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Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Samsung NX300M front
Portability
86
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66

Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M Key Specs

Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Revealed August 2012
Samsung NX300M
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Released January 2013
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Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M Overview

Lets look more closely at the Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Pentax and Samsung. The image resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the NX300M (20MP) is fairly well matched but the X-5 (1/2.3") and NX300M (APS-C) offer totally different sensor measurements.

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The X-5 was released 4 months earlier than the NX300M so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung NX300M being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a short summary of how the X-5 matches up against the NX300M when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Samsung NX300M

 X-5 NX300M 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300M over the Pentax X-5

 NX300M X-5 
Display size3.3"3"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution768k460kCrisper display (+308k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Samsung NX300M

 X-5 NX300M 
ReleasedAugust 2012January 2013Similar age
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax X-5 comes with exterior measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") having a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) while the Samsung NX300M has sizing of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") having a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the X-5 vs the NX300M.

Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the X-5 and NX300M is 65 and 86 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes only by checking a spec sheet. The pic below may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and NX300M.

As you can see, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The X-5 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Samsung NX300M will give extra detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop pics way more aggressively.

Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X-5
Portrait photography with Samsung NX300M
43
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
includes face detect autofocus
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
77
manual focus
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX300M as a Street photography camera
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than competition (595 grams)
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography info
Samsung NX300M Sports photography info
52
excellent zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking focus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
72
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax X-5
Travel photography with Samsung NX300M
53
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (22mm)
long reach (580mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (595g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
66
boasts touch to focus
decent MP (20MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography advice
Samsung NX300M Landscape photography advice
47
has manual focus
reasonably wide (22mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
72
manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is decent (3.3")
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X-5
Vlogging with Samsung NX300M
26
reasonably wide (22mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competition (595 grams)
33
screen is touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
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Pentax X-5 vs Samsung NX300M Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Samsung NX300M
 Pentax X-5Samsung NX300M
General Information
Brand Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax X-5 Samsung NX300M
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-08-22 2013-01-03
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - DRIMe IV
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 247
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 32
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3.3 inch
Screen resolution 460k dots 768k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - Active Matrix OLED screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 230k dots -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 9.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 595g (1.31 lb) 331g (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 330 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $230 $699