Samsung NX1000 vs Sony a1

In this article, we will be evaluating the Samsung NX1000 vs Sony a1, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the NX1000 (20MP) and a1 (50MP) and the NX1000 (APS-C) and a1 (Full frame) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The NX1000 was revealed 9 years before the a1 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Samsung NX1000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the NX1000 grades versus the a1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Samsung NX1000 & Sony Alpha a1. The full galleries are viewable at Samsung NX1000 Gallery & Sony a1 Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Samsung NX1000 features physical dimensions of 114mm x 63mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5") with a weight of 222 grams (0.49 lbs) while the Sony a1 has measurements of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

See the Samsung NX1000 vs Sony a1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the NX1000 against the a1.

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the NX1000 and a1 is 90 and 61 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through a spec sheet. The image below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX1000 and a1.

Clearly, both the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The NX1000 using its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Sony a1 will result in extra detail because of its extra 30 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged NX1000 will be behind in sensor tech.