Olympus 6020 vs Samsung NX300: Two Distinct Cameras for Different Photographers

In a landscape saturated with cameras vying for user attention, picking the right one hinges on understanding exactly what you need - as a photographer, enthusiast, or professional. Today, we’re matching up two very different beasts: the rugged, compact Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 versus the more advanced, entry-level mirrorless Samsung NX300. Both fill unique niches but cater to vastly different shooting styles, technical expectations, and use cases.

Having spent extensive hands-on time testing both cameras in a wide variety of conditions - from casual snaps at the beach to high-speed trials in controlled studio settings - I’ll break down how these cameras really perform. Through rigorous evaluation of sensor capabilities, autofocus reliability, build quality, and usability across photography genres, you’ll get clear insights to help choose your ideal tool.

Let’s explore how the Olympus 6020 and Samsung NX300 stack up, from physicality to image output, so you can make an informed decision for your photographic journey.

Size, Weight, and Handling: Tough and Compact Versus Mirrorless Versatility

Looking at these two cameras side-by-side, their physical differences jump out immediately. The Olympus 6020 is a waterproof compact - incredibly pocketable and designed for abuse - while the Samsung NX300 is an entry-level mirrorless with a larger, more substantial body geared toward better ergonomics and lens interchangeability.

The Olympus 6020 measures a diminutive 95 x 62 x 22 mm and tips the scales at a feather-light 122 grams with battery - making it an absolute carry-anywhere option. Its chunky, rubberized surfaces feel solid and secure, instilling confidence in rugged conditions. I found the compact size excellent for travel, hiking, or any scenario where minimal weight and maximum durability matter.

Conversely, the Samsung NX300 is noticeably larger at 122 x 64 x 41 mm and weighs 331 grams. This rangefinder-style mirrorless body offers a more substantial grip and a heft that, while less pocketable, lends itself to steadier handheld shooting with longer lenses. Its solid construction, while not weather-sealed or shockproof, feels robust enough for everyday carry with a camera bag.

While the Olympus thrives in extreme conditions - waterproof to depths and freeze-proof by design - the Samsung trades off durability for a more versatile platform suitable for creative exploration. Ergonomically, the NX300’s better grip, tilting touchscreen, and physical controls (which we’ll discuss in detail later) offer a more comfortable and engaging shooting experience, especially for longer sessions.

Control Layout and Interface: Raw Simplicity vs. User-Friendly Touch

User interfaces impact how quickly you can react to situations and create images - key factors for pros and enthusiasts alike. The Olympus 6020 keeps things extremely simple: a fixed 2.7-inch non-touch screen and limited physical buttons result in a minimalist control scheme. There’s no manual exposure, no shutter/aperture priority modes, and no manual focusing - all operations rely on auto and scene modes.

The Samsung NX300’s top view reveals a dedicated mode dial with manual, aperture, shutter, and program modes, reflecting its more creative intent. Alongside thoughtful control placements - like a thumb joystick and function buttons - this makes it easier to quickly adjust settings in the field. The 3.3-inch tilting Active Matrix OLED touchscreen with 768k resolution is far superior to the Olympus’ fixed, low-res LCD, allowing intuitive focus selection and menu navigation by touch.

This difference means the Olympus could frustrate photographers craving creative control; you’re essentially at the mercy of its automatic systems. In contrast, the NX300 invites experimentation and customization, with options like exposure compensation, custom white balance, and bracketed shooting. I particularly appreciated the NX300’s touchscreen autofocus point selection when chasing subjects in motion or composing awkward angles.

Sensor and Image Quality: Where Mirrorless Flexes Muscle

The heart of any camera is its sensor, and here the Samsung NX300 clearly holds a significant advantage. Let’s dive in with a technical lens.

The Olympus 6020 features a modest 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.08 × 4.56 mm), which is standard for compact waterproof cameras but quite small compared to interchangeable lens systems. It offers 13 megapixels with an antialias filter and max native ISO 1600. This sensor’s limited physical size (27.7 mm²) constrains dynamic range and noise performance, especially in low light.

The NX300 uses a far larger APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5 × 15.7 mm), with 20 megapixels - a footprint almost 13.3x greater in area than the Olympus. APS-C sensors inherently deliver superior image quality: more detail, higher dynamic range, and cleaner high ISO performance. The NX300’s DxOMark scores reflect this, with 23.6 bits color depth and 12.7 stops dynamic range, plus excellent low light sensitivity up to ISO 25600 (albeit with some trade-off in noise).

In practical terms, that means the Olympus can capture good quality images in well-lit situations but loses sharpness and detail quickly as light dims. Its CCD sensor also pales next to the NX300’s CMOS in color fidelity and noise retention. While the 6020 has a nice macro focusing ability at 1 cm, its sensor size limits ultimate resolution and tonal gradation in macro work.

The NX300’s cleaner, sharper images with richer colors and smoother gradations impressed me. Combined with Samsung’s DRIMe IV processor, images render with excellent noise control and vivid reproduction that suits professionals once paired with Samsung NX lenses. Plus, the option to shoot RAW files grants post-processing flexibility - absent on the Olympus - allowing professionals and serious enthusiasts to extract maximum detail and dynamic range.

Autofocus Performance: Basic Contrast Detection Versus Advanced Hybrid

Autofocus capabilities influence how well a camera nails focus in fast or challenging scenarios, a make-or-break factor for wildlife, sports, and street photographers.

The Olympus 6020 relies entirely on contrast-detection autofocus with no phase detection, featuring fixed AF points and an option for continuous focus monitoring. While this system can yield acceptable results in static conditions, it occasionally hunts or misses fast-moving subjects. Without face or eye detection, its utility in portrait or action genres is limited.

The Samsung NX300, however, employs a hybrid AF system combining contrast and phase detection across an impressive 247 focus points. Face detection is standard, with precise AF area selection and continuous tracking. This system consistently achieves snap-sharp focus with minimal lag in both static and dynamic environments.

During extensive field testing, I found the NX300’s autofocus fast and reliable, even in low contrast or low-light situations. The Olympus 6020’s AF performance is adequate for snapshots but struggles with moving subjects - a result of its more modest hardware.

Build Quality, Durability, and Environmental Sealing

When choosing cameras, build quality and environmental durability can sometimes outweigh raw image specs - especially if you shoot outdoors or under tough conditions.

The Olympus 6020 is purpose-built for abuse. It is shockproof, freezeproof, and, notably, waterproof without housing down to several meters. This makes it an excellent companion for adventures where you expect rain, splashes, dust, or temperature extremes. Its recessed lens and buttons show an intentional design for rugged environments.

Meanwhile, the Samsung NX300 lacks any form of weather sealing or ruggedization. Its plastic construction is sturdy but not designed for exposure to moisture or dust. As an interchangeable lens system, the durability of the entire setup depends heavily on the lenses used and care taken. For indoor and casual outdoor use where weather is mild, the NX300’s build is sufficient, but it does not cater to adventure or underwater photography.

So if your work or hobby puts your gear at risk from the elements, Olympus 6020 is the no-brainer. For controlled environments - or where you handle your camera carefully - NX300 offers far superior imaging capabilities but demands more cautious handling.

Display and User Experience: Fixed Versus Tilting OLED

Image preview and review comfort hinge on screen quality and flexibility.

The Olympus 6020’s fixed 2.7-inch screen with 230k resolution is dull and low-res - fine for quick framing but providing little confidence in image detail when reviewing shots. Without touchscreen or articulation, it’s hard to get creative angles or focus controls.

The Samsung NX300’s 3.3-inch tilting OLED touchscreen, with 768k pixels, offers vibrant, crisp image playback and intuitive focus point control. The tilt mechanism is invaluable for shooting low or high angles while maintaining visibility. This screen is a major usability step up, catering to both street shooters and more deliberate studio or landscape work.

Image Samples and Practical Quality: Visual Evidence

Technical specs tell us about potential, but seeing actual outputs from both cameras shines a revealing light on real performance.

Olympus 6020 front Olympus 6020 screen back Samsung NX300 screen back

The Olympus 6020 produces images with decent color rendition and sharpness outdoors during daylight - its 5x optical zoom lens (28-140 mm equivalent, f/3.9-5.9) handles everyday capture well enough. However, you notice softness at longer zoom and limited low-light usability, with grains and noise creeping above ISO 400.

The Samsung NX300, leveraging its larger sensor and advanced processing, delivers images with striking detail and color accuracy, even at higher ISO settings where noise control remains impressive. Its larger lens ecosystem enables versatile focal lengths - wide angles, telephoto, macro - to further elevate image quality across applications.

For portraits, the NX300’s face detection and ability to create bokeh effects with fast primes excel compared with the Olympus’s inherent limitations due to sensor size and fixed lens design.

Performance Scores and Rankings: Quantitative Snapshot

Let’s position the cameras based on expert ratings synthesized from multiple rigorous tests.

The Samsung NX300 outperforms the Olympus 6020 in nearly every category, with particular strength in image quality, autofocus speed, and manual control options. The Olympus dedicates itself to ruggedness and underwater performance, scoring well only in environmental durability.

Specialized Genre Performance: Which Camera Shines Where?

A genre-by-genre breakdown reveals nuanced camera strengths.

Portrait:
NX300 dominates with face detection, ability to blur backgrounds with fast aperture lenses, and nuanced skin tone rendition. Olympus can shoot casual portraits but lacks control or pleasing bokeh.

Landscape:
NX300’s sensor size and lens variety provide edge in resolution and dynamic range. Olympus’s waterproofing appeals for wet environments, but smaller sensor limits detail.

Wildlife:
NX300’s fast autofocus and burst mode of 9 fps beat Olympus’s 5 fps, but Olympus scores on durability in extreme conditions.

Sports:
NX300’s tracking AF and high shutter speed support fast action, Olympus’s compact size aids casual sports photography.

Street:
Olympus’s discrete size and durability suit street shooters who want a rugged, splash-proof camera without bulk; NX300’s better controls benefit deliberate compositions.

Macro:
Olympus offers close focusing at 1 cm, but NX300’s lens options and sensor trump in detailed macro manipulation.

Night/Astro:
NX300 handles higher ISOs and longer exposures better; Olympus is constrained by sensor size and noise levels.

Video:
NX300 provides full HD 1080p at 30 fps with MPEG-4, better suited for multimedia projects; Olympus tops out at 720p and limited formats.

Travel:
Olympus excels for adventure travelers wanting one rugged camera; NX300 is best for those prioritizing image quality and flexibility over weatherproofing.

Professional:
NX300’s RAW support, manual controls, and file versatility make it a better professional backup or starter camera.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

The Olympus 6020’s fixed 28-140 mm lens locks you into a versatile but limited focal range with modest maximum aperture (f/3.9-5.9) and no zoom stability aside from sensor-shift stabilization.

Samsung NX300 uses the NX mount - offering over 30 native lenses ranging from ultrawide to telephoto and specialty optics like macro and tilt-shift, an impressive variety for an entry-level mirrorless. This extensibility is crucial for photographers evolving their craft, allowing specialized tools instead of one-size-fits-all approach.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The Olympus 6020’s battery specs lack detail, but its compact size indicates limited life - adequate for casual use, especially since it uses the Li-50B model. It stores images on SD/SDHC cards and offers USB 2.0 and HDMI output. Wireless connectivity is absent.

The Samsung NX300 boasts a rated 330-shot battery life, a clear advantage for longer sessions. Storage includes SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. Connectivity features built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easy sharing, a boon for modern workflows. HDMI and USB 2.0 ports enable tethering and external display support.

Pricing and Value Assessment: Rugged Bargain Versus Versatile Entry-Level

At an approximate retail price of $279 (Olympus 6020) versus $750 (Samsung NX300), budget often dictates choice.

The Olympus offers exceptional value for rugged, waterproof photography at an affordable price point. It appeals to outdoor enthusiasts needing a tough companion camera - no frills, no fuss.

The Samsung NX300, priced notably higher, competes by delivering a robust feature set encompassing image quality, creative control, and lens customization - ideal for aspiring photographers ready to leap into mirrorless versatility.

Wrapping It Up: Which Camera Should You Choose?

I’ve outlined their specifications, features, and real-world performance based on hundreds of hours testing. Ultimately, these two cameras serve different needs:

• Go for the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 if you need a durable, waterproof, compact camera for rough conditions and casual shooting. It’s perfect for travelers, hikers, beachgoers, or anyone wanting a camera that won’t mind a splash or a drop.

• Opt for the Samsung NX300 if you want an entry-level mirrorless system with strong image quality, advanced controls, and lens flexibility. Enthusiasts and professionals seeking creative control and better results in portraits, landscapes, and fast-action scenarios will benefit immensely.

Both have strengths but comparing their core competencies illustrates the trade-offs between rugged portability and mirrorless photographic potential.

Thank you for reading this in-depth comparison. As always, consider your personal shooting style, environment, and growth path when investing in a camera. With these insights, your choice between the Olympus 6020 and Samsung NX300 should be simpler and more confident. Happy shooting!

Images referenced throughout the article:

Olympus 6020 front Olympus 6020 screen back Samsung NX300 screen back