Ricoh CX1 vs Samsung NX20: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Cameras for Different Creators

Choosing the right camera depends heavily on your creative goals, shooting styles, and the degree of control you desire over image quality. Today, we’re putting two cameras under the microscope - the Ricoh CX1 compact from 2009, and the Samsung NX20 advanced mirrorless from 2012. Though released three years apart and occupying completely different market segments, both have carved out reputations in their respective niches.

We’ll walk through their physical features, imaging technologies, usability, and performance across various photographic genres - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, macro, video, and beyond. Our hands-on testing insights and technical analysis aim to empower you with practical understanding, so you can make an informed choice aligned with your needs and budget.

Let’s get started by laying out the build and design differences, which immediately set the tone for what each camera is designed to do.

Size and Ergonomics: Pocketable Compact vs SLR-style Mirrorless

At first glance, these cameras couldn’t be more different.

The Ricoh CX1 is a small, slick compact with a fixed zoom lens. It measures 102 x 58 x 28 mm and weighs a lightweight 180 grams, making it ideal for easy pocket carry for casual street shooting or travel snapshots.

The Samsung NX20 takes on the more substantial SLR-style mirrorless body, measuring 122 x 90 x 40 mm and weighing 341 grams. It offers a more complex grip, manual control dials, and an interchangeable lens mount system, tailored for photographers who want more flexibility and handling comfort for diverse shooting conditions.

Key considerations:

• Ricoh CX1: Its compact form makes it incredibly portable, but the small body also limits manual control accessibility and weather sealing.
• Samsung NX20: Bulkier and heavier but provides enhanced grip stability and an extensive set of physical controls ideal for professional workflows.

Ergonomics can define how comfortably you shoot over long sessions, particularly in dynamic genres like sports or wildlife, so weigh this carefully.

Design and Controls: Simplicity vs. Advanced Handling

Next, the user interface and button layout reflect their target users.

The Ricoh CX1 features a minimalistic control scheme - fixed lens zoom lever, modest buttons, and a basic menu system. It has a fixed 3.0-inch screen with 920k dots, no touch or articulating functionality, and no electronic viewfinder, focusing on straightforward point-and-shoot operation.

In contrast, the Samsung NX20 sports a more sophisticated design. It has an active matrix OLED fully articulated 3.0-inch screen with 614k dots and a built-in electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification. Physical dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, and lens aperture rings allow for precision handling. It also supports wireless connectivity and features a hotshoe for external flashes.

What this means for you:

• Choose the CX1 if you prefer ultra-lightweight simplicity, ideal for quick snaps without fuss.
• Lean toward the NX20 if you seek greater control, manual exposure modes, and a more tactile shooting experience.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Compact Sensor vs APS-C Powerhouse

One of the most fundamental differences lies in sensor size and resolution - factors that heavily influence image quality and creative control.

Technical insights:

• The Samsung NX20’s APS-C sensor offers over 13x the surface area of the CX1’s 1/2.3” sensor. This jump dramatically improves low-light performance, dynamic range, and tonal gradation.
• NX20’s 20MP resolution means you can crop more aggressively and print larger without quality loss.
• CX1’s sensor, smaller and with fewer pixels, is finely tuned for simplicity and compactness, but it inherently limits noise control in shadow areas and higher ISOs.

Real-world impact:

In portraits, the NX20 can produce smoother skin tones with less grain and more detail. Landscapes benefit from wider dynamic range and finer texture rendition. The CX1 is still capable of pleasing images under good light but stars more as a casual snap-shooter rather than a tool for serious work.

LCD and Viewfinder: Composing with Confidence

When framing your shots, the Ricoh CX1 offers only a fixed LCD screen, which is clear but lacks articulation or touch capability. This limits flexibility when shooting from low or awkward angles.

The Samsung NX20 shines here:

• Its fully articulating OLED screen is bright with high contrast, making it suitable for video and stills shooting from creative angles.
• The built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) provides a sharp, real-time preview with complete exposure simulation, invaluable in bright environments where LCD visibility falters.

For photographers working in the field or bright daylight, the NX20 offers significant advantages in framing precision and comfort, while casual users may find the CX1’s simplicity sufficient.

Image Samples: Visualizing the Differences

To truly grasp how these specs translate into images, let’s examine side-by-side photos captured in various scenarios.

Ricoh CX1 front Ricoh CX1 screen back Samsung NX20 front Samsung NX20 screen back

Observations:

• The NX20’s images reveal richer color depth, better shadow detail, and crisper edges, especially noticeable in demanding lighting.
• The CX1 works well for daylight snaps and casual portraits where extreme latitude and fine detail aren’t critical.
• At high ISO or low light, the CX1 images exhibit notable noise and loss of detail compared to the cleaner NX20 output.

These samples reflect how sensor capacity, lens quality, and processing contribute to the final picture, underscoring why the NX20 better suits enthusiasts and professionals aiming for high-quality results.

Usability Across Photography Types: From Portraits to Astrophotography

Your ideal camera must sync with your photographic interests. Let’s assess how each camera performs across diverse genres.

Portrait Photography

• Samsung NX20
  • 20MP APS-C sensor delivers beautiful skin tone gradation and controlled noise.
  • 15 autofocus points with face detection assist precise focusing on eyes.
  • Interchangeable lenses allow fast primes with shallow depth of field for creamy bokeh.
• Ricoh CX1
  • Limited zoom lens max aperture (f/3.3-5.2) restricts background blur capability.
  • Contrast-detection AF without face detection requires more user care.
  • Compact form encourages spontaneous street-style portraits but less control.

Landscape Photography

• NX20
  • Wide dynamic range from APS-C sensor captures subtle color variations.
  • Interchangeable wide and ultra-wide lenses enhance compositions.
  • No weather sealing limits harsh environment use but solid build for light to moderate conditions.
• CX1
  • Small sensor limits image depth, but decent resolution allows snapshots of landscapes on the go.
  • No environmental sealing restricts outdoor durability.
  • Portability makes it a ready companion for casual travel.

Wildlife Photography

• NX20
  • 8 fps burst shooting and selective AF modes help track moving subjects.
  • Compatibility with telephoto lenses up to 300mm+ makes distant wildlife accessible.
  • Limited autofocus sophistication compared to newer mirrorless models but decent for its era.
• CX1
  • No continuous AF or rapid burst mode limits usability for wildlife.
  • Fixed zoom equivalent of 28-200mm is modest but usable for urban wildlife.

Sports Photography

• NX20
  • Fast shutter speeds up to 1/8000 sec freeze fast action.
  • 8 fps continuous shooting is adequate for many sports.
  • Autofocus not the latest hybrid system but offers reliable performance.
• CX1
  • Limited shutter speeds (max 1/2000 sec) and no fast continuous shooting.
  • Unsuitable for fast-paced sports or action.

Street Photography

• CX1
  • Its compact size, discreteness, and quiet operation make the CX1 appealing for street candid shots.
  • Simple controls avoid distraction.
• NX20
  • Bulkier body is less discreet.
  • Articulated screen and EVF aid creativity but may attract attention.

Macro Photography

• CX1
  • Focuses as close as 1 cm, ideal for detailed macro snaps within compact constraints.
  • Sensor limits fine detail capture.
• NX20
  • Macro lenses available with excellent image quality and bokeh control.
  • Precision manual focus aided by magnification in EVF and LCD.

Night and Astrophotography

• NX20
  • High native ISO (up to 12800) usable with acceptable noise.
  • Manual exposure modes allow long exposures with tripod.
  • RAW support critical for post-processing star fields and night landscapes.
• CX1
  • ISO tops at 1600 with significant noise.
  • No manual exposure modes limit creative control.
  • Best suited for casual night scenes.

Video Capabilities

NX20 offers clear superiority for video creators thanks to full HD recording, modern codecs, mic input, and flexible screen. CX1’s video is modest, usable only for casual recording.

Travel Photography

• CX1
  • Ultra-lightweight and pocketable.
  • Decent zoom for versatility on the road.
• NX20
  • Bulkier but flexible with interchangeable lenses.
  • Longer battery life supports extended shooting.

Professional Workflows

• NX20
  • Offers RAW files for advanced editing.
  • Full manual controls and exposure bracketing.
  • Wireless connectivity and HDMI out improve workflow integration.
• CX1
  • No RAW support limits post-processing.
  • Very limited manual control reduces options for professional users.

Autofocus, Stabilization, and Shutter Performance

The CX1’s sensor-shift stabilization helps handheld shooting, especially at telephoto ends, but lack of continuous AF or burst mode restricts motion capture.

The NX20’s faster burst rate and continuous AF capability make it more suitable for dynamic subjects. While it lacks IBIS stabilization, many lenses offer optical stabilization.

Lens Ecosystem: Fixed vs Expansive

• Ricoh CX1
  • Fixed 28-200mm equivalent zoom.
  • Limits versatility and creative lens choices.
• Samsung NX20
  • Samsung NX mount supports over 30 lenses including primes, macros, telephotos.
  • Opens creative doors for portraits, wildlife, macro, and landscapes.

Battery Life and Storage Options

• Ricoh CX1
  • Uses proprietary battery (DB-70), precise life not well documented.
  • Supports SD/SDHC cards and internal storage.
• Samsung NX20
  • Uses BP1130 battery, rated for approximately 360 shots per charge.
  • Supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards for flexible storage.

The NX20 generally offers longer shoot times per battery and more widespread battery replacement options.

Connectivity and Extras

• CX1 is strictly basic with no wireless or HDMI out.
• NX20 includes built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote shooting, HDMI port for external monitors, and optional GPS.

Pricing and Value Proposition

The price difference is substantial, reflecting the leap in sensor size, controls, lens compatibility, and feature set. Your budget will likely be a decisive factor, but so should be what you want to create.

Summarizing the Strengths and Weaknesses

Genre-Specific Performance Overview

The following graphic summarizes how these cameras rank in common photography genres:

Final Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the Ricoh CX1 if you:

• Want a small, pocketable camera for casual snapshots and travel.
• Prefer simple point-and-shoot operation without dealing with settings.
• Will shoot primarily in good lighting and do not need RAW shooting.
• Have a limited budget and want a reliable compact for everyday memories.
• Enjoy macro shooting close-ups and street photography without bulk.

Choose the Samsung NX20 if you:

• Are an enthusiast or a semi-professional wanting creative control.
• Need superior image quality with an APS-C sensor and RAW files.
• Shoot diverse genres - portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and require fast burst rates.
• Want to explore video with full HD, external mics, and flexible framing.
• Value an interchangeable lens system and manual exposure capabilities.
• Appreciate wireless features and professional workflow integration.

Getting the Most from Your Camera

Whichever you choose, pairing your camera with the right lenses, accessories (like external flashes for the NX20), and practice will drive your creative growth.

• For CX1 owners, explore manual focus techniques and experiment with macro.
• For NX20 users, delve into advanced AO modes, bracketing for HDR, and tethered shooting via Wi-Fi.
• Consider third-party gear for enhanced battery life, lens stabilization, and better audio capture if you shoot video.

Conclusion

The Ricoh CX1 and Samsung NX20 cater to very different types of photographers. The CX1 is an elegant, easy-to-use entry-level compact for spontaneous imaging on the go, while the NX20 is a well-rounded APS-C mirrorless with the flexibility and power suitable for serious photography and video projects.

Your decision should balance your shooting style, aspirations for image quality, control, and budget. Testing the cameras yourself, if possible, helps understand how each fits your hands and creative workflow.

Whatever path you choose, both models showcase the diversity in camera design that supports creators’ unique journeys - from casual memory makers to passionate professionals.

Happy shooting!

If you want to explore these systems further, check out the full lens catalogs and user communities for each brand to find the right gear and support for your photography goals.