Samsung MV800 vs Sony Cyber-shot TX30: Compact Camera Showdown for Today's Photographer

In the ever-evolving world of compact cameras, the choice between models can often feel like navigating a labyrinth without a trusty compass. On one hand, we have the Samsung MV800, a 2011 small-sensor compact that aims for a sleek design and ease of use. On the other, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30, launched in 2013, arrives as an ultracompact ruggedized contender packing some serious specs for a pocket-friendly shooter.

Having put both these cameras through their paces in various real-world scenarios, I’m here to dissect their capabilities, quirks, and ultimately help you decide which fits your photography style and budget best. Buckle in - for a journey across lenses, sensors, autofocus, and everything in between.

Putting the Bodies Side by Side: Size, Weight, and Handling

Size matters - a bit. Neither of these cameras aims to invade your pocket aggressively; instead, they lean toward portability and discreetness. Let’s bring out the tape measure.

The Samsung MV800 measures 92 x 56 x 10 mm and weighs an incredibly light 121 g - remarkably slim at just 10 mm depth. Meanwhile, the Sony TX30 is slightly chunkier at 96 x 59 x 15 mm and heftier at 141 g. This jump in thickness is primarily due to Sony’s environment sealing and some extra ruggedness elements.

Ergonomically, the MV800’s razor-thin frame gives it a slick, modern vibe but at the cost of somewhat limited grip comfort - common in ultra-thin compacts. The TX30, thicker by 5 mm, feels a bit more reassuring in hand, especially for longer sessions.

If pure pocketability and weight mean everything, Samsung’s MV800 steals the show here. If ruggedness and handling stability are your priority, the TX30’s bulkiness turns from a drawback into an advantage.

Design Philosophy: Controls and User Interface

Let’s move from “feel” to “function.” Button layout and control ergonomics can make or break the shooting experience, especially on compact cameras where space is at a premium.

Here’s a quick side-by-side of their top decks:

Samsung keeps things minimalist; the MV800 packs minimal buttons and a decidedly clean control set with a tilting touchscreen taking center stage. It lacks physical dials or modes for intricate exposure control, narrowing it to mostly point-and-shoot convenience.

Sony’s TX30 counters with a conservative control scheme - no touchscreen (though the screen itself is sharper and fixed) - but compensates with a physical shutter button sporting a half-press AF lock, and a multi-function dial that gives some manual focus options. Also, Sony’s interface offers a few more quick-access buttons and tactile feedback, making it friendlier for users craving a bit more manual engagement.

While neither camera boasts advanced manual exposure modes or customizable buttons, the TX30’s control layout feels slightly more versatile and tactile, something I appreciated when chasing critters or street scenes quickly.

Sensor Comparison: The Heart of the Matter

Both contenders rely on sensors typical of their compact class - 1/2.3-inch format - but their architectures differ significantly, impacting image quality and performance.

• Samsung MV800 features a 16MP CCD sensor sized at 6.17 x 4.55 mm, yielding a 28.07 mm² sensor area.
• Sony TX30 steps it up with an 18MP back-illuminated CMOS (BSI-CMOS) sensor, nearly identical in physical size at 6.16 x 4.62 mm but with improved sensitivity and efficiency, covering 28.46 mm².

Now, the difference between CCD and BSI-CMOS is noteworthy. CCD sensors, like in the MV800, historically deliver pleasing color rendition and low noise in controlled lighting but tend to falter in high-ISO, low-light scenarios and lack rapid readout speeds. The TX30's BSI-CMOS, leveraging back-side illumination, captures more light per pixel, offering better dynamic range, higher ISO usability, and faster data throughput, enabling features like 10 fps continuous shooting.

From my experience, the TX30 produces cleaner images at ISO 800 and above, while the MV800's images start to degrade noticeably beyond ISO 400 - a limitation worth noting if you shoot indoors or at events.

Screen Quality and Touch Interface: Seeing and Feeling Your Shot

A good rear screen can compensate greatly for the absence of a viewfinder in these compacts.

Samsung equips the MV800 with a 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen at 460k-dot resolution - adequate but not dazzling. The tilt mechanism lends compositional creativity, especially lower angles or overhead shots, and the touch interface supports AF point selection and intuitive menu navigation.

Sony’s TX30 sports a slightly larger 3.3-inch fixed OLED screen at an impressive 1229k-dot resolution with vibrant colors and superior contrast. Unfortunately, it lacks touch interface, relying on physical buttons and dials.

I found the TX30 screen far superior for image review and even framing, especially in sunlight. The MV800’s touchscreen was handy for quick focusing, but the lower resolution made fine details harder to judge on the fly.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: What’s in the Glass?

Both cameras share the same focal range: 26-130 mm equivalence with a 5x zoom. Samsung’s lens max aperture ranges from f/3.3 to f/5.9, whereas Sony’s is slightly faster, f/3.5 to f/4.8.

In practical terms, the TX30 lets in more light at full telephoto - useful for handheld zoomed shots or lower light - yielding sharper, less noisy results. The zoom mechanism on the Sony feels smoother, with less lens creep and darkness on the edges of images when zoomed in deeply.

Neither lens breaks new ground optically; expect standard sharpness in the center and softness creeping toward the corners wide open. Don’t expect professional-grade optics - these are convenience zooms designed for snapshots.

Autofocus Systems: Hunting or Snapping?

When it comes to autofocus, here’s where the cameras tell very different stories.

Samsung’s MV800 features contrast-detection autofocus with face detection and tracking capabilities. While the face detection worked acceptably in bright light on my tests, AF speed was - notably - on the slower side. It can be a bit of a patience game, particularly in dim or low-contrast scenes.

Sony’s TX30, surprisingly, forgoes face detection and tracking, relying on a more basic contrast-detection system with manual focus available. The autofocus is snappier than Samsung’s and is aided by the camera’s faster processor and enhanced sensor data flow.

Neither camera provides continuous AF for video or sophisticated eye detection autofocus found on higher-end models, so wildlife or fast-action sports photographers will likely look elsewhere for timing-critical shots.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Speeds

Burst rate is critical when capturing motion - sports, wildlife, or kids on the run. MV800’s specs list no continuous shooting mode, whereas the TX30 boasts up to 10 fps burst shooting, a standout feature.

Shutter speeds themselves range from:

• MV800: 8s to 1/2000s
• TX30: 4s to 1/1600s

The longer max shutter speed on Samsung suits long exposures like night photography better, albeit the lack of manual exposure controls limits creative time manipulation.

Thus, Sony gets the nod for action shooters who want to catch fleeting moments.

Image Samples in the Wild

Data and specs tell a story, but nothing beats real images side by side. Here’s a gallery showing various subjects - portraits, landscapes, macro shots, and indoor low light scenes.

Samsung MV800 screen back Sony TX30 screen back

Key takeaways:

• Portraits: Samsung’s skin tone reproduction felt a bit muted but smoother, likely thanks to CCD tonal gradation. Sony’s images looked sharper but sometimes too punchy.
• Landscapes: TX30 edges out with better detail retention and dynamic range.
• Macro: Both cameras struggle close-focus-wise, but Sony’s slightly faster lens helps.
• Low-light: Sony’s images show less noise and better clarity.
• Video: Samsung maxes at 720p30, whereas Sony shoots full HD 1080p at 50/60 fps, providing noticeably crisper, smoother footage.

Durability and Weather Resistance

For travel photographers and those venturing outdoors, a camera’s ruggedness is a huge consideration.

Surprisingly, only the Sony TX30 comes with environmental sealing, rated for splash- and dust-resistance - not waterproof, shockproof, or freezeproof but a definite plus.

The MV800 offers no weather sealing whatsoever.

If you’re prone to shooting on the move, in mixed weather, or in more adventurous conditions, the TX30’s durability will give you peace of mind.

Battery Life and Storage Flexibility

Both cameras run proprietary batteries:

• MV800 uses the BP70 battery, with undocumented official battery life but typical compact ranges around 200-300 shots per charge.
• TX30 battery stats are under the radar as well, but real-world testing indicates closer to 250 shots per charge.

Neither supports dual card slots; both rely on a single storage slot - Samsung uses Micro SD cards, while Sony’s spec is less explicit but also supports Micro SD.

For extended shooting sessions, extra batteries are recommended for either, as is custom in this category.

Connectivity and Extras: What About Sharing?

Connectivity today is king - or queen - for quick sharing. Neither camera offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC - so you’ll be tethered to USB 2.0 or removing your card for uploads.

Interestingly, Samsung includes HDMI output, ideal for slideshow display on HDTVs, which the Sony lacks.

Final Scorecard - How Do These Cameras Stack Up?

Here’s a summarized look at their strengths and weak spots:

Picking Your Best Compact: Who Should Buy What?

Portrait & General Snapshooters: Samsung MV800

If you prioritize a slim body with a smooth touchscreen and decent color reproduction for casual portraits, friends-and-family photos, and travel snapshots, the MV800 delivers a comfortable experience.

Its tilting screen makes creative framing easier, and optical stabilization aids in blur reduction. The lack of manual modes and slower autofocus might frustrate action or advanced users, but for straightforward point-and-shoot - this does the job.

Action, Outdoor, and Travel Enthusiasts: Sony TX30

Sony’s TX30 shines with faster sensor tech, superior video, and weather resistance. Its burst rate is ideal for capturing fleeting action and wildlife in decent light, and its tougher build lets you brave more unpredictable environments.

The OLED screen is a joy for composing and reviewing shots despite fixed and non-touch functionality. The higher max ISO helps with low light, although face detection absence means portraits may require more manual input.

How Do They Fare Across Photography Genres?

Just to give you a quick snapshot of where these cameras land for various genres:

• Portrait: MV800 edges out for natural skin tones; TX30 lags without face detection.
• Landscape: TX30 offers improved resolution and dynamic range.
• Wildlife: TX30’s quicker AF and burst wins.
• Sports: Only TX30 viable thanks to 10 fps mode.
• Street: MV800’s slimmer profile helpful but TX30’s ruggedness comforting.
• Macro: Neither a beast; TX30's lens slightly better.
• Night/Astro: MV800’s longer shutter advantage versus TX30’s better ISO.
• Video: TX30 clearly superior.
• Travel: TX30 offers build resilience, MV800 offers pocketability.
• Professional Work: Neither truly fits pro workflows; consider their use as backups or casual cams.

Conclusion: The Tale of Two Compacts

Both the Samsung MV800 and Sony TX30 are commendable compact cameras representing different philosophies in the early 2010s compact market.

Samsung’s MV800 champions slimness and touchscreen convenience with accessible color rendering - ideal for snapshot enthusiasts and casual travelers who want simplicity and style.

Sony’s TX30, meanwhile, brings serious competitive firepower with its BSI sensor, high-res OLED display, high-speed shooting, and environmental sealing - features that resonate better with action shooters, outdoor adventure seekers, and enthusiasts willing to compromise a bit on form factor for function.

If you’re on a budget and want rugged reliability with crisp video, the TX30’s new-ish technology and price point make it an outstanding choice. But if you prioritize a lightweight, sleek camera with a super user-friendly interface for quick selfies and day-to-day moments, the MV800 still holds appeal.

Choosing between these two boils down largely to your shooting priorities, hand feel, and budget. Happy shooting - and remember - it’s not always the newest tech but the camera you enjoy using that makes the best pictures!

Hope this honest hands-on comparison saves you some time and headache in your camera hunt. Feel free to reach out with your questions or shooting goals - always happy to nerd out over gear.