Fujifilm X-A3 vs Samsung NX5: An Experienced Photographer’s Detailed Mirrorless Comparison

When I'm reviewing cameras that hail from different generations and manufacturers yet share the same entry-level mirrorless status, I find it’s important to dive beneath their spec sheets to understand how they’ll truly perform in the field. Today I’m comparing the Fujifilm X-A3 announced in 2016 and the somewhat older Samsung NX5 from 2010. Both target beginners or hobbyists stepping into mirrorless systems, but technology and design philosophy shifted quite a bit during those years.

If you’ve been eyeing either of these compact APS-C mirrorless systems and wondering which fits your style - or if you’re just curious about how these cameras stack up based on hands-on testing - read on. I’ve tested and analyzed more than a thousand cameras, so I’ll break down the real-world usability, image quality, autofocus, video, and ergonomics you’ll experience with each. I'll also sprinkle in my personal insights that only come from long-term engagement with cameras of this tier.

Before we begin, let’s establish the battlefield visually:

Visual and Handling Differences: Fuji’s Rangefinder Style vs Samsung’s SLR-Style Body

Size and handheld comfort can dramatically shape your shooting experience, especially during long sessions or travel. Here you can see the Fuji X-A3 and Samsung NX5 side by side:

• The X-A3 is smaller and lighter (117x67x40mm, 339g) - with a rangefinder-style body that’s particularly friendly to casual, street, and travel shooters who prefer portability.
• In contrast, the NX5's SLR-style body is more substantial (123x87x40mm, 499g) - bulkier yet offering a grip style familiar to DSLR shooters switching systems.

Both lack weather sealing and ruggedness features - so neither is ideal for extreme weather photographers or heavy outdoor use. Fuji’s lighter weight may quickly feel more comfortable if you’re roaming city streets or hiking with minimal gear.

The top plate and control layouts reveal more nuanced differences. The Fuji sports a clean, minimalistic control set relying heavily on the rear touchscreen. The Samsung, meanwhile, sports a more traditional button layout with dials and lacks touch control - which feels a bit dated in 2024 but offers tactile feedback for button-focused shooters.

If you want fast one-handed adjustments and a live rear screen for framing selfies or vlog style video, the Fuji’s touchscreen will win you over. However, for those who prefer physical controls and an electronic viewfinder, the Samsung’s EVF - albeit modest - may be a selling point.

Sensor and Image Quality: Pixels, Size & Output

Both cameras feature APS-C sized sensors, close in physical dimensions:

• Fujifilm X-A3: 24MP sensor (23.5 x 15.7 mm), EXR Processor II, native ISO from 200 to 6400, and a maximum boosted ISO of 25600. It features an anti-aliasing filter and supports raw images, offering plenty of resolution for large prints or cropping.
• Samsung NX5: 15MP sensor (23.4 x 15.6 mm), DRIM Engine processor, native ISO 100 to 3200 with no extended ISO boost, and also supports raw.

Despite the similar sensor form factor, the Fuji’s 24MP sensor offers finer resolution - ideal for detailed landscapes or portraits where texture and subtle gradations matter. Its higher native ISO ceiling means you can shoot in dimmer conditions without excessive noise. Though I did find the Fuji’s ISO 6400 results acceptable for social media and casual prints, pushing beyond 6400 is noisy but usable in emergencies. The Samsung’s ISO ceiling at 3200 finds it more limited for low light photography or indoor events.

Color rendering on the Fuji is classic Fuji with pleasing skin tones and vibrant but natural colors, partly due to the EXR Processor II enhancing color reproduction. Samsung’s color profile produces decent JPEGs straight from the camera but often feels flatter and less nuanced out-of-camera, requiring more post-processing to match Fuji’s output.

LCD and Viewfinder: How You See Your Image Matters

The LCD and viewfinder can drastically alter your framing and shooting comfort:

The Fuji employs a 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with 1,040k dots and touch focus capabilities, which is a godsend for composing creative angles or selfies - and it’s responsive and bright enough for daylight use. Its tilt mechanism is versatile for low-angle or overhead shots.

Samsung’s NX5 also uses a 3-inch screen, but it’s fixed and has a far lower resolution OLED panel at 230k dots - surprisingly low even for 2010 standards. This impacts sharpness and detail review significantly, making fine focusing adjustments trickier. The NX5, however, compensates with a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) offering 100% coverage and a 0.57x magnification, absent on the Fuji X-A3. This EVF will appeal if you tend to shoot with your eye to the camera or want more stable framing in bright conditions.

Personally, I find the high-res tilting touch LCD on the Fuji better for most entry shooters, particularly for video and casual photography. But if your style calls for eye-level shooting, the NX5’s EVF is a notable advantage.

Autofocus Performance: Who Wins the Speed and Accuracy Race?

Autofocus remains at the heart of every photographer’s experience, especially for fast-moving subjects. Both cameras use contrast-detection systems without phase-detection pixels, meaning less speed and tracking finesse than modern hybrid AF systems.

• Fujifilm X-A3 offers 77 focus points with face detection, eye detection in live view, touch autofocus, and continuous AF support up to 6 fps burst shooting.
• Samsung NX5 is far simpler with 15 AF points, no face or eye detection, and continuous autofocus with only 3 fps burst speed.

In practice, the Fuji’s autofocus system felt more confident and responsive in daylight conditions, especially for portraits and casual street shooting. The face and eye detection worked well for my testing, locking quickly and staying put on eyes in static and mildly dynamic subjects.

Samsung’s autofocus lagged behind - noticeably hunting in lower light and struggling with tracking moving objects. If you photograph kids, pets, or sports casually, you’d find the Fuji’s AF system much more reliable.

Real-World Use Across Photography Genres

Let’s break down how these cameras perform practically across various photography styles with samples I captured side-by-side:

Fujifilm X A3 front Fujifilm X A3 screen back Samsung NX5 screen back

Portraits:

Fuji’s 24MP sensor combined with its accurate face and eye AF lets you render smooth skin tones and pleasing bokeh through quality Fujifilm lenses. The Samsung’s 15MP sensor lacks the resolution and AF sophistication, making portraits less crisp and more of a challenge for precise focus on eyes.

Landscapes:

The Fuji’s superior resolution, higher dynamic range, and raw file quality provide more latitude for shadow recovery and highlight retention. Fuji’s lens ecosystem with over 50 X-mount lenses gives great landscape glass options. Samsung’s smaller lens range and lower resolution leaves it at a disadvantage here.

Wildlife & Sports:

The Fuji’s faster 6fps burst and better AF tracking beat the NX5’s 3fps and limited AF areas. While neither is a sports sniper, Fuji’s performance is comfortably the better pick for casual action or wildlife shots in good light.

Street Photography:

The Fuji’s compact form and quiet shutter options give it an edge for candid shooting. Touchscreen AF lets you quickly select subjects, plus the selfie-friendly tilt screen is bonus if you vlog on the streets. The Samsung’s heft and slower AF make it less ideal for quick street snaps.

Macro:

Neither camera has specialized macro focus stacking or stabilization systems. The Fuji’s higher-res sensor and touch AF make it slightly better for close-ups if paired with a suitable macro lens.

Night / Astro:

Fuji’s higher max ISO, exposure bracketing, and overall noise control make it more capable for night shots, despite no in-body stabilization. The Samsung’s ISO limit and noisier output at high ISO restrict its utility here.

Video:

Fuji shoots Full HD 1080p up to 60fps, while Samsung is limited to 720p 30fps. Neither supports 4K or mic ports, but Fuji’s higher frame rates and codec options offer smoother, cleaner video for casual shooters.

Travel Photography:

Fuji’s size, battery life (410 shots per charge), more comprehensive lens lineup, and wireless connectivity make it ideal for travel. Samsung’s larger weight and dated connectivity are drawbacks.

Professional Use:

Both cameras have RAW support but lack pro features like dual card slots or advanced build with weather sealing. Fuji edges ahead with newer processor and longer battery life for more reliable shoot days.

Build Quality, Ergonomics and User Interface

Build quality is good but basic for both, with no environmental sealing. The Fuji’s plastic but well-designed body feels modern and approachable with a grip that fits nicely in hand despite small size. Samsung has a chunkier grip but uses dated materials that feel less refined.

The Fuji’s interface benefits from a fully articulated touchscreen and simplified menus, great for beginners but also appealing to those who want mobile-focused shooting. The Samsung relies on physical buttons and fixed screen with limited brightness, making it feel like a relic by modern standards.

Lens Ecosystems: Which System Will Grow With You?

You can see the difference in lens support here:

• Fujifilm X-mount: ~54 lenses available, ranging from fixed primes to high-quality zooms for every budget and purpose.
• Samsung NX mount: Limited to around 32 lenses (many discontinued), hard to find new glass or accessories now.

If you want a system with a long-term future and lens upgrade options, Fuji X line is the clear winner here. Samsung’s mirrorless system is essentially dead, and used glass can be expensive and scarce.

Battery Life and Connectivity

Fuji’s battery life is rated slightly better at 410 shots per charge versus Samsung’s 400. Both utilize rechargeable proprietary battery packs, but the Fuji’s USB charging support adds convenience on the go.

Connectivity on the Fuji is also better with built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote control apps. Samsung lacks wireless connectivity entirely, a notable omission in today’s connected workflows.

Price and Value: What Does Your Money Buy?

At their current retail prices around $480-$500, both cameras sit firmly in the entry-level range. Fuji offers a more modern package, better image quality, and more extensive system support - arguably better value for those wanting a future-proof kit.

Samsung may appeal if you already have existing NX glass or want a viewfinder, but for new buyers investing now, Fuji’s advantages in features and support arguably justify their slightly lower or comparable price.

Summary Scores and Genre-Specific Ratings

Let’s synthesize all these factors into performance ratings:

Looking specifically at genre strengths:

• Portrait: Fuji’s higher resolution and face/eye AF give it a clear lead.
• Landscape: Fuji again benefits from better dynamic range and lens options.
• Wildlife & Sports: Slight advantage to Fuji for AF and burst rate.
• Street: Fuji’s compactness and touchscreen facilitate street shooting.
• Macro & Night: Fuji’s higher resolution and ISO range favor it.
• Video: Fuji’s full HD 60p wins over NX5’s 720p.
• Travel & Pro Work: Fuji’s battery and connectivity ease mark improvements.

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Will Win Your Heart?

If I’m honest with my personal shooting preference today, the Fujifilm X-A3 is the stronger choice almost across the board. Its larger resolution sensor, better ISO range, touchscreen, and robust lens lineup make it a versatile tool for beginners who want to grow their skills and kit. The camera’s light weight and stylish design ensure it’s pleasant to carry all day, whether you’re doing portraits, street photography, or casual travel shoots.

The Samsung NX5, while an interesting option thanks to its EVF and solid build, feels very much a product of an earlier mirrorless era. Its lower resolution sensor, limited autofocus, lack of touchscreen, and weaker video specs mean it’s mainly preserved for hobbyists with legacy Samsung glass or collectors exploring the NX system.

If you want a camera that performs well today, has a future-proof system with many lens choices, and handles a wide array of subjects competently - Fuji’s X-A3 is my recommendation. It’s a friendly mirrorless that packs competent features and output without overwhelming new users.

Remember, ultimately your choice will depend on what lenses you prefer, shooting style you have, and budget. If you prioritize portability, ease of use, and color science, Fuji’s X-A3 will reward you generously. If you already own NX lenses or want a built-in EVF and more DSLR-like ergonomics, the NX5 remains a viable if dated option.

I hope this comparison helped clarify their strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of a seasoned photographer. Both are affordable gateways into mirrorless photography, but Fuji’s newer design and capabilities give it the edge in 2024.

Happy shooting!

Images courtesy of hands-on tests and manufacturer data, synthesized carefully for accurate representation of physical and performance characteristics.