Olympus E-600 vs Samsung NX200: An Expert Comparison for Discerning Photographers

Selecting the right camera hinges on a nuanced understanding of not only specifications but practical performance across photography genres. This detailed comparison between the Olympus E-600, an entry-level DSLR launched in 2009, and the Samsung NX200, a 2012 mirrorless rangefinder-style camera, unpacks their capabilities from sensor technology to ergonomics. Drawing on extensive hands-on testing experience with both systems, this article aims to guide enthusiasts and professionals by clarifying real-world advantages, limitations, and usability across major photographic disciplines.

A Tale of Two Systems: DSLR vs Mirrorless Platform

Before deep-diving into performance specifics, it’s critical to contextualize these cameras within their design philosophies and eras. The Olympus E-600 employs a Four Thirds sensor housed in a traditional DSLR chassis with an optical pentamirror viewfinder, while the Samsung NX200 features an APS-C sized sensor inside a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless body. These architectural differences have profound impacts on handling, lens ecosystems, autofocus, and overall photographic intent.

Size and ergonomics: Olympus E-600 versus Samsung NX200 illustrate DSLR bulk versus mirrorless compactness.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Metrics

Sensor Size & Resolution

The foundation of image quality is the sensor. The Samsung NX200 sports an APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.7 mm) with 20 megapixels, offering a substantially larger imaging area (approx. 369 mm²) compared to the Olympus E-600’s Four Thirds CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm) with 12 megapixels (approx. 225 mm²). This translates to a significant edge in resolution, dynamic range, and noise control for the NX200.

The greater sensor size in the NX200 enables larger photosites, which generally enhance light-gathering and signal-to-noise ratio, particularly under challenging, low-light conditions.

Comparative sensor sizes and specifications underscore the Samsung NX200’s advantage in resolution and light sensitivity.

Image Quality Metrics

DxOMark benchmark scores reinforce this:

The NX200 manifests better color depth and dynamic range, key for landscape and portrait photographers who require nuance in tonal gradations and highlight retention. The low light ISO advantage also suggests stronger performance in night and indoor shoots.

Ergonomics and Handling: The User Interface

Body Dimensions and Weight

The Olympus E-600 is a typical DSLR heftier at 515g, measuring 130×94×60mm, whereas the Samsung NX200 is a remarkably compact 223g and 117×63×36mm. The NX200’s streamlined body facilitates travel and street photography by reducing fatigue.

Control Layout and Displays

Comparative analysis of top-panel controls reveals the E-600’s DSLR-oriented physical dials versus the NX200’s minimalist mirrorless design.

The E-600 offers a traditional DSLR experience with dedicated physical dials for aperture, shutter speed, and exposure compensation. The touchscreen is absent on both but the Olympus has a fully articulated 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD with 230k dots, providing shooting flexibility at odd angles.

In contrast, the NX200’s fixed 3-inch AMOLED screen with 614k dots provides superior sharpness and contrast but lacks articulation, limiting compositional flexibility for low or high-angle shooting.

Side-by-side of rear LCDs highlights resolution difference and articulation capabilities.

From a workflow perspective, Olympus’s articulated display aids macro and video shooting techniques despite lower resolution. Samsung’s touchscreen advantage is muted by the omission here but OLED quality enhances image review clarity.

Autofocus Systems and Shooting Performance

AF System Architecture

Olympus E-600 integrates a hybrid autofocus with 7 focus points (contrast and phase detection) and face detection for augmented portrait reliability. The NX200 uses contrast-detection autofocus exclusively, but with 15 AF points, doubling the E-600’s coverage.

Neither camera provides phase-detection AF on sensor or advanced tracking modes, an expected limitation given their age and category. However, in practice, the higher AF point count on the NX200 yields more precise selective focusing options.

Continuous Shooting and Shutter Mechanics

• Olympus E-600: 4 fps continuous shooting with 1/4000s max shutter
• Samsung NX200: 7 fps burst rate with 1/4000s max shutter

Higher burst speeds on the NX200 are more conducive to action genres such as sports or wildlife photography, given the ability to capture more frames during peak moments.

Lenses and System Flexibility

The cameras utilize different mounts and ecosystems:

• Olympus E-600: Micro Four Thirds mount; around 45 native lenses available, including many compact, affordable primes and zooms well-suited for diverse genres.
• Samsung NX200: Samsung NX mount; approximately 32 lenses covering basics but with a more limited selection and fewer native primes.

With a smaller sensor, the Olympus benefits from 2.1x crop factor, meaning lenses provide longer effective focal lengths, a potential advantage for telephoto reach in wildlife photography. APS-C’s 1.5x crop in the NX200 retains more wide-angle perspectives, advantageous for landscapes and interiors.

The Micro Four Thirds system is better established with extensive third-party lens manufacturers like Panasonic and Olympus, widening creative options.

Build Quality and Environmental Considerations

Neither camera is weather sealed, nor do they claim any ruggedization features such as dust, freeze, or shock resistance. Both are entry-level models aimed at photographers operating mostly in controlled environments.

The Olympus’s slightly bulkier but robust DSLR body can feel more reassuring during handheld shooting compared to the plasticky, lighter Samsung body, but this comes with portability trade-offs.

Battery Life and Storage

• E-600: Rated for approximately 500 shots per charge (BLS-1 battery), utilizes CompactFlash Type I/II and xD Picture Cards.
• NX200: Rated for about 330 shots per charge (BC1030 battery), records images to the ubiquitous SD/SDHC/SDXC card format.

Extended battery endurance on the Olympus supports longer shooting sessions in remote scenarios, while the NX200 suffers from a less enduring battery, which could prompt carrying spares for travel and events. Card compatibility on the NX200 benefits from lower-cost, faster, and more common media.

Specialized Photography Disciplines

Portrait Photography

Olympus E-600:

• Supports face detection autofocus and sensor-based image stabilization which enhances handheld low shutter portrait shots.
• Fully articulated LCD assists framing and reviewing complex compositions.
• Smaller sensor limits shallow depth-of-field effects, reducing creamy bokeh capabilities compared to APS-C.

Samsung NX200:

• Larger sensor allows for better subject isolation and bokeh with fast prime lenses.
• Face detection enhances focusing; however, no IBIS or built-in stabilization can make handheld shots more demanding in low light.

Verdict: For intimate portrait work prioritizing bokeh and color fidelity, the NX200 holds an advantage. However, Olympus’s stabilization makes portraits at slower shutter speeds more attainable.

Landscape Photography

The NX200 with superior dynamic range and greater pixel count produces detailed, richly tonal landscape images.

The Olympus’s articulated LCD can facilitate shooting at awkward angles in the field, and Micro Four Thirds lenses often focus sharply at smaller apertures. However, the reduced sensor size inherently limits dynamic range, an important consideration under high-contrast lighting conditions.

Wildlife Photography

While Olympus’s 2.1x crop means native lenses inherently magnify subjects further, the NX200’s superior burst rate (7 fps vs 4 fps) and higher resolution confer advantages in tracking and cropping wild animals.

Autofocus systems on both are modest without advanced tracking or animal eye AF, limiting usability for high-speed wildlife.

Sports Photography

Samsung’s faster burst rate is beneficial, but without effective AF tracking, capturing peak action remains challenging.

Olympus’s slower frame rate and more limited AF points make it less ideal for fast-paced sports, though sensor stabilization may help prevent blur in still frames.

Street Photography

Compactness and low weight make the NX200 well-suited for discreet street photography. Its quiet shutter mechanism (typical of mirrorless) and small size encourage candid capture.

Olympus's bulkier DSLR form factor may draw more attention, hindering discretion.

Macro Photography

The Olympus’s sensor stabilization and articulated LCD offer practical benefits for close-up subjects, enabling precise framing and sharp handheld capture.

NX200’s higher pixel count helps resolve fine detail, but lack of image stabilization may require tripods or controlled environments.

Night & Astro Photography

Lower native ISO capabilities on the Olympus constrain flexibility in low light.

The NX200’s higher maximum ISO (up to 12,800) and superior low light noise performance, coupled with its larger sensor, offer more versatility in astrophotography and night scenes, though long exposures still require stable mounts.

Video Capabilities

Olympus E-600 lacks video recording functionality entirely.

Samsung NX200 supports Full HD 1080p (30 fps), 720p (60 fps) and multiple video codecs (MPEG-4, H.264), enabling casual videography.

Neither camera features microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio inputs. The NX200’s lack of image stabilization demands external stabilizing rigs for smooth footage.

Professional and Travel Considerations

The Olympus E-600’s longer battery life, extensive lens ecosystem, and traditional DSLR interface cater to those who prioritize reliability, manual control, and endurance over compactness.

The Samsung NX200’s compact design, superior sensor, and video capability suit photographers valuing portability and multimedia functionality but who can manage shorter battery life.

Connectivity and Extras

Neither model supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC, or GPS built-in. The Samsung NX200 offers optional GPS via accessory, an advantage for travel photographers requiring geotagging.

The Olympus’s use of the rarer xD card format can complicate workflow integration today, whereas SD cards on the NX200 remain standard and broadly supported.

Raw Support and Workflow Integration

Both support RAW capture, ensuring flexibility in post-processing. The NX200’s higher resolution files demand more storage and computing power but provide ample scope for cropping and retouching.

Summary of Key Performance Ratings

Performance by Photography Types

• Portrait & Wedding: NX200 preferred for aesthetics; E-600 stabilizes handheld shots
• Landscape & Architecture: NX200 for resolution and DR; E-600 for articulation and ergonomics
• Wildlife & Sports: NX200’s faster burst better, but neither ideal for fast AF tracking
• Street & Travel: NX200 favored for size; Olympus for battery endurance
• Macro: Balanced, Olympus assists with IBIS and articulation
• Night/Astro: NX200 leads on ISO and noise handling
• Video: NX200 sole option

Practical Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Olympus E-600?

• Photographers prioritizing physical controls and a DSLR shooting experience in a compact body
• Users who value sensor-based image stabilization for handheld, low-light photography
• Beginners or hobbyists working primarily in still photography without video needs
• Those relying on a robust Micro Four Thirds lens collection and needing extended battery life
• Budget-conscious buyers hunting for a secondary camera body or starter DSLR

Who Will Benefit More from the Samsung NX200?

• Enthusiasts seeking higher image resolution and better low-light performance
• Photographers emphasizing video recording capabilities alongside stills
• Street, travel, and casual users who prioritize lightweight, discreet camera handling
• Users placing a premium on fast continuous shooting for action or wild subjects
• Individuals building a system willing to accept a more limited but high-quality lens range

Final Thoughts

This comparison highlights a fundamental trade-off: Olympus E-600’s strength lies in traditional DSLR ergonomics, sensor stabilization, and longer battery life but is limited by older sensor tech and modest video capability. The Samsung NX200, with a superior APS-C sensor, higher burst rate, and Full HD video, appeals to photographers favoring image quality, responsiveness, and multimedia versatility within a compact form.

While neither camera meets the demands of cutting-edge autofocus or professional-grade weather sealing, both remain viable entry-level tools with distinct usage niches. Prospective buyers should weigh sensor size, lens system breadth, and intended photographic discipline alongside handling preferences and budget.

Sample Images Comparison

Olympus E 600 screen back Samsung NX200 screen back

In closing, comprehensive evaluation across sensor capability, autofocus system, ergonomics, and specialized photographic needs clarifies where each camera excels or falls short, enabling informed investment decisions grounded in practical shooting realities rather than marketing claims.