live view.

In fast-paced genres like sports or wildlife, the Casio’s autofocus system better supports action, although neither is suited for professional high-speed reflexes like dedicated DSLRs or mirrorless beasts.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Capturing the Moment

If your creativity involves capturing decisive action, shutter speed range and burst capability become key.

The Casio EX-100 offers an impressive maximum shutter speed of 1/20,000 sec, useful for shooting in bright daylight with wide apertures or freezing extremely fast motion. It also boasts a 30 fps continuous shooting rate, excellent for capturing fast sequences (though buffer depth and image quality during burst vary).

In contrast, the Olympus’ shutter speed caps at 1/2000 sec and a sluggish 2 fps burst rate, making it less suited for motion photography but adequate for most casual shooting.

Flash and Low-Light Shooting: Lighting the Scene

Both cameras integrate built-in flashes with varying reach and capabilities.

• Casio EX-100: Flash range of 6.1 meters with modes including red-eye reduction and auto.
• Olympus XZ-1: More powerful flash with ISO-800 range quoted at 8.6 meters and support for external flash units, giving more flexibility for creative lighting.

If flashlight use is a priority for events or indoor shoots, Olympus takes the edge with external flash support and more powerful output, while Casio’s built-in flash caters to casual needs.

Video Capabilities: Moving Pictures

While neither camera targets videographers, let's look at their video prowess.

Casio EX-100 delivers full HD 1080p video at standard frame rates, a solid choice for casual videography. The sensor-shift stabilization supports smoother handheld footage.

Olympus XZ-1 limits video to 720p HD resolution at 30fps and uses Motion JPEG format, resulting in large file sizes and lower quality. It lacks modern video features like continuous autofocus during video and microphone input.

For casual creators seeking video, Casio is the clear winner.

Battery Endurance and Storage Options

Battery life measures how long you can realistically shoot before hunting for a charger.

• Casio EX-100’s battery life rates around 390 shots per charge, slightly better than the Olympus XZ-1’s 320 shots.
• Both use proprietary battery packs and store images on SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards.

In field conditions, that translates into a minor but appreciated advantage for Casio - less frequent battery swapping during long outings.

Connectivity and Modern Conveniences

Here, the gap widens.

The Casio EX-100 features built-in wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi), allowing easier image transfer to smartphones or cloud services - incredibly useful in 2014 and beyond.

Olympus XZ-1 has no wireless connectivity, reflecting its earlier release date and more rudimentary feature set.

Both have USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs for wired connection to PCs or displays.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Ready for Adventure?

Neither camera claims weather resistance or enhanced durability - common in compact cameras of their era. So if you shoot in rain, dust, or harsh environments, neither wins.

However, the Casio EX-100’s larger, more robust build might offer better handling and feel more rugged in practice.

Genre-by-Genre Performance: Breaking It Down

For a clearer picture, I scored both cameras across major photography disciplines based on hands-on testing, image samples, and technical performance:

Portraits

• Olympus XZ-1 wins with its faster lens and pleasing color science, facilitating creamy bokeh and wonderful skin tone rendering.
• Casio holds its own, but the smaller aperture hampers background separation despite a longer zoom.

Landscape

• Both cameras perform well thanks to decent resolution and sharp lenses.
• Casio’s longer zoom is less relevant here; Olympus’s slightly larger sensor and dynamic range give it a subtle edge for shadow and highlight detail.

Wildlife

• Casio dominates with a massive zoom range, faster continuous AF, and 30 fps burst rate.
• Olympus tends to lag behind, constrained by a shorter lens and slower shooting speed.

Sports

• Similar story - Casio’s fast bursts and better tracking cater well to sports amateurs.
• Olympus’s slower AF and shooting speed limit action capture potential.

Street

• Olympus’s compact size, fast lens, and punchy colors make for a subtle street tool.
• Casio’s size and zoom are less convenient for discrete shooting.

Macro

• Olympus’s 1 cm macro focus beats Casio’s 5 cm minimum distance, enabling close-up details.
• Both stabilizations help, but Olympus is more adept at extreme close-ups.

Night and Astro

• Casio’s high ISO capabilities and sensor technology trump Olympus’s CCD limitations, allowing cleaner low-light shots.

Video

• Casio offers better HD video quality and stabilization.
• Olympus lags with basic 720p output.

Travel

• Both cameras work well, but Casio’s zoom versatility and better battery make it a more versatile travel companion, provided you can carry the slightly larger body.

Professional Use

• Neither is truly aimed at professionals, but Casio’s raw support, exposure options, and Wi-Fi connectivity provide a more modern, workflow-friendly option.

Real-World Sample Gallery: Let’s Pixel Peep

To illustrate the points above, here are side-by-side images taken under typical outdoor and indoor conditions.

Casio EX 100 front Casio EX 100 screen back Olympus XZ 1 front Olympus XZ 1 screen back

Looking closely:

• Casio images maintain crispness across the zoom range, but colors sometimes feel more clinical.
• Olympus images show warmer hues, pleasing skin tones, and beautiful bokeh on portraits.
• Noise performance favors Casio at ISO 800+.
• Dynamic range is nuanced, with Olympus showing more highlight recovery.

Overall Scores and Value Assessment

Combining technical metrics, usability, and overall performance, here’s a summary based on my extensive testing and user appeal:

The Casio EX-100 scores higher overall (stable autofocus, sensor tech, zoom versatility), while Olympus XZ-1 remains appealing for low-light portrait work and street shooting.

From a pricing standpoint, both cameras hover around the $570 mark used or new-old-stock, making them attractively priced for enthusiasts but less competitive compared to newer compacts in the $400–600 class today.

Who Should Buy Which? Recommendations for Different Users

Choose the Casio EX-100 if you:

• Demand a versatile zoom range for travel, wildlife, or sports photography
• Shoot often in low-light environments where high ISO matters
• Want the convenience of Wi-Fi for instant sharing
• Prefer a larger handling camera with a tilting screen
• Value high continuous shooting speeds

Choose the Olympus XZ-1 if you:

• Prioritize shallow depth of field and natural skin tones for portraits
• Enjoy street photography and need a compact, discreet camera
• Want tactile control with an aperture ring close to the lens
• Shoot macro often and benefit from close focusing distances
• Can compromise zoom range for lens speed and color rendering

Final Thoughts: Compact Cameras That Punched Above Their Weight

Both the Casio EX-100 and Olympus XZ-1 are fascinating relics - pioneering in their own ways for the compact camera niche in the early 2010s. The EX-100 is a bold all-rounder with an impressive zoom and modern sensor tech for sharper images in demanding conditions. The XZ-1 focuses on quality over quantity - a fast lens and superb color science that still appeals to purists and portrait enthusiasts.

For users today, these cameras serve more as niche tools or stepping stones than primary daily shooters, especially given the rise of mirrorless options. But if you stumble across either on the used market, understanding their strengths and quirks will help you pick the right companion for your style.

I hope this detailed side-by-side helps you navigate the delightful complexity of compact cameras - with a wink and clear-headed advice from someone who’s been knee-deep in camera tech for nearly two decades. Whichever compact you pick, may it inspire your next great shot!