Casio EX-FC100 vs Samsung NX1000: An Expert Comparative Review for Photographers

In the pursuit of selecting the ideal camera, photographers frequently confront the challenge of choosing between radically different categories - compact versus mirrorless systems, small sensor versus APS-C, fixed lens versus interchangeable optics. This comparison between the Casio EX-FC100, a small sensor compact camera, and the Samsung NX1000, an entry-level mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, aims to dissect both devices’ technical constructs and their practical value across photography genres.

Drawing on extensive hands-on experience evaluating cameras spanning consumer and pro levels, this analysis delves beyond specifications into perceptible operational differences, image quality ramifications, and usability aspects. The goal is to empower enthusiasts and professionals with clear, objective insights to match their creative and workflow demands.

Assessing Physicality and Ergonomics: Portability Versus Operational Control

Judging a camera’s physical design involves more than superficial measurement - it relates directly to handling comfort, control layout, and shooting stance, impacting everything from steady handheld shooting to quick responsiveness in dynamic scenes.

Casio EX-FC100: Ultra-Compact Simplicity

With dimensions of 100 x 59 x 23 mm and weighing a mere 156 grams (battery included), the EX-FC100 lives up to its compact categorization. Its slender form factor fits effortlessly into pockets or small bags, making it a natural travel and street photography companion where discretion and portability outweigh exhaustive manual control options. However, the trade-off comes via a minimalist grip and limited physical buttons, potentially compromising seven-handed steadiness during extended shoots or low light exposures.

Samsung NX1000: Mirrorless Substance with Nimble Footprint

The NX1000 measures 114 x 63 x 37 mm and weighs approximately 222 grams (body only), positioning it slightly bulkier but still distinctly portable within the mirrorless segment. Its rangefinder-style design affords a more pronounced grip and better balance, especially when paired with varied NX mount lenses. The increased thickness demands accommodation in your gear bag but yields enhanced handling ergonomics and manual control potential - key advantages during prolonged professional use or sports capture sessions.

Control Layout and Interface Usability: Navigating Exposure and Focus

Success in photography hinges on rapid, intuitive access to essential controls and a feedback-rich interface. A detailed comparison unveils how each model approaches this critical usability vector.

• Casio EX-FC100: Offers basic exposure modes including manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority - a commendable inclusion for a compact model - yet lacks an advanced control dial system. Exposure compensation is present but confined to incremental adjustments through button menus, which may slow operation during fast-changing conditions.

• Samsung NX1000: Presents comprehensive manual exposure controls complemented by an exposure compensation dial and a significantly better button-to-menu ratio. The inclusion of 15 autofocus points with selectable AF areas further improves operational responsiveness for dynamic compositions.

Additional note: Neither camera features an electronic viewfinder, compelling reliance on rear LCD screens with differing resolutions.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Size and Resolution Conundrums

The image sensor serves as the sine qua non of camera performance - the defining element sculpting resolution potential, dynamic range, ISO sensitivity, and noise behavior.

Casio EX-FC100’s 1/2.3-Inch CMOS Sensor

• Size: 6.17 x 4.55 mm, totaling 28.1 mm² sensor area
• Resolution: 9 megapixels (3456 x 2592)
• Native ISO Range: 100–1600
• No RAW support

This sensor size is typical for point-and-shoot cameras prioritizing portability but fundamentally limits image quality ceilings. Smaller photosites restrict light gathering, resulting in lower dynamic range and higher noise at elevated ISO settings. The absence of RAW format restricts post-processing flexibility, a critical constraint for professionals or serious enthusiasts seeking to salvage highlight/shadow detail and color grading nuance.

Samsung NX1000’s APS-C CMOS Sensor

• Size: 23.5 x 15.7 mm, roughly 369 mm² sensor area
• Resolution: 20 megapixels (5472 x 3648)
• Native ISO Range: 100–12800
• RAW format supported

The APS-C sensor embodies a significant step-up, delivering improved low-light capability, superior dynamic range, and finer color depth - as evidenced by its DxOMark scores: overall 72, color depth 22.8 bits, dynamic range 12.4 EV, and low light ISO rating at 840 ISO. This enables greater artistic latitude in image editing and professional-level output suitable for large prints and commercial use.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Precision and Responsiveness Under Pressure

Core to capturing decisive moments, especially in wildlife and sports photography, is the camera’s AF system sophistication and burst shooting performance.

• Casio EX-FC100: Utilizes contrast-detection AF only, with single-point and center-weighted metering. AF speed is modest, and continuous autofocus or tracking is non-existent. Continuous shooting modes are neither implemented nor practical at this level.

• Samsung NX1000: Employs contrast-detection AF enhanced by 15 focus points to permit selective area focusing. It supports continuous AF and delivers 8 fps continuous shooting speed - commendable for its class and credible for casual sports or wildlife bursts. Absence of phase detection hampers ultimate speed compared to hybrid or dedicated phase systems but still surpasses typical compacts by a margin.

The NX1000 also features face detection capability, aiding portrait work through improved focus accuracy on human subjects, absent in the EX-FC100.

Exposure Range and Flexibility in Manual Controls

Both cameras provide exposure compensation, aperture priority, and shutter priority modes - features that impress at their respective market positions.

• EX-FC100: Manual exposure mode is present but navigated via menu-driven inputs without dedicated dials, potentially hindering quick shutter/aperture adjustments during spontaneous shooting.

• NX1000: Offers fully manual exposure with tactile control wheels and better feedback control layouts, facilitating more confident use of creative exposure manipulation in challenging lighting environments.

Shutter speed ranges also differ markedly: 1/1000 sec max on EX-FC100 is limiting for freezing fast motion, whereas NX1000’s 1/4000 sec enables more versatility.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Visual Composition and Navigation

The size, resolution, and functionality of the rear display directly influence framing accuracy and menu navigation ease.

• EX-FC100: A 2.7-inch fixed, non-touch LCD with 230k pixel resolution offers basic live view framing but lacks vibrant color depth or fine detail. Non-touch navigation requires multi-button usage, increasing the learning curve.

• NX1000: Employs a larger 3-inch TFT LCD at substantially higher 921k pixels, greatly improving detail visibility, especially useful for manual focusing and reviewing high-resolution images. Despite lacking touch capabilities, button layout coupled with the larger screen enriches operational speed and precision in image framing.

Lens Ecosystem and System Expandability

Lens versatility is a critical consideration, especially for creative growth and addressing specialized photographic tasks.

• Casio EX-FC100: Features a fixed lens with an effective focal length multiplier of 5.8x. The lens aperture ranges from f/3.6 to f/8.5, limiting low-light lens speed and depth-of-field creative control. The system inherently forecloses focal length variation outside digital zoom.

• Samsung NX1000: Supports the Samsung NX mount with access to over 30 lenses, including primes, telephoto zooms, wide-angle, fisheyes, and macro optics. The 1.5x crop factor yields a manageable reach expansion compared to full-frame, complementing a broad range of disciplines from landscape to wildlife.

This modularity decisively positions the NX1000 as a more flexible platform for users seeking genre diversification or professional application.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Performance

• Image Stabilization:

  • EX-FC100 incorporates sensor-shift stabilization, beneficial in reducing blur from camera shake, especially at slower shutter speeds.

  • NX1000 lacks in-body stabilization, though many NX lenses include their own OIS systems. Users reliant on primes or vintage lenses without stabilization must adopt tripod or faster shutter strategies.

• Low-Light and ISO Handling:

  The larger sensor and extended ISO range of the NX1000 outperform the EX-FC100 markedly, with cleaner images at ISO 1600 and beyond. The Casio’s maximum ISO 1600 reaches its limits quickly, often necessitating supplemental lighting or flash use.

Video Capabilities: Resolution and Frame Rate Differences

• Casio EX-FC100: Records up to 1280 x 720 pixels (HD) at 30 fps using Motion JPEG format. While it offers interesting slow-motion frame rates (up to 1000 fps in lower resolution modes), the overall video quality and codec efficiency are basic.

• Samsung NX1000: Provides full HD 1080p recording at 30 fps plus additional modes at 24p and 720p, encoded in H.264, a modern, efficient codec suited for editing workflows. These features appeal strongly to content creators needing higher quality video footage and editing flexibility.

Neither camera includes microphone or headphone ports, constraining professional audio capture and monitoring.

Battery Life and Storage Options

• EX-FC100: Uses the NP-40 battery, with undocumented but generally modest longevity due to compact camera constraints. Storage uses one SD/SDHC slot, compatible with Eye-Fi wireless cards for image transfer.

• NX1000: Utilizes the BC1030 battery, rated approximately 320 shots per charge - typical for mirrorless units. It supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards, accommodating higher capacities suitable for larger RAW files and HD video. Built-in Wi-Fi expands wireless transfer functionality.

Durability and Environmental Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing, dustproofing, crushproofing, or freezeproofing. Both are primarily intended for general amateur to enthusiast use in benign environmental conditions. This limits rugged outdoor deployment in severe weather without additional protective measures.

Real-World Performance by Photography Genre

To contextualize these specifications, the following genre-based performance reflections are based on hands-on shooting and comparative evaluation:

Casio EX FC100 front Casio EX FC100 screen back Samsung NX1000 screen back

Portrait Photography

• EX-FC100: Limited by fixed lens speed (max f/3.6) and lack of face/eye detection autofocus, resulting in less consistent sharpness on moving subjects and limited bokeh control.

• NX1000: The combination of higher resolution, interchangeable fast primes, and face detection AF yields notably better skin tone rendering, eye sharpness, and background separation.

Landscape Photography

• EX-FC100: Constrained sensor size limits dynamic range and detail resolution; still adequate for casual environmental shots.

• NX1000: APS-C sensor delivers superior dynamic range and high ISO usability, paired with a lens ecosystem including ultra-wide options, enabling professional-quality landscape results.

Wildlife Photography

• EX-FC100: Lack of zoom versatility and slow AF render it ineffective.

• NX1000: Faster AF and high burst rate plus telephoto lens support facilitate competent wildlife captures in moderate light and distance.

Sports Photography

• EX-FC100: Inadequate shutter speed ceiling and autofocus speed.

• NX1000: 8 fps burst rate and selective AF points allow tight tracking in many scenarios, although absence of phase-detection AF is an occasional limitation.

Street Photography

• EX-FC100: Compact size is advantageous for candid, low-profile shooting despite operational compromises.

• NX1000: Slightly larger but still portable; faster AF and better image quality improve candid usability but slightly more conspicuous.

Macro Photography

• EX-FC100: No dedicated macro modes or lenses, restricting close-up performance.

• NX1000: Wide choice of macro lenses with precise AF and manual focus, enabling detailed nature close-ups.

Night/Astro Photography

• EX-FC100: Limited ISO and dynamic range; sensor-shift stabilization assists handheld shots, but noise control is weak.

• NX1000: Broader ISO range and RAW support permit better night shots; external tripod recommended for longer exposures.

Video Work

• EX-FC100: Basic HD video with limited codec and no manual audio control.

• NX1000: Full HD video with better codec and exposure options, preferable for vloggers and multimedia professionals.

Travel Photography

• EX-FC100: Unmatched portability and ease of use for casual travelers.

• NX1000: Offers versatility and quality at a slight weight and size penalty; preferred if image quality is paramount.

Professional Use

• EX-FC100: Unsuitable due to fixed optics and lack of RAW.

• NX1000: Capable entry-level tool for workflow integration but still limited by AF system for intensive professional demands.

Overall Performance Ratings and Final Recommendations

Considering combined criteria:

• Image Quality: NX1000 excels
• Autofocus & Speed: NX1000 superior
• Portability: EX-FC100 advantage
• Video Functionality: NX1000 preferable
• Lens Flexibility: NX1000 vastly better
• Ease of Use (novice): EX-FC100 simpler

Conclusion: Who Should Pick Which?

Choose the Casio EX-FC100 if:

• Your primary focus is ultra-compact portability and straightforward operation for casual snapshots and travel.
• Video is secondary and you value quirky high-speed video modes.
• Budget constraints preclude entry into interchangeable lens systems.
• You are content with JPEG images and ease rather than manual control complexity.

Opt for the Samsung NX1000 if:

• Image quality, particularly detail and dynamic range, is a decisive factor.
• You want the versatility to adapt lenses for macro, portrait, landscape, and telephoto purposes.
• Video recording quality and versatility are important.
• You can accommodate modestly larger size and weight for improved handling.
• You intend to grow your skills and composition control deliberately.

An informed camera choice predicates on matching your genre preferences, expected output quality, and your willingness to master manual controls. The Casio EX-FC100 provides a no-fuss, compact snapshot experience, while the Samsung NX1000 serves as an adaptable entry point into creative photography with a path to professional-quality outcomes.

Both are historically interesting fixtures in the camera landscape and offer unique value propositions. Your ultimate selection should honor your workflow priorities and photographic ambitions.

This detailed comparison reflects multiple in-situ testing sessions under varied photographic disciplines, integrating technical measurements and real-world evaluations to provide an authoritative guide.