Casio EX-ZR700 vs Samsung NX3000: An Expert Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing your next camera can be daunting with so many options. Today, we dive into a detailed comparison of two distinct models: the Casio EX-ZR700, a small sensor superzoom compact from 2013, and the Samsung NX3000, an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2014. Each caters to different photographic philosophies and shooting scenarios. Our goal is to help you understand their real-world performance, strengths, and limitations so you can find the best fit for your creative needs and budget.

We’ve personally tested thousands of cameras over 15+ years, so expect technical clarity rooted in hands-on experience.

How These Cameras Differ at First Glance: Size, Build, and Handling

Before delving into specs, let’s start with what you’ll feel in your hands during shooting.

The Casio EX-ZR700 presents itself as a compact superzoom with dimensions of 108 x 60 x 31 mm and a light weight of 222 grams. Its slim profile and straightforward design make it incredibly pocketable - a strong advantage if you want an ultra-portable travel companion.

In contrast, the Samsung NX3000 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera, physically larger at 117 x 66 x 39 mm and weighing 230 grams. Despite the weight difference being small, its shape and grip design lend more ergonomic comfort for extended handheld sessions, particularly when paired with Samsung NX lenses.

Looking at the control layouts, the EX-ZR700 sticks to simplicity, with no electronic viewfinder and limited customizability. The NX3000 offers more manual access, including shutter, aperture, and exposure compensation dials - great for those who want direct control and faster adjustments without digging through menus.

Bottom line: The EX-ZR700 prioritizes portability and ease of use, while the NX3000 leans towards beginner-to-enthusiast control ergonomics. Your choice here depends on how much physical handling comfort and manual interaction you desire.

Sensor and Image Quality: Bigger Sensor Wins with Samsung

At the heart of what defines image quality is the sensor. The Casio EX-ZR700 uses a small 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor (6.17x4.55 mm, 28.07 mm² area) with 16 megapixels. The Samsung NX3000 boasts a significantly larger APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.5x15.7 mm, 368.95 mm²) with 20 megapixels.

Why does sensor size matter?

• Larger sensors like APS-C collect more light, improving dynamic range, color depth, and low-light performance.
• They also enable shallower depth of field for creamy background blur (bokeh), critical in portraiture and artistic photography.
• Small sensors, while convenient, offer limited control over these factors.

From practical experience:

• The NX3000’s sensor delivers cleaner, more detailed images with superior noise control above ISO 800–1600 - crucial when shooting indoors, at dusk, or getting creative with shadows.
• The EX-ZR700’s sensor performs well in bright daylight but noise and artifacting quickly degrade fine detail in low light. It’s typical of small sensor compact cameras.

LCD Screen and User Interface

Both cameras feature 3-inch LCD displays, but with different implementations:

• Casio’s EX-ZR700 has a fixed Super Clear TFT display at 922k dots - bright and color-accurate, great for composing in sunshine.
• Samsung’s NX3000 offers a 3-inch tilting LCD at 461k dots, useful for shooting from creative angles or selfies (though it lacks a selfie-optimized mode).

Neither camera provides a built-in viewfinder, which can make composing in bright light challenging for both. However, the NX3000’s tilting screen adds compositional versatility.

In UI terms, the NX3000 offers more in-menu exposure bracketing (AEB), raw format shooting, and customizable controls - which enthusiasts will appreciate. The EX-ZR700 emphasizes quick shooting modes with easy arcane adjustments.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Tracking Action vs Simplicity

Want to capture moving subjects like sports events or wildlife? Autofocus and continuous shooting capabilities matter immensely.

The NX3000 offers 35 AF points and selective focus areas, allowing better subject tracking and compositional control. The extra burst frames per second (5 vs 3 fps) come in handy when photographing wildlife or sports.

Though neither model has phase-detection AF or advanced eye/animal detection (common in newer mirrorless cameras), the NX3000’s autofocus performance feels more confident and faster in real-world shooting.

Lens Systems and Creative Flexibility

The Casio EX-ZR700’s lens is fixed: a massive 18x optical zoom covering 25-450 mm equivalent focal length, with aperture F3.5-5.9. This all-in-one zoom covers wide-angle through telephoto, lending versatility for travel, street, and casual wildlife shots without swapping lenses.

Meanwhile, the Samsung NX3000 uses the interchangeable Samsung NX mount, with a selection of 32 lenses available, including affordable primes, zooms, macros, and specialty glass.

Key differences:

• EX-ZR700: Convenience of one versatile zoom lens built-in, great for shooting steadily handheld thanks to sensor-shift image stabilization.
• NX3000: Access to prime lenses with larger apertures (f/1.8, f/2), better low light, and shallower depth of field. Lens ecosystem enables growth and experimentation.

If you envision advancing your photography skills and investing in optics, the NX3000 opens more doors.

Build, Durability & Environmental Resistance

Neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized. Both lack dust, splash or freeze-proof certifications - standard fare in their categories and eras.

The EX-ZR700 is compact and light but offers no external flash support, limiting advanced lighting options. The NX3000 lets you attach external flashes, expanding lighting creativity for portraits and studio shoots.

Weight-wise, they sit close: 222g (EX-ZR700) vs 230g (NX3000), both easy to carry all day.

Battery Life and Storage

The EX-ZR700’s battery life outperforms the NX3000 in number of exposures, thanks to its compact design and simpler processing. However, the NX3000’s battery lifespan is quite usable for general shooting days, just remember to carry spares for longer sessions.

Storage compatibility with microSD cards on the NX3000 is less common but convenient if you already use microSDs with other devices.

Video Capabilities for Multimodal Creators

Both cameras offer Full HD (1920x1080) video at 30 frames per second, sufficient for casual filmmaking and vlogging.

• The Casio EX-ZR700 has a wider range of frame rates in lower resolutions, reaching high-speed capture modes (up to 1000 fps at very low resolutions), useful for slow-motion experiments.
• Samsung NX3000 supports standard HD modes but lacks high framerate slow motion options.

Neither has microphone or headphone ports, limiting advanced audio input/output. Neither offers 4K recording - understandable for cameras of this age and class.

Shooting Across Photography Genres: What Fits Best?

Photo disciplines impose distinct demands. Here’s how these cameras stack up across popular genres:

Portrait Photography

Because of the NX3000’s larger sensor and faster lenses, you can achieve more flattering portraits with softly blurred backgrounds that isolate subjects. External flash capability also enhances studio-quality portraiture.

Landscape Photography

The NX3000 also excels here in resolution (20MP vs 16MP), dynamic range, and shooting flexibility (manual aperture control, tripod compatibility). The EX-ZR700’s fixed lens zoom provides wide angles but quality falls off at telephoto ends.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, so be cautious in harsh environments.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Neither camera is a specialized sports shooter, but the NX3000’s faster burst rate and more AF points yield an edge capturing fast action. The Casio’s 18x zoom offers reach in a compact body, but slower autofocus and fewer controls limit responsiveness.

Street Photography

The EX-ZR700’s small size and discreet design excel for snapping street moments unnoticed. The NX3000 is larger and less stealthy, but its tilting screen lets you shoot from waist level with less intrusion.

Macro Photography

The EX-ZR700 can focus down to 5cm, making it surprisingly useful for close-ups. Samsung’s system depends on lens selection, with macro lenses offering higher precision and better optics.

Night and Astro Photography

Low light performance heavily favors the NX3000’s APS-C sensor, offering cleaner images at ISO 3200 and beyond. The EX-ZR700’s 1/2.3” sensor struggles with noise at anything above ISO 800.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

Here, the NX3000 clearly leads:

• Built-in wireless connectivity and NFC support enable quick image sharing and remote control.
• HDMI out for live view on monitors.
• Supports RAW file capture for more advanced post-processing workflows.

The EX-ZR700 lacks wireless features or RAW capture, limiting editing flexibility and connectivity convenience.

Price-to-Performance Comparison

If you want to spend under $400 and prioritize zoom versatility and portability, the EX-ZR700 is a good pick. For nearly twice the price, the NX3000 rewards you with far better image quality, expandability, and creative control.

Real-World Image Comparisons

Casio EX ZR700 front Casio EX ZR700 screen back Samsung NX3000 front Samsung NX3000 screen back

When comparing sample images shot side-by-side, the NX3000 consistently shows richer colors, higher detail retention, and smoother gradients. The Casio fares well outdoors in good light but does reveal sensor limitations under indoor or low light conditions, with visible noise and softer rendering.

Performance Ratings Overview

On an aggregate scale, the NX3000 scores higher for image quality, autofocus, and versatility, while the EX-ZR700 scores solidly on portability and zoom range.

Genre-Specific Performance Brief

Scores favor the Samsung for portraits, landscapes, low-light, and sports. The Casio excels moderately in travel and street due to its compactness and zoom lens, but less so in demanding environments.

Summing Up: Which Camera Should You Choose?

Choose the Casio EX-ZR700 if You:

• Seek an ultra-compact, lightweight camera with a powerful zoom (18x) for travel and casual shooting.
• Prefer a simple, ready-to-shoot camera with sensor-shift stabilization to reduce blur in handheld images.
• Have a tight budget and want something easy to carry without lens changes.
• Mostly photograph outdoors in good light and don’t shoot much video or in manual modes.

Opt for the Samsung NX3000 if You:

• Want to step into mirrorless photography with the ability to swap lenses and expand creatively.
• Need superior image quality and low light performance to elevate portraits, landscapes, or indoor shoots.
• Desire control over exposure and focusing modes, plus a stronger feature set for hobbies evolving into serious photography.
• Appreciate built-in wireless connectivity and RAW file capability for streamlined post-processing.

Final Thoughts and How to Get Started

Both cameras have their place and can create beautiful images. The Casio is a compact, budget-friendly superzoom ideal for beginners or those valuing portability above all. The Samsung offers an accessible mirrorless system with room to grow, better image fidelity, and creative flexibility.

Whichever you lean towards, I recommend testing these cameras in-store if possible, or renting before buying to see which aligns best with your style and workflow.

Also, consider investing in quality accessories - extra batteries, compatible lenses (for NX3000), tripods, and cleaning kits - to maximize your shooting potential.

Your photography journey deserves equipment that sparks creativity and helps you tell compelling stories through images. Whether that’s a versatile all-in-one Casio superzoom or a flexible Samsung mirrorless system, both can be fantastic companions on the path to mastery.

Happy shooting!