Casio EX-Z280 vs Sony NEX-5: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts and Pros

In my fifteen-plus years testing cameras, few comparisons embody the pace of photographic evolution quite like the 2009 Casio EX-Z280 compact vs. the 2010 Sony NEX-5 mirrorless interchangeable lens. Both represent distinctive eras and philosophies in digital imaging - the pocketable convenience of small sensor compacts and the emergent sophistication of entry-level mirrorless with large sensors. Drawing on rigorous side-by-side lab and field tests, plus thousands of real-life images, I’ve assembled this detailed, candid comparison to guide photographers who want to understand what these cameras deliver in 2024 and beyond.

Rest assured, this is not a mere specs sheet repetition; I’ll offer you practical insights, nuanced details, and actionable buying guidance that only hands-on experience reveals.

Seeing Them Side by Side: Size, Build, and Handling

Before diving into optics and performance, handling defines much of your shooting experience. The Casio EX-Z280 is the archetypal small sensor compact camera, weighing just 133g and measuring a tiny 97x53x20 mm. I slipped it easily into a jacket pocket during light strolls and casual shoots. It’s virtually unobtrusive - a boon for street photographers or anyone prioritizing ultimate portability.

The Sony NEX-5, meanwhile, is distinctly larger and heavier (287 g, 111x59x38 mm), stepping into the rangefinder-style mirrorless category. This size boost accommodates the APS-C sensor and interchangeable lens system but still maintains a surprisingly compact footprint relative to DSLRs.

Holding the EX-Z280 feels minimalist, with only basic controls and a fixed lens - less intimidating but also less versatile. The NEX-5’s build suggests more deliberate handling, offering better grip and a user interface geared for creative control.

Ergonomically, the Sony includes a more traditional button cluster and dials, with a tilting 3” LCD, while Casio’s tiny 2.7” screen (115k dots) and limited controls keep it simple but restrict shooting flexibility.

Top-Down Control Layout and User Interface

Examining the top view, you quickly notice that Casio kept things straightforward - just a shutter release, power button, and flash pop-up on a camera designed to be "point and shoot." There’s no physical mode dial for manual exposure or shutter/aperture priority - the camera manages all exposures automatically.

Conversely, the Sony NEX-5 features dedicated dials for exposure compensation, mode selection (including program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual), and an external hot shoe for versatile flash options. These physical controls are crucial for enthusiasts who want tactile access during shoots without digging into menus.

In practice, I found the NEX-5’s layout enables faster response and more precise shooting, particularly for demanding genres like portraiture or sports. The Casio is better suited for casual users or as a quick backup.

Sensor Sizes and Impact on Image Quality

The heart of any camera is the sensor, dictating resolution, low-light performance, dynamic range, and overall image fidelity. Casio’s EX-Z280 houses a small 1/2.3” CCD sensor boasting 12 MP resolution, typical for compacts of its era. The sensor measures just 6.17x4.55 mm with an effective area of 28.07 mm².

In sharp contrast, the Sony NEX-5 sports a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor, measuring 23.4x15.6 mm (365.04 mm²) - over 13 times larger than the Casio’s sensor area - and 14 MP resolution.

From first-hand testing, this translates to massive differences:

• The NEX-5’s sensor offers far superior dynamic range (DxOMark measured 12.2 EV vs. unreliably tested Casio sensor), allowing it to capture highlights and shadows with much more breathing room.

• Color depth and tonal gradation are also markedly richer on the Sony, producing more natural skin tones - vital for portraits.

• The Casio struggles with noise at ISO 400 and above; the NEX handles ISO 3200 with usable results.

• This sensor advantage elevates image sharpness and detail, especially when paired with quality lenses.

Overall, while the Casio was decent for everyday snapshots in good light, the NEX-5 remains in a league of its own for image quality in practically every scenario.

LCD Screens and Compositional Tools

The Casio’s fixed 2.7” LCD with a mere 115k-dot resolution offers limited feedback - fine for framing but less informative when checking sharpness or exposure accuracy in the field.

The NEX-5 improves on this substantially with a 3” tilting screen boasting 920k dots - affording clear live view, manual focus assistance, and easier shooting from varied angles. Although neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, the NEX provides a better digital preview experience through its superior display.

For fast-paced shooting, the NEX’s screen trumps the Casio for clarity and feedback, especially under bright daylight conditions. Casio users may find themselves squinting or double-checking shots on a computer more frequently.

Portraying People: Portrait Photography Capabilities

In portrait photography, capturing exquisite skin tones and sharp eyes with creamy bokeh is paramount.

The Casio EX-Z280, with a maximum aperture range of f/2.6–5.9 and small sensor, produces modest background blurring at its longest focal length (104 mm equiv.). Combined with its CCD sensor and limited color depth, skin rendition often appears flat or slightly oversaturated.

Its autofocus system is simple contrast detection with a single area and no face or eye detection - meaning focus acquisition is slower and less reliable on moving subjects, especially portraits with shallow depth of field.

By comparison, the Sony NEX-5 with interchangeable lenses benefits tremendously. Attached to a fast 50mm f/1.8 or 30mm f/3.5 macro lens, portraits exhibit gorgeous subject separation and delicately rendered skin tones. The 25-point contrast autofocus can quickly lock onto faces, aiding sharp images even without face detection.

While neither camera offers dedicated eye autofocus (a feature absent in cameras of this vintage), the Sony’s ability to manually select focus points helps me nail the eyes more confidently.

Exploring Nature: Landscape Photography

For landscape work, you want a camera with ample resolution, wide dynamic range, and ideally robust weather sealing.

With a maximum resolution of 12 MP, the Casio EX-Z280 suffices for casual landscape images but reveals its shortcomings in challenging lighting. Its limited dynamic range causes clipped highlights or filled shadows in contrasty scenes - something I experienced shooting sunsets. Also, the small sensor’s diffraction limits stop down sharpness beyond f/8.

The Sony NEX-5 excels here with better resolution (14 MP native), richer RAW files with deeper tonal gradations, and an APS-C sensor’s superior light gathering. While lacking weather sealing, pairing the NEX-5 with weather-resistant lenses and some cover yields excellent results. Additionally, the ability to shoot in aperture priority or manual mode provides total exposure control crucial for landscapes.

Wildlife and Sports Action: Autofocus and Burst Performance

The Casio EX-Z280’s autofocus is contrast-based and single area only - slow, prone to hunting, and ineffective for fast-moving subjects. Continuous autofocus is absent, and there’s no burst mode to speak of. Thus, it’s ill-suited for sports or wildlife photography.

The Sony NEX-5, though also relying on contrast-detect AF, has 25 focus points with multi-area and continuous AF, plus a 7 fps burst rate with focus locked on the first frame. While not cutting edge by modern standards, it performed admirably in my trials tracking runners or birds perching in trees. The larger sensor and ability to swap in long telephoto lenses further beneficial for such genres.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Low Light Performance

The Casio’s compact size lends itself perfectly to street photography - easy to pocket and practically invisible when shooting candid moments.

However, its limited ISO range and slow autofocus can hinder results after dusk. In contrast, the NEX-5 is a bit bulkier and more conspicuous but still compact for an interchangeable system. Its superior sensor lets me shoot handheld in dim conditions with less noise and greater confidence.

Additionally, the NEX’s tilting screen enables creative angles typical in street shoots. Both lack built-in stabilization, so pairing the NEX with optically stabilized lenses helps reduce blur.

Macro Photography: Focus and Magnification

For macro enthusiasts, the Casio's minimum focus distance of 5cm allows reasonable close-ups but falls short of true macro reproduction ratios.

The Sony NEX-5 offers broader lens compatibility, including dedicated macro primes capable of 1:1 magnification. Manual focus aids precision critical in macro, and the higher resolution sensor reveals fine detail better.

I consistently found the NEX-5 more versatile and technically capable for macrophotography setups.

Night and Astrophotography: ISO and Exposure Flexibility

Both cameras rely on CCD or early CMOS sensors, but their noise handling fundamentally differs.

The Casio’s max ISO 3200 is marred by heavy grain and color distortion in shadows, and exposure control is limited to auto modes. No long exposure or bulb mode means astrophotography is unfeasible.

The Sony NEX-5 extends ISO sensitivity to 12800, although best image quality is at ISO 800-1600. Its manual exposure, shutter priority, and bulb modes open long exposure possibilities critical for star trails and nightscapes. While noise is still present at high ISOs, noise reduction software helps retain details.

Video Capabilities: Recording Quality and Usability

The Casio EX-Z280 offers 720p video at 30 fps encoded in Motion JPEG - a format that produces larger files with lower compression efficiency and moderate quality.

Sony’s NEX-5 steps up to full HD 1080p at 60 fps using AVCHD, delivering smoother motion and better compression. Additionally, the NEX accepts external flash units but lacks mic inputs, constraining audio control.

Neither camera offers in-body stabilization or phase detection AF in video, so handheld movie shooting demands careful technique or stabilized lenses.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

When packing light for trips, size, battery longevity, and operational range matter.

The Casio’s minuscule dimensions and lightweight make it superb for spontaneous travel shots, but limited raw capture and battery endurance constrain extended sessions.

The Sony NEX-5, while heavier, balances portability and photographic flexibility thanks to its lens ecosystem and superior image quality. Its 330-shot battery life helps sustain longer outings.

Casio EX Z280 front Casio EX Z280 screen back Sony NEX 5 front Sony NEX 5 screen back

Professional Use: Reliability and Workflow Integration

From a professional standpoint, the Casio EX-Z280 falls short. Without RAW support, limited exposure control, and no external flash options, it cannot meet the demands of commercial or editorial work.

Sony’s NEX-5 supports RAW capture, manual modes, external flash, and integrates seamlessly into common post-processing workflows via Adobe Lightroom and Capture One. Its Bionz processor handles files efficiently, speeding throughput.

Hence, for professional photographers requiring dependable creative control, the NEX-5 remains a credible budget choice, whereas the Casio is strictly casual.

Technical Breakdown: Autofocus, Build, and Connectivity

• Autofocus: Both cameras use contrast-detection AF; however, Sony’s 25 focus points and continuous AF modes outperform Casio’s single point, single shot system.

• Build Quality: Neither is weather sealed or shockproof. The Casio feels plasticky but incredibly compact; the Sony offers a more substantial feel with better grip.

• Connectivity: The Casio lacks wireless or HDMI output; the Sony NEX-5 features HDMI out but no Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, reflective of their launch eras.

• Storage: Both cameras accept SD cards. The Sony supports SDXC and Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats; the Casio only SD/SDHC.

Value Evaluation: Pricing and Cost of Ownership

At launch, the EX-Z280 was roughly $180, while the NEX-5 retailed around $600 - a significant jump reflecting the advanced technology inside.

Today, both cameras have been discontinued and are primarily found used or refurbished. For photographers valuing image quality, control, and system expandability, investing in the NEX-5 or its successors makes practical sense despite the initial cost.

The Casio is ideal only for beginners seeking a simple, affordable point-and-shoot or for those who prioritize ultimate portability over image quality and features.

Summarizing Scores and Insights

Here’s my aggregated performance ranking based on comprehensive testing spanning multiple genres and technical metrics:

Beyond overall scores, specific genre performances reveal strengths and weaknesses:

• The Casio scores best for casual street and travel snapshots where size dominates.
• The Sony NEX-5 excels in portraits, landscapes, sports, and video thanks to its larger sensor and advanced controls.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Having personally field-tested these two cameras in varied environments ranging from sunny hikes to indoor portraits and evening street scenes, here’s my distilled advice:

• Choose the Casio EX-Z280 if you want an ultra-lightweight, pocketable camera for casual photography or spontaneous travel snapshots. It’s straightforward, affordable, and fuss-free but expect image quality limits and minimal creative control.

• Go for the Sony NEX-5 if you seek substantial image quality improvements, interchangeable lenses, manual controls, and better performance in low light or demanding scenarios. It suits enthusiasts and budget-conscious professionals who want a solid foundation for growth.

Neither camera features the latest autofocus technologies or wireless connectivity expected today, but the NEX-5’s sensor and system potential keep it relevant for entry-level mirrorless users.

Photography gear evolves quickly, but understanding these two cameras' relative merits helps illuminate trends that still shape modern cameras. Whether you value simplicity or capability, this comparison reflects my commitment to equipping you with honest, experience-backed guidance.

Wishing you great captures ahead!

Disclosure: I have no affiliation with Casio or Sony. All assessments are from extensive in-person usage and lab measurements documented over hundreds of shooting sessions.