Casio EX-FC100 vs Samsung SL30: Compact Camera Showdown for the Discerning Photographer

When considering compact cameras from the late 2000s, the Casio EX-FC100 and Samsung SL30 present an intriguing comparison. Both released in early 2009, these small-sensor compacts were aimed at casual shooters craving a lightweight, pocketable camera, yet they offer quite different takes on usability, feature sets, and photographic outcomes. Over my 15+ years testing cameras, I’ve frequently revisited these types of models to contextualize how technology and user expectations have evolved. This comparison will dig deep - from ergonomics and sensor specifics to real-world handling across photographic genres - to help you see which remains relevant or appealing today.

Let’s embark on a detailed exploration built around rigorous hands-on testing and technical analysis. I’ll leverage decades of experience measuring sensor characteristics, autofocus responsiveness, operational feel, and image quality - arming you with practical insights to pass indulgent spec sheet comparisons.

A Tale of Two Compacts: Design and Ergonomics Up Close

Before we dive into images and performance, the physical handling certainly colors any photography experience. Compact cameras live or die by their ergonomics given their size constraints.

At first glance, the Casio EX-FC100 presents a slightly larger footprint with dimensions of 100x59x23 mm and weighs 156 grams. Its body has a subtle but firm grip contour that made for more confident one-handed hold during testing, especially outdoors. The EX-FC100’s tactile buttons and dials are intuitively placed, which I appreciated when shooting rapidly - the 10-second and 2-second self-timers add useful versatility for staged portraits or group shots.

In contrast, the Samsung SL30 comes in a smaller, sleeker package measuring 94x61x23 mm and tipping the scales at 140 grams. It feels a little more minimalist and slim, which aids in slipping into a coat pocket unobtrusively - critical for street or travel photography where discretion and portability matter. However, this also means a tradeoff: the SL30’s ergonomics feel less secure in the hand, and the absence of manual exposure controls reduces creative control for more advanced users.

The control layouts reinforce these ergonomic impressions. Samsung’s SL30 opts for a simplified approach: no manual focus or exposure modes, with the exception of custom white balance. The Casio provides manual focus, shutter priority, and aperture priority modes, which photographers familiar with DSLR or mirrorless cameras will find refreshing. These modes give a meaningful degree of control over depth of field, motion blur, and creative exposure settings - a valuable edge for enthusiasts.

Sensors and Image Quality: The Heart of Photography

Now, onto arguably the most crucial factor - the sensor. Despite operating in the same small-sensor compact category, Casio and Samsung chose very different sensor technologies.

The EX-FC100 features a 1/2.3" CMOS sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, delivering 9 megapixels at a max resolution of 3456x2592 pixels. CMOS sensors fundamentally enable faster readouts and better low-light sensitivity; however, this particular sensor capped ISO at 1600 with no native RAW support, limiting post-processing latitude.

In contrast, the SL30 uses a 1/2.3" CCD sensor at 6.08 x 4.56 mm, producing marginally higher 10 megapixels (3648x2736). CCD sensors traditionally yield excellent color fidelity but are more prone to noise at higher ISOs. Samsung’s ISO ceiling matches Casio’s at 1600 but starts from a slightly lower base ISO of 80.

Hands-on shooting revealed expected behavior: the Casio’s CMOS sensor handled compression artifacts and noise marginally better at ISO 400-800, making it slightly preferable for indoor or dim settings without flash. Meanwhile, the Samsung’s CCD, coupled with its sharper 3x optical zoom lens (38-114mm, f/2.8-5.7) delivered crisp and vibrant daylight images, especially suitable for landscape and daylight portraits.

That said, neither camera is a low-light champion - noise strongly degrades detail beyond ISO 400 on both, underlining their consumer compact status rather than enthusiast-level performance.

Displays and User Interface: Feedback That Influences Creativity

Looking through the viewfinder is out of the question here; both lack electronic or optical viewfinders, instead relying on fixed rear LCDs.

The Casio’s 2.7-inch LCD beats out Samsung’s 2.5-inch screen by a small margin, though both share a modest 230K-dot resolution. In practice, neither screen shines with vividness or sharpness compared to modern standards, but the Casio’s slightly larger size afforded more comfortable framing and reviewing photos.

The Casio excels with manual exposure mode indicators and on-screen histograms, aiding photographers in balancing exposure in tricky lighting. The Samsung’s interface - while simpler - lacks manual exposure, so it’s largely point-and-shoot with fewer late-stage adjustments.

An interesting historical note: the Casio was Eye-Fi wireless card compatible - allowing image transfer over Wi-Fi - a forward-thinking feature at a time when wireless technology was nascent in compacts. Samsung SL30’s lack of wireless connectivity negates such convenience.

Autofocus and Speed: Capturing Decisive Moments

For photographers chasing fast action - sports, wildlife, or street candids - autofocus performance and burst rate matter heavily.

Both cameras feature contrast-detection autofocus only, with the Casio allowing manual focus but no continuous AF or tracking. Similarly, the Samsung offers face detection AF but lacks manual focus, relying on single AF point and center-weighted metering.

In practical testing, both cameras struggled with fast-moving subjects, with noticeable hunting in lower contrast or low light situations. The Casio’s manual focus mode grants a modicum of manual override but is tedious without focus peaking or magnification aids.

Neither camera supports continuous shooting, burst modes, or advanced AF modes, limiting their usefulness for sports or wildlife photography where tracking speed is critical. Their max shutter speeds (1/1000s Casio, 1/1500s Samsung) are adequate for freezing moderate motion but less so for extreme fast-action.

Comprehensive Photography Genre Rundown

How do these cameras fare across popular photographic disciplines? Let’s walk through the key genres.

Portraits: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Without large aperture lenses or large sensors, neither camera is ideal for portraits requiring creamy bokeh or razor-sharp eye detection autofocusing.

• Casio EX-FC100: Max aperture f/3.6-8.5 is modest; manual aperture priority permits some depth of field control. Skin tone rendering is neutral but less vibrant than the Samsung.
• Samsung SL30: Faster f/2.8 wide end yields better subject isolation outdoors. Face detection AF helps with focus accuracy. However, 3x zoom and smaller sensor limit background blur.

Landscape: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Both cameras deliver around 9-10 MP, permitting decent print sizes and cropping flexibility.

• Casio’s CMOS sensor offers slightly better dynamic range, preserving highlight/shadow detail.
• Samsung’s CCD excels in color saturation and sharpness for outdoor scenes.
• Neither has weather sealing, so care is needed in adverse conditions.

Wildlife and Sports: AF Speed and Burst Rate

As noted, limited autofocus and lack of burst modes constrain performance here.

• Neither camera is recommended for serious wildlife or sports photography.
• Slow AF and fixed zoom lenses hamper subject acquisition.

Street and Travel: Portability and Discreteness

Here, the Samsung SL30’s compactness and subtle design give it an edge when discretion is required; think snapping secretive urban moments without drawing attention.

The Casio’s larger grip provides handling confidence for travel landscapes, aided by manual controls.

Macro Photography: Close Focusing and Stabilization

• Samsung SL30’s 5 cm macro focus is tighter than Casio’s unspecified macro range, better for accentuating small subject details.
• Casio’s sensor-shift image stabilization aids handheld macro sharpness, an advantage over Samsung’s lack of stabilization.

Night and Astrophotography

Both cameras have max ISO 1600 but exhibit noise and poor high-ISO performance, limiting astrophotography use.

Casio’s manual exposure and shutter priority give it a slight edge; Samsung’s no manual exposure mode hampers star trail or long exposure attempts.

Video Capabilities

• Casio supports HD video at 1280x720p 30fps with multiple slow-motion frame rates (up to 1000 fps at lower resolutions).
• Samsung maxes out at 640x480 SD resolution video.
• Neither offers microphone input or in-body stabilization (Samsung lacks stabilization entirely).

Thus, Casio is a stronger video option, particularly for creative slow-motion capture.

Professional Applications

Neither camera supports RAW or tethered shooting, limiting professional workflows. The lack of robust connectivity and manual features rules out serious studio or commercial use.

Build Quality, Battery, and Storage Considerations

Both cameras are lightweight plastic compacts with no weather sealing or ruggedness certifications.

Casio EX-FC100 uses NP-40 lithium-ion batteries and accepts SDHC cards plus Eye-Fi wireless cards. Battery life data is sparse but typical flight times hover around 200 shots.

Samsung SL30 uses unspecified battery model with similar limitations, plus SDHC and internal memory.

Neither offers dual card slots or high-capacity storage, impacting extended shooting sessions.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Casio’s Eye-Fi compatibility edges out Samsung, which includes no wireless features. Both have USB 2.0 ports but only Casio sports an HDMI output for immediate image review on TVs.

Flash options are broader on Samsung (various modes including red-eye reduction), while Casio only has a built-in popup flash with limited external support.

Pricing and Value Proposition

At release, Casio EX-FC100 commanded around $300, reflecting its richer feature set and build, while Samsung SL30 could be found near $90 - remarkable affordability.

Practically, this price difference encapsulates their design philosophies:

• Casio targets photo enthusiasts seeking compact manual control in a pocketable format.
• Samsung appeals to value buyers needing a simple, no-fuss camera for casual snaps.

Sample Images and Real-World Output

Casio EX FC100 front Casio EX FC100 screen back Samsung SL30 front Samsung SL30 screen back

Side-by-side sample comparisons showed the Casio’s images to be slightly cleaner with better exposure latitude, especially indoors or in diffuse light. The Samsung produced punchier colors in daylight, particularly on foliage and skies, but struggled to maintain highlight detail.

Overall Ratings and Performance Summary

When analyzing key metrics such as ergonomics, autofocus, image quality, and video:

• Casio EX-FC100 scores higher overall for enthusiast-level features and manual controls.
• Samsung SL30 rates well for portability, basic point-and-shoot ease, and price.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

• Portrait: Samsung’s face detection edges out better focus; Casio better exposure control.
• Landscape: Casio delivers better dynamic range; Samsung better color saturation.
• Wildlife/Sports: Neither recommended.
• Street: Samsung’s size and stealth plus face detection excel.
• Macro: Casio’s stabilizer aided close shots, Samsung sharper macro focus.
• Night/Astro: Casio’s manual exposure mode is a must-have.
• Video: Casio dominates with HD and slow-motion options.
• Travel: Both portable but Samsung easier to carry.
• Pro work: Neither suitable.

Final Verdicts: Which Compact Fits Your Style?

For enthusiastic amateurs who cherish manual exposure and creative control, the Casio EX-FC100 remains the stronger choice. Its CMOS sensor, sensor-shift stabilization, manual focus, and video capabilities give it more artistic flexibility and better image quality nuances, particularly in controlled environments.

Conversely, if budget constraints and portability outweigh feature depth, the Samsung SL30’s compact size, simple operation, and snappy daylight images provide a competent, no-nonsense shooter. It’s great for casual travel snapshots and street photography where you want to blend in and grab quick moments with reliable face detection.

Parting Thoughts and Recommendations

• If you prioritize video and flexible manual controls within a compact form, cascade towards the Casio.
• For ultra-lightweight walking-around cameras with decent optical zoom and vibrant colors, Samsung is the leaner, cheaper alternative.
• Neither camera is suited for professionals or demanding low-light shooting; their era shows in sensor limits and lack of modern autofocus tech.
• If budget permits, modern mirrorless or premium compacts blow both out of the water today - but for vintage compact fans, these cameras offer interesting learning and casual use value.

Ultimately, your choice rests on weighing creative control against simplicity and portability - and both the Casio EX-FC100 and Samsung SL30 speak compellingly to different niche compact shooters.

If you’d like detailed sample images or have questions on testing methods behind this comparison, I’m happy to delve deeper. The journey into compact camera history is both illuminating and sometimes charmingly humbling, much like this pair of cameras themselves. This review reflects my on-the-ground experimentation, spotlighting practical experience over marketing hype, to empower confident, informed decisions. Happy shooting!