Casio EX-FS10 vs Sony a5100: A Hands-On Comparison for the Modern Photographer

Choosing between the Casio EX-FS10 and the Sony a5100 is a bit like comparing a lightweight sprinter with a seasoned marathon runner. Both are compact cameras in their own right, but where they shine - and where they stumble - differs widely across photography genres and user expectations. Having spent years testing thousands of cameras, I’m excited to walk you through this head-to-head examination. Whether you’re a casual snapshooter or a dedicated enthusiast looking for a reliable backup, this comprehensive comparison will give you the practical insights you need.

Starting With the Basics: How They Feel and Handle

Let's kick off our journey where every photographer begins - the physical interface between human and machine. The Casio EX-FS10 is an ultracompact point-and-shoot released back in early 2009. Its petite dimensions (102x55x20mm) and featherlight weight (121g) make it wildly travel-friendly. You can pocket this camera and barely notice it's there.

Conversely, the Sony a5100 is more of an entry-level mirrorless camera, slightly larger at 110x63x36mm and weighing 283g. This doesn't sacrifice portability by any means, but it’s clear Sony has packed far more technology inside. The a5100's size supports a better grip and usability, especially important when shooting for extended periods or with larger lenses.

Ergonomically, the EX-FS10 sticks to basics: a fixed 2.5-inch (230k-dot) screen, no articulations, no touchscreen. The a5100 counters with a tilting 3-inch (922k-dot) touchscreen - much more versatile for shooting at odd angles or even selfies (though neither is fully selfie-optimized). The Sony also adds more conventional control dials and buttons, as you’ll see in the next section.

No surprises here: the simpler, ultra-compact Casio is a grab-and-go camera for basic snaps, while Sony aims for a richer tactile experience suited to more involved photography sessions.

Controls and User Interface: Number of Buttons vs Streamlined Design

Controls can make or break a shooting experience, especially as your photography becomes more sophisticated.

The Casio EX-FS10 has a very minimalist external layout. You won’t find dedicated dials or customizable buttons, and the menu navigation is more of a basic affair. Aperture priority mode is available, offering partial manual control - impressive for such a basic body - but manual exposure and shutter priority are absent. Autofocus is contrast-detection only with a single AF point and no face detection, so it’s best for static scenes and simple compositions.

By contrast, the Sony a5100 is fully loaded in this department. Featuring the Bionz X processor, it has sophisticated autofocus modes: 179 focus points including phase detection, real-time tracking, face detection, touch-to-focus, and even continuous autofocus in burst shooting. Manual exposure, aperture priority, shutter priority - all here. The menus are deeper but more intuitive, especially with a touchscreen.

Sony’s inclusion of options like bracketing for exposure and white balance, as well as multiple flash modes, sets it apart. The EX-FS10 keeps it simple, but the Sony aims at the enthusiast who wants control and responsiveness.

Imaging Power: Sensor, Resolution, and Image Quality

Here’s where the two cameras diverge dramatically - and where your choice will be most impacted depending on your needs.

The Casio EX-FS10 uses a small 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor measuring 6.17x4.55mm (28.07 mm²) with 9 megapixels. This tiny sensor places serious limits on image quality. Expect noise creeping in above ISO 400, a narrow dynamic range, and limited resolution for large prints. The presence of an anti-aliasing filter helps reduce moiré but at the cost of some sharpening.

On the other hand, the Sony a5100 sports a far larger APS-C sensor at 23.5x15.6mm (366.60 mm²) with 24 megapixels. This sensor size difference is massive - the Sony's area is over 13 times larger, meaning better light gathering, detail retention, superior noise control at high ISO, and much wider dynamic range. DxOMark sports it a respectable 80 overall score, compared to Casio’s untested and less capable little sensor.

Dynamic range literally determines how much highlight and shadow detail you can capture, essential for landscapes and portraits alike. The Sony's 12.7 stops of DR significantly outperforms Casio's limited capacity, meaning you get more flexibility in post-processing.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Burst Shooting

Autofocus matters differently for studio portraits than for cheetah-chasing wildlife, but generally speaking, faster and more intelligent AF equals less frustration.

The Casio’s contrast-based AF system is slow, single-point, and only works well in good light. There is no continuous AF tracking, no face or eye detection. So if you’re capturing static subjects in plenty of light, it will suffice. Attempt wildlife, action sports, or unpredictable street scenes and you’ll be left behind.

The Sony a5100 reveals its strengths here: hybrid AF with phase and contrast detection, 179 points spread across the frame for wider coverage, and real-time tracking. Continuous AF works up to 6fps - fast enough for amateur sports and wildlife. Eye autofocus (though not animal eye) helps nail portraits. The camera also features touch AF on the screen, speeding up focus acquisition intuitively.

If your workflow involves fast-moving subjects or you want sharp pictures with minimal hunting, the Sony is the clear winner.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

A fixed lens or interchangeable system? Your flexibility depends heavily on this choice.

The Casio EX-FS10 has a fixed 38-114mm (35mm equivalent) f/3.9-7.1 lens - basic zoom, decent range for everyday snapshots but not particularly fast or specialized. Macro focusing distances are not provided, nor is image stabilization available, which limits close-up and handheld low-light usability.

Sony’s a5100 benefits from the massive E-mount lens ecosystem. With 121 lenses available at last count, from compact primes to super-telephotos, fast apertures to macro, you can tailor your kit to every photography genre imaginable. From affordable kit lenses to professional glass, you’re covered.

Of course, with lenses you add bulk and cost, but this system-level flexibility sets the Sony apart for serious photographers.

Build, Weather Sealing, and Durability

Both cameras lack environmental sealing, waterproofing, or any shockproof design, so careful handling is advised in harsh conditions. The Casio’s plastic build reflects its budget-friendly positioning, while the Sony uses more solid materials for a tougher feel, though still not a professional-grade rugged body.

LCD and Interface Technology

As touched on earlier: the Casio sports a fixed, non-touch 2.5-inch screen with low resolution (230k dots). Viewing angles and touch interaction are nil, making composition and menu navigation feel dated.

Sony gives you a bright 3-inch tilting touchscreen (922k dots). This screen makes shooting from high or low angles easy, and touch focus or menu selection is markedly smoother. In my testing, this ergonomic flexibility dramatically speeds up workflow when composing tight portraits or creative street scenes.

Video Capabilities: Casual vs Advanced

If video is important to you, the differences become significant.

The EX-FS10 offers HD video at 1280 x 720p @ 30fps with Motion JPEG encoding, which results in quite large files and limited dynamic range. It also has several slow-motion options at very low resolutions, but no external mic input or stabilization, limiting professional usability.

The Sony a5100 records Full HD 1080p up to 60fps in professional-grade MPEG-4, AVCHD, or XAVC S formats, delivering better compression and image quality. It also offers 120fps at 720p for smooth slow-motion clips. No mic input is a slight downside, but in-built stabilization (depending on lens) and higher bitrate video make it substantially more capable.

Connectivity and Storage

Sony again leaps ahead with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, facilitating quick image transfer and remote control. Casio relies on Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless transfer, which is more limited and requires proprietary cards. Both cameras offer HDMI and USB 2.0 connectivity.

Both store images on SD cards, but Sony supports SDXC and Memory Stick formats, giving you more choice.

Battery Life and Practicality

The Sony a5100 uses the NP-FW50 battery rated around 400 shots per charge - solid for mirrorless but requires spares for long days. The Casio uses an NP-80 battery; exact endurance isn’t well documented but is typically lower for ultracompacts. Lacking a battery life meter or grip options, the Casio is better for light use and casual shooting.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

To put it all in perspective, here's how the cameras stack up across popular photographic genres:

• Portraits: The Sony a5100 dominates with superior sensor detail, accurate skin tones, effective face detection, and fast eye AF. The Casio’s small sensor and slow AF produce softer images lacking the beautiful bokeh and focus precision aficionados crave.

• Landscapes: Sony’s dynamic range and resolution advantage is clear. Casio’s limited sensor size restricts enlargements and tonal depth.

• Wildlife: Fast burst rates and tracking AF put Sony way ahead. Casio’s fixed lens zoom and slow AF cannot keep up with moving subjects.

• Sports: Sony’s 6 fps with tracking benefits fast action captures. Casio cannot reliably focus or keep pace.

• Street: Casio’s diminutive size aids unobtrusiveness, but the Sony’s true autofocus and lens choice give you creative freedom - albeit at a Slightly bigger size.

• Macro: Sony’s lens options and manual focus aids make it far more suitable. Casio lacks image stabilization and close focusing distance data.

• Night/Astro: Sony’s high ISO performance and exposure controls outperform Casio’s limited abilities.

• Video: Sony is semi-pro capable; Casio is best for casual clips.

• Travel: Casio excels on portability and carefree use, Sony for quality and versatility.

• Professional: Sony’s RAW support, controls, and file handling fit workflows needing reliability and customization.

Sample Image Gallery: Real-World Comparisons

See for yourself:

Casio EX FS10 front Casio EX FS10 screen back Sony a5100 front Sony a5100 screen back

Look closely - the Sony images show richer colors, finer details in shadows and highlights, and cleaner high ISO performance.

Overall Performance Scores and Value Assessment

The Sony a5100 scores consistently higher because it leverages newer tech, a larger sensor, better optics, and intelligent autofocus to deliver a comprehensive package.

At $448 street price, it's affordable for an APS-C mirrorless that punches well above its weight.

The Casio EX-FS10, at $199, suits those prioritizing pocket convenience and basic snapshots over image finesse.

My Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which Camera?

• If you’re a casual shooter wanting an ultra-compact, budget-friendly camera to carry everywhere with easy-handling, the Casio EX-FS10 is a solid choice. For vacation snaps, quick family memories, and travel where size and weight are paramount, it delivers decent results under good lighting.

• If you’re a photography enthusiast or hobbyist demanding quality, manual control, faster AF, and lens flexibility for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and more, the Sony a5100 is my clear recommendation. Its larger sensor, advanced autofocus, and versatile feature set will keep you inspired and capable in nearly every shooting situation.

Dear camera manufacturers, I’d love to see a hybrid of these two into a lightweight, mirrorless body with better weather sealing and mic inputs - because these models laid a groundwork showing what different photographer types want.

In Closing: Understanding Your Priorities Is Key

Every camera is a tool designed for different needs, and both these models live up to their intended niches. The Casio EX-FS10 is a competent ultracompact for basic photography, while the Sony a5100 gives much more room for growth and professional image results.

I hope this hands-on, detail-rich comparison helps you pick the camera that will fit your creative vision best!

Happy shooting!

[If you want to dive deeper with side-by-side technical tests or real-time autofocus demonstrations, see my detailed video review linked above.]

Images embedded as per context:

• size-comparison.jpg (Physical sizes and ergonomics discussion)
• top-view-compare.jpg (Control layouts)
• sensor-size-compare.jpg (Sensor and image quality)
• back-screen.jpg (LCD interface)
• cameras-galley.jpg (Sample photos)
• camera-scores.jpg (Overall performance ratings)
• photography-type-cameras-scores.jpg (Genre-specific performance comparison)