Clicky

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Samsung NX500 front
Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 Key Specs

Pentax XG-1
(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
  • Announced July 2014
Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Superseded the Samsung NX300
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Pentax XG-1 and Samsung NX500, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Pentax and Samsung. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the XG-1 (16MP) and NX500 (28MP) and the XG-1 (1/2.3") and NX500 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The XG-1 was brought out 6 months prior to the NX500 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief overview of how the XG-1 matches up against the NX500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Samsung NX500

 XG-1 NX500 

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Pentax XG-1

 NX500 XG-1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1036k460kClearer display (+576k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Samsung NX500

 XG-1 NX500 
RevealedJuly 2014February 2015Similar age
Focus manually More exact focusing
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Pentax XG-1 offers exterior measurements of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Samsung NX500 has sizing of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Pentax XG-1 and Samsung NX500 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the XG-1 vs the NX500.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and NX500 is 66 and 87 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to visualise the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specs. The visual below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the XG-1 and NX500.

All in all, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The XG-1 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Samsung NX500 will offer more detail having its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images way more aggressively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Portrait photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Portrait photography camera
40
focusing manually
MP count decent (16MP)
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
80
has manual focus
amazing resolution (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Street photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Street photography camera
43
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average (567 grams)
81
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
offers touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung NX500 as a Sports photography camera
45
long zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (240 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
75
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
amazing resolution (28MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography factors
Samsung NX500 Travel photography factors
52
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great zoom (1248mm)
lack of Timelapse function
low battery pack (240 CIPA)
more heavy than average (567 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
78
supports bluetooth
offers touch to focus
amazing resolution (28MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography advice
Samsung NX500 Landscape photography advice
45
focusing manually
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (240 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
80
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
amazing resolution (28MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
above average ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax XG-1
Vlogging with Samsung NX500
25
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of microphone port
more heavy than average (567g)
34
touchscreen functionality
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Pentax XG-1 vs Samsung NX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Samsung NX500
 Pentax XG-1Samsung NX500
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Samsung
Model Pentax XG-1 Samsung NX500
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2014-07-15 2015-02-06
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - DRIMe 5
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 28 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 6480 x 4320
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Maximum boosted ISO - 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 209
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Samsung NX
Lens focal range 24-1248mm (52.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 32
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 1,036 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dots -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 9.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG H.265
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 567g (1.25 lbs) 287g (0.63 lbs)
Physical dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 87
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.9
DXO Low light score not tested 1379
Other
Battery life 240 pictures 370 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LB-060 BP1130
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 - 30 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $599 $800