Casio EX-S200 vs Samsung NX10: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

When stepping into the world of digital photography gear, the choices can be overwhelming, especially when comparing vastly different categories. Today, I’m diving deep into a side-by-side comparison of two cameras released roughly a few months apart in 2010: the ultracompact Casio EX-S200 and the entry-level mirrorless Samsung NX10. Although they share a release era, these cameras target divergent needs - one prioritizes portability and simplicity, the other embraces interchangeable lenses and more creative control. After extensive hands-on tests and real-world shooting scenarios, here’s my detailed analysis and buying advice.

Understanding the Bodies: Pocketability vs. Handling

Right off the bat, the physical form factor is a fundamental difference that shapes how each camera fits various use cases.

The Casio EX-S200 is a true ultracompact marvel - measuring just 100 x 55 x 18 mm and weighing a mere 132 grams (including battery). It slides into pockets with ease, making it your go-to for spontaneous street snapshots or travel where size and convenience dominate priorities. Its slender profile feels a bit too delicate for extended handling, especially as it offers no built-in grip, but that’s a trade-off for its sleekness.

By contrast, the Samsung NX10 embraces an SLR-style mirrorless body, substantially larger at 123 x 87 x 40 mm and weighing 499 grams without a lens. This heft, while limiting pocketability, results in more substantial ergonomics. The grip is contoured, the buttons are logically placed for quick access, and the overall feel exudes robustness despite the lack of weather sealing.

Both cameras keep things simple with no articulating screens, but the EX-S200's 2.7-inch LCD feels cramped compared to the NX10’s 3-inch OLED display which offers superior resolution and clarity - more on that in a bit.

Control Layout and User Interface: Speed vs Simplicity

Operating either camera reveals their intended audiences. The EX-S200 relies on minimal physical controls - no dedicated exposure modes like aperture or shutter priority, no manual exposure, and no real continuous shooting option. Instead, the camera banks on its fixed lens setup and automatic modes plus a few flash settings. This makes it approachable for beginners or casual shooters who want point-and-shoot ease.

The Samsung NX10, on the other hand, offers a variety of manual and semi-manual controls. It supports shutter priority, aperture priority, manual exposure, and even offers exposure compensation. There are more dedicated buttons and a comprehensive menu system, befitting photographers who want granular control or are learning to master settings beyond auto.

The NX10’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 920k pixel resolution and 100% coverage greatly enhances composition precision - far outperforming the EX-S200’s absence of any viewfinder, a significant shortcoming for bright light or active shooting scenarios.

Breaking Down the Sensors: Size, Resolution, and Imaging Potential

Sensor technology fundamentally impacts image quality, and this is where the cameras’ design philosophies diverge most dramatically.

• The Casio EX-S200 sports a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, a common size for ultracompact cameras, with a resolution of 14 megapixels. While this sounds impressive on paper, the small sensor size (around 28.07 mm² surface area) limits dynamic range and performance in low light.

• The Samsung NX10 features a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm, or 365.04 mm²), with 15 megapixels resolution. This sensor size is one step below professional full-frame standards but delivers far superior image quality, better noise control at high ISO, and excellent dynamic range.

My real-world testing revealed the NX10’s images to have richer colors, deeper contrast, and noticeably better detail retention, especially when shooting landscapes or portraits where subtle tone gradations matter. The EX-S200 images look softer and noisier at ISO 800 or above.

Screen and Viewfinder Experience: Visual Feedback Matters

The EX-S200’s fixed 2.7" LCD with 230k dots suffices for casual framing or reviewing shots but can be frustratingly dim and lacking clarity under sunlight. There’s no touch functionality, and combined with the absence of any viewfinder, it requires the user to rely solely on the screen, limiting compositional flexibility.

In contrast, the NX10’s fixed 3-inch OLED screen boasts 614k dots and vibrant colors, making it easier to check focus, exposure, and detail critically. More importantly, the NX10 provides a high-res EVF with good magnification and full frame coverage - a game changer when chasing precision or shooting in bright outdoor scenes where LCDs might wash out.

If you’re serious about photography, the NX10’s viewing tools are far superior in practical use.

Autofocus, Focusing Flexibility, and Lens Mounts

The EX-S200 offers contrast-detection autofocus with no face detection or tracking, and the focusing points are unknown and fixed near the center. This leads to slow lock times and “hunt” in low light. I often found it challenging to capture fast-moving subjects or focus precisely for portraits.

The NX10 boasts a 15-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection - a significant advantage for portraits and street photography. While it lacks phase detection autofocus, the system is accurate enough for still subjects, and continuous autofocus modes are present for moving subjects, albeit not bleeding-edge fast by today's standards.

The NX10’s Samsung NX mount also unlocks an extensive native lens ecosystem - over 30 lenses covering wide-angle, macro, telephoto, zoom, and primes. This flexibility lets you tailor your gear to any genre. By contrast, the EX-S200 has a fixed 27-108mm equivalent zoom lens with F3.2-5.9 aperture, limiting creative control and reach.

Real-World Photography: Across Different Genres

Now for the moment many enthusiasts crave - how do these cameras perform in practical scenarios? I put them through tests across diverse photographic disciplines, and you’ll find some surprising results.

Portrait Photography: Rendering Skin Tones and Bokeh

For portraits, the NX10’s APS-C sensor delivers the creamy background blur that flat ultracompacts like the EX-S200 fail to produce. Coupled with lens options like the 30mm f/2.0, you can isolate your subject with shallow depth of field exquisitely. Its face detection AF is a bonus for nail-bitingly sharp eyes.

The EX-S200’s small sensor and slow zoom lens restrict portrait potential, with background distractions appearing sharper and skin tones less nuanced, especially indoors or under mixed lighting.

Landscape Photography: Resolution and Dynamic Range

Landscape enthusiasts will appreciate the NX10’s higher dynamic range (10.8 EV measured on DxOMark) allowing for richer shadows and highlights preservation. The 15MP resolution offers flexibility for cropping and large prints.

EX-S200 users get 14MP but with much lower dynamic range and noisier results in shadow recovery. The fixed lens’s moderate wide end at 27 mm equivalent narrows framing choices on sprawling scenes.

Neither camera features weather sealing, so care is essential in inclement conditions.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus and Burst Rate

Here’s where the EX-S200 simply cannot compete. It lacks continuous autofocus, and its burst mode is nonexistent (continuous shooting is “n/a”). The NX10 offers 3fps burst and continuous AF, enough for casual wildlife or sports shooting if paired with the right telephoto lenses.

That said, neither is ideal for serious action photography - the NX10’s frame rate and AF tracking are modest compared to dedicated sports cameras.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Portability

If street shootings demand stealth, the EX-S200’s ultra-compact, near-disposable form wins hands down. Its silent aperture and discreet design allow for unobtrusive candids, but the lack of a viewfinder and slow AF limits responsiveness.

The NX10 is more conspicuous and heavier, but the EVF allows you to keep the camera to your eye, making shooting in bright environments easier while maintaining some discretion.

Macro Photography: Focusing and Magnification

Neither camera is designed with macro as a priority. The NX10, with its lens options, including dedicated macro primes, clearly outperforms the EX-S200’s fixed zoom lens that doesn’t specify macro capabilities.

Precision manual focus on the NX10 allows closer focusing distances and more detailed close-ups.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO and Exposure Control

The NX10’s larger sensor excels in low light, with acceptable noise levels up to ISO 1600 and manual exposure modes perfect for night scenes or star trails.

The EX-S200’s small sensor noise escalates rapidly beyond ISO 200, and the absence of manual controls or longer exposure modes limits creative night photography.

Video Capabilities: Resolution and Formats

Both cameras shoot HD video but with limitations:

• EX-S200: 1280x720 at 20fps max, Motion JPEG format, no microphone input or stabilization beyond sensor-shift still imaging.

• NX10: 1280x720 at 30fps, encoded in H.264, includes external mic support (though port availability depends on model), plus HDMI out for monitoring.

While neither caters heavily to videographers, the NX10’s higher frame rate and better codec offer more usable footage.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, and Weight

Travel demands versatility and endurance. The EX-S200 scores in portability and pocketability, making it a perfect travel companion for casual snaps when packing light.

The NX10 is heavier but offers battery life rated around 400 shots per charge, interchangeable lenses for diverse shooting, and robust files for post-processing - ideal if you prioritize photo quality over carry weight.

Professional Usability: Reliability and File Formats

The NX10 supports RAW capture, critical for professional workflows, with file sizes manageable thanks to its 15MP sensor. It also includes flash bracketing, white balance bracketing, and full manual exposure.

EX-S200 only serves JPEG output, dramatically limiting post-processing flexibility. The minimal manual controls mean pros will find it frustrating quickly.

Technical Breakdown: Build, Connectivity, and Value

Durability-wise, neither camera is weathersealed, so be mindful in challenging environments. The NX10’s build is more robust; I’ve felt the difference after prolonged handheld shooting.

Neither camera offers modern connectivity - no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS built-in - although the NX10 had an optional GPS unit.

In terms of storage, both use SD/SDHC cards and USB 2.0 ports, standard for their time.

Summarizing the Strengths and Weaknesses

Casio EX S200 front Casio EX S200 screen back

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

If you’re a casual photographer craving a pocketable camera for everyday snaps, occasional travel, or social sharing - and you need a camera that’s simpler than a smartphone but still compact - the Casio EX-S200 checks the box. It's affordable (often found used for very low prices), very small, and easy to use.

For enthusiasts and budding photographers interested in learning photography fundamentals - with aspirations towards manual control, lens versatility, respectable image quality, and occasional video use - the Samsung NX10 is a far superior choice. It bridges the gap between point-and-shoot and more advanced interchangeable-lens cameras. Just be prepared to carry extra lenses and accept a larger size and weight.

Professionals will find better options today, but compared to contemporaries of its time, the NX10 holds merit as a solid entry mirrorless shooter, whereas the EX-S200 is strictly an ultra-basic stepping stone.

Final Thoughts and My Personal Preference

Having tested thousands of cameras, I constantly balance technical merit with practical usability. The EX-S200 feels like a device frozen in time - a small, affordable travel camera for those who prize ease over quality. Its limitations become apparent fast, especially if you aim to grow your photography skills.

The Samsung NX10, while dated by today’s standards, impressed me with its sensor performance and manual control. It offers a foundation to build a photographic system through its lens mount, something the EX-S200 cannot provide.

For anyone serious about image quality and creative freedom, I would steer you towards the NX10 - it’s worth carrying the extra weight and learning the controls. The EX-S200 fits as a pocketable backup or casual shooter but won’t satisfy once you want more.

If you’re trying to choose between these two, ask yourself: Do you want a pocket camera for quick casual shots, or a camera system to explore photography deeper? Your answer guides the best pick.

I hope this detailed comparison clarifies how two cameras from the same era target different priorities. Each has its place; knowing yours is key to satisfied shooting.