Casio EX-ZS5 vs Sony TX55

Casio EX-ZS5 vs Sony TX55: An Ultracompact Camera Showdown from 2011

When examining ultracompact cameras from the early 2010s, the Casio EX-ZS5 and the Sony Cyber-shot TX55 frequently come up in discussions. Both were released in 2011, vying for the attention of casual photographers and enthusiasts seeking a pocketable yet versatile camera. I’ve spent extensive time testing and comparing these two models across varied shooting scenarios - from portraits to landscapes, fast action to low-light - to uncover their strengths and shortcomings. My goal is to provide you with a thorough, hands-on evaluation that will inform your choice between these two ultracompacts with confidence.

Let’s dive deep.

First Impressions: Size, Handling & Build Quality

At a glance, both cameras deliver the compactness expected from the ultracompact class. The Casio EX-ZS5 measures roughly 103 x 59 x 20 mm, making it a slender travel companion, though somewhat thicker than the Sony TX55, which trims down to 93 x 54 x 13 mm. The Sony’s smaller footprint and lighter weight (109g including battery) make it noticeably more pocket-friendly - easy to slip into a jacket or purse with barely a bulge.

In terms of ergonomics, the Casio opts for a straightforward, minimalist approach - fixed rear LCD, few physical controls, and a rubberized grip area that helps maintain hold. Meanwhile, the Sony TX55 pushes the envelope with a sleek aluminum body and a more refined feel in hand, aided by its thinner profile and a slightly textured grip region.

Looking from above, the Sony showcases a well-thought-out control scheme including tactile zoom and shutter buttons that respond with decent feedback. The Casio’s controls, while simpler, feel more plasticky and less refined, which could impact longer shooting sessions. That said, neither camera offers the extensive manual controls found in more advanced models, reflecting their shared orientation toward casual users rather than pros.

The overall build quality leans to Sony’s favor here - the TX55 feels more robust, which aligns with its higher price point. Neither camera is sealed against dust or moisture, so take care in challenging environments.

Wizardry Inside: Sensor and Image Quality

Both cameras utilize the same sensor size: a 1/2.3-inch format typical for ultracompacts. The Casio uses a 14-megapixel CCD sensor, while Sony incorporates a 16-megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor - a significant distinction. The backside-illuminated CMOS sensor in the TX55 generally offers superior light-gathering efficiency compared to Casio’s older CCD design. This is especially evident in low-light photography and high-ISO performance.

In controlled lab tests, the Sony exhibits cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, with reduced noise and better detail retention. Casio’s images at ISO 800 start showing blotchy luminance noise, and the dynamic range - the ability to capture shadow and highlight details simultaneously - is limited compared to Sony. Neither camera breaks new ground here, but the TX55 has a clear advantage.

Color reproduction is another differentiator. The Sony benefits from its BIONZ processor’s more sophisticated color algorithms, producing vivid yet natural hues, especially in outdoor daylight portraits. Casio’s colors tend to be slightly muted, occasionally leaning toward cooler tones, affecting skin tones adversely.

Shooting Experience: Autofocus, Performance, and Usability

Ultracompacts don’t usually wow with speed, but they must perform adequately to avoid missed moments. Both cameras rely on contrast-detection AF systems exclusively - no phase detection or advanced hybrid autofocus schemes.

• Casio EX-ZS5: autofocus can feel sluggish, with hunting common under low contrast or subdued lighting. Single-shot AF is available, but continuous or tracking AF modes are absent or limited. This can frustrate users aiming to capture moving subjects or candid street moments spontaneously.

• Sony TX55: autofocus is noticeably snappier, benefiting from a dedicated 9-point AF system and center-weighted focusing. While not flawless, it locks on faster and more reliably, particularly in daylight scenarios.

About burst shooting rates, Sony blows Casio out of the water. The TX55 offers a continuous shooting speed of 10fps (frames per second) at full resolution, a remarkable feat for an ultracompact from 2011. This makes it considerably better for informal sports, pets, or action snapshots. The Casio does not specify burst speed, and in practice, its frames-per-second rate is sluggish and not usable for fast subject tracking.

Screen and Viewfinder: Monitoring Your Shot

Both cameras omit electronic viewfinders, relying on rear LCDs for framing and reviewing shots.

• The Casio’s 3-inch screen offers 461k dots of resolution - serviceable but pale by today’s standards. Its fixed nature and lack of touch-based interaction limit flexibility.

• The Sony excels here with a 3.3-inch XtraFine OLED fixed screen boasting 1,230k dots. The OLED panel produces deep blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent viewing angles - helpful in bright sunlight or awkward shooting positions. Moreover, it provides touchscreen capabilities for focusing and menu navigation - a major usability plus.

The lack of a viewfinder limits usability in bright outdoor conditions for both cameras, but Sony manages better thanks to its brighter screen.

Lens Quality and Zoom Range

Both cameras sport a 5.8x zoom range with fixed lenses, but the focal lengths differ slightly:

• Casio EX-ZS5: Specific focal length numbers are unspecified, but given the sensor crop, expected field of view is roughly equivalent to a 28–162mm zoom on a full-frame body.

• Sony TX55: Offers explicit focal length from 26mm wide-angle to 130mm telephoto (35mm equivalent), covering a practical travel and everyday range.

The Sony’s lens also features optical image stabilization, reducing camera shake effects especially at telephoto and in low light. Casio lacks any image stabilization, resulting in a higher likelihood of blur unless shutter speeds remain brisk.

Optically, both lenses are adequate for snapshots. Edge sharpness suffers mildly at wide apertures, but stopping down to mid apertures improves detail. Sony’s lens offers a brighter maximum aperture (f/3.5 wide to f/4.8 telephoto) compared to Casio’s less specified aperture, further enhancing low-light shooting.

Photography Ramifications: Use-Case Breakdowns

Let’s look across key photography categories to parse how these cameras stack up.

Portrait Photography

For portraits, critical factors include accurate skin tones, shallow depth-of-field (bokeh), and reliable eye detection autofocus.

• Both cameras fall short in delivering a shallow depth-of-field due to small sensor size and limited aperture ranges - expect razor-thin backgrounds only with close subjects and long zoom.

• The Sony’s better color fidelity and faster autofocus give it an edge in capturing natural skin tones and expressions. Its 9-point AF helps lock focus more reliably.

• Casio’s tendencies toward cooler color shifts and slower AF make it less flattering for portraiture.

Neither supports advanced eye detection or face tracking, commonplace features in later models.

Landscape Photography

Landscape demands high resolution and dynamic range to capture details in shadows and highlights.

• Sony’s 16-megapixel sensor matches or slightly outperforms Casio’s 14MP in resolution, providing benefit at large print sizes or cropping.

• Dynamic range differences are marked: the TX55’s BSI-CMOS plus BIONZ processor produce images with richer tonal gradations and less highlight clipping.

• Weather sealing absent on both cameras, ruling them out for rugged outdoor conditions without protective gear.

• The Sony’s wider-angle 26mm equivalent is more favorable for sweeping vistas versus Casio's less-defined wide-end. Screen brightness on Sony aids composition in sunny conditions.

Wildlife Photography

Fast autofocus, long reach, and burst rates are key here.

• Sony’s 10fps burst and 9 AF points give it a theoretic advantage for fleeting action, but the 130mm max reach barely qualifies as long telephoto.

• Casio’s lack of burst mode and slow AF make it unsuitable for credible wildlife capture.

• Both rely on fixed lenses without teleconverter support, limiting versatility.

Verdict: Sony is mild but workable for casual wildlife snaps; Casio struggles.

Sports Photography

Precision and speed dominate this category.

• Sony again leverages its 10fps burst, albeit with limited AF tracking capabilities.

• Casio is outmatched, with only single-shot AF and sluggish operation.

Both cameras lack pro-level autofocus tracking and buffer sizes, limiting sustained burst potential. Neither suits serious sports shooters but Sony approaches entry-level usability.

Street Photography

Discretion, portability, and quick response are essential.

• Both excel in size and stealth. Sony offers a slimmer profile.

• Sony's faster AF and higher burst capture supports decisive moments better.

• Casio’s slower performance hampers capturing ephemeral street scenes.

• Lack of silent shutter on both models is a downside in noise-sensitive environments.

Sony gains the nod for casual street shooters seeking ultra portability.

Macro Photography

Close focusing capability is critical.

• Sony’s lens allows rewarding 3cm macro focusing - very respectable for the category.

• Casio’s specifications for macro focus are unspecified or unavailable, suggesting mediocre capability.

• Sony offers optical stabilization, useful for handheld macro shots where shake is amplified.

Casio pales here; Sony’s macro potential is a clear bonus.

Night and Astrophotography

High ISO performance and specialized exposure help.

• Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor and noise reduction excel at ISO 800-1600.

• Casio’s older CCD sensor introduces much noise beyond ISO 400.

• Neither camera features bulb mode or long exposure timelapse.

Sony can produce usable handheld night shots; Casio is limited to well-lit scenes.

Video Capabilities

Sony’s TX55 delivers significant video advantages:

• Full HD 1920x1080 recording at 60fps in AVCHD format offers smooth, detailed footage.

• Optical image stabilization aids handheld video stability.

• Multiple resolution options and MPEG-4 compatibility provide versatility.

• HDMI output facilitates external playback.

Casio’s video maxes out at a meager 848x480 in Motion JPEG format - outdated standard and poor resolution.

Neither camera has mic or headphone jacks, limiting audio control.

Overall, Sony provides a capable pocket camcorder alternative while Casio’s video is more of a novelty.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

• Casio info is sparse on battery life. It uses a proprietary battery with no official endurance rating.

• Sony boasts about 250 shots per charge, typical for the class, powered by NP-BN battery pack.

Storage-wise:

• Casio’s system details are unclear.

• Sony supports microSD, SDHC, and Memory Stick Micro - flexible and modern.

Connectivity:

• Casio offers none - no USB, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.

• Sony includes Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless photo transfer and USB 2.0 port, plus HDMI output.

Sony’s connectivity and battery endurance are clearly built for more demanding usage.

Handling and User Interface

Sony’s touchscreen interface significantly enhances menu navigation and focus selection. This is a notable usability leap over Casio’s button-only system and fixed screen.

Casio lacks manual focus and exposure options; Sony adds manual focus but no manual exposure modes. Neither provides RAW image capture, limiting post-processing flexibility.

Sony supports custom white balance and white balance bracketing, giving enthusiast shooters extra control.

Price-to-Value Assessment

• Casio EX-ZS5 launched at around $100, targeting budget-conscious consumers prioritizing simplicity.

• Sony TX55 retailed near $350, positioning as a premium ultracompact with advanced features.

Sony commands a higher price due to better sensor tech, videos, stabilization, and interface.

Given their 2011 release era, prices today will vary significantly, generally favoring Sony as the more versatile investment.

Casio EX ZS5 front Casio EX ZS5 screen back Sony TX55 front Sony TX55 screen back

These samples underscore Sony’s superior detail retention, richer colors, and sharper images.

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre Scores

Rating the cameras holistically across essential metrics reflects:

• Sony TX55 outperforms Casio EX-ZS5 in image quality, autofocus speed, video, and macro capability.

• Casio’s simplicity and lower cost may appeal to first-time users or those prioritizing size and ease over performance.

Who Should Choose Which?

Choose Casio EX-ZS5 if:

• Your budget is tight and you want a very affordable ultracompact.

• You prioritize absolute simplicity and don’t mind low-light or video limitations.

• Casual snapshots in good light are your main goal.

Choose Sony Cyber-shot TX55 if:

• You demand better image quality, especially in low light.

• Video recording at HD quality and optical stabilization matter to you.

• You want a versatile camera for travel, macro, street, and casual action shots.

• You appreciate touchscreen interface and connectivity features.

In Conclusion: Practical Wisdom from the Field

While both cameras share era and category, the Sony TX55 emerges clearly as the stronger ultracompact for photography enthusiasts seeking better image quality, speed, and versatility. Its modern sensor design, HD video, and intuitive interface substantially raise the bar.

The Casio EX-ZS5 holds niche value as an ultra-budget point-and-shoot but cannot match Sony’s well-rounded capabilities.

Their shared absence of manual exposure modes and RAW shooting points to an orientation toward casual users rather than professionals, but Sony’s enhancements provide better room to grow.

If you stumble upon either on the used market today, my advice is to lean toward the Sony - its features and image quality remain competitive for lightweight travel and everyday shooting. The Casio, while pleasant for instant snapshots, will quickly expose its age in demanding conditions.

Unquestionably, these two cameras exemplify early 2010s ultracompact design's tradeoffs, giving us a window into camera evolution over the past decade.

Happy shooting!