Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX20
66 Imaging
40 Features
37 Overall
38


83 Imaging
61 Features
73 Overall
65
Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX20 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
- 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
- Launched July 2014
(Full Review)
- 20MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Display
- ISO 100 - 12800
- 1/8000s Max Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Samsung NX Mount
- 341g - 122 x 90 x 40mm
- Released April 2012
- Older Model is Samsung NX11
- Refreshed by Samsung NX30

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX20 Overview
Its time to take a closer look at the Pentax XG-1 versus Samsung NX20, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Samsung. The resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the NX20 (20MP) is very well matched but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and NX20 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

The XG-1 was launched 2 years later than the NX20 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung NX20 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before getting right into a detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the XG-1 matches up vs the NX20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX20 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax XG-1 and Samsung NX20. The complete galleries are available at Pentax XG-1 Gallery and Samsung NX20 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Samsung NX20
XG-1 | NX20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Released | July 2014 | ![]() | April 2012 | Fresher by 28 months |
Reasons to pick Samsung NX20 over the Pentax XG-1
NX20 | XG-1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating display |
Display resolution | 614k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+154k dot) |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Take selfies |
Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Samsung NX20
XG-1 | NX20 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Very exact focusing | ||
Display size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same display measurements |
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Neither offers Touch friendly display |
Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX20 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is going to carry your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Pentax XG-1 offers physical dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") along with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX20 has dimensions of 122mm x 90mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).
Examine the Pentax XG-1 versus Samsung NX20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the XG-1 and the NX20.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and NX20 is 66 and 83 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX20 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it is tough to picture the gap between sensor sizing purely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the XG-1 and NX20.
As you can see, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The XG-1 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Samsung NX20 will give extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The fresher XG-1 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX20 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX20 Specifications
Pentax XG-1 | Samsung NX20 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Pentax | Samsung |
Model type | Pentax XG-1 | Samsung NX20 |
Category | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced Mirrorless |
Launched | 2014-07-15 | 2012-04-20 |
Physical type | SLR-like (bridge) | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 28.1mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 20MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 5472 x 3648 |
Max native ISO | 3200 | 12800 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | - | 15 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Samsung NX |
Lens zoom range | 24-1248mm (52.0x) | - |
Highest aperture | f/2.8-5.6 | - |
Macro focusing distance | 1cm | - |
Available lenses | - | 32 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Display size | 3 inches | 3 inches |
Display resolution | 460 thousand dots | 614 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch operation | ||
Display technology | - | Active Matrix OLED screen |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Electronic | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | 200 thousand dots | - |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.7x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 4 seconds | 30 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 9.0 frames/s | 8.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.00 m | 11.00 m |
Flash settings | Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Maximum flash synchronize | - | 1/180 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
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 | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 567g (1.25 lb) | 341g (0.75 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") | 122 x 90 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 75 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.4 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 12.9 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 785 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 240 photos | 360 photos |
Type of battery | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | LB-060 | BP1130 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Card slots | Single | Single |
Retail cost | $599 | $1,100 |