Casio EX-Z800 vs Samsung NX20: An Expert Hands-On Comparison of Two Quite Different Cameras

Choosing a camera often requires more than just skimming specs on paper - it’s about how those numbers translate to real-world use across various photography scenarios. In this detailed comparison, I bring you my direct experience testing two very different cameras: the 2010 Casio EX-Z800 ultracompact and the 2012 Samsung NX20 advanced mirrorless. While separated by design philosophy and target user, both have cultivated niches in the enthusiast market of their times.

Having put both through their paces indoors, outdoors, and across diverse genres like portraiture, wildlife, and astrophotography, I’ll walk you through how they stack up technically and practically - with insights you won’t glean just from specs. All views are based on hands-on use, technical analysis, and professional judgment aimed at helping photographers at different levels make informed choices.

Let’s dive in.

Handling and Ergonomics: Pocketable Simplicity Meets Grip-Heavy Control

We start with one of the most visceral elements of camera use - how the camera feels in your hands and how easily you can access its controls.

The Casio EX-Z800, as an ultracompact point-and-shoot, boasts a delightfully small and light body measuring just 91 x 52 x 20 mm and weighing 124 grams. Its minimalist design is perfect if you want something ultra-portable for casual snapshots or travel light. However, this smallness comes at the cost of limited manual control - a fixed lens, absence of advanced exposure modes, and no electronic viewfinder or touchscreen. The 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230K dots is usable but feels dated and cramped by today’s standards.

In contrast, the Samsung NX20 is a much heavier, more substantial mirrorless camera, weighing 341 grams and measuring 122 x 90 x 40 mm. This DSLR-style body affords a comfortable grip and plenty of physical buttons, dials, and a fully articulating 3.0-inch AMOLED screen with significantly higher resolution (614K dots). The NX20’s top and back control layout provides a far richer manual shooting experience with shutter and aperture priority, manual exposure modes, and customizable white balance.

A side-by-side look really drives home the difference: The Casio fits comfortably in your pocket or palm, ideal for quick candids and discreet street scenes, while the Samsung demands a dedicated camera bag but delivers tactile control and stability that benefit prolonged shooting sessions or more serious photography.

While the EX-Z800’s simplicity may appeal to beginners or travelers prioritizing convenience, the NX20’s thoughtfully designed ergonomics allow experienced users to engage creatively and efficiently with manual settings - essential for controlled portraiture or action photography.

Design and Control Layout: Intuitive Access vs Advanced Feature Navigation

Delving deeper into usability, the cameras’ top and rear panel designs reveal their intended priorities.

The Casio’s controls follow an uncomplicated layout: a power button, shutter release, zoom rocker on top; and a mode dial, playback, flash, and menu navigation buttons on the back. The lack of illuminated buttons or shortcut dials means slower, menu-heavy adjustments, unsuitable for fast action or dynamic shooting.

Conversely, the Samsung NX20 provides a richly appointed interface. Its top houses dedicated ISO, exposure compensation, and drive mode dials, plus a hot shoe for external flash - crucial for studio setups or fill-flash. The back offers a joystick for autofocus point selection, a function button, and a large command dial for swift exposure adjustments.

This design supports rapid in-field changes without diving into menus, boosting efficiency during event shoots or nature photography where moments pass quickly. The NX20’s fully articulating AMOLED screen also helps with difficult angles and vlogging-style self-recording, which the Casio can’t match.

Sensor and Image Quality: CCD Simplicity vs APS-C CMOS Sophistication

At the heart of photographic output lies the sensor, and here we see some stark differences.

The Casio EX-Z800 features a relatively small 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm, capturing images at 14 megapixels (4320x3240). This small sensor inherently limits dynamic range and noise performance, especially above ISO 400. There’s no RAW format support, confirming its role as a snapshot-oriented device.

The NX20 sports a much larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.7 mm) with 20 megapixels resolution (5472x3648). This sensor size, common among enthusiast DSLRs and mirrorless, drastically improves image quality potentials - better low-light sensitivity, cleaner high ISO shots, and more latitude for post-processing due to 12.9 EV dynamic range and robust color depth.

Hands-on, I observed the Casio’s images exhibit noticeable noise starting around ISO 400, limited dynamic range resulting in clipped highlights and muddy shadows, and soft detail owing to a less refined anti-aliasing filter. The NX20, by contrast, delivered punchy, sharp images with excellent tonal gradation, particularly at base ISO 100-200. Its ability to shoot in RAW and recover shadows and highlights reinforced its professional-level flexibility.

To put it plainly: if ultimate image quality under varying conditions is your goal, the Samsung NX20’s sensor and processing engine crush the Casio EX-Z800’s capabilities.

Autofocus Performance: Basic Contrast Detection vs Advanced Selective AF

For photography genres spanning wildlife, sports, and portraits, autofocus speed and accuracy can make or break a shot.

The Casio EX-Z800 uses a basic contrast detection system without face or eye detection. It offers single autofocus mode only, with no continuous tracking. Focus speed is slower and hunting noticeable in low light or complex scenes.

The NX20 features a more sophisticated system with 15 available focus points (multi-area and selective), face detection, and contrast-detection autofocus optimized for live view. It also supports continuous autofocus for tracking moving subjects, albeit without hybrid phase detection that arrived in later models.

During field tests shooting moving subjects and wildlife, the NX20’s autofocus was notably faster and more reliable, locking focus quicker and maintaining it better during continuous burst sequences. The Casio lagged, missing focus occasionally on erratic subjects or backlit faces.

Burst and Shutter Capabilities: Continuous Shooting for Action vs Single Frame Snapshots

Speed is important in sports, wildlife, and street photography. The Casio does not specify continuous shooting modes, indicating it’s geared towards single shots. Its maximum shutter speed is limited to 1/2000s.

The Samsung NX20 offers up to 8 frames per second continuous shooting (in electronic shutter mode), and shutter speeds range broadly between 30 seconds to 1/8000s, giving much better control over motion freezing and long exposures.

This speed difference translates into meaningful advantages for capturing fast action or fleeting expressions.

Display and Viewfinder: Fixed Basic LCD vs Articulated OLED and EVF

Viewing and composing your shot is more than just looking through a lens - it affects how quickly you can shoot and assess your images.

The Casio’s fixed 2.7-inch LCD is decent for framing outdoors in good light but lacks brightness and clarity. No electronic or optical viewfinder is included, restricting usability in bright outdoor conditions.

Photo professionals and enthusiasts will appreciate the NX20’s 3.0-inch fully articulated Active Matrix OLED screen combined with a 0.7x magnification electronic viewfinder offering full coverage and sharp previews. This allows for eye-level shooting, helpful in bright sun and improves framing precision and stability.

The NX20 also supports live histogram, focus peaking, and other advanced display options that the EX-Z800 lacks.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Lightweight Convenience vs Robust Design

Neither camera offers weather sealing, waterproofing, or ruggedization, meaning protection is up to the user.

However, the NX20’s larger professional-style body feels more durable and comfortable for extended handling in diverse conditions, while the Casio’s plastic shell is fragile but ultra-light.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Fixed Lens Limitation vs Flexible Interchangeability

A major difference in camera philosophy - the Casio EX-Z800 has a fixed 27-108 mm equivalent 4x zoom lens with maximum aperture f/3.2-f/5.9, limiting compositional versatility and optical quality.

The Samsung NX20 accepts a broad selection of Samsung NX-mount lenses, with over 30 optics ranging from wide-angle primes to super-telephoto zooms. This makes it suitable for all photographic genres from macro to wildlife and sports.

This ability to tailor your lens to your needs hugely impacts creative control and image quality - besides a fixed lens losing sharpness and brightness quickly at the telephoto end, interchangeable lenses usually outperform it optically.

Battery Life and Storage: Modest Capacity vs Enthusiast Grade Endurance

Battery info for the Casio EX-Z800 is sparse, but compact cameras of this era typically offer around 200 shots per charge.

The Samsung NX20 provides a rechargeable battery pack rated for approximately 360 shots, making it more dependable for day-long shoots. Both cameras support SD/SDHC cards; the NX20 also supports SDXC for extended storage.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Basic USB vs Built-In Wireless

The Casio only supports USB 2.0 connection for file transfer, lacking any wireless or HDMI output.

The NX20 adds built-in Wi-Fi for image sharing and remote camera control via smartphone apps, plus full HDMI output to external monitors or recorders - important for hybrid photo/video use.

Video Performance: Entry-Level HD vs Full HD with Audio Input

Video is an increasingly critical feature. The Casio shoots at 1280x720p at only 20 fps using Motion JPEG codec, with limited frame rate and no audio input.

The SamsungNX20 offers 1080p Full HD at 30fps using H.264, with microphone input for higher quality sound recording and manual exposure control during video capture. While not 4K or high frame rate, it satisfies hobbyist and some semi-pro video needs.

Practical Performance in Key Photography Genres

Let’s summarize each camera’s strengths and weaknesses across major photography disciplines based on practical shooting experiences.

Casio EX Z800 screen back Samsung NX20 front Samsung NX20 screen back

Performance Ratings and Value for Money

Referring to aggregate laboratory and field test results, the Samsung NX20 scores a solid 75/100 on DxOMark for its sensor performance - particularly excelling in color depth and dynamic range.

The Casio EX-Z800 was not tested by such platforms, but based on sensor technology and output quality, it would be considerably lower.

Breaking it down by photographic discipline performance reveals the NX20’s consistent superiority, especially for demanding genres requiring manual control and quality output.

Regarding price, the Casio initially retailed at about $150 - an affordable option for casual users on a budget. The NX20 at launch was nearer $1100, aimed squarely at serious enthusiasts willing to invest in optical quality and system expansion.

My Verdict and Recommendations

Who should consider the Casio EX-Z800?

If you want a truly pocketable camera for casual snapshots, family events, or vacations with minimal fuss, the EX-Z800’s compact size and simplicity are advantages. Its lens covers a useful zoom range without lens changes, and image stabilization helps handheld shots.

But for any photographer seeking better image quality, manual control, video options, or growth potential via lenses, the EX-Z800 will feel limiting.

Who should look at the Samsung NX20?

The NX20 appeals to photography enthusiasts wanting a versatile system camera with large sensor quality and manual controls. Its lens ecosystem covers nearly all genres, from landscapes to wildlife macro shots. Improved video specs and Wi-Fi connectivity suit hybrid shooters.

Professionals needing rugged features or state-of-the-art autofocus might want to look at successors, but as a mid-generation mirrorless, it hits a very balanced spot for image quality vs portability.

Final Thoughts: Different Tools for Distinct Purposes

Comparing the Casio EX-Z800 and Samsung NX20 is like comparing a skateboard and a bicycle - both help you move, but their capabilities and complexity differ widely. The EX-Z800 is a lightweight, accessible snapshot machine, whereas the NX20 is a semi-professional tool designed for users ready to engage creatively with exposure, focus, and lens selection.

Choosing between them comes down to your priorities: portability and simplicity vs image quality and control. Both have their merits, but in 2024, the NX20 remains far more relevant for anyone serious about their craft.

For casual users content with quick, easy images, the EX-Z800 may suffice, but for photographers seeking upward mobility and heartier photographic capabilities, the Samsung NX20 offers an objectively superior foundation.

This extensive hands-on comparison should help you align your photographic goals with the camera that fits best. Camera buying is always personal, but informed choice is empowering - and that’s what I aim to offer in every review.

Happy shooting!

Additional Resources

• How to choose the right camera sensor size
• Tips for maximizing compact camera image quality
• Best mirrorless lenses for various photography genres
• Comparing autofocus systems in mirrorless cameras

Reach out if you'd like me to dive deeper into any specific area or to discuss more recent models continuing in these camera lineages!