Samsung NX100 vs Sony H200

Samsung NX100 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200: A Technical Comparison for Discerning Photographers

In the landscape of digital imaging, understanding the nuanced differences between cameras targeting distinct market niches is essential for professional and enthusiast photographers alike. This comparative analysis scrutinizes the Samsung NX100, an entry-level mirrorless system camera introduced in 2010, against the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200, a 2013 bridge superzoom model designed for convenience and extended focal reach. By dissecting core attributes including sensor technology, autofocus, ergonomics, and versatility, this article equips serious photographers with evidence-based insights tailored to optimized purchasing decisions.

Physical Attributes and Ergonomics: Feel the Difference

The NX100 and H200 occupy contrasting form factors reflective of their divergent design philosophies. The NX100’s rangefinder-style mirrorless body offers compactness and lightweight handling, weighing only 282 grams with dimensions 120 x 71 x 35 mm. This promotes handheld comfort and portability pivotal for long shooting sessions or travel photography. Conversely, the bulkier Sony H200, with a DSLR-imitating bridge camera design, weighs 530 grams and measures 123 x 83 x 87 mm, incorporating a protruding superzoom barrel that impacts balance and grip ergonomics noticeably.

The NX100’s minimalist control scheme is augmented by a simplified button layout and a thoughtfully placed shutter release, favoring photographers preferring manual adjustments and tactile feedback. Meanwhile, the Sony’s larger footprint translates into a more robust grip surface but compromises pocketability and primacy in quick-reaction shooting scenarios.

Evaluating the top control surfaces elucidates these distinctions further:

The NX100 implements dedicated dials for shutter and aperture priority modes alongside customizable buttons that streamline exposure adjustments - key to experienced users who value manual control. In contrast, the H200 forgoes traditional exposure modes, relying instead on Automated and Program modes conducive to beginners or casual shooters, emphasizing simplicity over fine-tuned parameter control.

Sensor Technology and Image Generation: Quality vs. Quantity

Sensor performance underpins every photographic outcome. The Samsung NX100 is equipped with a 15 MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.4 x 15.6 mm, providing a substantial 365 mm² sensor surface area. This size advantage facilitates superior light gathering, dynamic range, and color depth - core qualities validated in standardized testing by DXOMark scoring an overall rating of 62, with notable color depth at 22.6 bits and a dynamic range of 10.7 EV.

Its native ISO range (100-6400) allows diverse shooting conditions, complemented by anti-aliasing filters mitigating moiré without significantly compromising resolution integrity.

Contrastingly, the Sony H200’s imaging array utilizes a 20 MP 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, drastically smaller in dimension (6.17 x 4.55 mm) with a total surface area of 28 mm². Despite the higher nominal megapixel count, the performance yields are constrained by sensor size limitations, which inherently restrict dynamic range and low-light efficacy. Sony’s CCD sensor integrates an anti-aliasing filter but maxes out at ISO 3200, curbing flexibility in dim environments.

While the H200 offers 5184 x 2920 pixel resolution optimized for 4:3 aspect ratio, the Samsung’s 4592 x 3056 pixels in 3:2 aspect ratio generally provide more usable native detail, particularly for output demanding sharpness and minimal noise.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Responsiveness in Focus

Autofocus proficiency is crucial across disciplines - portraiture demanding precise eye detection, wildlife requiring rapid tracking, and sports necessitating continuous acquisition accuracy.

The Samsung NX100 employs a contrast-detection AF system featuring 15 focus points including face detection and multi-area selection. Its ability to perform continuous AF and selective AF enhances compositional flexibility. However, it lacks phase-detection or hybrid autofocus technology, which limits tracking fluidity during fast motion or erratic subject trajectories. The absence of animal eye AF diminishes effectiveness for dedicated wildlife shooters.

Sony’s H200 relies on a contrast-detection AF system with unclear focus point quantity but maintains face detection and center-weighted AF area selection. It supports AF tracking but does not facilitate continuous AF due to hardware constraints, impacting sports and active subject capture capabilities adversely. Moreover, since the H200 utilizes a fixed lens with a broad zoom range, its autofocus speed varies considerably depending on focal length, often slowing at telephoto extremes - an important factor during urgent framing.

Build Quality and Environmental Durability

Neither camera provides environmental sealing or weatherproofing measures, which must be considered by professionals working in demanding outdoor conditions.

The NX100’s metal-reinforced chassis offers enhanced structural integrity relative to its ultra-lightweight construct, while the Sony H200 incorporates predominantly polycarbonate materials, yielding a more budget orientation with limited ruggedness under mechanical stress or adverse conditions.

Handling and User Interface: Operational Fluidity

Both cameras feature 3-inch display panels critical to composing, focusing, and image review.

The NX100’s VGA AMOLED fixed screen with a resolution of 614k dots delivers vibrant color reproduction and high contrast ratios, facilitating accurate image assessment and menu navigation even under bright sunlight. Its interface design supports tactile feedback from physical buttons and dials, enabling confident operation without reliance on touchscreen modalities.

The Sony H200’s ClearPhoto LCD panel, rated at 460k dots, is less sharp and prone to glare, which may require auxiliary shading in outdoor use. The lack of touchscreen impedes rapid interface access. Moreover, the absence of any electronic viewfinder diminishes compositional accuracy in direct sunlit environments where LCD visibility deteriorates.

Lens Ecosystem and Optical Versatility

Lens interchangeability constitutes a pivotal consideration depending on creative requirements.

Samsung’s NX mount system supports a range of approximately 32 native lenses, spanning prime, zoom, macro, and specialized optics. This versatility offers photographers the ability to optimize image quality and stylistic expression through glass selection. The system’s APS-C sensor aligns closely with industry standards, easing cross-brand lens adaptation possibilities.

The Sony H200, by design, is a fixed lens camera featuring an extended 24-633 mm (26.4x optical zoom equivalent) lens with variable aperture from f/3.1 to f/5.9. While this superzoom capability is unmatched for reach and convenience, image quality trade-offs manifest at telephoto extremes due to optical compromises inherent in bridge camera zooms, i.e., edge softness, chromatic aberrations, and increased distortion.

The H200’s optical image stabilization is a notable advantage within the lens domain, mitigating handshake effects during telephoto handheld shooting, an area where the NX100 depends on sensor-based stabilization alone.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance

Speed is central to sports, wildlife, and event photography disciplines.

The NX100 supports a continuous shooting speed of 3 frames per second (fps), sufficient for casual action sequences but falling short for high-speed tracking scenarios. Its shutter speed ranges from 30 sec to 1/4000 sec, granting exposure control suited for diverse lighting situations including long exposures.

In contrast, the Sony H200 offers an 8 fps burst mode, an improvement in frame rate attributable to its bridge camera classification. However, shutter speeds max out at 1/1500 sec, limiting the ability to freeze very rapid motion or shoot wide-open lenses in bright daylight without neutral density filtration. Additionally, the H200’s reliance on limited exposure modes (no manual or shutter/aperture priority modes) constrains full user control during action capture.

Video Recording Capabilities: Beyond Stills

Both cameras provide HD video recording with maximum resolutions of 1280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps. The NX100 encodes via H.264 codec, while the Sony H200 supports MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats, potentially offering higher compression efficiency.

Neither model features 4K video, external microphone input, or headphone jacks, limiting advanced video production aspirations. The NX100’s image stabilization aids in handheld video steadiness passively compared to Sony’s optical stabilization system. However, the lack of touchscreen focus control and manual video exposure modes on both cameras reduce creative versatility for videographers.

Specialized Photography Disciplines: Evaluating Use-Case Suitability

Portrait Photography: Samsung’s face detection AF and larger sensor provide superior skin tone rendition and natural bokeh effects due to the APS-C sensor's ability to generate narrower depth of field. The Sony H200’s small sensor limits background separation and smoothness of blur, often manifesting as busier bokeh.

Landscape Photography: The NX100’s wider dynamic range and higher resolution enable retention of shadow and highlight detail critical to expansive scenic compositions. Although the H200’s zoom ranges facilitate framing convenience, its limited sensor size and lens quality compromise fine textural detail and color fidelity.

Wildlife Photography: The H200’s extensive zoom reaches up to 633 mm equivalent focal length, filling a telephoto niche lacking in the NX100 without additional lenses. Nevertheless, the NX100’s superior image quality and faster, more accurate AF make it more capable in situations requiring rapid focal adjustments and high image integrity.

Sports Photography: Sony’s 8 fps burst is attractive but the limited exposure modes and slow autofocus detract from consistent capture success. The NX100’s manual controls suit skilled users balancing exposure and focusing demands, though its 3 fps frame rate is modest.

Street Photography: The NX100’s compact body and quiet shooting experience outmatch the bulkier, less discreet H200, making it preferable for candid and urban reportage applications.

Macro Photography: Although neither camera has specialized macro capabilities, the NX100’s interchangeable lenses provide the opportunity to utilize dedicated macro optics offering closer minimum focus distances and higher magnifications compared to the H200’s fixed zoom lens with a 20 cm macro focus limit.

Night and Astrophotography: The Samsung’s higher native ISO ceiling and better dynamic range render it more adept under low-light and star field conditions, whereas the Sony’s smaller sensor area results in elevated noise and decreased ability to capture subtle luminance gradients.

Travel Photography: Portability favors the NX100, yet the H200’s all-in-one zoom flexibility without lens changes caters to travellers prioritizing convenience above ultimate image quality.

Professional Workflows: The NX100 supports RAW format capturing, offering extensive post-processing flexibility and integration in professional pipelines. The H200’s JPG-only storage restricts post-capture adjustment potential. Additionally, the NX100’s USB connectivity and optional electronic viewfinder accessories provide incremental workflow enhancements.

Battery and Storage Considerations

The NX100 employs a proprietary BP1130 lithium-ion battery delivering approximately 420 shots per charge, aligning with mirrorless camera standards and enabling lengthy shooting intervals without frequent recharging.

In contrast, the Sony H200 uses four AA batteries with a rated capacity of approximately 240 shots - a naturally less efficient power ecosystem prone to accelerated depletion but universally replaceable and convenient for extended travels where recharging infrastructure is inaccessible.

Both cameras utilize single storage card slots, with the NX100 supporting SD/SDHC formats and the Sony offering SD/SDHC/SDXC and Memory Stick compatibility, thus affording broader media versatility.

Connectivity Options and Wireless Features

Neither camera incorporates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC technologies, elements increasingly valuable for instant image transfer, remote control, and cloud integration. HDMI output is available on the NX100 but absent on the H200, facilitating direct connection to external displays for full-resolution playback or tethered shooting advantages.

Value and Pricing Analysis

At launch, the Samsung NX100 retailed near $386, positioning it as an entry-level but expandable mirrorless platform with significant growth potential through lens acquisition.

The Sony H200’s sub-$250 price point appeals to budget-conscious consumers seeking extensive zoom reach and convenience within a single package.

Samsung NX100 screen back Sony H200 front Sony H200 screen back

Performance Differentiation Across Photography Genres

The NX100 consistently outperforms the Sony H200 in image quality, low-light performance, and professional capabilities due to its sensor size and manual controls. Conversely, the H200 excels in telephoto zoom versatility and capturing distant subjects under favorable lighting but defaults in image fidelity and creative flexibility.

Conclusion: Choosing Based on Priorities and Practice

The Samsung NX100 is the superior candidate for photography enthusiasts and professionals who require manual exposure control, interchangeable lens benefits, high image quality, and RAW format capability. Its strong low-light sensitivity and better ergonomics serve advanced portrait, landscape, macro, and travel scenarios well. The camera’s modest continuous shooting speed and lack of weather sealing limit its appeal for high-demand sports and rugged outdoor use.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H200 answers the call of shooters prioritizing long-range zoom convenience within a low-cost, all-in-one package for casual wildlife and telephoto needs. Its reliance on a small sensor and fixed lens, combined with simplified control schemes, relegates it below the NX100 for serious image quality and creative authorship, but attractive for beginners or as a secondary travel camera.

Informed purchasing requires evaluating workflow requirements, genre-specific expectations, and investment flexibility. Photographers committed to progressive skill development and future system growth will find the NX100 an enduring platform worthy of consideration. Those aiming for ease of use and telephoto reach without accessories may consider the Sony H200 an expedient alternative.

This comprehensive appraisal distills technical specifications, real-world performance, and photography discipline suitability, encapsulating the practical ramifications of each model’s design choices through experienced, hands-on evaluation.