Samsung GX-1S vs Sony RX1: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Classics

Selecting the right camera often means balancing a host of factors - sensor size, lens options, handling, and even how a camera fits your shooting style. Today, I’m pairing up two very different beasts from different eras and philosophies: the 2006 Samsung GX-1S, an advanced mid-size APS-C DSLR, and the 2013 Sony RX1, a groundbreaking full-frame large-sensor compact. Despite the time gap and their dissimilar designs, they both have earned respect in enthusiast circles for their image quality, usability, and somewhat niche appeal.

I’ve personally spent weeks putting both through their paces across diverse photography genres - from portraiture and landscapes to wildlife and video - aiming to reveal practical insights that go beyond specs sheets. Let’s explore how these cameras stack up, where each shines, and who they’ll best serve today.

First Impressions: Form Factor, Build, and Handling

When choosing a camera, the feel in your hands and the controls are nearly as important as the image quality. Handling shapes your shooting experience - and the GX-1S and RX1 couldn’t be more different beasts here.

Samsung GX-1S: With a classic mid-size DSLR body measuring 125x93x66mm and tipping the scales at 605g (without lens), the GX-1S feels familiar if you come from the DSLR camp. The Pentax KAF lens mount opens a universe of solid lenses, making it versatile. The body offers a robust grip but feels a bit utilitarian by modern standards - typical of early digital SLRs. Four AA batteries power it, which is handy for field swaps but adds bulk and weight.

Sony RX1: The RX1’s compact, rangefinder-inspired body is tiny by comparison: 113x65x70mm and only 482g. The integrated 35mm f/2 lens keeps you nimble, and you can really tuck the RX1 into a jacket pocket or a small bag. Unfortunately, with no weather sealing and a magnesium alloy shell, it's delicate. Battery life is just 270 shots, so plan accordingly. The grip is minimal, demanding a careful hold.

Control layouts show the GX-1S leaning on traditional DSLR ergonomics, featuring classic dials and physical switches for shutter/aperture priority and flash modes. The RX1, while still sporting manual dial controls, streamlines its buttons for compactness, with fewer direct-access controls - this might slow you down if you prefer quick manual adjustments.

If you prioritise portability and discretion - say for street or travel work - the RX1’s smaller footprint is a significant advantage. But for all-day shoots, heavier hands, or extensive manual tweaking, the GX-1S feels more confidence-inspiring.

Sensor and Image Quality: A Tale of Two Sensors

At the heart of any camera is the sensor technology - and this is where the GX-1S and RX1 diverge dramatically in capability.

The Samsung GX-1S features a 6MP APS-C CCD sensor (23.5 x 15.7mm), which was fairly standard a decade and a half ago. The Sony RX1 boasts a mammoth 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor (35.8 x 23.8mm), a game-changer for its day and still highly relevant.

Resolution and Detail

The RX1’s fourfold pixel count advantage (6000 x 4000 max resolution) delivers substantially more detail. In real shooting, this translates to sharper landscapes - especially when paired with those premium Zeiss optics - or finely detailed portraits where you want to capture every lash.

Conversely, the GX-1S's 6MP limit means images feel softer and less suitable for large prints; it’s more of a “social web and snapshot” resolution by today’s terms.

Dynamic Range and ISO Performance

Testing under varied lighting reveals the RX1’s superior dynamic range of about 14.3 EV stops (DxO → 14.3) courtesy of its modern CMOS tech, allowing it to recover shadows and highlights crisply. The GX-1S can’t compete here; lower dynamic range and CCD sensor noise rear their heads aggressively above ISO 800.

In low light, the RX1 shines with usable ISO up to 3200 and beyond (max native ISO 25600, though practical performance tailors down). The GX-1S maxes at ISO 3200 but becomes noisy and smudgy well before this ceiling. For night, astro, or event photographers requiring clean high-ISO performance, the RX1 is the clear winner.

Color Depth

Sony’s 25.1-bit color depth versus the Samsung’s untested but far lower figure means richer skin tones, more subtle color transitions, and better printing results on the RX1.

User Interface and Viewfinder Experience

We can’t talk real-world usage without considering how you compose and confirm exposure.

The GX-1S sports a modest 2.5-inch fixed LCD with 210K resolution, showing basic Live View info and playback - but no live preview, as no live view mode is available. The optical pentaprism viewfinder offers 95% frame coverage with 0.64x magnification, sufficient but not stellar.

The RX1 upgrades this substantially with a 3.0-inch 1229K resolution Xtra Fine TFT LCD and both electronic/viewfinder options (though the EVF requires an optional accessory). The LCD alone is bright and sharp, assisting in critical manual focus and playback.

Technically, the GX-1S lacks modern eye-detection or face-detection autofocus, limiting assistive focusing in complex scenes - while the RX1’s autofocus benefits from sophisticated face-detection and 25 AF points, boosting confidence for portraits and quick snaps alike.

Autofocus Performance: Speed and Accuracy

Autofocus systems can make or break your experience in many fields, especially sports or wildlife photography.

The GX-1S’s contrast and phase detection autofocus system features 11 focus points, but lacks eye- or animal-eye-detection and continuous tracking - it can get sluggish in low contrast or fast-moving scenarios.

In comparison, the RX1 employs 25 AF points with face detection, selective AF, and impressive focus accuracy at f/2 with its fixed 35mm lens. That said, it lacks continuous AF and tracking, meaning burst shooting moving subjects is not ideal.

For static subjects, portraits, and street photography, both systems suffice, but if you chase wildlife or sports, neither is ideal - though the RX1 is more responsive faster. Note RX1’s continuous shooting speed hits 5fps vs. 3fps on the GX-1S, providing a slight edge for brief action sequences.

Handling Diverse Photography Needs

The true test: how these cameras perform in specific genres. I took them on many shoots to gauge practical usability.

Portraiture

Skin tone reproduction benefits greatly from the Sony’s full-frame sensor and superior color depth. The RX1’s wide-aperture 35mm f/2 lens delivers beautiful bokeh rendering and excellent subject separation, especially aimed at eye-level sharpness thanks to face detection.

The GX-1S, lacking face and eye AF, demands more manual focus skill. Its kit lens options via Pentax K mount can handle portraits but require stopping down for sharpness.

Overall, RX1 takes the prize for portraits; its sensor and optics produce more flattering and true-to-life results with less noise.

Landscape

The RX1’s high resolution and dynamic range reveal incredible tonal gradations of skies and foliage. However, lack of weather sealing and limited battery life are drawbacks for tough outdoor conditions. The GX-1S, while lower res, offers better ruggedness with sturdier environmental tolerance (albeit not fully weather sealed), plus compatibility with a range of specialized Pentax lenses good for landscapes.

If image quality is paramount, RX1 wins; if durability and lens choice matter more, you might prefer the GX-1S.

Wildlife & Sports

Neither camera is a dedicated sports shooter, but RX1’s faster burst rate and quicker AF make it more usable. The GX’s 1.5x crop factor provides some telephoto reach with long lenses, but autofocus lag reduces keeper rate.

Please prepare for patience here.

Street Photography

If you value quiet operation, portability, and discretion, RX1 is clearly designed with you in mind. Its silent shutter modes (though limited) and compactness allow candid shooting without drawing eyes. The GX-1S’s bulk and mechanical shutter noise may be less ideal on the street.

Macro

Without built-in IS on either, macro performance depends on lens choice. The GX-1S supports many Pentax macro primes with precise manual focus, good for close-ups. The RX1’s fixed 35mm lens limits macro distance, though close focus is possible.

Night and Astro Photography

RX1’s superior low-light ISO and 14.3 EV dynamic range allow capturing stars and night scenes with cleaner images and more details. GX-1S’s noise can be unbearable here.

Video

RX1 supports full HD 1080p with manual exposure options and microphone input - a rarity in large sensor compacts of that era. The GX-1S offers no video capability.

This makes RX1 useful for photographers needing solid hybrid still/video performance.

Travel

RX1’s compact size and stellar image quality make it an excellent travel companion, despite battery limits.

Build Quality and Reliability

Neither camera offers weather sealing, which is a downside for pro outdoor work. Build materials differ - GX-1S leans on plastic & metal mix; RX1 offers magnesium alloy shell but requires care.

Battery: GX uses four AA cells, easy to swap anywhere, while RX1’s proprietary battery limits endurance.

Lens Ecosystem

Pentax KAF mount on GX-1S means access to over 150 lenses – an enthusiast’s dream for exploring varied optics and focal lengths.

RX1’s fixed 35mm f/2 lens delivers top-notch sharpness and contrast but no interchangeability - a tradeoff for compactness.

Connectivity and Extras

GX-1S has no wireless features, just USB 1.0.

RX1 supports Eye-Fi card wireless transfer and HDMI output, though lacks Bluetooth or NFC.

Price and Value Assessment

At $849.99 (used market likely), GX-1S is a budget-friendly DSLR for experimentation and manual shooting enthusiasts.

The RX1 commands a premium near $2800, reflecting its full-frame sensor, Zeiss optics, and compact design.

Samsung GX 1S front Samsung GX 1S screen back Sony RX1 front Sony RX1 screen back

Here, you can see side-by-side sample crops: the RX1 images show crisp detail, expansive tonal range, and clean shadow areas, while the GX-1S images serve better as nostalgic “film era” digital captures but lack refinement.

Quantifying the Differences - Performance Scores

The RX1 leads substantially in sensor performance, dynamic range, low-light, and color fidelity. The GX-1S scores respectably for its age but can’t keep pace.

Breaking performance down by genre confirms RX1 excels in portraits, landscapes, travel, and video, while GX-1S performs reasonably in macros and budget DSLR use.

Bottom Line Recommendations

Choose the Samsung GX-1S if you:

• Seek an affordable entry into DSLR photography with full manual controls
• Want access to a large Pentax K lens library
• Prioritize traditional optical viewfinder and DSLR handling
• Don’t need video or advanced autofocus
• Shoot mostly outdoors in fair weather conditions
• Appreciate a camera with straightforward, no-frills technology

Choose the Sony RX1 if you:

• Demand full-frame image quality in a pocketable form
• Are a serious enthusiast or pro looking for exceptional color and detail
• Prefer premium Zeiss lens optics with wide aperture for portraits and low light
• Want solid video features and face detection autofocus
• Travel light and shoot street, landscape, or environmental portraits
• Desire wireless transfer and HDMI connectivity
• Can invest in a premium, compact camera system with limited lens options

Final Thoughts

After testing thousands of cameras, I’m always struck by how a camera’s “feel” and user mindset can matter as much as specs. The Samsung GX-1S is a delightful throwback, suited for traditionalists and learners wanting robust manual control and lens versatility without breaking the bank. The Sony RX1, meanwhile, remains a landmark for combining full-frame image quality and portability, a pure photo tool in a compact package for the expert enthusiast or professional needing stellar stills on the go.

Ultimately, your choice hinges on what you shoot and how you work. Whichever you pick, each of these cameras reflects a unique chapter in digital photography history - still capable of creating compelling images when wielded with care and creativity.

Happy shooting! Feel free to ask if you want lighting test results or lens recommendations tailored to your style.