Casio EX-H20G vs Samsung NX210: An Expert’s Hands-On Comparison for 2024

Choosing the right camera often means weighing a complex array of features, performance nuances, and your specific photography goals. Today, I’m diving deep into a detailed comparison between two distinct models that represent different eras and philosophies in digital imaging: the Casio EX-H20G - a small-sensor compact camera from 2010, and the Samsung NX210, a more advanced entry-level mirrorless from 2012. Despite their age, these cameras remain interesting study reps in sensor technology evolution, usability, and real-world performance. Whether you’re a collector seeking a backup, a budget-minded enthusiast, or someone curious about legacy gear, this review provides a meticulous breakdown based on my years of hands-on testing with hundreds of cameras.

Let’s start with a visual look to get familiar with their size and ergonomics.

First Impressions: Build Quality and Ergonomics

Right off the bat, you can see these two cameras cater to different handling preferences. The Casio EX-H20G is a compact point-and-shoot, built for portability with modest bulk - measuring 103 x 68 x 29 mm and weighing 216 grams. Its small size makes it pocketable, ideal for casual street or travel snaps without a noticeable load. However, you’ll trade-off articulated controls and a viewfinder for the sake of compactness.

Contrast that with the Samsung NX210, a rangefinder-style mirrorless system camera with an APS-C sensor. It’s bulkier - about 117 x 63 x 37 mm and a touch heavier at 222 grams (body only). Still compact by mirrorless standards, its more substantial grip and dedicated lens mount provide superior balance and comfort during longer shoots. The NX210’s body exudes a refined, classic design.

On top, the differences are practical and striking:

The Casio sports minimalistic top controls, no traditional mode dial, and a simple shutter release with minimal customization. A clear sign it’s aimed at point-and-shoot users wanting simplicity.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s NX210 features a mode dial, dedicated exposure compensation, and ready access to manual controls like shutter/aperture priority - tools enthusiast and prosumer photographers crave. Its layout is better suited for those who want to engage creatively with exposure settings rather than rely on autofocus and scene modes.

In terms of build, neither camera offers weather sealing, so you’ll need to be mindful shooting outdoors under adverse conditions. The NX210’s slightly more robust design and better weather resistance (while not sealed) will keep it safer in casual environments.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

When it comes to image quality, sensor technology and size make all the difference. Here’s a technical comparison:

The Casio EX-H20G uses an older 1/2.3" CCD sensor with approximately 14 megapixels across a modest 28.07 mm² area. This small sensor limits dynamic range, low-light performance, and noise control. Its maximum ISO tops at 3200, but practical use beyond 800 ISO gets noisy and soft.

The Samsung NX210 houses a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor at about 368.95 mm² - more than a 13x sensor area increase over the Casio. Its 20-megapixel resolution offers finer detail and cropping flexibility. The CMOS tech also excels at noise control and dynamic range, delivering cleaner images at higher ISOs - up to 12,800 native ISO.

In lab conditions and real-world shooting, the NX210 produces noticeably sharper and cleaner images with richer color depth (DxO Mark color depth score of 22.8 vs Casio’s unmeasured but notably inferior CCD output). The dynamic range advantage of the NX210, rated at 12.5 EV, means better highlight preservation and shadow detail in challenging lighting.

For photographers prioritizing image quality - landscapes, portraits, or commercial use alike - the NX210 is a clear leader. The Casio, however, might still satisfy casual use where image quality expectations are modest.

Display and Interface: How You See Your Shot

Both cameras rely heavily on LCD displays for composition and review; neither offers an electronic viewfinder.

The Casio features a fixed 3-inch LCD with a modest resolution of 461k dots - serviceable but noticeably grainy and less detailed. The screen’s brightness and viewing angles suffice in shaded conditions but struggle in bright daylight. The EX-H20G lacks touchscreen capabilities or articulating mechanism, so framing from odd angles or intuitive menu navigation can feel clunky.

Samsung’s NX210 offers a similarly sized 3-inch display but significantly upgraded with an Active Matrix OLED panel boasting 614k dots. The colors pop vividly, contrast is stronger, and overall user experience is more engaging. It’s not a touchscreen, which feels like a slight missed opportunity in 2012, but the menus are responsive and clearly organized.

Neither model provides an electronic viewfinder, so direct sunlight viewing remains a challenge to consider, especially for outdoor use.

Performance and Autofocus: Speed and Precision Where It Counts

Now let’s get to the heart of the user experience: focusing and shooting responsiveness.

The Casio EX-H20G has basic contrast-detection autofocus with only single-point AF functionality, no continuous AF tracking, or face/eye detection (which was uncommon at its time). Autofocus is reliable in good light but noticeably slow and prone to hunting in dim or low contrast subjects. The 10x zoom lens (24-240mm equivalent) covers versatile focal lengths but has a variable aperture of f/3.2-5.7 that limits performance in lower light.

Continuous shooting is absent, making action or sports photography difficult.

On the other hand, Samsung NX210 steps up with contrast-detection autofocus enhanced by 15 focus points that can be selectively applied. It offers continuous AF for moving subjects - invaluable for casual wildlife, street, and event photography where you want decisive framing.

Burst shooting at a solid 8 frames per second means it can follow action better than most compact cameras of its era, though still behind modern high-end models. Autofocus speed is impressively quick, and the camera supports face detection, though no eye-tracking or animal-eye AF (understandable for its category and release time).

If you want to explore manual focusing, the NX210 supports this with the appropriate lenses, leveraging its interchangeable lens system.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Let’s break down how these cameras stack up in specific photography disciplines based on their technical capability and real-world use.

Portrait Photography

The NX210’s APS-C sensor and interchangeable lenses offer superior skin tone rendering, natural bokeh, and better subject isolation compared to the Casio’s compact zoom lens.

Casio’s smaller sensor and limited aperture range struggle to provide shallow depth of field effects essential for professional portraiture. The lack of face or eye detection autofocus further diminishes ease in nailing critical focus on eyes.

Samsung’s NX210, meanwhile, includes face detection and selective AF points that make portrait shooting smoother. Paired with prime lenses like 30mm f/2, you get creamy backgrounds and accurate color reproduction - a major plus.

Landscape Photography

Resolution and dynamic range matter most here. The Samsung’s 20MP APS-C sensor captures expansive detail and dynamic lighting, while the better ISO latitude supports varied conditions.

The Casio’s 14MP CCD sensor is less capable. Colour and tonal gradation are muddy in comparison.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, so rough outdoor conditions are a no-go, but packing the mirrorless NX210 with a weather-resistant zoom lens can offset that limitation.

Wildlife Photography

Low-light autofocus speed and lens reach are critical.

The Casio offers a 10x zoom from 24-240mm equivalent, which is modest telephoto reach. Autofocus speed is slow, making it hard to track animals.

Samsung’s NX210, while lacking extensive native supertele lenses compared to DSLR ecosystems, supports various NX mount telephotos and faster, more reliable AF. Its 8 fps burst shooting helps capture fleeting moments. However, it lacks phase-detection AF, which modern mirrorless cameras consider essential for high-speed focus tracking.

Sports Photography

Again, burst rate and AF performance govern outcomes. Casio’s lack of continuous AF and burst shooting makes it ill-suited for sports.

Samsung’s NX210 fares better with 8 fps continuous shooting and continuous AF mode, although autofocus tracking is limited compared to modern competitors.

Street Photography

This is where size and discretion matter most.

Casio EX-H20G’s compact size and light weight win the portability battle. It’s quiet and unobtrusive, albeit image quality and AF speed limit its effectiveness.

NX210, while compact for a mirrorless, is more conspicuous, but its excellent image quality and faster AF justify it for seasoned street shooters willing to carry a mirrorless kit.

Macro Photography

Close focusing distances make all the difference.

Casio supports 7 cm macro focusing with its lens, adequate for casual macro shots but limited in magnification.

Samsung’s NX210 depends on dedicated macro lenses available in its lineup, offering greater flexibility and superior image quality at close range.

Night and Astro Photography

Here, sensor size, ISO performance, and long exposure capabilities come into play.

The Casio tops out at ISO 3200 but with significant noise, making night shots grainy and soft.

The Samsung NX210’s 12800 ISO maximum, combined with a more modern CMOS sensor, produces cleaner images under low light. While it doesn't have built-in bulb modes beyond 30-second shutter speed, its manual exposure control supports long exposures essential for star photography.

Neither camera excels in astro photography but NX210 offers more usable performance.

Video Capabilities: Casual to Semi-Pro Use

Video has become integral even in still cameras. Let’s look:

• Casio EX-H20G records HD 720p at 30fps, with H.264 compression. Limited in resolution and lacking microphone input, it’s suitable only for casual, family-style video.

• Samsung NX210 records Full HD 1080p at 30fps, with additional modes at 24fps and 720p. It uses MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. No microphone input limits audio quality, but video image quality is clearly superior due to sensor size and processing power.

Neither supports advanced video features like 4K or in-body stabilization, the latter being absent in NX210. Casio does include sensor-shift stabilization beneficial for stills but not for video.

Travel and Everyday Versatility

Size, weight, battery life, and flexibility matter most for travel photographers.

Casio’s small size and built-in zoom lens require no lens swaps - ideal for grab-and-go shooting but with limitations in image quality and low light.

Samsung NX210 demands lens changes but offers a compact setup overall with superior creative control. Its battery life is rated around 330 shots, significantly better than Casio’s unknown (typically compact cameras of this era are around 200 shots per charge).

The NX210 supports wireless connectivity built-in, making image sharing en route easier than Casio’s Eye-Fi enabled but Bluetooth-deficient design.

Professional Use and Workflow Integration

For pros, raw file support, manual control, and reliability are crucial.

Casio lacks raw capture, forcing heavier reliance on JPEGs and limiting post-processing latitude.

Samsung NX210 supports raw files, manual exposure modes, exposure bracketing, and offers greater customization. Its APS-C sensor produces professional-grade files suitable for editing and printing.

Lacking environmental sealing and advanced durability, neither camera is career-proof in extreme conditions. Still, NX210 fits well as a budget-friendly second camera or creative tool.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

Both cameras rely on SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, convenient and widely compatible.

Casio has USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs plus GPS built-in for geotagging - rare in 2010 compacts.

Samsung adds wireless connectivity embedded for smoother image transfer and camera control without additional accessories.

Battery-wise, NX210’s dedicated battery pack offers extended life and quicker charging versus the Casio’s NP-90. For serious outing use, the Samsung system is more dependable.

Price to Performance: Which Should You Consider?

The Casio EX-H20G is priced around $300 (used or new old stock) today. It’s a solid pick if you want a simple, compact camera for casual snapshots and aren’t too picky about image quality.

Samsung NX210 runs approximately $600 new back in the day, now available used for about the same or slightly more. Its larger sensor and mirrorless system approach justify the price for enthusiasts seeking better image quality, creative control, and lens options.

Summing Up: What Each Camera Shines At

Casio EX H20G front Casio EX H20G screen back Samsung NX210 screen back

Seeing real shots side by side reveals the impact of sensor and lens quality. The sharpness, color fidelity, and low noise of the NX210 outmatch the softer, more muted Casio files. That said, Casio’s images remain acceptable for social media or casual printing.

According to performance metrics and hands-on feedback, the Samsung NX210 scores higher across virtually all categories except portability.

Breaking down genre suitability:

Recommendations Based on Your Needs

• If you want a lightweight, easy-to-use compact for casual shooting or travel without fuss, the Casio EX-H20G fits the bill. Its 10x optical zoom lens covers many scenarios, and GPS is a nice touch for travelers tagging images.

• If you’re an enthusiast wanting significant image quality boost, manual controls, and future expandability, the Samsung NX210’s APS-C sensor and interchangeable lenses deliver a more rewarding experience. It’s apt for portraits, landscapes, and hobbyist video.

• For street photography in tight urban environments, consider portability vs IQ tradeoffs. Casio is stealthier, but Samsung’s superior AF and image quality are compelling.

• Aspiring wildlife or sports shooters will appreciate NX210’s continuous AF and faster burst, though note its limitations by today’s standards.

• Macrophotographers should lean to Samsung to exploit lens options.

Final Thoughts: Legacy Gear Worth Your Time?

Despite their age, both cameras offer interesting entry points into digital photography with distinct strengths. The Casio EX-H20G’s small sensor and zoom lens provide simplicity and portability at a low cost, making it a charming travel companion. The Samsung NX210’s larger sensor, manual controls, and mirrorless flexibility empower you to grow your photography skills and image quality significantly.

If you’re choosing between the two, the NX210 is my preferred pick for anyone serious about quality and control. The Casio makes an enjoyable lightweight alternative when convenience trumps everything else.

Dear readers, I hope this detailed comparison helps you discern which path aligns best with your photography journey. Every camera here holds historical value and practical lessons about how sensor technology and user experience evolved in the early 2010s. If you pursue images beyond snapshots, the NX210 is the wiser investment. But for casual daily capture, the Casio remains a dependable pocket pal.

Happy shooting!

(Note: Remember to check compatibility if you decide to source lenses for the Samsung NX210, as the NX mount is now discontinued but lens options remain available used. Also, prices fluctuate in the secondhand market - consider condition and shutter count.)