Olympus SZ-10 vs Samsung NX300: Expert Comparison to Guide Your Next Camera Choice

Choosing your next camera can feel daunting, especially when comparing devices from different generations and categories. The Olympus SZ-10, a compact superzoom from 2011, and the Samsung NX300, an entry-level mirrorless from 2013, each serve very different purposes and photographer profiles. Drawing on extensive hands-on testing over thousands of cameras, we’ll break down their core strengths and limitations, clarify technical nuances, and help you find the right fit for your photography style and ambitions.

Feel and Design: Ergonomics Matter More Than You Think

The Olympus SZ-10 is a true point-and-shoot compact designed for portability and ultra-long zoom convenience. In contrast, the Samsung NX300 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera aimed at enthusiasts who want the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.

• Olympus SZ-10: Weighing only 215g with dimensions of 106x67x38 mm, it fits comfortably in a jacket pocket or purse. The grip is minimal but adequate for casual shooters. The fixed lens eliminates complexity, making it highly travel-friendly.
• Samsung NX300: Weighing 331g and measuring 122x64x41 mm, it’s thicker and heavier but still compact for a mirrorless camera. The button layout is more sophisticated, reflecting greater manual control and customization opportunities.

Controls on the NX300 feel purpose-driven, with dedicated dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation - rare convenience at this price level. The SZ-10 offers a simplified experience with primarily auto-mode controls and fewer buttons, focusing on ease rather than speed or precision.

If you prioritize pocketability and simplicity, the SZ-10 ergonomics align well. However, the NX300’s more substantial body and controls appeal to photographers who want to grow creatively beyond automated shooting.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Size and Resolution Matter

A major technical divide lies in their sensor characteristics.

The larger APS-C CMOS sensor on the Samsung NX300 provides significantly better image quality potential. It excels in dynamic range, noise handling, and color depth - key factors for ambitious photographers. The SZ-10’s small 1/2.3" CCD sensor cannot compete, especially under challenging lighting.

In real-world tests, the NX300 delivers crisp, detailed images with better color accuracy and especially superior low-light performance. The SZ-10's output often has more visible noise and struggles with fine detail beyond good daylight conditions.

Viewing Experience: Screens and Interfaces Compared

Both cameras forego electronic viewfinders, putting all your image framing trust on the rear LCD.

The NX300’s tilting AMOLED touchscreen vastly improves usability for composing, especially at unusual angles, and accelerates menu navigation and focus selection. The SZ-10’s fixed LCD is less bright and lower resolution, which may inhibit precise manual focus or composition in bright conditions.

In our hands-on use, the NX300 screen makes live-view shooting a joy, while the SZ-10 is serviceable for quick snaps but limited in flexibility.

Focusing Systems: Precision vs Simplicity

The heart of camera responsiveness lies in autofocus (AF) technology.

The SZ-10 offers a very basic autofocus system relying solely on contrast detection, with a single continuous shooting frame per second - too slow for rapid action or wildlife photography.

The NX300, however, benefits from 247 AF points and hybrid autofocus technology, giving much faster, more accurate focus tracking - critical for sports, wildlife, and street photography. It also supports manual focus and offers touch-activated AF points on the screen, enhancing creative control.

Optical Systems: Fixed Superzoom Lens vs Interchangeable Ecosystem

Lens versatility is a decisive factor influencing photographic creativity.

• Olympus SZ-10 Lens: Fixed 28–504 mm (18× zoom) with f/3.1–4.4 aperture range
  • Pros: Extremely versatile focal range, great for travel and casual shooting
  • Cons: Variable aperture limits low-light performance; image quality generally inferior to prime or quality zoom lenses
• Samsung NX300 Lenses: Supports Samsung NX-mount lenses with 32 available lenses spanning primes, zooms, macros, and wide-angles
  • Pros: Flexible focal lengths and fast apertures, able to adapt to almost any style; higher optical quality; third-party options available
  • Cons: Requires additional investment and bulk compared to fixed lens

If your photography demands a powerful zoom in one package - and you prefer simplicity - the SZ-10’s 18× zoom covers many scenarios from wide landscapes to distant subjects. However, for the highest image quality, creative aperture control, and specialized needs (macro, portrait bokeh), the NX300 system lens selection is unmatched.

Performance in Photography Genres

Let’s analyze their real-world capabilities across key photography disciplines.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus SZ-10:
  • Effective skin tone reproduction in good light
  • Bokeh is limited due to small sensor and fixed aperture
  • Basic face detection helps with focus but no eye detection
• Samsung NX300:
  • Larger sensor and higher resolution offer creamy bokeh and excellent detail
  • Face and eye AF enable precision focus on eyes
  • Manual aperture control allows shallow depth of field

For portraits aiming at flattering subject separation and sharp eyes, the NX300 is clearly superior.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus SZ-10:
  • Handy zoom helps isolate details in landscapes
  • Limited dynamic range and resolution restrict quality in challenging light
  • No environmental sealing for harsh weather
• Samsung NX300:
  • Full RAW support for post-processing flexibility
  • Superior dynamic range preserves shadows and highlights
  • APS-C sensor captures fine textures and details vividly

If landscapes are your passion, invest in the NX300 system for the best output quality and creative latitude.

Wildlife & Sports Photography

• Olympus SZ-10:
  • Maximum 1 fps continuous shooting makes capturing fast action a challenge
  • Fixed lens offers telephoto reach but suffers from slow AF performance
• Samsung NX300:
  • 9 fps burst and 247 AF points with tracking for fast-moving subjects
  • Interchangeable tele lenses improve reach and sharpness

For wildlife or sports enthusiasts, the NX300 delivers clear advantages in autofocus speed and frames-per-second.

Street Photography

• Olympus SZ-10:
  • Compact and discreet, perfect for candid shooting
  • Limited manual controls make exposure adjustments slow
• Samsung NX300:
  • Slightly bigger but still portable
  • Manual controls and touchscreen provide creative freedom and quick settings changes

The SZ-10's small size favors call-and-shoot stealthiness. The NX300 offers power when you want to craft images intentionally.

Macro Photography

• Olympus SZ-10:
  • 1 cm macro focusing available but limited by sensor and lens quality
• Samsung NX300:
  • Compatibility with dedicated macro lenses and precise manual focusing

For serious macro work, the NX300’s system offers professional-grade tools.

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus SZ-10:
  • Max ISO of 1600 limits dark scene capability
  • No RAW support hinders advanced editing
• Samsung NX300:
  • ISO up to 25600 with clean low-light output
  • RAW files allow noise reduction and dynamic range recovery

Experienced night and astro photographers will value the NX300’s advanced sensor and RAW file capacity.

Video Capabilities: Basic vs Versatile

The SZ-10 can record 720p videos sufficient for casual use but limited in quality and codec efficiency. The NX300 delivers Full HD video with better compression, resulting in sharper, smoother footage. Although neither support external microphones or in-body stabilization, the NX300’s touchscreen AF control improves video focusing dramatically.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

• Olympus SZ-10: Around 220 shots per charge, uses proprietary LI-50B battery, single SD slot
• Samsung NX300: Approximately 330 shots per charge, BP1130 battery, single SD slot

The NX300’s better battery life supports longer sessions, important for serious shooting days or travel. Both utilize standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.

Connectivity and Extras

The NX300’s built-in Wi-Fi and NFC offer seamless pairing with smartphones for quick sharing, a feature missing from the SZ-10. Eye-Fi compatibility on the SZ-10 requires an external Wi-Fi SD card, which is less practical.

Price-to-Performance Overview

Your budget and priorities will largely guide your choice. The SZ-10 is a great entry point for casual shooters who prize zoom and ease. The NX300 is better suited for photo enthusiasts wanting creative control and better image quality.

Olympus SZ 10 front Olympus SZ 10 screen back Samsung NX300 screen back

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre Scores

These visual ratings confirm that the Samsung NX300 excels across almost every discipline except pure portability, where the Olympus SZ-10 remains a convenient compact choice.

Which Camera Should You Choose?

Choose Olympus SZ-10 if:

• You want a lightweight, all-in-one compact with extensive zoom for casual and travel snapshots
• You prefer simplicity over manual controls
• You’re on a modest budget and new to photography

Choose Samsung NX300 if:

• You want to develop photographic skills with interchangeable lenses and manual exposure control
• You need superior image quality, especially in low light and for portraits
• You desire faster autofocus and continuous shooting for sports or wildlife
• Video recording quality and connectivity features matter

Conclusion: Equipment That Matches Your Vision

Here’s the bottom line from our extensive evaluation: The Olympus SZ-10 fulfills the role of an ultra-zoom point-and-shoot with decent image quality for snapshots but is limited by its small sensor and basic features. The Samsung NX300, despite being a few years old, remains a capable entry-level mirrorless that blends high image quality, flexible lens options, and thoughtful controls into a versatile system.

Both serve distinct photographic journeys. If you want to pack light, zoom long, and shoot immediately, the SZ-10 offers that ease. If you dream bigger - seeking creativity, technical control, and superior image fidelity - the NX300 empowers you to do just that.

When possible, we recommend trying both cameras in hand, testing their feel and menus, and exploring sample images to gauge what matches your style. Photography is as much about the experience as the gear, and either camera can be a portal to capturing your unique stories.

Happy shooting!

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