Samsung NX1 vs Sony A560: A Hands-On Comparison for Serious Photographers

When it comes to choosing a camera that fits your creative ambitions, it's never just about specs on paper. After testing thousands of cameras over my 15+ years behind the lens, I've learned that true insight comes from rolling up your sleeves - scrutinizing ergonomics, sensor performance, autofocus precision, and how it all feels in the unpredictable jazz of real-world shooting. Today, we’re pitting two very different APS-C bodies from distinct eras and design philosophies against each other: the Samsung NX1 (a 2014 pro mirrorless marvel) and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A560 (a 2010 entry-level DSLR).

If you’re wondering how these two stack up in 2024 - which is still worthy, given their price points and niches - settle in. We’ll dissect everything: sensors to workflows, burst rates to battery life, and where each shines depending on what you shoot. No marketing fluff here, just seasoned insights.

The First Impression: Size, Weight, and Ergonomics

Picking up a camera is like shaking hands - it’s a feeling, an unspoken promise about how comfortable you'll be spending hours with it.

Right out of the gate, the Samsung NX1 feels reassuringly solid and thoughtfully designed, boasting a SLR-style mirrorless body with robust environmental sealing. The Sony A560 is a compact DSLR with classic body lines but feels a little more budget-oriented, no sealing here.

At 139x102x66 mm and weighing 550g, the NX1 is surprisingly compact for a pro mirrorless shooter with advanced features. The Sony A560 clocks in slightly heavier at 599g and a chunkier 137x104x84 mm, primarily because of its pentamirror optical viewfinder and sturdier DSLR construction.

Handling-wise:

• NX1: Feels balanced, with a deep grip - excellent for longer telephoto setups.
• A560: Decent grip but somewhat blockier, typical of early-2010 DSLRs.

If you're the type to trek far and wide or shoot handheld for extended periods, the NX1's sleeker, lighter build might ease fatigue - though both are manageable.

Control Layout and User Interface: Finding Your Groove

A camera’s control scheme can make or break your shooting flow - no one wants to hunt for dials mid-action.

Samsung’s NX1 sports an illuminated top display, multiple control dials, and touchscreen LCD controls. This combination means you can tweak settings with minimal eye movement, which really helps in fast-paced shooting scenarios. The touchscreen’s responsiveness is a pleasant surprise - quick menu navigation and AF point selection is sensible and not a gimmick.

Sony’s A560, on the other hand, is more traditional. It combines physical dials and buttons but lacks touchscreen - remember, it launched in 2010 when touch was still a novelty on cameras. I did find myself fumbling a bit compared to the NX1 when changing custom settings on the fly. The rear LCD tilts, which is always handy for awkward angles.

The trade-off? If you appreciate modern UI essentials like touch and a detailed top screen, NX1 has the edge. The A560’s layout still works but demands more manual button presses - not ideal for rapid shooting.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The sensor is where the magic starts. Both cameras pack APS-C sensors but with very different technology and resolutions. Samsung’s NX1 sports a 28 Megapixel BSI-CMOS sensor, while the Sony A560 uses a 14 Megapixel CMOS sensor.

Testing both under controlled conditions, the NX1’s sensor screams "next-gen" for its time:

• Resolution: Nearly double - 28MP vs 14MP - means your landscape shots and portraits have more detail and cropping flexibility.
• Dynamic range: The NX1 boasts 13.2 stops vs Sony’s 12.3 stops per DxOMark scores - a subtle but meaningful difference when preserving highlight and shadow details in challenging scenes.
• Color depth: Samsung stretches slightly farther (24.2 bits vs 22.5 bits), yielding richer and more nuanced tones.
• Low-light performance: The NX1 is far superior with a low-light ISO score around 1363 compared to Sony’s 817. In practical terms, you can shoot cleaner images at higher ISOs, which is a godsend in night, wedding, or indoor gigs.

One caveat - the NX1 omits an antialiasing filter, which can boost sharpness but risks moiré in fine patterns. Sony, with its traditional AA filter, smooths out textures slightly but is less prone to false patterns.

In real-world use, I found the NX1’s images crisper, more vibrant, and ready for high-end print or editorial work straight out of the camera. The A560 still holds its own for web, social, and casual printing, but its lower resolution and dynamic range make it less forgiving in post.

The Viewfinder and Rear LCD: Seeing Is Believing

My testing uncovered a classic mirrorless vs DSLR battle here.

The NX1 uses a vivid 2360k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification. What’s revolutionary is that EVFs let you preview exposure, white balance, and even focus peaking live. The NX1’s EVF refresh rate and resolution make it nearly as natural as an optical finder, especially when your eyesight isn’t perfect.

Sony’s A560 sticks to its trusty optical pentamirror viewfinder with 95% coverage and around 0.53x magnification. Optical finder purists will appreciate the direct optical path with zero lag, but I noticed the slight crop and lower magnification make critical manual focus and composition more challenging.

The rear screens are both tilting 3-inch displays, but:

• The NX1 includes touchscreen focused on swift control (AF point selection, menu navigation), which I found intuitive and fast once acclimated.
• The A560’s screen isn’t touch-enabled and has a 922k-dot resolution compared to NX1’s marginally higher 1036k-dot display, so images look a bit brighter and sharper on Samsung’s unit.

For outdoor shooting or focus-critical tasks, the NX1’s EVF is a winner in my book - offering professional flexibility. But if you prefer optical clarity and zero artifacting, the Sony remains solid considering its age.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus can be a dealbreaker when you’re chasing subjects in wildlife, sports, or even candid street moments. Here’s where the two diverge strongly.

Samsung’s NX1 packs 209 AF points with 153 cross-type sensors, combining phase detection and contrast detection for hybrid, lightning-fast AF. Its Eye Detection AF is a bonus for portrait shooters focusing on eyes with accuracy, though no animal eye AF is an omission compared to today’s cameras.

Sony’s A560 offers a much more modest 15 AF points (3 cross-type) with phase detection only, and no Eye AF or face tracking. Continuous AF exists but with far less sophistication or speed.

In field tests, the NX1’s AF system locks focus almost instantly - tracking erratic bird movement or a sprinter on a soccer pitch was surprisingly stress-free. The A560 sometimes struggled in continuous focus, especially with fast subjects or lower contrast scenes.

If your photography revolves around wildlife, sports, or dynamic portraits, the NX1’s autofocus is a game-changer compared to the A560’s beginner-level system.

Burst Shooting and Buffer: Catching the Decisive Moment

Burst rate and buffer depth are underrated but crucial for sports and action shooters.

• Samsung NX1: Impressive 15 frames per second (fps) continuous shooting.
• Sony A560: A modest 5 fps.

During tests, I pushed both cameras shooting moving cars and wildlife. The NX1 offered silky smooth, fast bursts without buffer slowdown, enabling you to nail peak moments. The A560’s burst rate is adequate for casual use, but falls short for serious action work where fractions of a second count.

If you’re focused on speed and burst accuracy, the NX1’s specs here align with mid-level pro cameras, while Sony’s A560 is better suited for static or portrait tasks.

Image Stabilization and Lens Ecosystem: What’s Your Arsenal?

Neither camera has in-body stabilization on the NX1, relying on lens stabilization if available, whereas the Sony A560 does feature sensor-based stabilization, which can be a boon for handheld shooting with non-stabilized lenses.

Regarding lenses:

• Samsung’s NX mount has 32 lenses, a small yet decent line-up focusing on modern optics and fast primes. Sharpness and build quality in Samsung’s prime lenses really impressed me - especially for portraits and low light.
• Sony’s Minolta Alpha mount boasts 143 lenses, including many legacy A-mount options, offering huge lens variety from ultra-wide to super-telephoto, both new and used.

That said, Sony’s A-mount line was kind of in limbo after mirrorless really took over, so future lens development stalled. Samsung’s ecosystem, while smaller, includes highly modern lenses optimized for mirrorless.

If your priority is glass variety, Sony holds an edge historically, but if you want modern, high-performing optics, Samsung’s NX lineup punches above its weight.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Stills

For photographers who dabble or go deep into video, the specifications tell an interesting story.

Samsung NX1 shoots 4K UHD (3840×2160 at 30p) and even DCI 4K (4096×2160 at 24p) with HEVC/H.265 encoding - impressive for a 2014 camera. It supports clean HDMI output, microphone and headphone jacks, and offers various frame rates up to 60p for Full HD.

Sony A560 maxes out at Full HD 1080p (60 fps), recorded in MPEG-4, AVCHD, or H.264, with a microphone port but no headphone jack and no 4K.

In my own shoots, the NX1’s video files had richer detail and retained highlight/shadow info better, making it more useable for semi-professional to prosumer work. The A560’s video is functional but notably limited for today’s video standards.

Weather Sealing and Durability

The NX1 is weather-sealed against dust and moisture - an essential feature if you’re shooting landscapes in the rain or wildlife in dusty environments. Sony A560 lacks all environmental sealing, making it more vulnerable to adverse conditions.

Battery Life and Storage Options

An intriguing battle here:

• Sony A560 offers a whopping 1050 shots per charge, excellent for day-long events or travel without constant recharging.
• Samsung NX1 delivers a solid but shorter 500 shots per charge.

Remember, faster burst, higher-resolution EVF, and touchscreen on the NX1 are more power-hungry - so that shorter battery life is baked in.

Storage-wise:

• NX1 has a single SD slot compatible with UHS-I/II cards.
• A560 has two slots: SD and Sony’s Memory Stick Pro Duo. Dual slots are a plus for professionals needing backup or extended storage flexibility.

Shooting Across Genres: Where Does Each Camera Shine?

Let’s plot the cameras across common photography styles:

Portraits

• NX1: Eye AF, high resolution, better dynamic range for skin tones, and fast lens options give it strong advantages. Bokeh is creamy and focus precision excellent.
• A560: Adequate for casual portraits, but slower AF and lower resolution make it less competitive.

Landscapes

• NX1: The high-res sensor and wide dynamic range work for richly detailed, crisp panoramas.
• A560: Solid but lower resolution dulls large prints; no weather sealing reduces outdoor comfort.

Wildlife

• NX1: Fast AF, high burst rate, and silent shutter modes help capture skittish subjects.
• A560: Limited AF points and burst speed; struggles with fast subjects.

Sports

• NX1: Top marks for continuous autofocus and fps.
• A560: Slower AF and 5fps burst suitable only for few sports.

Street Photography

• NX1: Sleek body, EVF offers shooting in any light; slight bulk may be noticed.
• A560: Bulkier but optical finder has zero lag - preferred by some street shooters.

Macro

• Both cameras lack focus stacking or bracketing features and rely on lenses; NX1’s touchscreen AF and higher res give it an edge.

Night/Astro

• NX1’s higher ISO performance and longer exposures are preferable.

Video

• NX1’s 4K video trumps A560’s HD.

Travel

• NX1 weighs less and seals better, but battery life can be limiting.
• A560’s dual cards and longer battery life are travel-friendly but less versatile otherwise.

Price and Value: What’s Your Budget?

At launch, NX1 was $1500; A560 about $650 - a steep price gulf reflecting their target markets.

Today, used prices vary widely but the A560 remains an affordable gateway DSLR, great for beginners or hobbyists. The NX1 appeals to enthusiasts needing pro-grade features without stepping into full-frame territory.

Summary Ratings: Who Wins?

Broadly speaking:

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Fits You?

If you’re a serious enthusiast or pro looking for high-resolution images, nimble autofocus, and 4K video - and don’t mind spending a bit more - the Samsung NX1 is a fantastic all-around performer with features that still impress nearly a decade post-launch.

In contrast, if your budget is tight, you’re learning photography basics, or you prefer the optical viewfinder and longer battery life for casual or hobby use, the Sony A560 remains a reliable old friend.

My Practical Recommendation

• Buy the Samsung NX1 if: You shoot action, wildlife, video, portraits, or landscapes professionally or as an advanced hobby. You'll appreciate the speed, image quality, and modern controls.
• Opt for the Sony A560 if: You want an affordable DSLR with good battery life and decent image quality for everyday use, travel, or learning manual controls without breaking the bank.

Before You Click "Buy"

One last tip from years of field experience: try holding these cameras yourself, if possible, as personal preference on grip and layout can outweigh specs on paper. Also, consider lens availability and what you already own.

Both cameras offer strong APS-C platforms but for different levels of engagement and photography sophistication. Whichever you pick, mastering your tools will always trump model specs for truly stunning images.

Samsung NX1 front Samsung NX1 screen back Sony A560 front Sony A560 screen back

Thanks for reading this in-depth, practical comparison. If you want more insights on lenses, accessories, or workflow integration for either system, reach out anytime - nothing beats shared experience when hunting for your perfect camera match.

Happy shooting!