Casio EX-Z800 vs Samsung WB750: A Hands-On Ultracompact vs Superzoom Showdown for Enthusiasts and Budget-Conscious Shooters

If you’ve been poking around for a compact travel or casual camera on a shoestring budget (think sub-$350), you might’ve stumbled upon two tempting options: the Casio EX-Z800 and the Samsung WB750. Both pack a solid set of features for their era, yet cater to slightly different photography cravings.

Having cranked the dials, snapped thousands of photos, and spent hours in the field with models of this ilk during my testing career, I’m here to give you the real scoop. This isn’t a marketing flufffest - it’s a practical, down-to-earth comparison for enthusiasts, budget-minded pros, or anyone eyeing their next everyday shooter.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

Squeezing the Cameras in Your Hands and Bags

When it comes to portability, I must admit, the Casio EX-Z800 feels like the kind of little pocket companion you’d gladly take everywhere. It clocks in at just 91 x 52 x 20 mm, weighing a feather-light 124 grams. Meanwhile, the Samsung WB750, while still compact, is noticeably chunkier at 105 x 59 x 25 mm and weighs 193 grams.

You can immediately tell the Casio is targeting the ultracompact, barely-there crowd. It disappears into a jacket pocket or clutch without making a fuss. The WB750, thanks to its longer zoom lens and beefier build, demands a small camera bag or dedicated pouch.

Handling wise: The Casio feels slim but a tad cramped for larger hands. Controls are minimal - no dedicated dials for aperture or shutter priority - and the tiny buttons can feel a bit fiddly if you’re wearing gloves or have thick fingers. The WB750, on the other hand, is chunkier but offers a slightly better grip and more tactile buttons, easing general operation.

Control Layout and Interface: How Intuitive Are These Cameras?

If you love direct access to key settings, this is where the WB750 pulls slightly ahead.

• Samsung WB750: Sporting dedicated dials and buttons for shutter speed, aperture priority, and manual exposure, it caters to shooters who want a bit more creative control. The presence of customizable buttons and an exposure compensation dial ensures you don’t always poke around menus.

• Casio EX-Z800: In contrast, offers just basic controls. No shutter or aperture priority modes, and the camera leans heavily on automation. Manual focus is available but via menu controls, not a dedicated ring or dial.

The WB750's interface, being a bit more classic compact-style, feels more professional - even if it’s no DSLR ergonomics. The Casio feels more "point-and-shoot," aimed at users who want simplicity over fiddling.

Sensor and Image Quality: CCD vs BSI-CMOS Showdown

Moving under the hood, both cameras share the same sensor size - a 1/2.3-inch format measuring roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm, quite standard for comps of this era. But their sensor tech couldn’t be more different.

• Casio EX-Z800: Uses an older CCD sensor architecture. These sensors historically deliver pleasing color rendition and smoother tonal gradations, but their drawbacks show up in low light: CCDs tend to generate more noise at high ISO and have slower readouts affecting burst and video.

• Samsung WB750: Has a more modern BSI-CMOS sensor (backside illuminated). BSI designs gather more light per pixel, boosting sensitivity and reducing noise compared to traditional CMOS sensors.

Resolution differences are minor: Casio offers 14 MP vs Samsung’s 13 MP, but this number barely moves the needle in real-world detail without consider lens quality and processing.

Practical Image Quality Takeaways

• In bright daylight and street shooting, both produce crispy images with pleasing colors.
• Under low-light conditions, the WB750's CMOS sensor shows less noise and better shadow detail when shooting around ISO 800 and above.
• The Casio’s CCD can suffer from somewhat of a "muddy" shadow area and less dynamic range, typical of CCD sensors.

This means if you value better night shots or indoor shooting, Samsung takes a slight edge. For casual daylight snaps, the Casio won’t disappoint.

LCD Screens and Live View Usability

A camera’s rear screen is your window to framing, reviewing, and navigating menus. Let’s see what each offers in terms of real estate and clarity.

• Casio EX-Z800: Sports a modest 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230k-dot resolution. The display is simple, with average brightness that can feel underwhelming under bright sunlight (expect some glare).

• Samsung WB750: Offers a larger 3.0-inch LCD with a sharp 460k-dot resolution. The TFT screen is brighter and renders colors more vibrantly. This makes framing more precise, especially useful when working with that extensive zoom range.

Neither camera offers a viewfinder, so those LCDs become all the more important. WB750’s bigger, sharper screen makes a difference during travel or street shooting when you’re composing in less-than-ideal lighting.

Lens and Zoom Capability: Walk Around Flexibility

Ultracompacts tend to make compromises on optical reach, and here the divide is stark.

• Casio EX-Z800: Has a fixed 27-108 mm equivalent zoom lens (4x optical zoom) with an aperture range of f/3.2 to f/5.9. This provides decent normal-to-portrait framing, but limited reach for distant subjects.

• Samsung WB750: Packs an impressive 24-432 mm equivalent (18x optical zoom), also at f/3.2 to f/5.8 max aperture. This uber-zoom is a playground for the travel photographer and wildlife day-trippers alike.

This gulf means the WB750 lets you get shots of a soaring bird or a distant architectural detail without breaking out a bigger camera or telephoto lens. Casio’s lens suits casual snapshots and street shooting but is shot-limit heavy for nature or sports.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: How Fast Can You Nail the Shot?

Both cameras rely on contrast-detection autofocus (typical of compacts). However, the Samsung edges ahead with a few smart AF features.

• Samsung WB750: includes face detection and AF tracking, allowing it to maintain focus on moving subjects better. Continuous autofocus modes help with action-like scenarios, albeit not on par with advanced DSLRs or mirrorless.

• Casio EX-Z800: Offers only single AF and contrast detection without face recognition or tracking, which makes following moving subjects a challenge.

Shooting speed also differs: the WB750 can shoot bursts at 10 fps, albeit at reduced resolution and with limited buffer depth. Casio doesn’t specify continuous shooting, indicating it’s designed more for measured individual shots.

For sports, wildlife, or even active street scenes, Samsung’s AF system and burst capacity trump Casio’s sluggish autofocus.

Image Stabilization: Sensor-Shift vs Optical Solutions

Both cams feature image stabilization but with different approaches:

• Casio EX-Z800: Uses sensor-shift stabilization. This physically compensates for shake by moving the sensor, effective at normal zoom levels and handheld low-light shooting.

• Samsung WB750: Employs optical image stabilization (OIS), which shifts lens elements to counteract movement. OIS can be more effective with big telephoto lenses like 18x zoom, reducing blur at extreme focal lengths.

So, if you plan to zoom into the 400+ mm range handheld, the WB750’s OIS is a serious plus over Casio’s sensor stabilization.

Video Capabilities: HD or Just Passing Grade?

In today’s world, decent video isn’t a luxury - it’s expected. These two differ markedly here:

• Casio EX-Z800: Records video maxing out at 1280 x 720 at 20 fps, encoded in Motion JPEG. Frame rate is low, leading to choppy movement in clips. No mic inputs or advanced video options.

• Samsung WB750: Provides 1920 x 1080 Full HD at 30 fps with MPEG-4 and H.264 compression. No external mic jack, but the video quality is sharper and smoother overall.

For casual video snippets, Samsung is the clear winner. While neither delivers pro-level video features, if shooting video matters to you, WB750 is worth the slight price premium.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Will You Keep Shooting?

Battery info is sparse but here’s what I’ve gleaned:

• Casio EX-Z800 uses NP-120 batteries; Samsung WB750 uses SLB-10A. Both are proprietary lithium-ion packs.

• Neither is rated for extraordinary longevity; expect about 200-250 shots per charge under typical usage.

• Storage-wise, both accept SD or SDHC cards with one card slot each, but the Samsung stretches to SDXC, allowing for larger capacity cards - helpful if you shoot lots of video or high-res bursts.

The takeaway: modest endurance from both, so bring a spare battery if you’re on a longer shoot or trip.

Real-World Photography Styles: Which Camera Excels Where?

Let’s break it down across major photography scenarios:

Portrait Photography

• Casio: Mildly decent with natural skin tones thanks to CCD. Bokeh is modest due to small sensor and limited aperture. No face detection autofocus hurts precise focus on eyes.
• Samsung: Offers face detection which helps lock focus on subjects’ eyes, more aperture and shutter priority modes for creative control, and a longer zoom for flattering distance portraits.

Winner: Samsung WB750 for more focused creativity and sharper portraits.

Landscape Photography

• Casio: 14 MP CCD offers reasonably fine detail but mediocre dynamic range and shadow clipping under contrasty skies.
• Samsung: CMOS sensor improves dynamic range and better shadow recovery. Larger LCD aids composition. However, lens distortion at superwide or supertelephoto extremes is notable on both.

Winner: Samsung again - better sensor tech and LCD make framing and exposure easier.

Wildlife Photography

• Casio: Limited 4x zoom and weak AF tracking make it impractical.
• Samsung: 18x zoom and continuous AF make catching critters much easier, though lack of RAW limits post-processing punch.

Winner: Samsung without question.

Sports Photography

• Casio: No continuous AF or fast burst modes; lag is notable.
• Samsung: 10 fps burst and tracking AF give you a fighting chance at action shots.

Winner: Samsung.

Street Photography

• Casio: Compactness and pocketability make it discreet; speedy autofocus less impressive.
• Samsung: Slightly bulkier but still manageable; face detection provides sharper portraits in candid settings.

Winner: Depends on your style - Casio for stealth, Samsung for creative flexibility.

Macro Photography

• Casio: Macro specs not detailed; likely limited.
• Samsung: Close focusing down to 5 cm offers decent macro capability.

Winner: Samsung.

Night/Astro Photography

• Casio: Max ISO 3200 but CCD sensor noise is high; no long exposure modes.
• Samsung: Max ISO 3200 and better noise control; manual exposure possible.

Winner: Samsung for manual control and cleaner images.

Video

• Clear winner: Samsung WB750 with Full HD at smooth 30fps vs Casio’s choppy HD.

Travel Photography

• Casio: Ultra-portable size scores big, but limited zoom hurts versatility.
• Samsung: Bulkier but zoom and control modes better suit varied travel needs.

Winner: Trade-off between size and versatility.

Professional Use

Neither camera suits high-end pro workflows (no RAW support, small sensors), but Samsung edges out with manual exposure modes and better AF.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers weather sealing or rugged build, so both require gentle handling in adverse conditions. Samsung’s heavier body feels more solid, but neither replaces a DSLR or rugged system for serious outdoor work.

Connectivity and Extras

Both cameras lack wireless features such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth - no easy instant sharing unless you hook up to a PC with USB 2.0. Samsung includes HDMI output for viewing content on HD TVs. Both support standard SD cards; Samsung supports SDXC which future-proofs storage choice.

Price-to-Performance and Value Judgments

At the time of launch:

• Casio EX-Z800 launched around $150, very wallet-friendly.
• Samsung WB750 listed near $340, roughly double the price.

If you're a cheapskate or need a small, lightweight travel camera for simple snapshots, Casio gives solid bang for the buck. If you want more creative control, zoom reach, video capability, and better AF, the Samsung’s higher cost justifies itself.

Wrapping Up: Which Camera Should You Buy?

Here’s my final take, straight from the trenches:

Final Pro Tips From My Experience

• Don’t expect miracles from the small 1/2.3-inch sensors on either camera. The biggest improvements come from good lighting and careful composition.
• If you’re a fan of RAW files, sadly neither camera supports it - significant for post-processing buffs. Consider this before diving in.
• When shooting indoors or at night, bring a tripod or at least steady your shot; shutter speeds on these cameras can still slow way down.
• The WB750’s manual exposure controls make it a learning tool if you want to develop photographic skills beyond auto modes.
• Don’t underestimate ergonomics: cluttered menus and fiddly buttons on smaller cameras can make or break usability in fast-paced shoots.

In the grand scheme, these cameras tell an interesting tale of how much you can squeeze from compacts at low price points. For casual shooters who prize convenience above all, the Casio EX-Z800 remains a yes. For those demanding more versatility, control, and a bit of future-proofing (especially with video), the Samsung WB750 is the smarter pick - even if it works your budget a little harder.

Casio EX Z800 screen back Samsung WB750 screen back

Hope this in-depth comparison helps you find the right match for your photographic adventures. Remember, it’s not just about specs on paper - it’s about how the gear feels and performs in your hands, day after day.

Happy shooting!