Casio EX-Z90 vs Ricoh CX5

Comparing the Casio EX-Z90 and Ricoh CX5: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

When diving into compact cameras, especially models that blend portability with versatile shooting options, it’s vital to cut through specs sheets and marketing fluff. Today, I’m walking you through a detailed comparison of two standout small sensor compacts separated by just a couple years and clearly aimed at casual enthusiasts but with some ambitious features: the 2009 Casio EX-Z90 and the 2011 Ricoh CX5. Having tested thousands of cameras over 15+ years, I approached these with fresh eyes and calibrated expectations - after all, both cameras are firmly in the budget compact realm, yet they aim at somewhat different photographic needs.

Throughout this article, I’ll share hands-on insights and technical observations across all major photography genres, while threading in the ergonomics, tech specs, and real-world usability that we all deal with in the field. Let’s get into what differentiates these two - and who benefits most from each.

A Tale of Two Compact Cameras: Design and Handling in Practice

The physical feel of a camera often determines whether it becomes your trusty sidekick or just gathers dust in a drawer. The Casio EX-Z90 is a slender, pocket-friendly compact - noticeably light at 121 grams and sizing up at 90x52x19mm. Meanwhile, the Ricoh CX5 is a chunkier affair, weighing 205 grams and measuring 102x59x29mm, lending it a more substantial grip impression.

In hand, the EX-Z90’s slim profile favors casual street shooting and travel where minimalism prevails. Its ultra-compact body means you’ll barely notice it in your pocket or bag. However, this minimal size also translates into limited physical controls; it has a straightforward but Spartan interface, with no manual exposure modes and no continuous autofocus, reflecting its entry-level ambitions.

On the other hand, the CX5 feels more deliberate and robust. The heft makes it comfortable to hold for extended periods, and the ergonomics are just a notch ahead, featuring an intuitive layout with a more pronounced grip and better button placement that supports more confident manual operation. While neither camera has an electronic viewfinder, the CX5’s larger 3-inch, 920k-dot screen is a pleasure to compose with compared to the smaller 2.7-inch, 230k-dot display on the EX-Z90.

The Ricoh’s superior screen resolution supports critical focus and exposure adjustments, which is vital given its more advanced feature set. The Casio's screen, while serviceable, feels a bit dated – adequate for snapshots but limiting if you want to scrutinize detail critically, which some photographers appreciate.

Digging Into Sensors and Image Quality: Pixels and Performance

Both cameras rely on the wildly common 1/2.3-inch sensor size, typical for compacts but limited in light-gathering and dynamic range compared to larger APS-C or full-frame types. The Casio EX-Z90 sports a 12MP CCD sensor, which at the time was a solid choice for sharp daylight images but carries the older CCD's tendency for less efficient high ISO performance and potentially slower readouts.

In contrast, the Ricoh CX5 features a 10MP CMOS sensor - a more modern technology choice, with improved noise handling and faster operation. Both have an anti-aliasing filter to soften pixel-level moiré but at the expense of tiny image sharpness.

Practically, what does this mean?

• Resolution: The EX-Z90 can push out 4000x3000 images, offering a crisp base for prints and cropping; the CX5 maxes at 3648x2736, slightly less resolution but with arguably cleaner results.
• Dynamic Range: CMOS sensors generally deliver a better dynamic range than CCDs at similar sizes; in field tests, the CX5 displayed more retained detail in shadows and highlights, especially in tricky lighting like golden hour landscapes.
• High ISO: The CX5 has a max native ISO of 3200 versus 1600 on the EX-Z90. This allows the Ricoh to be more flexible in low light, although noise is still perceptible beyond ISO 800. The Casio’s noise rises sharply past ISO 400, limiting usability indoors or at dusk.
• File Formats: Neither supports RAW output, which confines post-processing potential. For enthusiasts who insist on RAW, neither camera will satisfy, but JPEGs from the CX5 showed more resilience to editing.

If ultimate image quality is your priority among compact cameras, the Ricoh edges ahead.

Core Focus and Autofocus Systems: Picking Your Moment

Autofocus is the soul of a camera’s responsiveness, especially important in wildlife and sports or any dynamic shooting. The EX-Z90 relies on contrast detection AF with a simplistic single-point system and does not offer continuous autofocus or face detection. This makes capturing moving subjects tricky - focus hunting occurred often during testing, and lock times were slow by modern standards.

The Ricoh CX5, although still contrast-detection based, incorporates multi-area autofocus (unknown number of points) contributing to more versatile focusing choices. It also offers manual focus override, a manual focus ring on the lens, and quicker focus acquisition.

Continuous shooting frames per second also highlight differences here. The CX5 offers a respectable 5 fps burst rate, providing better chances to get a decisive wildlife or sports shot, while sadly, the EX-Z90 lacks a continuous shooting mode, grounding it firmly in the still-life and posed category.

For photographers interested in action or wildlife, the Ricoh’s autofocus and burst performance make it the more satisfying companion.

Flash, Stabilization, and Exposure Control: Features That Matter

On-board flash is standard fare for both, with the Casio’s soft flash reaching around 3 meters and the Ricoh’s slightly more powerful unit reaching 4 meters. Both offer typical modes: Auto, On, Off, red-eye reduction. The Ricoh adds slow-sync, which helps balance background lighting in portraits - a nice touch absent on the Casio.

Image stabilization (IS) is another sell point. The EX-Z90 has none, which is a critical limitation on its telephoto end (105mm equivalent) and during low-light shooting. The CX5 features sensor-shift stabilization, greatly improving handheld shooting assurance especially at its very long 300mm equivalent focal length - handy for distant landscapes and wildlife.

Exposure controls also differ. The Casio offers no aperture or shutter priority; exposure compensation isn't an option, and manual exposure modes are absent, limiting creative control. The Ricoh CX5 advances with manual exposure and exposure compensation, opening bigger doors for enthusiasts who like to tinker.

Weighing these features, anyone serious about varied shooting conditions, including tricky lighting and telephoto stabilization, will find more creative freedom with the CX5.

Evaluating Video: Modest Specs in Handheld Form

Moving to video, neither camera is a cinema powerhouse, but each can capture casual clips. Both shoot HD video at 1280x720; the Casio's frame rate is 24 fps, while the Ricoh upscales to 30 fps for smoother motion.

Both record in Motion JPEG format, which isn’t storage efficient and delivers larger file sizes for short clips. Neither camera supports external microphones, HDMI out, or in-camera stabilization for video, limiting practical use for serious videography.

Notably, the Ricoh supports timelapse recording, a rarely included feature in this class and period, which might interest travellers or creative hobbyists.

If video is a supplementary feature for home movies or travel clips, both cameras suffice, but the Ricoh’s extra bitrate and timelapse function give it a modest leg up.

Breaking Down Genre Performance: Which Camera Shines Where?

To give you a clearer sense of each camera’s strengths and limitations across photographic applications, here’s a synopsis grounded in practical shooting scenarios.

Portrait Photography

Capturing natural skin tones and pleasing backgrounds requires solid color science and aperture control. The EX-Z90’s max aperture at wide end is F3.1 but narrows quickly, and lack of shallow depth control limits classic bokeh. The Ricoh’s F3.5 aperture also isn’t fast, but longer telephoto reach and sensor-shift IS enable tighter framing and smoother backgrounds in some cases.

Neither camera offers eye-detection or face tracking autofocus, common in modern cameras, so manual care with focus placement is necessary.

Landscape Photography

Here the sensor’s dynamic range, resolution, and ability to handle wide scenes dominate. The CX5’s improved dynamic range and slightly sturdier build make it better suited. Both cameras lack weather sealing, so cautious outdoor use is necessary.

Wildlife Photography

Long reach, autofocus speed, and burst rates make or break wildlife shooting. The CX5 wins with its 10.7x zoom (28-300mm equiv), faster AF, and 5 fps continuous burst. The EX-Z90’s 3x, slower contrast-only AF, and absence of burst severely restrict action opportunities.

Sports Photography

Again, the Ricoh’s faster burst and better AF edge ahead, but both cameras are limited by sluggish shutter speeds and no advanced subject tracking.

Street Photography

The EX-Z90’s slim form factors win here for discreet candid shooting and quick point-and-shoot scenarios. The CX5’s weight and size make it less pocketable but still manageable.

Macro Photography

Ricoh impresses with a minimum focus distance of just 1cm versus 10cm for Casio. For close-up detail lovers, that’s a big difference.

Night and Astro Photography

Limited ISO range and small sensors constrain both. The Ricoh’s higher maximum ISO (3200 vs 1600) and sensor-shift IS help squeeze out more useable low-light results.

Travel Photography

Portability and battery life count here, and while the EX-Z90 is more pocket-friendly, the CX5’s versatile zoom and better ergonomics offer more expansive shooting options. Battery life figures are similar but depend heavily on usage.

Professional Work

Neither is intended for pro workflows - lacking RAW capture, comprehensive lens ecosystems, and professional video. However, for casual professional tasks like event snapshots or backup camera usage, the Ricoh’s manual controls and better image quality provide some value.

Here’s a helpful visual summary showing how each fares across these genres:

Image Quality in Sample Photos: What the Pixels Reveal

Testing the cameras side-by-side in identical environments revealed the CX5’s images felt cleaner with better color fidelity and noise handling. The EX-Z90’s photos suffered from occasional chromatic aberrations and were softer at telephoto lengths. Neither excels in low light, but the Ricoh retained more detail.

Casio EX Z90 front Casio EX Z90 screen back Ricoh CX5 front Ricoh CX5 screen back

Everyday usability ultimately nuanced by how much you prioritize image quality over size. For casual use, the EX-Z90 captures fine snaps quickly; the CX5 appeals to enthusiasts chasing versatility.

Tangible Performance Scores and Verdict

Though neither model has extensive third-party DXO Mark scores, my in-house testing across resolution, autofocus, ergonomics, and more yielded this overview:

• Casio EX-Z90: Lightweight, affordable, straightforward, best for basic snapshots, travel ease.
• Ricoh CX5: More versatile, technically superior sensor and lens, better zoom, IS, and controls - for enthusiasts wanting a compact superzoom.

Practical Tips for Buyers

If your budget is around $150 and you want a forgiving, nimble camera for daylight social shots and pocket portability, the Casio EX-Z90 remains a decent contender.

If you can stretch to $400, the Ricoh CX5 delivers a significant leap in creative and technical capabilities, especially if you enjoy zoom flexibility, low-light shooting, or want some manual control to experiment.

Neither will replace mirrorless or DSLR systems, but for casual to intermediate photographers needing easy-to-carry solutions with respectable performance, these cameras each play to different strengths.

Storage, Battery, and Connectivity Notes

Both cameras accept SD cards and have single card slots. The Casio supports Eye-Fi wireless SD card connectivity - a neat feature for 2009, enabling direct image transfer without cables, but requires compatible cards. The Ricoh lacks wireless but offers USB 2.0 for transfers.

Battery life is modest for both, with Casio using NP-60 batteries and Ricoh on DB-100. Plan to carry spares on longer outings.

Final Thoughts: Which Compact Compact Delivers Your Next Snapshot?

The Casio EX-Z90 and Ricoh CX5 represent late-2000s to early-2010s designs that mirror the transition from pure point-and-shoot to more versatile small sensor compacts. Between them, the CX5 feels like a more rounded and future-proof camera that better serves enthusiasts seeking zoom reach and manual flexibility. It justifies its higher price tag with tangible usability gains and image quality.

The EX-Z90 shines by being a tiny travel-friendly tool who defaults to simplicity above all else - no fuss, just snap.

If you demand moderate zoom, better autofocus, image stabilization, and a screen that shows you everything clearly, the Ricoh CX5 is your pick. If ease, pocketability, and budget dominate, Casio’s EX-Z90 remains a competent choice.

As new camera models march forward today, these older compacts remind us how in the evolution of digital photography, every incremental improvement in sensor tech, autofocus sophistication, and user ergonomics directly enhances the real-world picture-taking experience.

I hope this comparison serves you well on your path to digital photography enjoyment. Here's to many happy shooting adventures ahead!