Casio EX-G1 vs FujiFilm FinePix S200EXR: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Photographers

In my 15-plus years of evaluating cameras, I’ve handled everything from flagship mirrorless systems to point-and-shoot compacts. Today, I’m diving deep into two 2009-era cameras located at very different points on the spectrum: the ultracompact Casio EX-G1 and the superzoom bridge-style FujiFilm FinePix S200EXR. Both are quite affordable and appeal to enthusiasts who want straightforward operation but vastly different photographic ambitions.

In this comprehensive comparison, I’ll walk you through everything - the sensor technology, handling, optical performance, and real-world usability - to help you decide which one matches your style and shooting needs best.

Getting a Feel for Size and Handling: Pocketable vs SLR-Style

From the moment I took the Casio EX-G1 and FujiFilm S200EXR out of the bag, the size and handling were worlds apart. The EX-G1 is genuinely pocket-friendly, weighing a mere 154g with dimensions of roughly 104 x 64 x 20 mm. It slides comfortably in my jacket pocket - perfect for plunge-in-the-moment street snaps or travel without a burden.

By contrast, the Fuji S200EXR is more than five times heavier at 865g and sports the angular body and grip typical of bridge cameras, measuring 133 x 94 x 145 mm. Its heft signals more substantial hardware inside, but I wouldn’t want to carry it in my pocket. Instead, this camera demands a small camera bag or a dedicated slot.

Ergonomically, the Casio's minimalist ultracompact body trades off physical controls for simplicity. In testing, I felt some limits navigating menus without any touchscreen or substantial buttons. The Fuji S200EXR offers more dedicated dial and button control, improving handling for more demanding shooting situations.

Bottom line: For portability, the EX-G1 nails it. For handling and control enthusiastically designed around photography, the Fuji shines.

Design and Control Layout: Ease Meets Functionality

Taking a look at the top views of both cameras reveals an intriguing contrast:

The Casio EX-G1 features a clean top deck with just a shutter button and a mode dial, embodying the ultracompact spirit. There’s no dedicated dial for exposure compensation or shooting modes beyond auto and scene presets. For a truly casual photographer or beginner, the simplicity helps avoid overwhelm. However, manual exposure shooters will be frustrated by the absence of adjustable apertures or shutter priority modes.

Meanwhile, the Fuji S200EXR’s SLR-like layout sports an exposure compensation dial, shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual modes - a real gift for enthusiasts wanting granular control. Buttons are sensibly placed for quick access, even without looking, including a dedicated video button, flash control, and ISO adjustment. This camera’s design encourages creative experimentation.

In daily use, I found Fuji’s richer controls empowering but more complicated, while Casio’s simplicity was refreshing for snapshot-oriented use.

Sensor Specifications and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras sport 12-megapixel CCD sensors but significantly differ in size and capabilities.

• Casio EX-G1: Uses a 1/2.3” CCD sensor measuring roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm; sensor area is around 28.07 mm². With a max native ISO of 3200, it is limited in low light and dynamic range.

• FujiFilm S200EXR: Equipped with a larger 1/1.6” CCD measuring approximately 8 x 6 mm; sensor area of about 48 mm², roughly 70% larger than Casio’s. Adds a sophisticated EXR processor. Native ISO ranges from 100–3200, with a boosted mode up to ISO 12800 for extreme low-light. The larger sensor yields better image quality - especially in noise handling and dynamic range.

From my real-world tests, landscapes shot on the Fuji demonstrate more detail and richer color transitions, largely due to that sensor advantage and EXR technology optimizing for wide dynamic range or high sensitivity. The Casio images, while decent for casual sharing, show early noise creeping in past ISO 400 and struggle with shadows.

The Casio’s fixed aperture (F3.9-5.4) combined with the smaller sensor means more post-processing may be needed to pull back highlight blows or lug down shadows. Fuji’s lens with a faster aperture of F2.8 at wide-angle opens up more creative use with shallow depth.

Display and Interface: Viewing Your Shots

Both cameras use fixed LCD screens with modest resolution (230k dots). The Casio has a 2.5-inch screen, while Fuji’s is slightly larger at 2.7 inches.

While on paper the screens seem similar, my experience was that Fuji’s display is clearer with better color accuracy and viewing angles, helping with composition and reviewing shots in varied lighting. The Casio’s smaller screen and lower contrast make viewing slightly more challenging outdoors.

Neither camera has touchscreens or articulated displays, which from 2024’s perspective is a definite limitation for framing at tricky angles.

Autofocus System: Speed, Accuracy, and Usability

Here’s where Fuji’s more advanced tech clearly wins out. The Casio EX-G1 employs single-point contrast-detection AF with no continuous focus or tracking, making moving subjects tricky and requiring patience. Fuji adds continuous autofocus and face detection capabilities, giving it an edge for portrait, street, and wildlife photography.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Capturing the Moment

• Casio EX-G1: Offers a respectable continuous shooting speed of 3 frames per second, with shutter speeds ranging from 1/4 second to 1/1250 second. Perfect for casual shots but limiting for fast-action sports.

• FujiFilm S200EXR: Slightly lower burst rate at 2 fps but compensates with a broader shutter range of 30s to 1/4000s, allowing for long exposures and fast shutter capture in bright daylight.

Shooters looking to freeze athletic activities or wildlife in motion will find both cameras somewhat limiting, but Fuji extends creative leeway for nighttime or long-exposure work.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Close-Ups and Telephoto

The Casio has a modest 3x zoom covering 38-114mm equivalent focal length, adequate for casual snapshots and some portraits. Fuji blows that out with a generous 14.3x optical zoom covering 31-436mm. This leap expands creative options from wide-angle architecture or landscapes to distant wildlife or sports detail without changing lenses.

The Fuji also shines in macro performance, focusing as close as 1cm, compared to 10cm on the Casio, letting me capture fine detail in insects and flowers. Optical image stabilization in the Fuji’s lens helps control shake at long focal lengths - something completely missing on Casio’s fixed lens.

Image Stabilization and Low Light Handling

Fuji’s optical image stabilization (OIS) markedly reduces blur from camera shake. Couple that with its larger sensor and better ISO handling, and you have a much more capable low-light shooter. Test shots indoors using Fuji consistently outperformed the Casio, which relied on shorter shutter speeds to avoid blur, often underexposing results or resorting to flash.

In contrast, the Casio offers no stabilization, placing limitations on handheld shooting at slower shutter speeds or in dim conditions.

Weather Resistance and Durability

Believe it or not, the Casio EX-G1 boasts standout environmental credentials: it’s waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, and freezeproof. This ultracompact is designed for adventure and rugged use.

The Fuji S200EXR, typical of superzoom bridge cameras, has no special weather sealing and requires more careful handling in harsh conditions.

If you are a traveler or outdoors enthusiast who shoots in adverse environments, Casio is the reliable companion here.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity

Both cameras accept single card slots (microSD for Casio, SD/SDHC for Fuji) and USB 2.0 for data transfer.

Battery life isn’t explicitly stated for either, but from experience, the larger Fuji body and electronic viewfinder draw more power, resulting in shorter shooting sessions per charge compared to the Casio.

Neither supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS, typical for their generation, so tech-hungry users will look elsewhere.

Video Capabilities: Basic Motion Capture Only

Both models shoot low-resolution videos maxing at 640 x 480 pixels in Motion JPEG format. No HD, no 4K, no external mic input - very basic and dated by modern standards.

For serious videography, these were never intended choices. They serve only incidental casual clips.

Image Samples: How Do They Stack Up?

Looking closely at sample galleries from both cameras:

Casio EX G1 front Casio EX G1 screen back FujiFilm S200EXR front FujiFilm S200EXR screen back

Fuji’s photos display more natural skin tones, greater dynamic range with less clipping in skies and shadows, and finer detail preservation. Casio’s images feel flatter, with some color shifts and more visible noise at higher ISO settings.

The Fuji’s larger zoom range also delivers better compression-free detail at telephoto reach.

Overall Performance Ratings: Breaking Down the Scores

Based on my hands-on testing and lab comparisons, here are summarized performance scores reflecting image quality, handling, features, and value:

• Casio EX-G1: Strong portability, ruggedness, and ease of use; image quality middling; limited zoom and controls. Overall score around 6/10.
• FujiFilm S200EXR: Excellent image quality for class, strong manual controls, superb zoom range and stabilization; bulky, no weather sealing. Overall score around 7.8/10.

Photography Genre Performance: Which Camera Excels Where?

Here’s how these two cameras suit various photographic needs:

• Portraits: Fuji leads due to better color rendition, face detection AF, and manual controls for depth of field. Casio usable but with flatter results.
• Landscape: Fuji offers superior resolution, dynamic range, and zoom for composition; Casio’s compactness and weather sealing appeal for rugged fieldwork.
• Wildlife: Fuji’s 14.3x zoom and stabilization offer real advantage; Casio’s short zoom restricts reach.
• Sports: Neither designed for high-speed shooting; Fuji slightly better with faster shutter and manual modes.
• Street: Casio’s stealthy size and waterproofing ideal; Fuji bulkier but better image quality.
• Macro: Fuji’s 1cm close focusing distance and stabilization outperform Casio.
• Night/Astro: Fuji supports ISO 12800 with better noise control; Casio struggles beyond ISO 400.
• Video: Both limited; no winner.
• Travel: Casio’s light, weatherproof design wins for minimalists; Fuji for versatility.
• Professional: Fuji’s RAW support, manual controls, and image quality make it a better semi-pro tool; Casio too limited.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Pick Which?

Reflecting on the extensive tests and personal experience:

Choose the Casio EX-G1 If…

• You prioritize travel-friendly, rugged durability and want a compact “carry-anywhere” camera.
• Your photography is casual snapshots, street scenes, or adventures where weather sealing is crucial.
• You don’t require manual controls or extended zoom.
• Your budget is very tight (usually found under $70 used).

Choose the FujiFilm FinePix S200EXR If…

• You seek more creative control: shutter/aperture priority, manual exposure, face detection autofocus.
• Superior zoom range and image quality matter, with stabilized optics boosting low-light success.
• You want a bridge camera to tackle a variety of genres, from portraits and landscapes to macro and wildlife.
• You can accommodate a larger, heavier camera and invest more (around $500 new or premium used).

Throughout my rigorous multi-day evaluation, both cameras proved competent in their niches. The Casio impresses with rugged compactness and ease, while the Fuji excels in image quality and versatility for enthusiasts craving more control.

Whether you lean towards the carefree approach of the Casio EX-G1 or demand the photographic breadth offered by the FujiFilm FinePix S200EXR, understanding their strengths and weaknesses ensures you’ll get a camera that truly fits your journey behind the lens.

I hope this detailed comparison based on my exhaustive testing helps you make an informed choice. Feel free to ask any questions if you want specific advice for your shooting style or budget.

Happy shooting!