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Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M

Portability
76
Imaging
57
Features
68
Overall
61
Pentax K-01 front
 
Samsung NX300M front
Portability
86
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M Key Specs

Pentax K-01
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 561g - 122 x 79 x 58mm
  • Introduced May 2012
Samsung NX300M
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Pentax K-01 and Samsung NX300M, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Pentax and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the K-01 (16MP) and the NX300M (20MP) is pretty similar and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The K-01 was announced 7 months earlier than the NX300M and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Pentax K-01 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung NX300M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summary of how the K-01 matches up against the NX300M in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-01 over the Samsung NX300M

 K-01 NX300M 
Screen resolution921k768kSharper screen (+153k dot)

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Pentax K-01

 NX300M K-01 
LaunchedJanuary 2013May 2012More modern by 7 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Pentax K-01 and Samsung NX300M

 K-01 NX300M 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Pentax K-01 enjoys exterior dimensions of 122mm x 79mm x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") having a weight of 561 grams (1.24 lbs) while the Samsung NX300M has proportions of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") having a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-01 and Samsung NX300M in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the K-01 vs the NX300M.

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the K-01 and NX300M is 76 and 86 respectively.

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading specifications. The image here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-01 and NX300M.

Plainly, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You should expect the Samsung NX300M to offer you greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more aged K-01 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M sensor size comparison

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-01 Portrait photography information
Samsung NX300M Portrait photography information
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
exports RAW files
77
manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-01 Street photography advice
Samsung NX300M Street photography advice
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen is fixed
more heavy than competition (561g)
80
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
features focus by touch
above average ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-01 Sports photography details
Samsung NX300M Sports photography details
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great battery power (540 per charge)
slow fps (6.0 fps)
lack of phase detect auto focus
72
high shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
supports phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-01 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Travel photography camera
65
great battery power (540 shots)
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
more heavy than competition (561 grams)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
66
features focus by touch
good MP (20MP)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax K-01
Landscape photography with Samsung NX300M
80
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
great battery power (540 shots)
72
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3.3")
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-01 Vlogging features
Samsung NX300M Vlogging features
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
more heavy than competition (561 grams)
33
touchscreen enabled
features face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
no external mic socket
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Pentax K-01 vs Samsung NX300M Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-01 and Samsung NX300M
 Pentax K-01Samsung NX300M
General Information
Brand Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax K-01 Samsung NX300M
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-05-30 2013-01-03
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - DRIMe IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Max boosted ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 81 247
Lens
Lens mount Pentax KAF2 Samsung NX
Amount of lenses 151 32
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3.3 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 768k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD monitor Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 6.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow-speed Sync, Trailing Curtain Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps),1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 561g (1.24 lbs) 331g (0.73 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 79 x 58mm (4.8" x 3.1" x 2.3") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 1135 not tested
Other
Battery life 540 pictures 330 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model D-LI90 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $899 $699