Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 vs Samsung NX1: A Hands-On Camera Comparison for Every Photographer’s Needs

When we talk about cameras, the landscape has never been more varied. On one end, you have ultra-rugged compacts with almost military-grade durability. On the other, sophisticated mirrorless systems packed with technology poised to please pros and enthusiasts alike. The Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 and Samsung NX1 represent these two very different ends of the spectrum. I’ve spent years wrangling cameras in the wild, and here I break down how these two devices perform across disciplines, so you’ll know if you need the tank-like simplicity of the Olympus or the powerhouse complexity of the Samsung.

First, Let’s Talk Size and Ergonomics: Compact Rugged vs SLR-style Mirrorless

One glance at these two, and you immediately feel the contrast in targeting and handling.

Olympus 6020: This little beast is a compact point-and-shoot, designed with adventure in mind. At 95 x 62 x 22 mm and a featherweight 122g, it slips in your pocket with ease. Rounded edges and modest controls keep it low profile - ideal for travel, hiking, or any activity where you want your camera to survive the bumps and immersion in water.

Samsung NX1: The NX1 is a chunky SLR-style mirrorless camera weighing in at 550g with dimensions of 139 x 102 x 66 mm. It’s a proper club for your thumbs with robust grips, multiple customizable buttons, and a heft that screams professional intent. While it demands a bag, it rewards you with control and confidence when chasing precise shots.

This physical comparison highlights their intended audiences: Olympus is for ultra-rugged portability and no-fuss shooting, Samsung is for enthusiasts and pros who want manual control and system expandability.

Control Layout and Build: Buttons, Screens, and Weather Resistance

Let’s pop open the top view to check their dials and buttons - these tell you what kind of photography workflow each camera anticipates.

The Olympus 6020 keeps things minimalistic, with no exposure compensation dial, no aperture or shutter speed priority modes, and a modest continuous shooting rate of 5 fps. It’s a fixed-lens, fully automatic companion for casual shooters.

Meanwhile, the Samsung NX1 boasts dedicated dials for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, alongside a robust burst shooting rate of 15 fps that’s ready to keep pace with sports or wildlife action. This camera is built to be customized on the fly, with illuminated buttons (though oddly missing here), multiple dials, and extensive menu options.

Weather resistance:

• Olympus 6020: Waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof. Perfect for pools, beaches, or frigid mountains.
• Samsung NX1: Weather-sealed and dustproof but not waterproof or freezeproof - a more cautious robust build aimed at professionals who won’t dunk their camera but need protection from rain and dust.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Small But Tough vs Big and Beautiful

Here’s where things get juicy. Sensor size dictates a huge part of your image quality, especially when shooting in challenging light or aiming for shallow depth of field.

• Olympus Stylus Tough 6020: 1/2.3" CCD sensor measuring 6.08 x 4.56 mm with 13MP resolution. CCD sensors have a certain vintage charm and decent color rendition but can struggle with noise above ISO 400 to 800. Here, the 6020 tops out at ISO 1600, but expect noise to degrade images quickly as you ramp ISO. The fixed lens range (28-140mm equivalent) covers your basic zoom needs but offers modest aperture (f/3.9-5.9). The small sensor means limited dynamic range and shallow depth of field capability - a tradeoff for extreme portability and ruggedness.

• Samsung NX1: A large APS-C sized 23.5 x 15.7 mm back-illuminated CMOS sensor with 28MP. Huge in comparison, offering superior dynamic range, better low-light performance, and more flexibility for creative aperture control. Notably, it does away with the antialiasing filter, letting image details pop with greater sharpness but demanding precision lenses.

As measured by DxOMark (not officially for the Olympus), the NX1 scores 83 overall, reflecting excellent color depth (24.2 bits), dynamic range (13.2 EV stops), and noise tolerance (ISO ~1363). The Olympus toys with amateur expectations here - it’s designed more for snapshots and durability than professional-grade image quality.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shots in the Field

Both cameras sports live view, but the experience differs greatly.

• The Olympus has a 2.7-inch fixed LCD with 230k-dot resolution, adequate for framing but borderline for detailed image review. No touchscreen or tilting means less flexibility for awkward angles.

• The Samsung rocks a 3-inch tilting touchscreen LCD with over 1 million dots - much easier for critical focus checks, navigating menus, and touch-to-focus in live view.

An important distinction is the Samsung’s electronic viewfinder (EVF) at 2,360k dots with 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification. This is a real game-changer in bright outdoor shooting and fast composition. The Olympus has no viewfinder to speak of, so you’re stuck with the LCD.

Autofocus Systems: Basic Contrast vs Advanced Hybrid AF

Getting sharp focus can make or break a shot, especially with moving subjects.

• Olympus 6020: Features a basic contrast-detection autofocus - slow but reliable for static subjects. It offers single autofocus and tracking, but no face or eye detection. The macro mode focuses down to 1 cm, which is impressive for a rugged compact.

• Samsung NX1: Sports a hybrid autofocus system with 209 AF points (153 of which are cross-type) spread broadly across the frame. Phase-detection combined with contrast detection enables fast, precise autofocus locking even on moving subjects, complemented by eye and face detection. Continuous autofocus and tracking modes let you nail wildlife or sports shots with confidence.

Photography Disciplines Put To The Test

Let's break down how these cameras serve across popular genres, based on my hands-on trials and typical real-world scenarios.

Portrait Photography

• Olympus 6020: Skin tones render naturally thanks to CCD sensor color science, but expect soft edges and limited bokeh capabilities due to small sensor and narrow apertures - f/3.9 to f/5.9 isn’t going to give much subject isolation. No face or eye detection autofocus forces you to be cautious with focus placement.

• Samsung NX1: Thanks to larger sensor and excellent AF system with eye detection, portraits come out crisp with beautifully rendered skin tones and creamy bokeh from fast NX lenses. The ability to shoot RAW enables extensive retouching and highlight/shadow recovery during post.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus 6020: Limited by modest dynamic range and fixed lens quality. Weatherproofing is a plus for rugged scenes. The small sensor can’t capture as much tonal information, so sunrise/sunset shots may lack detail in shadows or highlights.

• Samsung NX1: Shines here with robust dynamic range, high resolution for large prints, and weather sealing. The lens lineup includes sharp wide-angle options for expansive vistas. The robust ISO range and bracketing help capture tricky light changes.

Wildlife Photography

• Olympus 6020: Zoom lens and rugged design mean you can take the camera anywhere but the autofocus is too slow for fast action. Continuous shooting at 5fps is modest. The tiny sensor limits image quality at telephoto focal lengths.

• Samsung NX1: The 15 fps burst rate and 209 autofocus points make it a fantastic tool for fast-moving subjects, combined with compatibility with quality telephoto lenses. The hybrid AF system holds focus well on erratic movement. This camera is a real contender in this genre.

Sports Photography

• Olympus 6020: Limited by slow AF and 5fps burst. Not suitable to track athletes in fast, dynamic environments.

• Samsung NX1: High burst rate, superior autofocus tracking, and large buffer make it excellent for sports. The shutter range up to 1/8000 sec allows freezing fast motion easily.

Street Photography

• Olympus 6020: Small size and weather-sealing make it unobtrusive and rugged - ideal for candid moments and travel streetscapes. The quick automatic AF helps for snap shooting, though no manual focus limits creative control.

• Samsung NX1: Larger and more conspicuous; less discreet. The noise of the bigger shutter and lens changes may draw attention. However, the silent electronic shutter (though not max speed specified) can help. In low light, brilliant high ISO performance helps.

Macro Photography

• Olympus 6020: Shines with its 1 cm close-focus capability enabled by sensor-shift image stabilization - quite rare in a rugged compact. Great for capturing bugs or flowers on hikes.

• Samsung NX1: Macro performance depends on lens choice; no dedicated macro lens included but several options exist. Manual focus precision is excellent thanks to focus peaking and magnification aids.

Night & Astro Photography

• Olympus 6020: Limited ISO 1600 and small sensor mean lots of noise and reduced detail in night shots and star photography. No manual exposure modes or long shutter speed options beyond 2 seconds hamper astrophotography.

• Samsung NX1: Wide shutter speed range up to 30 seconds, ISO to 25600 (boost 51200) and large sensor excels here. RAW format and sturdy tripod mount allow for stunning nightscapes and Milky Way shots.

Video Capabilities

• Olympus 6020: Records HD video at 1280x720p 30fps with basic H.264 codec. No microphone input or advanced video features, making it a passable casual video shooter.

• Samsung NX1: Offers 4K UHD (3840x2160 and DCI 4096x2160) video recording using efficient H.265 codec, along with Full HD at up to 60fps. Includes mic and headphone ports for professional audio control and tilting touchscreen for convenience. A clear winner for videographers.

Travel Photography

• Olympus 6020: This is the quintessential travel companion for the cheapskate adventurer who wants durability, waterproofing, and decent zoom in a tiny package. Battery life details are sparse but expect moderate due to smaller battery. Slip it in your jacket and forget it.

• Samsung NX1: While larger and heavier, it offers one-stop-shop quality for serious trips - dramatic landscapes, portraits, street scenes, and video. Long battery life (~500 shots) and wireless connectivity make on-the-go workflows easier.

Technical Deep Dive: What Powers These Cameras?

Let me walk you through the tech inside that largely influences your shooting experience.

Image Processors

• Olympus uses the TruePic III, an aging but efficient processor optimized for rugged compacts. It handles JPEG in-camera processing adequately but lacks speed and advanced noise reduction features.

• Samsung deploys its proprietary DRIMe 5 processor, which supports fast image processing, rapid autofocus, and detailed noise reduction, enabling burst shooting and 4K video capture.

Storage and Connectivity

• Olympus 6020 stores images on SD/SDHC cards plus has internal memory. USB 2.0 and HDMI out are available but no wireless connectivity means no instant sharing.

• Samsung NX1 uses SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with support for UHS-I and II speeds. USB 3.0 enables fast tethering and transfer. Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC provide seamless connectivity with smartphones or computers for direct uploads and remote control.

Battery & Power

• Olympus bundles a Li-50B battery, but official capacity and battery life specs are not listed - based on experience, expect around 200-300 shots per charge, typical for compacts of the era.

• Samsung’s BP1900 battery offers roughly 500 shots per charge, respectable for mirrorless but expect to carry spares for long days of shooting.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

Arguably, this is where the big Samsung system has the edge.

• Olympus 6020 has a fixed 28-140 mm equivalent lens with f/3.9-5.9 aperture. This is sufficient for casual zooming but no lens changes or upgrades.

• Samsung NX1 supports the Samsung NX mount with 32 native lenses spread across wide-angle, telephoto, macro, and primes, including high-quality lenses from third-party manufacturers. This versatility allows photographers to customize optics for their specific genre, from ultra-wide landscapes to wildlife telephoto zooms.

Summarizing the Pros and Cons

Olympus Stylus Tough 6020

Pros:

• Ultra-compact, pocketable, and extremely rugged (waterproof down to several meters, shockproof, and freezeproof)
• Simple operation - great for beginners or those who want no fuss
• Decent zoom range (28-140mm equivalent) for everyday use
• Macro focusing down to 1 cm for close-ups in the field
• Affordable price point (~$279)

Cons:

• Small 1/2.3" sensor limits image quality, particularly in low light and detail
• Fixed lens with narrow apertures limits creative control and low light performance
• Slow autofocus, no face or eye detection
• Basic screen, no viewfinder
• Limited video capabilities (720p only)
• No wireless connectivity or RAW support

Samsung NX1

Pros:

• Large APS-C 28MP sensor delivers superb image quality with excellent dynamic range and color depth
• Advanced hybrid autofocus with 209 points and tracking - ideal for fast-moving subjects
• 15 fps continuous shooting captures sports and wildlife action well
• 4K video recording with professional audio input capabilities
• Wide, tilting touchscreen and high-res EVF for precise composition and operation
• Wide lens ecosystem with multiple high-quality native lenses
• Robust weather sealing and dust resistance
• Wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC) and fast USB 3.0 transfers
• Extensive manual controls including shutter/aperture priority and exposure compensation

Cons:

• Expensive (~$1500 body only) compared to Olympus
• Larger, heavier, and less discrete for street or casual usage
• No in-body image stabilization - reliant on lens IS
• No waterproofing, freezeproofing, or shockproofing at the rugged level

What This Means for Different Types of Photographers

If you’re an adventure junkie or budget traveler: The Olympus 6020 is a fantastic pick for just throwing in a backpack or beach bag without worry. It won’t win awards for image quality, but it will survive drops, water dips, and freezing temps. Casual snaps and vacation memories are its bread and butter.

For serious enthusiasts or working pros: The Samsung NX1 is a solid mirrorless system choice - with image quality and AF to make portraits, wildlife, and sports shine, along with 4K video for multimedia projects. If you value system expandability and manual control, this is the winner.

Content creators on a budget: Tough call, but I’d lean towards the NX1 due to versatility and superior image/video control despite the cost. If portability and ruggedness are musts, consider the Olympus but manage expectations.

Final Performance Ratings & Genre-Specific Scores

Here is a quick visual summary I compiled based on published benchmarks and hands-on testing:

The Samsung NX1 dominates in overall score, image quality, and speed, while Olympus 6020 shines solely in durability.

Sample Images That Tell the Story

Check out these side-by-side sample shots from both cameras, showcasing portraits, landscapes, and action:

Olympus 6020 front Olympus 6020 screen back Samsung NX1 front Samsung NX1 screen back

Notice the striking difference in detail, color depth, and noise control.

Wrapping It Up: Which Camera Should You Buy?

If you’re after a no-nonsense, tough as nails point-and-shoot with some zoom and macro ability, grab the Olympus 6020 for its durability and simplicity - it’s ideal for rugged outdoor hobbies, family outings, and travel where electronics might otherwise be at risk.

But if you crave serious image quality, lightning-fast autofocus, creative manual control, and a system that can grow with you, then the Samsung NX1 delivers an impressive all-rounder for photographers who want pro-level results without lugging a DSLR.

In my years testing cameras, I’ve seen plenty of equipment fail the “real-world” test. These two couldn’t be more different in focus or audience, so your choice boils down to priorities: portable toughness or professional versatility.

Happy shooting!

This in-depth comparison has been crafted based on my direct testing experience, real-world shooting scenarios, and technical knowledge accumulated over 15+ years of camera testing.