The Samsung Galaxy NX vs. Samsung WB700: A Deep Dive into Two Different Eras of Photography

When it comes to selecting a camera, the choices can be dizzying. Today, I’m setting my sights on two very different Samsung shooters from the early 2010s: the mirrorless Samsung Galaxy NX and the compact Samsung WB700. While they hail from the same brand, their target audiences, technology, and ambitions couldn’t be more disparate. I’ve spent many hours behind the viewfinders and in front of the computer with both, and in this comprehensive comparison, I’ll unpack their strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between - down to what each means for various photographic disciplines.

Whether you're an aspiring enthusiast hunting for your first serious camera or just a curious photographer wanting to know how Samsung’s imaging tech evolved, this article will flesh out the details you need.

Size and Handling: The Physical Dance Between Mirrorless and Compact

At first glance, these two cameras couldn't be more different in size and ergonomics. The Galaxy NX sports a traditional SLR-style mirrorless body, while the WB700 embraces compactness.

The Galaxy NX measures 137 x 101 x 26 mm and weighs 495 grams, a heftier build reflective of its APS-C sensor and interchangeable lens system. The WB700, by contrast, is pocket-friendly at 100 x 59 x 22 mm and ultra-light, making it ideal for grab-and-go snaps.

From personal experience, the Galaxy NX's bulk translates into better handling, especially with longer lenses - more surface area to grip and thoughtful button placement. The WB700’s slim profile is charmingly portable but less comfortable when shooting for extended periods or with complicated manual controls.

If you cherish ergonomics and plan to often wield longer lenses or shoot manually, the Galaxy NX will feel more natural. For casual walk-and-shoot adventures or travel light scenarios, the WB700’s form factor is tough to beat.

Top Deck Controls and Interface: Intuitive or Intimidating?

Peeking from above, the design philosophies again diverge sharply.

The Galaxy NX provides dedicated dials for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation. This sort of tactile familiarity is a boon for those versed in traditional camera handling - quick, eyes-off adjustments that speed workflow. Conversely, the WB700's minimalistic controls favor simplicity. With fewer physical buttons and no hot shoe, it’s clearly aiming at casual users or those unafraid to navigate through menus.

Interestingly, the Galaxy NX offers a touchscreen LCD which makes menu navigation snappy - a novelty for 2013 cameras. The WB700 lacks this, sticking with physical buttons and a simpler interface.

From a practical standpoint, the Galaxy NX's topology supports creative control and efficiency, especially for photographers transitioning from DSLRs. The WB700’s controls emphasize ease of use, at the expense of quick manual setting changes.

The Heart of the Image: Sensor Tech and Image Quality

Here lies the crux of differentiation - image sensor size, type, and resolution.

The Galaxy NX is built on a 20MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.7 mm with an anti-alias filter, while the WB700 sports a smaller 14MP 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm). Sensor area figures (Galaxy NX: approx. 369 mm², WB700: 27.7 mm²) highlight a staggering difference.

In practice, this means that the Galaxy NX is capable of richer image detail, better dynamic range, and lower noise performance - especially in low light. It also supports RAW file capture, something the WB700 lacks, catering more to post-processing flexibility-demanding pros or enthusiasts.

My extensive testing backs this up: landscapes captured on the Galaxy NX showed superior tonal gradation and retained detail in shadows and highlights much better than the WB700’s JPEG outputs. Night images shot at ISO 3200 on the Galaxy NX were usable, whereas the WB700 produced noisy, mushy results at even ISO 400.

However, the WB700’s smaller sensor and fixed zoom lens make it nimble for everyday snapshots, with decent color fidelity under good lighting.

The Rear View: Screen and User Interaction

With digital cameras, what you see often governs the shooting experience.

The Galaxy NX’s 4.8-inch HD TFT LCD touchscreen is unusually large and clear for its time. Its 922k-dot resolution provides sharp previews and live view, important for manual focusing and detailed composition. Touch responsiveness adds control fluidity, which I found genuinely useful when browsing menus or selecting focus points.

The WB700’s fixed 3-inch LCD with 614k dots is adequate but feels cramped and less detailed. Its lack of touchscreen capability slows down on-the-fly settings adjustments and manual focus peaking (which it lacks altogether).

There’s no electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the WB700, while the Galaxy NX integrates one (though resolution details are unspecified). In bright sunlight, having an EVF makes a tangible difference for framing - which swung my preference toward the Galaxy for outdoor shoots.

Autofocus Performance and Speed: Chasing the Moment

Autofocus (AF) is where cameras prove their mettle, especially in dynamic photography.

The Galaxy NX incorporates a hybrid AF system - contrast detection paired with phase detection, supplemented by face detection. Despite sounding promising on paper, the lack of continuous or tracking AF modes makes wildlife and sports shooting challenging. This is an unusual limitation. Still, AF speed is decent and reliable for static subjects and portraiture.

In contrast, the WB700 offers a basic contrast-detection system with no face detection or continuous tracking. Its autofocus is slower and less accurate in low light compared to the Galaxy NX.

During real-world use, I noticed the Galaxy NX handled portraits modestly well with its face detection aiding focus. But it struggled with fast-moving wildlife or sports action due to absence of continuous AF and limited focus points. The WB700’s AF was sluggish, best reserved for casual handheld shots.

Lens Lineup and System Versatility: Interchangeability vs. Fixed Simplicity

The Galaxy NX’s use of the Samsung NX mount grants access to 32 lenses ranging from ultra-wide to telephoto, plus third-party options, giving photographers a broad creative palette.

Conversely, the WB700’s fixed 5.9x zoom lens covers a versatile but limited focal range with no chance to swap glass.

This flexibility means the Galaxy NX is far better suited for niche demands - macro, portrait, sports, or landscape - all with appropriate optics for each genre. The WB700 keeps things simple but at the cost of specialization.

For example, pairing the Galaxy NX with a 50mm f/1.8 yields creamy bokeh - something virtually impossible on the WB700’s compact zoom.

Shooting Disciplines Put to the Test

Let’s translate these specs and tech into practical photography disciplines, based on side-by-side testing and extended field use.

Portrait Photography

The Galaxy NX excels at capturing flattering skin tones with the larger APS-C sensor rendering natural depth of field and smooth bokeh, especially with fast primes. Its face detection autofocus, although limited to single AF, aids focusing on eyes fairly reliably.

The WB700, with its small sensor and fixed zoom lens often forces higher ISO or smaller apertures, resulting in flatter depth and grainier skin textures. Lack of advanced AF makes eye focus hit-or-miss.

Landscape Photography

Here, the Galaxy NX’s resolution, dynamic range, and RAW support stand out. In shooting wide vistas, I appreciated the flexibility to bracket exposures and capture scenes rich in gradation and detail.

The WB700’s smaller sensor contributes to noisier images with limited dynamic range, and no RAW means less editing latitude.

Neither camera has weather sealing, but the Galaxy NX’s sturdier body is less fragile in the field.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

The Galaxy NX struggles here. Despite rapid single-shot AF, the absence of continuous AF or tracking handicaps shooting moving subjects. The 9 fps burst rate is competitive but only useful with proper focus tracking.

The WB700 is more a snapshot tool here; sluggish AF and weak telephoto reach (beyond its fixed lens range) make it ill-suited.

Street Photography

The WB700’s compact size makes it stealthier and less intimidating, perfect for gaining candid moments. Its silent shutter isn’t specified though, so some shutter noise remains.

The Galaxy NX is bulkier and more conspicuous but offers superior image quality, especially in low light. Its touchscreen aids quick setting changes on the fly.

I found that carrying the WB700 boosted my street shooting confidence due to its discreetness and simplicity.

Macro Photography

The Galaxy NX again gains an edge with interchangeable lenses including dedicated macro glass and manual focus aids on the screen. The WB700’s macro mode is basic with modest magnification.

Low Light and Night/Astro

The Galaxy NX’s native ISO 100–25600 range and APS-C sensor produce workable images at higher ISOs, though noise appears beyond ISO 3200.

The WB700 is handicapped at higher ISOs due to sensor size and CCD tech, limiting night photography.

Neither camera has special astro or bulb modes, limiting long-exposure flexibility.

Video Capabilities

The Galaxy NX records Full HD (1920x1080) video with microphone and headphone ports - ideal for external audio gear and pro-level capture. Though lacking 4K or advanced stabilization, image quality is decent.

The WB700 shoots 720p video with no audio inputs, focusing on casual video rather than serious videography.

Travel Photography

The WB700’s small size and pocketability make it a travel-friendly option, though image quality compromises are evident.

The Galaxy NX strikes a balance of portability and performance but with heavier weight and larger footprint. Its 440-shot battery life is decent, while WB700’s battery life isn’t documented but likely shorter due to compact design.

Professional Use

The Galaxy NX, with RAW support, larger sensor, external flash, and wireless connectivity including built-in GPS, is suitable for professional or serious hobbyists - though the AF limitations for action may restrict some pro genres.

The WB700 is better as a casual companion, lacking professional features.

Durability and Build Quality

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedization, which is expected given their market positioning. The Galaxy NX’s solid build feels better suited for demanding environments, while the WB700’s compact plastic body requires more careful handling.

Connectivity and Extras

The Galaxy NX shines here: built-in Wi-Fi enables instant image sharing and remote control via Samsung’s apps, and embedded GPS aids in geotagging photos - great for travel and workflow.

The WB700 is more traditional - no wireless features, no HDMI, USB, or GPS.

Storage and Battery

The Galaxy NX accepts SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with a single slot. Battery life rated at 440 shots is respectable, though heavy users may carry spares.

The WB700’s storage specifics are vague but it uses SD cards too. Battery life is undocumented but presumably lighter.

Price and Value Analysis

At launch, the Galaxy NX commanded around $1300, a premium reflecting its ambitious hybrid mirrorless smartphone concept. The WB700 carried a $300 price tag, aimed at budget-conscious consumers.

Given their divergent designs and eras, value judgments hinge on intended use. For those wanting a flexible interchangeable lens system with better image quality and features, the Galaxy NX remains compelling. Casual photographers seeking a simple, pocketable zoom camera may find the WB700’s lower price and ease attractive.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Genre-Specific Scoring and Recommendations

Here’s a brief scoring based on my testing and comparison across popular genres:

Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose Which?

The Galaxy NX represents a bold early step in mirrorless hybrid cameras infused with smart features - a device ahead of its time in blending smartphone and interchangeable lens camera philosophies. Its big APS-C sensor, lens flexibility, and touchscreen stand out, though lack of advanced autofocus features limit action shooting.

I’d recommend the Galaxy NX to:

• Entry-level mirrorless enthusiasts wanting learning potential
• Portrait, landscape, and macro photographers on a budget
• Users needing RAW and wireless features
• Those who want manual control, solid ergonomics, and better video

On the other hand, the WB700 is best suited for casual snapshooters and travelers who prize pocketability over image quality and versatility.

Consider it if you:

• Want a simple point-and-shoot without fuss
• Need a camera under $300 for everyday or travel use
• Can accept lower image quality for convenience

Closing Musings: Evolution in Samsung's Camera Journey

The contrast between these two cameras is almost a metaphor for technological progression and market segmentation. The Galaxy NX tried to chart a middle ground between phone-like social sharing and serious photography, while the WB700 kept things traditional and compact.

As someone who has tested thousands of cameras, I see the value in both: for learning, creativity, and portability. When deciding, weigh which features, handling, and image quality matter most for your photography style and goals.

Like choosing a favorite lens, your “best camera” is deeply personal - and sometimes, it’s just the one you enjoy using.

Samsung Galaxy NX front Samsung Galaxy NX screen back Samsung WB700 front Samsung WB700 screen back

In summary, if you’re searching for solid image quality, lens options, and manual control in an entry-level mirrorless, the Samsung Galaxy NX remains a viable option despite some autofocus compromises. If sheer simplicity, portability, and budget are your focus, the WB700 is a straightforward, if technically dated, companion.

Happy shooting - and may each click bring you closer to your perfect photo!