Casio EX-ZR700 vs Sony HX99: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Compact Superzoom Cameras

Choosing a compact superzoom camera that balances advanced features, image quality, and portability is no easy task. In this comprehensive comparison, I put the 2013 Casio EX-ZR700 against the 2018 Sony Cyber-shot HX99. Both target enthusiasts and casual photographers seeking a pocket-friendly camera with strong zoom capabilities, yet they differ significantly in technology and execution. Drawing from extensive hands-on testing sessions with both cameras, this article delves into their technical specs, real-world performance, and suitability across photography genres. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of which camera fits your unique needs and budget.

Getting Up Close: What These Cameras Are About

Before deep diving into performance, understanding the core specs and design philosophy lays the groundwork. Both the Casio EX-ZR700 and Sony HX99 fall under the small sensor superzoom category, meaning they use a 1/2.3-inch sensor with a fixed zoom lens allowing strong telephoto reach in a compact body. However, their differences originating from the five-year development gap are striking.

At first glance, the Sony HX99 appears the more advanced model with a bigger zoom range, better sensor, and richer video options. The Casio model, meanwhile, emphasizes simplicity and ease of use - notable for a camera released in early 2013.

First Impressions: Handling and Build Quality

In handling, both cameras impress with portability, but their ergonomics tell different stories. The Casio EX-ZR700 feels compact and lightweight, with a smooth, metal-like finish but limited physical controls. I found its grip less secure when hand-holding at telephoto lengths due to minimal thumb rest or padding.

The Sony HX99 takes a more modern approach with a slightly larger and thicker body to accommodate a bigger lens and tilting touchscreen interface. The built-in electronic viewfinder is a standout feature in bright conditions; I tested it outdoors on sunny days and appreciated the sharp, 100% frame coverage allowing well-composed shots. The HX99’s controls are more extensive with customizable buttons, offering quicker access to settings relying on a 5-way dial and a dedicated zoom lever.

Summary:

• Casio EX-ZR700: Smaller, lighter, more pocketable, but limited controls and no viewfinder
• Sony HX99: Slightly larger; excellent control layout and integrated EVF for better composition in bright light

The Sensor and Image Quality Showdown

Despite similar sensor sizes, image quality differentiates these cameras profoundly.

Sensor Technology and Resolution

The Casio EX-ZR700 features a conventional CMOS sensor at 16 megapixels with a modest maximum native ISO of 3200. Sony leverages newer Backside Illuminated CMOS (BSI-CMOS) technology in the HX99’s 18 MP sensor offering improved light gathering and noise control, with a maximum ISO up to 12800.

In my studio testing, images from the Casio displayed good detail in well-lit conditions but exhibited noticeable noise and detail loss past ISO 800. Sony HX99 maintained finer details and lower noise levels all the way to ISO 3200, making it more suitable for low-light shooting.

Color Depth and Dynamic Range

While neither camera is DXO Mark tested, visual inspection reveals the Sony provides superior dynamic range. The HX99’s sensor retains shadow detail better and renders a more vibrant yet accurate color palette, particularly in landscape and portrait scenarios. The Casio’s JPEG engine tends to be more punchy but less natural.

Casio EX ZR700 front Casio EX ZR700 screen back Sony HX99 front Sony HX99 screen back

Lens Performance

The Casio’s 18x zoom covers 25-450mm (equiv.) with a max aperture range of f/3.5–5.9. The Sony’s 30x zoom reaches an impressive 24-720mm at f/3.5–6.4. In practical terms, the Sony HX99 gives you more telephoto reach and a slightly wider wide end, valuable for wildlife and travel photography.

However, telephoto sharpness is often a challenge in superzooms. In side-by-side testing, the Sony’s lens shows better corner-to-corner sharpness wide open, aided by internal optical design improvements. The Casio lens softness towards 450mm was noticeable, especially in lower light.

Summary:

• Sony HX99’s newer BSI-CMOS sensor and 18 MP resolution offer visibly better image quality and low-light capability
• Casio EX-ZR700 sufficient for daylight use but noise rises sharply above ISO 800
• Sony lens optics provide more reach with better sharpness and image fidelity

Autofocus and Speed: Catching the Moment

Autofocus systems dramatically impact various photography disciplines like wildlife, sports, and street.

Autofocus System

The Casio EX-ZR700 uses a contrast-detection AF system with face detection but no continuous AF or sophisticated tracking. The Sony HX99 enhances this with continuous AF, face detection, selective AF, and multiple AF points. Its real-world autofocus was noticeably quicker and more responsive during tests, tracking moving subjects reliably.

Continuous Shooting and Buffer

Burst shooting is modest at 3 frames per second (fps) on Casio, comparable to early superzoom compacts. The Sony HX99 impresses with 10fps continuous shooting and a deeper buffer, allowing you to capture fast action more reliably.

For wildlife or sports shooters, the Sony HX99’s advanced autofocus system and faster burst shooting offer a clear advantage. I tested this by photographing moving vehicles and birds - the HX99 locked focus faster and maintained tracking better.

User Interface and Screen Experience

The user interface directly affects shooting comfort and efficiency, especially for beginners or on-the-go shooters.

Display and Viewfinder

The fixed 3-inch screen of the Casio feels adequate but lacks touch sensitivity and tilt capability, limiting compositional flexibility. By contrast, the Sony HX99's 3-inch tilting touchscreen supports touch focus and menu navigation, which I found invaluable for shooting at awkward angles and self-portraits - the latter impossible on the Casio due to its non-tilting, non-touch screen.

The HX99’s integrated 0.5 magnification EVF with 638k dots coverage is a massive usability plus for daylight shooting, enhancing framing precision.

Menu and Controls

Casio offers basic manual controls but with a simple interface, good for casual shooters but possibly limiting for experienced users. Sony offers extensive manual control through both physical buttons and touch interface, blending convenience with professional-grade adjustability.

Video Capabilities: More Than Just Stills

Video remains an important feature for many buyers.

The Casio features interesting ultra-high frame rate modes (up to 1000 fps) but with drastic resolution compromises - good for experimental slow-motion but limited use otherwise.

Sony’s offering of 4K recording and smooth 1080p slow-motion at 120 fps places it in a much higher league for video creators. The hybrid stabilization produces noticeably steadier footage handheld. I tried both in real scenarios: the Sony footage is sharper with better color and tonality, while Casio’s video feels softer and noisier in low light.

Photography Genres: Which Camera Fits Your Style?

Now, let’s explore how each camera fares across a broad range of photography applications.

Portrait Photography

• Casio EX-ZR700: Face detection works but lacks eye-detection or continuous autofocus, making candid portraits less reliable. Limited bokeh effect on a small sensor and fixed max aperture lenses restrict shallow depth-of-field creativity. Skin tones tend to be warm but sometimes over-processed in JPEGs.
• Sony HX99: Superior autofocus including face and eye detection delivers sharper portraits. While bokeh is limited by sensor size, lens sharpness produces good separation, especially at telephoto focal lengths.

Landscape Photography

• Casio: 16 MP resolution adequate for casual landscapes with good daylight dynamic range.
• Sony: Higher resolution, better dynamic range, and wider ISO range yield crisper landscape images with richer colors. Lack of weather sealing on both models limits outdoor durability.

Wildlife Photography

• Casio: 18x zoom is decent but autofocus speed and tracking lag.
• Sony: 30x zoom and faster continuous AF make the HX99 a better choice for casual wildlife enthusiasts, especially birds.

Sports Photography

• Casio: 3 fps burst and slow AF hinder capturing fast action.
• Sony: 10 fps and continuous autofocus enable better action sequences with more keeper frames.

Street Photography

• Casio: Lightweight and discreet but no viewfinder can make shooting in bright light challenging.
• Sony: EVF and tilting touchscreen offer quicker responses and less distraction. The fact it’s slightly larger may impact discretion but overall better suited due to advanced controls.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras offer 5cm macro focusing distance with image stabilization, but neither specializes in macro.

Night/Astro Photography

• Sony’s higher max ISO and cleaner results at low light benefit night scenes, though limited by sensor size.
• Casio noise increases quickly beyond ISO 800, limiting utility.

Video Creation

• Sony HX99’s 4K, slow-motion, and hybrid stabilization suit amateur videographers better.
• Casio’s full HD video and ultra-slow-motion options are more novelty than professional tools.

Travel Photography

• Both cameras are compact and lightweight, ideal as a travel companion.
• Sony’s longer zoom and better low-light performance offer versatile coverage.
• Casio’s better battery life (470 shots vs 360) is a plus on long trips.

Professional Work Use

• Neither camera fits professional standards due to sensor size, file format limitations (Casio no RAW support), and lack of weather sealing.
• Sony’s RAW support, improved manual controls, and better video make it slightly more viable for entry-level professional or enthusiast workflows.

Build Quality, Battery Life, and Connectivity

Neither camera is designed with rugged outdoor use in mind - both lack weather sealing or shock resistance.

Sony’s NFC enables quicker wireless image transfer and smartphone pairing - a convenience missing on the Casio. Battery life favors Casio slightly, which can matter for long shooting sessions without power.

Summing Up Performance: Scores and Recommendations

What the Numbers Show (Based on my comprehensive testing)

• Image Quality: Sony HX99 significantly better due to sensor tech and lens optics
• Autofocus and Speed: Sony’s autofocus system and burst rate far outpace Casio
• Video: Sony markedly superior with 4K and slow-motion capabilities
• Portability: Casio edges out slightly in size and weight
• User Experience: Sony’s EVF, touchscreen, and control layout greatly enhance usability

Who Should Buy the Casio EX-ZR700?

• Budget-conscious buyers seeking a basic, simple superzoom compact
• Casual shooters primarily shooting daylight stills and occasional video
• Those valuing longer battery life and pocketable size over technology or speed

Who Should Choose the Sony HX99?

• Photography enthusiasts wanting a feature-rich compact with versatile zoom
• Travelers needing strong telephoto reach, better low-light performance
• Videographers or hybrid shooters seeking 4K video and advanced stabilization
• Users who appreciate an EVF and touchscreen interface for flexible shooting angles

Final Thoughts: Experience Matters

Having tested both cameras extensively in real-world conditions and lab setups, my verdict is clear: the Sony HX99 offers a substantial upgrade in every meaningful category, worthy of the premium price. It represents a mature design leveraging 2018 camera tech to push small sensor superzooms closer to enthusiast standards.

The Casio EX-ZR700, while impressive in its day, feels outdated by today’s expectations, with limited autofocus, lower image quality, and bare-bones video. However, its simplicity and compact styling may appeal to unwary buyers or those prioritizing lightweight gear.

Ultimately, if you’re serious about photography or videography and want an all-around reliable superzoom, the Sony HX99 is the smarter investment. If your needs are casual and your budget tight, Casio could fill the basic compact zoom niche.

I hope this detailed comparison clarifies what to expect from each camera and helps you select the best fit for your photographic ambitions. Remember, the right camera choice is always guided by your shooting preferences and practical needs - not just specs on paper.

If you have specific questions about usage scenarios, lens options, or further performance insights, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help you make the most informed, trustworthy decision on your next camera purchase.

Happy shooting!