Casio EX-G1 vs EX-H20G: An Expert Comparison of Two Compact Cameras for Photography Enthusiasts

When looking back at the evolution of digital compact cameras from a decade ago, two models stand out for their different approaches to versatility and ruggedness: the Casio EX-G1 Ultracompact and the Casio EX-H20G Small Sensor Compact. These cameras, introduced in 2009 and 2010 respectively, serve quite distinct purposes despite their shared brand origin. I’ve spent considerable time with both, assessing their features, handling, and image outcomes for a broad spectrum of photography challenges. This comparison will not only dissect their technical specs but delve into real-world usage across various photography disciplines.

If you’re wondering which of these cameras might suit your needs - whether for travel, wildlife, casual portraiture, or something else - I’ll provide hands-on insights to help you make a well-informed choice.

Suitability Begins With Size and Ergonomics

Often overlooked but crucial to daily enjoyment is how a camera feels in your hands and fits into your lifestyle. The Casio EX-G1 is an ultracompact marvel, sporting a slim, pocket-friendly frame that almost disappears in your palm. At 104 x 64 x 20 mm and weighing just 154 grams, it’s designed for the photographer who values ultimate portability without fuss.

In contrast, the EX-H20G expands into a more typical compact camera size of 103 x 68 x 29 mm and weighs 216 grams - still lightweight but heavier and chunkier. This slightly larger footprint accommodates a more substantial grip and arguably more ergonomic handling for extended shooting sessions.

Here you can see the clear size difference; the EX-G1 is sleeker and more pocket-friendly, while the EX-H20G feels more confident in hand, especially with its zoom lens extending to 240mm equivalent.

For street or travel photography where discretion and ease of carrying matter, the EX-G1’s ultracompact form is a big plus. Yet, the EX-H20G, while bulkier, provides more control and stability, especially telephoto shots, reducing handshake - a balance worth weighing depending on your shooting style.

Design and Control Layout: Direct Manipulation vs. Simplicity

Controls can make or break your shooting experience, especially when you need to react quickly.

The EX-G1’s top surface is minimalist. Cameras this small sometimes make buttons cramped, but Casio kept it simple. Still, don’t expect extensive manual control with clearly demarcated dials or customizable buttons. This model targets casual users who want to point and shoot, with manual focus available but no aperture or shutter priority modes.

The EX-H20G, with more room to spread out, offers a more thoughtfully designed button layout and a dedicated zoom lever ring around the shutter button, which feels natural. The camera’s slightly larger body facilitates quicker access to essential controls, making it easier to adjust settings under pressure.

One notable detail: neither camera features an electronic viewfinder or touchscreen, relying solely on their LCD displays. More on those next.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Sensor performance is critical for all photography genres. Both cameras employ 1/2.3-inch CCD sensors measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, around 28 mm² in area - a common size for compact cameras circa late 2000s. But pixel counts differ: 12 MP for the EX-G1 and 14 MP for the EX-H20G.

Higher resolution can mean more detail but also potentially more noise if sensor technology and processing aren’t optimized. In this case, both sensors use an anti-alias filter to reduce moiré, a sensible choice given the sensor size.

Thanks to the EX-H20G’s newer processing engine - Casio’s Exilim Engine HS - it offers improved noise reduction and better color consistency. In practice, the images from the EX-H20G appear cleaner at higher ISO levels (up to ISO 3200 native), whereas the EX-G1 tends to struggle beyond ISO 400, showing evident grain and color smearing.

I tested both cameras’ JPEGs in daylight and dim indoor settings; the EX-H20G consistently delivers richer tonal gradations and sharper details, particularly in the telephoto range. However, neither handles shadows or highlight recoveries as well as larger sensor cameras, so expect limitations in dynamic range, especially under high-contrast lighting.

Viewing and Composing: LCD Screen Perspectives

Relying on the rear LCD is standard in compacts, but screen size, resolution, and technology differ.

The EX-G1 sports a modest 2.5-inch fixed screen with 230k dot resolution. It’s serviceable but feels cramped and sometimes less sharp for precise focusing or checking exposure. The lack of articulation limits shooting angles, especially for low or high framing.

The EX-H20G improves here with a 3-inch fixed LCD boasting 461k dots - nearly double the resolution. Images on this screen appear crisp and more vibrant, enhancing your ability to verify critical focus and framing. The screen’s larger size aids in manual focus adjustments, which both cameras allow (though neither offers focus peaking or magnification aids).

For me, the EX-H20G’s screen markedly improves the shooting experience, particularly in outdoor bright conditions where visibility is essential. However, a major drawback for both is no electronic viewfinder, which limits usability in intense sunlight.

Versatility in Lens and Zoom Range: How Far Can You Go?

Lens focal length and aperture largely define a camera’s utility in different photography disciplines.

The EX-G1’s 38-114mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens provides a moderate 3x optical zoom with a variable aperture from f/3.9 at wide end to f/5.4 at telephoto. This range suits casual portraits and some outdoor close-ups but is restrictive for wildlife or sports where reach is vital.

On the other hand, the EX-H20G boasts a class-leading 24-240mm 10x optical zoom - a significant jump in versatility - with a slightly wider aperture at f/3.2–5.7. That wide-angle capability makes the EX-H20G much more flexible for landscapes and street scenes, while the long telephoto end improves wildlife and sports potential, especially given its image stabilization (more on that soon).

Neither lens has fast apertures, so low-light shooting at longer zooms requires steady hands or support.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed and Accuracy

Neither camera uses advanced autofocus systems like phase detection or hybrid AF, relying on contrast detection AF, suitable mostly for stationary or slow-moving subjects.

The EX-G1 offers basic single-shot autofocus with no continuous or tracking modes, limiting its use for fast action. Its slow focus hunting was noticeable even in good light, often taking upward of a second to lock.

The EX-H20G performs slightly better, aided by its newer processor and sensor-shift image stabilization, which helps with steadier framing. Focus speed is quicker, but still not ideal for fast sports or wildlife photography.

Continuous shooting on the EX-G1 is capped at 3 fps, but only for a very limited burst; the EX-H20G does not publish a continuous shooting rate, suggesting it is not designed for rapid-fire capture.

Neither camera supports face or eye detection AF, a feature I greatly miss for portraits, especially with manual focusing only. It’s clear these models target more casual or hobbyist shooters than pros needing precision autofocus.

Build Quality and Durability: Will Your Camera Take a Beating?

Here’s a key distinction: the EX-G1 is built for ruggedness, sporting water, dust, shock, and freeze proofing to some degree. This makes it an excellent candidate for adventurous users who want a camera that can endure hiking, beach trips, or casual underwater photography (to a shallow extent).

The EX-H20G, despite its advanced optics, is a conventional compact without environmental sealing. It feels solidly built but requires gentler treatment and weather awareness.

If your photography involves demanding conditions, splash resistance and freeze-proofing of the EX-G1 could be a deciding factor.

Specialized Photography Scenarios Across Genres

Now that we have the technical overview, let's explore how these cameras fare across specific photography types.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Neither camera excels at shallow depth of field due to small sensors and relatively narrow maximum apertures. The EX-H20G’s longer zoom allows a little more background compression, helping isolate subjects, but don’t expect creamy bokeh or precise eye detection AF. Skin tones are passable but can appear somewhat flat or oversaturated depending on lighting.

I found the EX-H20G produces richer colors, likely aided by improved image processing, whereas the EX-G1 sometimes veers toward cooler tones and less pleasing skin rendition.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Both cameras offer respectable 12-14 MP resolution, enough for casual landscape prints or online sharing.

Dynamic range is limited; highlights clip quickly, and shadow detail falls into noise. Neither model supports raw capture, which restricts post-processing flexibility.

The EX-H20G’s wider angle and longer zoom make it more versatile for varied landscapes. Its lack of weather sealing means caution in harsh outdoor environments, where the EX-G1’s ruggedness shines.

Wildlife Photography: Reach and Burst Rates

Wildlife photography demands excellent autofocus, fast frame rates, and long focal length. The EX-H20G’s 240mm zoom is a strength, putting distant subjects within reach. However, AF speed and tracking lack - the camera nervously hunts when subject movement is involved.

The EX-G1’s shorter zoom limits utility here, and slow AF makes capturing active animals difficult. Neither camera offers burst rates sufficient for serious wildlife sequences.

Sports Photography: Tracking and Frame Rates

Again, both cameras fall short for fast-paced sports. Autofocus systems cannot reliably track moving subjects, and continuous shooting capability is minimal.

EX-H20G is somewhat better for static sports or moderate action due to the longer zoom and improved AF. EX-G1 is better suited for casual sports or snapshots.

Street Photography: Discretion and Portability

A real win for the EX-G1. Ultracompact size, subtle aesthetics, and quiet operation make it an ideal street shooter’s companion. The lack of external flash sync also minimizes conspicuousness.

The EX-H20G’s larger size and zoom lens protrusion call more attention; its weight makes it more of a “grab-and-go” than pocket camera.

Macro Photography: Close Focusing and Stabilization

Macro performance favors the EX-H20G, with a minimum focus distance of 7 cm compared to 10 cm for the EX-G1. Sensor-shift image stabilization works well at close range, helping get sharp macro shots.

Neither camera offers focus stacking or bracketing.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO and Exposure Modes

Both cameras top out at ISO 3200, but noise becomes evident past ISO 400 on the EX-G1 and ISO 800 on the EX-H20G.

Neither supports manual shutter or aperture priority, limiting creative control needed for night exposures or astrophotography. The EX-H20G offers longer maximum shutter speed (1/2000s max shutter speed on the EX-G1, 1/1250s on the EX-H20G), but no bulb mode or manual exposure, hampering night shooting.

Video Capabilities: Resolutions and Stabilization

EX-G1 records low-res video up to 848×480 at 30 fps in Motion JPEG. No microphone input, no HDMI out, no image stabilization - video is a simple extra, not a contender for enthusiasts.

EX-H20G ramps it up with 1280×720 (HD) recording at 30fps using H.264 compression, sensor-shift stabilization, and HDMI out for clean monitoring. Still no mic input or headphone jack.

If video is a priority, the EX-H20G is more capable, but don’t expect 4K or advanced video features.

Practical Considerations: Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Both cameras use proprietary batteries: the NP-800 for EX-G1 and NP-90 for EX-H20G. Neither is outstanding in battery life, typical of compact cameras of their era, so carrying spares is advisable for extended outings.

Storage-wise, EX-G1 accepts microSD / microSDHC cards, while EX-H20G supports the more common SD / SDHC / SDXC cards, giving more flexibility and larger capacity options.

Connectivity? The EX-H20G offers Eye-Fi wireless card support and built-in GPS - useful for geotagging on travel. The EX-G1 lacks wireless features entirely.

How They Measure Up: A Summary of Overall Scores and Genre-Specific Performance

To put everything into perspective, here are the overall performance ratings based on my hands-on tests - considering image quality, speed, handling, and versatility - followed by strengths in various photography genres.

The EX-H20G scores notably higher due to its zoom range, better image processing, stabilization, and video capabilities. The EX-G1, while limited, scores respectably as an ultra-durable, pocket-friendly option.

Sample Photos: Real Images from Both Cameras

To really see how these two stack up, I turned both cameras loose in similar lighting and settings. You’ll notice from this side-by-side gallery that the EX-H20G yields sharper, more vibrant shots, especially in telephoto and low light scenarios. The EX-G1’s images feel softer and washed out in comparison but hold their own under bright daylight.

Casio EX G1 front Casio EX G1 screen back Casio EX H20G front Casio EX H20G screen back

Final Thoughts: Recommendations for Different User Types

If you prioritize portability, ruggedness, and simplicity:

The Casio EX-G1 wins hands down. Its ultracompact design, weather sealing, and shock/freeze proof specs make it a ready companion for adventure or spontaneous photography where durability is key. Perfect for street shooters or travelers wanting a camera that can handle bumps and splashes without fuss.

If you want more creative control, reach, and multimedia flexibility:

The EX-H20G is the better choice. It offers a superior zoom range, optical image stabilization, improved sensor performance, better video features, and GPS tagging - a well-rounded compact that can handle diverse photography situations from macro to landscapes and casual wildlife spotting.

Budget-conscious buyers:

The EX-G1 can often be found for under $70 used, making it an attractive option for first-time digital compacts or those on a tight budget.

The EX-H20G, while more expensive (~$300 new historically), offers clear value for enthusiasts looking for a capable all-rounder.

Personal Preference and Practical Advice

Personally, I found the EX-H20G more enjoyable for extended shooting sessions due to its better ergonomics and image quality. However, the EX-G1’s ruggedness is compelling. I’d recommend the EX-G1 for very casual photographers who prioritize convenience and durability, while the EX-H20G aligns better with enthusiasts eager to explore diverse photographic styles without bulky gear.

If you’re after a modern upgrade, both are surpassed by newer compacts and mirrorless cameras - but for those nostalgic about late-gen point-and-shoots, this comparison clarifies what you’re gaining and sacrificing.

Closing: A Decade-Old Duel with Lessons for Today’s Photographers

While both cameras stem from the same brand and era, their differences illustrate how design philosophy - compact ruggedness vs. zoom versatility - shapes user experience and photography potential. Your choice ultimately depends on what aspects you prioritize most: portability and toughness or extended zoom and better imaging.

Whichever you lean towards, I hope this detailed, hands-on comparison arms you with the practical knowledge needed to choose wisely.

Happy shooting!

For a more tactile impression, see the side-by-side size comparison above and sample image gallery to assess image quality differences firsthand.