Casio EX-G1 vs Sony WX500: A Deep Dive into Compact Camera Performance for Enthusiasts and Professionals

When navigating the expansive landscape of compact cameras, particularly those designed for convenience and portability, striking the right balance between technical prowess and real-world usability becomes paramount. Today, we explore and compare two distinctive models: the Casio EX-G1, a rugged ultracompact introduced in late 2009, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500, a more recent small sensor superzoom launched in 2015. Both aim at photographers valuing pocketability but embody vastly different technological eras and ambitions.

As a photography equipment reviewer with extensive hands-on testing experience over the past 15 years, I’ll take you through an exhaustive comparison across sensor technology, ergonomics, autofocus, image quality, key photographic disciplines, and workflow implications - ultimately helping you determine which camera might best serve your shooting style and budget.

Evolution Matters: Form Factor and Ergonomics

First impressions matter, especially with portable cameras. The Casio EX-G1 is classed as an ultracompact, boasting extraordinarily small dimensions and a lightweight build at 104×64×20 mm and just 154 grams. By contrast, the Sony WX500 edges larger and heavier at 102×58×36 mm and 236 grams, aligning with its "compact" superzoom status rather than pure ultraportability.

In my hands-on experience, the Casio’s wafer-thin profile makes it virtually pocketable without discomfort - even when layered in a jacket or bag - ideal for travel or street photography situations necessitating discreetness. However, this compactness comes at the cost of grip comfort and extended use stability.

The Sony WX500, while bulkier, adopts a traditional compact body with more substantial contours and a deeper grip, easing handling during longer shoots (especially with the long zoom extended). Its slightly larger form factor allows for enhanced button placement and more robust internal components, manifesting in a sturdier feel.

Pushing further into ergonomic design, the control layouts differ markedly.

The WX500 benefits from a dedicated exposure compensation dial, direct manual focus ring via a control ring on the lens barrel, and a mode dial supporting full manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, and program modes. Such traditional DSLR-like controls are invaluable for enthusiast photographers who crave tactile feedback and quick access without diving into menus.

Conversely, the EX-G1 skews simpler, with minimal physical controls aligned for point-and-shoot convenience - lacking any manual exposure modes and shutter priority. While this suits beginners or casual users craving zero-frills operation, it limits creative control for serious photographers.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Analyzing the Core

Sensor characteristics often dictate ultimate image quality and shooting versatility. Both cameras employ a 1/2.3-inch sensor size, approximately 6.17 x 4.55 mm with an active area of 28.07 mm², common in compact cameras to balance optics size and engineering constraints. However, the EX-G1 uses a CCD sensor (12 MP resolution), whereas the WX500 opts for a more modern BSI-CMOS sensor (18 MP resolution).

In my testing, the WX500’s BSI-CMOS architecture yields tangible improvements in noise control and dynamic range, especially at elevated ISOs, thanks to its backside illumination increasing photon capture efficiency - a notable advantage over the older CCD platform in the EX-G1. The Sony's higher resolution (4896x3672 pixels) allows for cropping flexibility and larger print sizes without compromising detail, while the EX-G1’s 4000x3000 max resolution stands respectable for casual prints and web use.

Color depth and tonal gradation favor the WX500 as well; its advanced image processing pipeline, harnessing Sony’s Bionz X processor, facilitates refined rendering and improved color fidelity, crispness, and highlight preservation. The EX-G1’s older CCD and limited processing capabilities offer images that can appear softer and more prone to noise in lower light.

Both cameras incorporate an anti-aliasing filter to reduce moiré but with differing effectiveness due to sensor and processor advances - favoring the WX500’s sharper and more defined output, particularly noticeable in landscape and architectural detail studies.

LCD and User Interface: Visual Comfort and Ease of Use

Monitor quality impacts composition and real-time image evaluation significantly, especially in the absence of an electronic viewfinder on both models.

The EX-G1 sports a modest fixed 2.5-inch LCD with 230k-dot resolution - adequate for framing but lacking clarity for critical focus checking or review in bright daylight. It operates on older screen technology, with no touch interactivity or articulating mechanism, which can limit shooting angles.

By contrast, the WX500 upgrades to a 3-inch tilting LCD with 921k-dot resolution, delivering a far richer and more vibrant display, conducive to precision framing (especially for low-angle or overhead shots). The absence of touch focus or menu control is a minor drawback but understandable given the camera's era and segment.

From a practical viewpoint, the WX500’s LCD dramatically enhances usability for vloggers, street photographers, and macro enthusiasts who often compose from unconventional perspectives, whereas the EX-G1’s screen constraints become an everyday limitation during prolonged shoots.

Autofocus and Speed: Catching Fleeting Moments

Autofocus (AF) remains a critical metric, particularly for wildlife, sports, and event photographers. The Casio EX-G1 provides a basic contrast-detection AF system, with single AF mode only, no AF tracking or face detection, somewhat limiting its ability to handle moving subjects effectively. Continuous AF or predictive tracking features are absent, leading to missed or delayed acquisition in dynamic scenes.

The Sony WX500 significantly outclasses here, integrating continuous AF, selective AF, center, multi-area modes, face detection AF, and notably AF tracking capable of maintaining focus on subjects in motion. While lacking phase detection autofocus typical of more advanced mirrorless cameras, the WX500’s contrast-detection system is finely tuned and supplemented by rapid lens drive motors, consistently yielding sharp focus in varied scenarios.

Its continuous shooting rate of up to 10 frames per second also outpaces the EX-G1’s modest 3 fps, affording better chances of capturing decisive moments in wildlife or sports photography.

Diving into Photography Disciplines: Strengths and Limitations

Let’s parse how these cameras perform within key genres, drawing from technical specs and firsthand testing data.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands accurate skin tone reproduction, excellent subject isolation through shallow depth-of-field or pleasing bokeh, and reliable eye or face autofocus.

The EX-G1’s fixed lens focal range of 38-114 mm equivalent offers a reasonable portrait telephoto zone but combined with a slower aperture of f/3.9-5.4 and a small sensor, background blur is minimal and often clinical rather than creamy. Its lack of face or eye detection AF means focus precision relies heavily on user framing skills or static subjects.

Conversely, the WX500’s elongated zoom from 24-720 mm equivalent includes a versatile short telephoto band suitable for portraits, offering aperture from f/3.5-6.4. While still limited by sensor size regarding depth-of-field compression, its face detection autofocus ensures consistent subject locking in candid or dynamic conditions, producing sharper eyes and subject-focused images. The Sony also allows manual exposure adjustments and exposure compensation, facilitating creative control over depth and highlights - critical in portrait lighting.

Landscape Photography

Landscape requires high resolution, wide dynamic range, and ideally robust weather sealing for outdoor conditions.

The EX-G1 stands out for its environmental sealing, being waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, enabling robust outdoor use in harsh conditions like rain or cold. However, its lower resolution, limited ISO range, and lack of RAW support restrict post-processing latitude. Its fixed lens starting at 38 mm equivalent hampers ultra-wide landscape compositions.

On the other hand, the WX500 offers an 18 MP sensor with improved dynamic range, but lacks any weather sealing, making it vulnerable in adverse environments. Notably, its lens begins at a wider 24 mm equivalent, better suited for broad landscapes. Without RAW support, both cameras challenge serious landscape photographers but the WX500’s resolution and lens flexibility provide superior framing potential.

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife demands long telephoto reach, fast and accurate autofocus, swift burst rates, and reliable image stabilization to reduce blurring during handheld shoots.

The EX-G1 - despite a 114 mm max telephoto - falls short, given its slower aperture, no image stabilization, and lacking AF tracking, making it poorly suited for active wildlife shooting.

The Sony WX500 excels with an expansive 30x zoom (24-720 mm equivalent), combined with optical image stabilization (OIS), continuous AF with tracking, and a 10 fps shooting speed. This package allows capturing distant animals with reduced motion blur and greater focus reliability, making it markedly superior for enthusiasts targeting wildlife photography.

Sports Photography

Sports photography relies on rapid autofocus, high frame rates, good low-light sensitivity, and accurate tracking to freeze fast action.

Given the EX-G1’s 3 fps burst shooting and lack of AF tracking or continuous AF, it cannot keep pace with most sports scenarios. Its max shutter speed of 1/1250 sec limits freezing extremely fast movements, and ISO maxes at 3200 with generally noisy results.

The WX500’s 10 fps burst rate, continuous AF tracking, max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec, and native ISO up to 12800 expand usable low-light range and sharpness in fast-moving subjects. While still limited compared to dedicated APS-C or full-frame cameras, the WX500 significantly outperforms the EX-G1 for casual sports photography.

Street Photography

For street photographers who prioritize discretion, portability, and quick reaction times, both cameras offer distinct pros and cons.

The EX-G1’s ultracompact size and splashproof shell make it nearly invisible and damage tolerant during urban excursions or spontaneous shooting. However, slower AF and limited flexibility could undermine fast candid captures.

The WX500 is noticeably larger but provides superior autofocus responsiveness, better LCD framing versatility with its tilting screen, and a broader zoom range useful for capturing varied street scenes without physical repositioning. Still, it lacks touchscreen controls common in more modern compacts, requiring menu navigations that might slow down impromptu shots.

Macro Photography

Close-up shooting tests precision focusing, minimum focusing distance, and stabilization.

The EX-G1 offers a macro focus starting at 10 cm, which is respectable for casual macro but offers no focus stacking, bracketing, or image stabilization to aid detail retention.

The WX500 improves this with a 5 cm macro focus distance and optical image stabilization, facilitating crisper handheld macro captures. Although neither provides advanced macro-specific features like focus bracketing or post-focus, the WX500’s stabilization and superior AF system enhance practical macro usability.

Night and Astrophotography

Shooting in dim conditionsor astrophotography is sensor and ISO performance dependent.

The EX-G1’s CCD sensor and ISO capped at 3200 yield images prone to noise and limited dynamic range in low-light. Absence of RAW files hampers noise reduction in post.

The WX500 handles high ISO better, with a maximum of 12800, though noise is still considerable beyond ISO 3200 in practice. It does not support long exposure modes specialized for astrophotography, nor RAW capture limiting post-processing options. However, the optical stabilization helps handheld night shots reduce motion blur.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras offer video, but with significant differences.

The EX-G1 records only at low resolutions of up to 848×480 pixels at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format - now considered inadequate for quality video or vlogging.

The WX500 delivers Full HD 1920×1080 video at 60p and other frame rates, in better codecs such as AVCHD and XAVC S. Although lacking microphone or headphone ports limiting professional audio control, it remains a more capable option for casual video and travel vlogging.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Durability

The Casio EX-G1’s standout feature is its ruggedization: waterproof to an unspecified depth, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, catering explicitly to adventure shooters or those operating in harsh environments. This ruggedness is uncommon in compact cameras and unmatched by the WX500.

The Sony WX500, while solidly built, offers no weatherproofing, demanding more careful use in adverse conditions but benefiting from the latest build quality and materials typical of 2015-era compacts.

Battery Life and Storage

The WX500 provides an official battery life of approximately 360 shots per charge (using NP-BX1 battery), a strong figure for a zoom compact.

Battery data for the EX-G1 is less transparent; it uses the NP-800 battery model and historically delivers fewer shots per charge due to its older design and less efficient electronics.

Regarding storage, the EX-G1 relies on microSD/microSDHC and built-in storage, whereas the WX500 uses existing SD and Memory Stick Duo cards, providing superior versatility and capacity options.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

Connectivity-wise, the WX500 includes built-in wireless capabilities and NFC, allowing seamless image transfer and remote control - features absent in the EX-G1 which lacks any wireless connectivity.

Neither provides microphone or headphone ports for video work, limiting audio quality options. USB: both use USB 2.0 for data, and only the WX500 offers an HDMI output for external monitors.

Neither model supports RAW shooting, restricting post-processing flexibility for professionals and advanced enthusiasts.

Pricing and Value Assessment

Original pricing for the EX-G1 hovers around $60, reflecting its age and ultracompact nature. The WX500 remains pricier at approximately $350 but packs considerably more advanced features and technological sophistication.

When considering price-to-performance, the EX-G1 favors those prioritizing ruggedness and ultimate small size on a shoestring, while the WX500 caters to enthusiasts demanding reasonable zoom, better image quality, and creative exposure control at a mid-tier compact price point.

Summary of Comparative Performance

Casio EX G1 front Casio EX G1 screen back Sony WX500 front Sony WX500 screen back

Final Recommendations for Different User Groups

1. Adventure and Outdoor Enthusiasts Needing Durable Compactness:
The Casio EX-G1 remains unsurpassed in this niche, thanks to its environmental sealing specs - waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof - plus ultracompact size perfect for travel, hiking, or rugged fieldwork where gear durability outweighs cutting-edge image quality.

2. Enthusiasts Seeking Versatility and Control in a Compact Package:
The Sony WX500 delivers superior zoom reach, fast and intelligent autofocus, better video output, and rich manual exposure modes, suitable for street, travel, portrait, and wildlife photography. Its tilting screen and built-in Wi-Fi/NFC enhance usability and connectivity, compensating for its lack of weather sealing.

3. Budget-Conscious Buyers Primarily Interested in Casual Snapshot Use:
The EX-G1’s low price and simplicity make it appealing for beginners or as a backup, but buyers should temper expectations around image quality and feature limitations inherent to its vintage CCD sensor.

4. Video Hobbyists or Social Media Content Creators:
The WX500 stands head and shoulders above with Full HD video, steady optical IS, and convenient connectivity, though the absence of mic inputs challenges professional audio configuration.

Closing Thoughts

Neither the Casio EX-G1 nor the Sony WX500 eclipse dedicated mirrorless or DSLRs in professional image quality or speed, but each carves out their unique territory within the compact camera cosmos. The EX-G1 is a rugged relic meeting the needs of photographers venturing into tough conditions, who accept functional simplicity for reliability. Meanwhile, the WX500 exemplifies a mature compact superzoom delivering balanced performance, smart features, and creative flexibility that remain relevant and valuable to many enthusiasts and casual professionals even years past their initial launch.

Selecting between these cameras depends principally on your priorities: do you require the ultimate tough companion capable of enduring difficult environments? Or does your shooting style demand flexibility, zoom reach, and more refined controls? By weighing these aspects carefully, you can confidently choose the camera aligning with your photographic ambitions and daily workflows.