Casio EX-Z35 vs Samsung HZ30W: A Hands-On Comparison for the Practical Photographer

When it comes to choosing a compact camera, the landscape can feel like a minefield - especially with models bridging the ultracompact and superzoom categories, promising everything from crisp portraiture to wildlife capture. Today, we put two quirky contenders from early 2010 head-to-head: the Casio EX-Z35, an ultracompact aimed at casual shooters on the go, and the more ambitious Samsung HZ30W (also known as WB600), which takes a stab at the “small sensor superzoom” niche. Both offer 12MP CCD sensors of the ubiquitous 1/2.3” size, but beyond that, their DNA sharply diverges.

Drawing on my extensive experience testing hundreds of cameras through varied genres - from the saturated hues of nature to the lightning-fast chaos of sports - I’ll guide you through a detailed, no-nonsense comparison. Expect down-to-earth insights on image quality, handling, autofocus, and value for a photographer who’s ready to put a camera in their bag and actually use it.

Let’s start with a look that sets the tone: how these two cameras feel and fit in your hands.

Holding the Difference: Size, Weight, and Ergonomics

Ultracompact cameras like the Casio EX-Z35 promise to disappear in your pocket - and it mostly delivers with its slim profile and featherlight 124g weight. The Samsung HZ30W, on the other hand, tips the scales at nearly twice that - 245g - and with dimensions that feel chunkier (107x61x28mm). Never mind what the specs say: When you handle them side-by-side, the HZ30W feels like it’s packing more potential (and more bulk), whereas the EX-Z35 is whisper-light and practically begging to be your stealthy street photography buddy.

This image perfectly illustrates the contrast: the EX-Z35 is sleek and pocket-friendly - borderline invisible in a jacket pocket - but the HZ30W is noticeably larger, with a gripier body. The difference impacts usability significantly. I found the EX-Z35 easy to shove in a small bag or large pocket for spontaneous outings. The HZ30W, while still portable, demands a dedicated camera pocket or small pouch, but rewards you with enhanced control layout and a more comfortable grip for longer shooting sessions.

The ergonomics of the HZ30W also benefit from a more robust button placement and a front grip that genuinely helps when shooting telephoto zoom shots (more on that later). The EX-Z35, true to its ultracompact label, sacrifices grip comfort for size, which made it slightly tricky to hold steady during longer exposures or in cold weather - a non-factor when just snapping casual shots but worth pondering if steadiness matters in your workflow.

Peeking Under the Hood: Sensor Specs and Image Quality

Both cameras use the standardized 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring 6.17x4.55mm, clocking in at 12 megapixels. Nothing groundbreaking here - but this sensor size dominated compact cameras of this era, striking a balance between resolution and cost. Let’s dive into the meat of how this translates into pictures.

Real-world imaging tests revealed expected results: sharpness is acceptable at base ISO - a respectable 64 for the Casio and 80 for the Samsung - but these sensors inherently struggle past ISO 800, commonly serving up noise and less detail retention. Both cameras lack raw support, employing only JPEG output, which limits post-processing flexibility - a dealbreaker for many professionals but less so for casual users.

Between the two, the Samsung’s sensor seemed to edge out the Casio’s in dynamic range, capturing slightly more highlight and shadow detail in tricky lighting. I attribute this partly to Samsung’s more aggressive image processing pipeline and slightly better lens transmission at wider apertures.

The Samsung also features optical image stabilization, which helps keep images crisp when shooting handheld at slower shutter speeds, particularly important with longer zooms. The Casio lacks any form of stabilization, which can compromise sharpness without a tripod or super-steady hands.

Control Freak or Point-and-Shoot? Design and Interface

Looking at these two from above and behind gives us a peek into their user interface design philosophies.

The EX-Z35 goes minimal: a simple power button, a four-way pad for navigation, and zoom toggle. It does not support manual modes or exposure compensation, making it strictly a point-and-shoot device. I found this limiting for anyone wanting creative control or quick exposure tweaks during tricky lighting.

The HZ30W appeals to the enthusiast with dedicated dials for shutter and aperture priority and full manual exposure modes. This is a significant plus for users who want to transition into more advanced photography without upgrading hardware immediately. Exposure compensation control rounds out the toolkit nicely.

On the back, the Samsung's 3-inch larger LCD - still fixed but with a crisp 230k-dot resolution - and more extensive button layout gave me faster access to settings and modes. The Casio’s 2.5-inch screen was noticeably smaller and more cramped, making manual adjustments less intuitive.

For live view use, both cameras employ contrast detection autofocus with face detection absent in either. The Samsung’s interface, while dated by today’s standards, offers a better balance between accessible manual controls and automatic modes suited for beginners.

Zooming In: Lenses and Focal Range Experience

Here we see the most glaring difference between these two cameras: optics. The Casio EX-Z35 sports a relatively modest 36-107mm equivalent focal range (3× zoom) with an aperture sliding from f/3.1 to f/5.6. The Samsung HZ30W impresses with a whopping 24-360mm equivalent (15× zoom), f/3.2 to f/5.8 aperture.

This huge difference has profound implications beyond mere numbers.

• The Casio’s shorter zoom range is more friendly to everyday snapshots, portraits, and moderate close-ups.
• The Samsung’s 15× zoom lends itself well to wildlife, sports, and travel photography, where reach matters more than speed or size.

The HZ30W also shines with a macro focus distance down to 3cm, whereas the EX-Z35 manages only 10cm. This came as a pleasant surprise during my macro flower and insect tests - I could get much closer with Samsung, revealing intricate detail with ease.

However, the tradeoff for Samsung’s long zoom is slower aperture at the tele end, which is standard in superzooms but challenging for low light or shallow depth of field effects.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: How Quick and Accurate?

Neither camera boasts phase detection autofocus - which was still rare outside DSLRs back in 2010 - but they both offer contrast detection AF via live view. Here’s what I found in practical terms.

• Casio EX-Z35: Single AF only, no continuous AF or tracking. Slow-to-lock focus in dimmer light, with occasional hunting.
• Samsung HZ30W: Single AF with tracking features and center-weighted AF. Though still contrast-based, it was more reliable and better at maintaining focus on moving subjects. AF speed was slightly faster overall.

Continuous shooting modes are almost absent on these cameras. Neither supports fast burst shooting, so both are poor choices for action or sports requiring high frame rates (say goodbye to catching a soccer ball mid-air with these).

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Now, how do these cameras fare in portraiture?

With no face or eye detection on either, framing and focus placement are manual tasks requiring patience. The EX-Z35’s more limited zoom range and lack of aperture control make bokeh effects soft and often unconvincing. The Samsung’s aperture priority mode combined with longer zoom allowed slightly better background compression and subject isolation. The optical image stabilization helped here by enabling slightly slower shutter speeds without blur.

Skin tones rendered by the Samsung tend to err on the warmer side, which many find flattering for portraits, while the Casio’s color processing is somewhat cooler and flatter, leading to less vibrant images. Neither camera can truly rival dedicated portrait-oriented cameras or smartphones with their sophisticated face detection and skin smoothing software, but if you want something simple for family snaps, either will do.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range, Resolution, Weather Resistance

Both cameras offer a respectable 12MP resolution, translating into roughly 4000x3000 pixel images. Though tiny compared to modern full-frame beasts, this is enough for standard prints up to 11x14 with good detail preservation.

The Samsung edged out slightly on dynamic range during my twilight landscapes - the shadows richer, and highlights less blown out. Color fidelity was respectable but note the small sensor's inherent limitations in subtle tonal gradations and noise at higher ISO.

Neither camera offers any weather sealing, so shooting in harsh or wet conditions carries risk without protective gear. This detail matters for serious landscape photographers; unless you pack weather-resistant protection, these cameras might not last long trekking in elements.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Autofocus Speed, Telephoto Performance, and Frame Rates

If you’re eyeing photos of birds or fast sports action, brace yourself. Both cameras are not designed for this.

The Samsung’s 15× zoom and relatively stable optical image stabilization make it your better bet here - but autofocus speed and burst shooting are sluggish and unreliable on both models.

Imagine trying to track a fluttering bird with a lens that hunts back and forth on focus, combined with a slow frame capture rate. It’s frustrating, to say the least.

Professionals and serious wildlife photographers will want to look at dedicated superzoom models from later generations or mirrorless/DSLR options for reliable speed and precision.

Street Photography: Discreetness, Low Light, and Portability

Here the EX-Z35 shines. Its petite size and light weight help you stay unnoticed, and its quick point-and-shoot operations enable spontaneous snapshots. The small lens and lack of overt zoom noises add to its stealth.

Low-light performance, however, is limited by no stabilization and the sensor’s noise characteristics. I’d recommend street shooters use flash judiciously or stick to daylight with this camera.

The HZ30W’s size and reach are a hindrance for discrete shooting, though the longer zoom can extirpate candid moments at a safer distance.

Macro Photography: Magnification, Focusing Precision, and Stabilization

Thanks to Samsung’s closer macro distance (3cm) and optical IS, it pulled sharply detailed close-ups of flowers on my patio versus the Casio’s softer 10cm approach. The Casio felt handicapped by fixed lens aperture and lack of stabilization, making handheld macro shots more challenging.

Samsung wins here for enthusiasts aiming for budget-friendly macro captures without switching lenses.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO Performance and Exposure Modes

I love to test cameras under stars, but these models fall short for serious astro work.

Neither camera surpasses ISO 800 viability, and with no long exposure or bulb modes, your hands are tied. The Samsung’s manual modes help with exposure control, but the fixed 2000 shutter speed ceiling and fixed ISO limit creativity.

Don’t expect crisp constellations or black sky contrasts, but for casual nighttime snaps or lit cityscapes, the Samsung offers more flexibility.

Video Capabilities: Recording Specs, Stabilization, Audio

Video is where the HZ30W shows its muscle - with 720p HD at 30fps, advanced encoding in H.264, and optical IS, it’s suitable for casual HD clips. The Casio, limited to VGA 640x480 MJPEG, feels stuck in the past.

Neither includes external mic inputs or headphone jacks, which constrains serious video productions. The Samsung’s HDMI port allows for easier external viewing.

Travel Photography: Versatility, Battery Life, Size/Weight

Travel is a balance - lightweight, versatile zoom, and decent image quality.

The Casio EX-Z35 nails lightweight and pocketability, ideal for minimalist travelers who prize discretion over zoom reach.

The Samsung HZ30W offers an all-in-one versatile zoom and better control for varied situations but weighs more and demands dedicated carrying.

Battery life is similar and modest. Neither includes very long endurance packs, so spares are a good idea.

Professional Use: Reliability, File Formats, Workflow Integration

Neither camera supports RAW formats, which professional workflows often require for color grading and retouching.

Build quality is consumer-grade with no environmental sealing. Reliability in heavy-duty use is questionable.

In a pinch, the Samsung offers manual modes and exposure compensation, which is better for semi-professional or enthusiast use seeking creative control.

Storage, Connectivity, and Extras

Both accept SD or SDHC cards with single slots. USB 2.0 connectivity suffices for basic transfers, but no wireless or Bluetooth to speak of.

No GPS or NFC, unsurprising for the era and product class.

The Casio’s internal storage options are minimalistic, while Samsung’s flexibility with SDXC cards adds room for bigger photo libraries and video files.

Price-to-Performance Ratio: What You Get for Your Bucks

The EX-Z35 launched around $99, clearly positioning itself as an entry-level pocket shooter with simplicity and portability as selling points.

The Samsung HZ30W at $279 (then) charges a premium for its long zoom, manual controls, and HD video.

If your budget is tight and you only want a simple, no-fuss camera for casual snapshots or street use, the Casio is adequate and easy to carry.

For those wanting more reach, creative control, and video quality in one package, the Samsung offers more bang for the buck, despite lacking the robustness of more modern cameras.

Quick Visual Recap: Sample Images Side by Side

Perusing actual photos from both cameras side-by-side confirms much of what I’ve experienced in practice:

Casio EX Z35 front Casio EX Z35 screen back Samsung HZ30W front Samsung HZ30W screen back

The Samsung photos showcase sharper details in telephoto and macro shots, richer colors, and less noise in shadow areas. The Casio's images are pleasantly bright for daylight but lose detail quickly indoors.

Final Assessment: Scores and Genre Strengths

Summarizing overall performance is tricky given their disparate categories, but this score chart attempts to distill their strengths:

And drilling down by photography type reveals where each camera flourishes or flounders:

Wrapping It Up: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Casio EX-Z35:

• Best suited for ultracompact portability
• Casual photographers wanting a simple point-and-shoot
• Street and travel shooters favoring stealth and weightlessness
• Budget-conscious buyers unwilling to fuss with manual controls

Samsung HZ30W:

• Enthusiasts wanting versatile zoom (15× reach is impressive for compact class)
• Those who value manual exposure controls and better video
• Macro hobbyists appreciating close focus and stabilization
• Casual wildlife and travel photographers who can live with modest autofocus speed

Closing Thoughts from the Field

Handling these two cameras is like choosing between a nimble sparrow and a determined hawk: the Casio EX-Z35 disappears in your pocket, ready for a quick snapshot, while the Samsung HZ30W is a slightly bulkier generalist zooming in on faraway subjects with a better toolkit for creative control.

Neither is cutting-edge even for 2010, but that’s the charm - or frustration - of budget and compact cameras: they’re designed to make compromises to fit size and cost.

If you want a camera that blends simplicity with respectable reach and some creative freedom, the Samsung HZ30W nudges ahead, especially when telephoto or video matters.

If you prize absolute pocket-friendliness and blend-in-the-crowd stealth, then the Casio EX-Z35 remains a delightfully tiny and inconspicuous companion.

Choosing either depends on your priorities - but now you’re equipped with the know-how to weigh their merits beyond glossy spec sheets.

Happy shooting, whether you pack light or zoom long!