Samsung EX2F vs Sony RX10 II: A Deep Dive into Two Distinguished Compact Cameras

Choosing the right camera in today’s competitive market isn’t merely about pixel count or zoom range - it's about how a device performs across diverse photography disciplines, how it responds to your shooting style, and the value it brings to your creative workflow. Having spent hundreds of hours testing models ranging from entry-level compacts to professional-grade beasts, I’ve come to appreciate the nuances that truly separate one camera from another. Today, I put two compelling fixed-lens cameras under the microscope: the compact, enthusiast-friendly Samsung EX2F and the versatile, large-sensor powerhouse Sony RX10 II.

These cameras span different eras, sensor sizes, and intended users but have overlapping appeal for enthusiasts seeking quality and convenience without the interchangeable lens fuss. Let's unpack their strengths and weaknesses across all major photography types, blending technical scrutiny with hands-on impressions to help you pick the right tool for your vision.

First Impressions: Design and Ergonomics That Start the Conversation

Size and handling often shape a photographer’s emotional connection with their camera before pixels and processor come into play. The Samsung EX2F is an ultra-compact 294g pocketable marvel, optimized for swift grab-and-go shooting. In contrast, the Sony RX10 II is nearly three times heavier at 813g, wearing its SLR-style body with pronounced grip and robust control dials.

The EX2F's slim 112 x 62 x 29 mm profile means it’s ideal if pocket space and stealth are priorities - its minimalist layout and lightweight profile make it discrete for street and travel photography. However, that slender chassis limits physical controls, dialing down tactile feedback and requiring menu dives for adjustments - a trade-off for the compact form factor.

Sony’s RX10 II, with its 129 x 88 x 102 mm frame, commands a presence much closer to a prosumer DSLR or mirrorless camera. Its extensive button real estate, logical dial placement, and heft deliver excellent ergonomics for extended use, even with one hand thanks to a deep, sculpted grip. The substantial size also accommodates weather sealing, adding peace of mind for shooting in challenging conditions.

Delivering physical control mastery, Sony’s camera encourages manual adjustment on the fly - vital for professional workflows or action photography where speed matters. Samsung’s EX2F leans heavily on automation and simplified manual controls; it lacks the customization and responsiveness found on the RX10 II.

Ergonomics verdict: For casual or street shooters valuing portability, the EX2F is a winner. If you crave manual handling excellence and weather durability (explored later), the RX10 II is the better fit.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the core of every photographic experience is the sensor - responsible not just for resolution, but for dynamic range, noise performance, and color fidelity. The Samsung EX2F carries a modest 1/1.7" BSI-CMOS sensor of only about 41.52 mm² area supporting 12MP resolution. Despite its age (2012), the sensor incorporates backside illumination to boost sensitivity, yielding respectable image quality with decent color depth (DXO: 20 bits) and dynamic range (11.5 EV).

The RX10 II steps into a different league with a much larger 1" BSI-CMOS sensor (116.16 mm²) packing 20MP. This sensor benefits from advancements brought by Sony’s Bionz X processor and rear-illumination architecture, resulting in superior color depth (23 bits DXO), wider dynamic range (12.6 EV), and drastically improved low-light ISO performance (native ISO max 12,800 vs. 3,200 on EX2F).

What do these numbers translate to in practice? The RX10 II produces images with richer tonal gradation, more detailed shadows and highlights, and cleaner output at higher ISO settings essential for wildlife and event photography. The EX2F performs best in bright, controlled lighting - its sensor struggles with noise beyond ISO 800-1,600, limiting usability in dim conditions.

Both cameras feature anti-aliasing filters that slightly soften fine detail, but the RX10 II’s sensor resolution and advanced processing largely compensate, yielding sharp and crisp photos suitable for large prints and detailed crops.

Mastering Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus (AF) technology defines how well a camera locks onto subjects - crucial in dynamic genres like sports or wildlife. The EX2F uses a contrast-detection AF system without face or eye detection, no continuous AF, and no selective AF areas. Essentially, it’s a basic AF layer designed around static subjects or snapshots and manual focus fiddling.

The RX10 II, meanwhile, enjoys a hybrid autofocus system with 25 contrast-detection points and face detection, along with continuous autofocus and AF tracking. It captures swift focus locks with impressive precision, especially when paired with the bright f/2.8 lens. This setup enables effective tracking of moving subjects like runners or birds in flight.

While testing, I found the RX10 II autofocus response consistently faster and more confident, maintaining focus on erratic movement better than the EX2F’s slower contrast-detect system, which frequently hunted in lower contrast or low light.

For portrait photographers seeking sharp eyes and accurate skin tones, Sony’s face-detection AF proved a time-saver, dramatically reducing missed focus. The EX2F’s manual focus intervention was necessary for more precise results here, which might frustrate users desiring quick operation.

Lens Quality and Zoom: The Gear You Can’t Change

Both cameras feature fixed lenses, making optical versatility and quality paramount. Samsung’s EX2F sports a 24-80mm equivalent zoom (3.3x), with a famously bright aperture range of f/1.4-2.7, impressive even by DSLR standards. This bright aperture facilitates beautiful background separation and low-light shooting at wide angles - a boon for portraiture and environmental shots.

Conversely, the RX10 II offers an 8.3x zoom from 24-200mm at a constant f/2.8 aperture. The lens delivers remarkable reach and consistent brightness across focal lengths, enabling usability from wide landscapes to distant wildlife with a single zoom ring. Optics are sharp edge-to-edge with minimal distortion, thanks to the high-quality glass and optical stabilization.

If bokeh and shallow depth of field are your priorities, EX2F’s f/1.4 aperture rules at the wide end. But the RX10 II balances aperture with extraordinary zoom versatility, making it a go-to for hybrid shooters who want one versatile lens without swapping.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot Your Way

Both cameras incorporate a 3" screen, but differ significantly in design and resolution. EX2F’s AMOLED fully articulated screen offers vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles for live-view composition and creative shooting angles, including selfie-friendly tilts - a rare nod to vloggers and casual users.

The RX10 II utilizes a tilting screen with a resolution of 1,229k dots, offering crispness and enough flexibility for overhead or low-angle shooting, though it lacks full articulation or touch functionality. However, it compensates with a high-resolution 2,359k dot electronic viewfinder (EVF), providing 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification.

While EX2F’s lack of an EVF is a limitation outdoors or in bright sunlight, its AMOLED screen remains clear and vivid. The RX10 II’s EVF delivers a traditional DSLR-like experience - stabilized, responsive, and perfect for precise manual focusing or framing in difficult lighting.

Durability and Build Quality: Trusting Your Camera in the Field

The Samsung EX2F lacks weather sealing or ruggedness guarantees, designed primarily for indoor/outdoor urban use and travel photography where discretion and compactness reign. Its plastic construction fits the lightweight purpose but leaves it vulnerable to harsh conditions.

Sony’s RX10 II steps into professional-grade territory, offering weather sealing against moisture and dust ingress. The more robust body construct means you can confidently shoot in rain, dust, or extreme temperature variations - a crucial feature for outdoor landscape, wildlife, and adventure photographers.

Burst, Video, and Storage: Pushing Performance Boundaries

For sports and wildlife photographers, burst rate and buffer depth can make or break a shooting session. The EX2F doesn't provide continuous shooting specs and is limited in this regard, emphasizing stillness and deliberate shooting rather than action bursts.

Contrastingly, Sony’s RX10 II boasts a blazing 14 fps continuous shooting rate, capturing fleeting moments with aplomb. Combined with a broad buffer and reliable autofocus tracking, the RX10 II is clearly superior for fast-paced photography.

Video enthusiasts will appreciate Sony’s 4K UHD recording at 30p - a game-changing feature absent in the EX2F, which tops out at Full HD 1080p. The RX10 II supports multiple codecs (MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S), microphone and headphone jacks for advanced audio monitoring, and optical image stabilization for smooth footage.

Storage-wise, both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; RX10 II adds compatibility for Sony’s Memory Stick formats, offering flexibility for existing users.

Specialized Photography Disciplines: Which Camera Excels Where?

Portrait Photography

Samsung’s bright f/1.4 aperture and compact form lock in attractive, softly blurred backgrounds and flattering skin tones, but the lack of face or eye-detection autofocus limits fast portraiture. Manual focus and careful composition hinge on user skill.

Sony’s RX10 II provides sharper, more detailed portraits thanks to better dynamic range, plus face detection and eye autofocus assist. The extra zoom range gives more framing options, from tight headshots to environmental portraits.

Winner: Sony RX10 II for precision and flexibility; Samsung EX2F for dreamy wide-aperture bokeh.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range, resolution, and weather sealing are pivotal here. The RX10 II’s larger sensor yields richer shadows and highlights, while its 24mm wide angle and weather-sealed body make it ideal for rugged outdoor shoots.

EX2F’s smaller sensor and limited zoom span hinder ultrawide landscapes and fine detail capture at print sizes, plus no weather sealing restricts use in harsh conditions.

Wildlife and Sports

Autofocus speed, frame rate, and telephoto reach define success. The RX10 II’s 200mm reach, 14 fps, tracking AF, and robust buffer make it a practical alternative to bulkier DSLRs or mirrorless systems for casual to semipro wildlife and sports shooters.

The EX2F lacks continuous AF, tracking, and long focal range - unsuitable for these fast-action scenarios.

Street and Travel Photography

The EX2F’s compactness, light weight, and stealth afford tremendous advantages for street and travel photographers prioritizing discretion and ease. Its wide aperture helps low-light handheld shots, but slower autofocus may miss fleeting moments.

RX10 II’s weight and size make it less convenient for everyday carry, but its all-weather durability, extensive zoom, and superior HD video make it a formidable travel companion for serious shooters.

Macro and Night/Astro Photography

Only the RX10 II supports close focus distances down to 3cm and excels for macro thanks to sharp optics and steady stabilization. EX2F’s lack of specialized macro focus is a weakness here.

In low-light, RX10 II’s high ISO ceiling, cleaner files, and better dynamic range improve handheld night and astrophotography outcomes, while EX2F’s sensor noise limits its capabilities.

Video Performance

Sony’s 4K at 30 fps, coupled with mic/headphone ports, optical stabilization, and professional codecs, makes it a strong choice for hybrid stills/video creators, vloggers, and documentary shooters.

Samsung’s EX2F records Full HD only, with fewer video features, limited audio support, and less stable imaging.

Connectivity, Battery, and Workflow: The Unsung Utilities

Both cameras offer built-in wireless connectivity, but Samsung’s model predates Bluetooth and NFC standards - relying on Wi-Fi alone - while Sony incorporates Wi-Fi and NFC, streamlining pairing with compatible devices for quicker transfers and remote control.

Battery life evolution favors the RX10 II, rated approximately 400 shots per charge compared to the older EX2F standard (not specified but generally below 300 shots in testing). The RX10 II’s battery type (NP-FW50) is shared across Sony’s ecosystem, simplifying spares or upgrades for multi-camera users.

Sony’s single storage slot accepts SD and Memory Stick cards, supporting higher speed card standards beneficial for high bitrate video and burst shooting; EX2F remains limited to SD/SDHC/SDXC.

What Does This Mean for Your Budget and Shooting Style?

This comparison crystallizes the divergent philosophies each camera embodies. The Samsung EX2F is an affordable, pocket-friendly compact that excels in casual, low-light portraiture and street photography where rapid, inconspicuous shooting is beneficial. It rewards users who prioritize bright lenses, compactness, and image quality suitable for smaller prints or online sharing.

The Sony RX10 II is a more investment-heavy, hybrid-style camera offering pro-caliber image quality, extensive zoom reach, professional video features, and rugged build suitable for advanced enthusiasts or professionals needing an all-in-one travel, wildlife, landscape, and video tool without carrying extra lenses.

Samsung EX2F front Samsung EX2F screen back Sony RX10 II front Sony RX10 II screen back

Hands-On Experience Report: My Testing Methodology

For this comparison, I subjected both cameras to identical shooting scenarios: controlled studio portraits, natural light street scenes, fast-moving wildlife subjects in a park, evening astrophotography sessions, and travel shoots across urban and rural terrains.

In portraits, I evaluated skin tone accuracy using highest quality JPEG and RAW conversions, noting EX2F’s warm tones and pleasing bokeh, while RX10 II delivered superior detail and color fidelity with easier focus acquisition.

In wildlife action tests, RX10 II nailed fast autofocus tracking and focus stability, while EX2F missed several focus opportunities due to contrast AF lag.

Astro shots shot handheld at ISO 6400 were noisy on EX2F but impressively clean and detailed on RX10 II, largely due to sensor size and processing pipeline.

Genre-Specific Performance Scores Based on Expert Evaluation

The EX2F’s advantage in street and travel is offset by its shortcomings in high-demand areas, while the RX10 II dominates technical performance and versatility, justifying its premium.

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which Camera?

• Choose the Samsung EX2F if you:

  • Desire an ultra-compact enthusiast camera with exceptional bright-lens portrait capability.
  • Mostly shoot casual travel, street scenes, or social photography in good light.
  • Seek a budget-friendly option focusing on simplicity and portability.
  • Are willing to accept slower, less sophisticated autofocus and limited zoom.

• Choose the Sony RX10 II if you:

  • Require a versatile do-it-all camera with professional-level image quality across photo and video.
  • Shoot wildlife, sports, or low-light scenes demanding fast autofocus and high burst rates.
  • Value weather-sealed durability for outdoor and adventure photography.
  • Want a powerful video tool with 4K and high fidelity audio.
  • Are prepared to invest more for superior performance and future-proof features.

In Closing: Two Cameras, Two Worlds

The Samsung EX2F and Sony RX10 II exemplify two distinct pathways in fixed-lens camera design, influenced by their generation and target audience. The EX2F remains a compelling option for pocket shooters craving bright optics and simplicity. Meanwhile, the RX10 II continues to impress enthusiasts seeking one high-quality, versatile camera to cover landscapes, wildlife, sports, and videography without compromise.

Your choice hinges heavily on priorities - portability and lens speed versus rugged versatility and zoom reach. Armed with these insights and exhaustive testing notes, you can confidently match your next camera to your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!

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