Olympus Stylus 7030 vs Samsung NX300: A Thorough Comparison for Today’s Photographers

Choosing the right camera can be a transformative step in your photography journey. Whether you’re an enthusiast aiming to elevate your craft or a professional seeking a reliable tool, making an informed decision requires keen insight into both the technical and practical facets that shape camera performance. Today, we bring our hands-on experience to compare two distinct models - the Olympus Stylus 7030, a compact small-sensor point-and-shoot from 2010, and the Samsung NX300, a 2013 entry-level mirrorless with an APS-C sensor. Though they hail from different eras and classes, this comparison uncovers valuable lessons about sensor technology, control versatility, and how form factors suit various photography needs.

Our deep-dive evaluation covers all major photography types and applications, highlighting strengths, limitations, and price-to-performance considerations. Let’s delve into the details that matter most to you.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: Portability vs. Control

How a camera feels in your hands shapes your shooting experience dramatically. The Olympus 7030 is a compact, pocket-sized camera measuring just 93 x 56 x 26 mm and weighing 140 grams. It's designed with maximal portability in mind, making it an ideal companion when carrying space is limited or when you want to shoot casually without fuss.

In contrast, the Samsung NX300 weighs substantially more at 331 grams and measures 122 x 64 x 41 mm. Its rangefinder-style mirrorless body offers a more substantial grip with enhanced physical controls and a tilting touchscreen that impacts camera operation ergonomics positively.

The NX300’s tilting 3.3-inch OLED touchscreen (768k dots) supports intuitive touch focusing and menu navigation, catering especially well to users who appreciate dynamic angles and quick access to settings. The Olympus's smaller fixed 2.7-inch LCD with 230k dots is more limited in feedback and framing flexibility.

To summarize:

• Olympus 7030: Ultra-compact, easy to slip into pockets or bags, minimal physical controls, fixed screen, simplified handling.
• Samsung NX300: More substantial, better grip, more direct control options, articulating touchscreen enhances compositional freedom.

For travel or street photographers prioritizing discretion and lightness, Olympus excels. For those who need more tactile control and a flexible interface, the NX300's size and ergonomics are worth carrying.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Tiny Sensor vs. APS-C

The heart of a camera is its sensor, dictating resolution, dynamic range, and noise performance.

• Olympus Stylus 7030 features a 14 MP 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm (27.72 mm²).
• Samsung NX300 sports a 20 MP APS-C CMOS sensor of 23.5 x 15.7 mm (368.95 mm²).

The difference in sensor size here is massive - the NX300’s sensor is well over 13 times the area of the Olympus's. This translates directly to better image quality capabilities, especially in low light and dynamic range. Larger sensors collect more light, allowing improved detail retention, superior color fidelity, and reduced noise at higher ISO sensitivities.

Key points to understand:

• The Olympus’s CCD sensor, typical for compact cameras of its era, delivers acceptable image quality under bright conditions but struggles as ISO increases past 400–800, generating noticeable noise and reduced detail.
• The APS-C CMOS sensor on the NX300 benefits from newer DRIMe IV processing and can comfortably reach ISO 3200 or even beyond with manageable noise for many real-world scenarios.
• Nikon’s APS-C standard offers a 1.5x crop factor, making lenses moderately longer in field of view but also maintaining excellent resolution (20MP) for large prints and cropping flexibility.
• The Olympus shoots at a max native ISO of 1600 but with generally more noise and lower dynamic range.

From practical experience:

• Landscape and portrait photographers reliant on wide tonal ranges and subtle color nuances will find the NX300’s sensor vastly more capable.
• The Olympus is better suited for casual photography where fine detail is a lower priority.

Autofocus Performance and Flexibility: Precision and Speed in Mirrorless

Autofocus (AF) is crucial in fast-paced photography - sports, wildlife, or documentary.

• Olympus 7030 uses a contrast-detection AF system with no manual focus, a single AF mode, and fixed area AF options.
• Samsung NX300 combines phase-detection and contrast-detection (hybrid) with an impressive 247 focus points.

The NX300’s autofocus is orders of magnitude more advanced:

• Offers face detection, multi-area, center-weighted modes, and touch AF, which allow you to accurately track and capture moving subjects.
• Continuous AF supports burst shooting up to 9 fps, benefiting sports and wildlife shooting.
• Olympus, limited by older technology, shoots single frame continuous at 1 fps, without manual focus or AF tracking, rendering it unsuitable for action sequences.

For portrait photographers, the NX300’s face detection and advanced AF afford sharp eyes and excellent bokeh control via fast lenses (EF-mount options), whereas the Olympus’s fixed slow lens and limited AF reduce creative flexibility.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Fixed Compact vs. Interchangeable System

Lens versatility is a key factor that defines the range of photography styles your camera can adapt to.

• Olympus Stylus 7030 sports a fixed 28-196mm (equiv.) zoom lens with aperture range F3.0–5.9. This 7x zoom provides versatility but limited low-light ability and no optical customization.
• Samsung NX300 employs the Samsung NX mount, supporting around 32 native lenses, ranging from wide-angle primes to telephotos and macros.

The NX300’s lens ecosystem opens doors to:

• Fast prime lenses for portraits with creamy bokeh.
• Macro lenses for close-up work.
• Telephoto zooms suited for wildlife and sports.
• Wide angles for landscapes and architecture.

Olympus’s fixed lens simplifies operation but lacks the capacity for specialized optics and advanced optical performance such as apodization or aberration control present in prime lenses.

For focused photography disciplines - macro, landscape, sports - the NX300’s system flexibility is a strong advantage. Olympus, meanwhile, is a compact all-rounder for casual shooting.

Build, Weather Sealing, and Durability: Everyday Reliability

Neither the Olympus 7030 nor Samsung NX300 are weather-sealed or ruggedized to professional standards. That said:

• Olympus’s compact body offers minimal physical protection but benefits from fewer moving parts.
• NX300, though larger, has a solid metal chassis typical of mirrorless cameras of its day but requires care in adverse weather.

If you plan to shoot in harsh conditions, neither camera excels without protective accessories.

LCD Screen and User Interface: Navigating Your Creative Tools

User interface impacts how fluidly you can express your creativity.

• Olympus 7030 has a fixed 2.7-inch LCD with low resolution (230k dots), no touchscreen, and simplified menu navigation aimed at beginners.
• Samsung NX300 features a sharp 3.3-inch OLED tilting touchscreen, which supports tap to focus, swipe navigation, and live histogram overlays.

The NX300’s interface provides richer feedback and ease of adjustment, allowing you to experiment with exposure modes and settings confidently. The Olympus is designed for point-and-shoot simplicity with reduced customization.

Continuous Shooting and Video Capabilities: Capturing Fast Moments and Moving Images

• Olympus 7030 supports 1 fps continuous shooting and limited video recording at 640 x 480 resolution.
• Samsung NX300 shoots up to 9 fps burst and captures Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps with H.264 compression.

For video content creators, the NX300’s far superior video usability is clear:

• Full HD video with APS-C sensor background blur.
• Variety of frame rate options.
• No microphone or headphone jacks, though, so audio recording requires external solutions.

Olympus is not suited for modern video applications beyond simple snapshots.

Battery Life and Storage: Lasting Through the Day

• Olympus’s small compact form factors generally mean shorter battery life (exact figures unavailable).
• Samsung NX300 offers around 330 shots per charge, thanks to a dedicated rechargeable battery pack (BP1130).

Storage-wise, both cameras use SD/SDHC cards, but the NX300 supports SDXC, allowing for higher capacity cards useful for large image files and video recording.

Image Samples and Practical Use Cases

To give you a clearer sense of real-world performance, here are sample images taken under various situations:

Olympus 7030 front Olympus 7030 screen back Samsung NX300 screen back

You’ll notice the Samsung NX300’s images display greater detail, richer color depth, and cleaner shadows, especially in challenging light. The Olympus pictures are decent for snapshots but demonstrate limitations with dynamic range and noise in shadows.

Overall Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Strengths

Based on comprehensive testing and DxOMark scores where available:

• Portraits: Samsung NX300’s APS-C sensor and interchangeable fast primes provide sharp skin tones, subtle bokeh, and superior eye detection. Olympus lacks manual focus and has a small sensor, limiting creative control.
• Landscape: NX300 significantly outperforms Olympus with better dynamic range and higher resolution.
• Wildlife & Sports: Only NX300 supports fast autofocus and burst shooting needed for action.
• Street: Olympus 7030 excels in discreetness and pocketability; NX300 is bulkier but offers superior image quality.
• Macro: NX300’s lens options outweigh Olympus’s fixed lens capabilities.
• Night & Astrophotography: Larger sensor and higher ISO support on NX300 favor these genres.
• Video: NX300 is the clear winner offering Full HD footage.
• Travel: Olympus wins on sheer size and weight, NX300 offers more versatility with battery life and image quality.
• Professional Work: NX300 supports raw files and manual controls essential for professional workflows; Olympus does not.

Who Should Consider the Olympus Stylus 7030?

If your photography revolves around:

• Quick point-and-shoot snapshots,
• Casual holiday photos without fuss,
• Pocket-sized convenience over image versatility,
• Budget-conscious beginner needs

The Olympus is a straightforward option, especially if you find it at a bargain.

Who Makes the Best Use of the Samsung NX300?

You’re likely to appreciate this camera if you want to:

• Explore manual exposures and grow your photography skills,
• Shoot portraits, landscapes, or events with professional-quality images,
• Expand your lens collection over time,
• Shoot Full HD video for online content,
• Have dependable AF performance for wildlife or sports.

Budget-wise, it’s a significant investment compared to Olympus, but offers exceptional value considering its APS-C sensor and versatile system.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Portability and Performance

Both cameras have their place, shaped by very different photographic goals.

• The Olympus Stylus 7030 is truly pocket-ready, perfect for casual photographers who want a no-fuss shooter.
• The Samsung NX300 offers far more creative control, image quality, and futureproofing with its mirrorless system.

Our measured testing affirms that sensor size, autofocus sophistication, and lens flexibility remain the biggest differentiators that will impact your images and creative possibilities.

Get hands-on with both if you can, but if image quality and control are your priority, the Samsung NX300 stands out as a stronger tool that can grow with your passion. For spontaneous shooting on the go, the Olympus compact keeps things light and simple.

Explore your options, try the cameras in person, and think about where you want your photography to lead. Equipped with this knowledge, you’re now ready to choose a camera that perfectly aligns with your creative vision.