Samsung NX1000 vs Sony HX30V: A Hands-On Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

When two cameras hail from different categories - one an entry-level mirrorless with an APS-C sensor, the other a compact superzoom with a small sensor - making sense of their strengths and use cases can be tricky. Over my 15+ years testing cameras across genres, I’ve often encountered photographers stumped by choices between seemingly disparate models. Today, I'll share my thorough, real-world comparison of the Samsung NX1000 and Sony Cyber-shot HX30V, guiding you from sensor tech to shooting experience and suitability across photography styles.

I've shot extensively with both over multiple weeks in varied lighting and subject conditions - so you get authentic insight beyond specs. Let’s dig in.

Size, Handling, and Ergonomics: Form Meets Function

First impressions matter, especially when you’re on the move or in demanding scenarios. The Samsung NX1000 and Sony HX30V differ radically in form and feel.

Samsung’s rangefinder-style mirrorless is more compact but definitely chunkier than Sony’s slim superzoom compact.

The NX1000 measures 114 x 63 x 37 mm and weighs in at 222 g. It boasts classic rangefinder styling with a noticeable grip, though modest by mirrorless standards. Its Samsung NX mount lets you swap lenses, an important factor for enthusiasts craving versatility.

Meanwhile, the Sony HX30V is a compact point-and-shoot style camera at 107 x 62 x 35 mm and a slightly heavier 254 g. The fixed lens spans an impressive zoom range but limits tactile customization.

Both cameras sport 3-inch fixed TFT LCD screens (NX1000 with 921k dots, HX30V with 922k dots), but the NX1000’s display is understandably more utilitarian without touchscreen capability or articulating mechanisms. The HX30V’s screen delivers excellent contrast thanks to Sony’s “XtraFine TruBlack” tech, enhancing clarity in bright environments.

Sony’s compactness and slim silhouette suit street shooters craving stealth and portability, while Samsung’s mirrorless body offers better ergonomics for deliberate framing - especially with larger lenses attached.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

At the soul of every camera lies its sensor. Here, the Samsung NX1000 clearly takes a leap ahead with a 23.5 x 15.7 mm APS-C CMOS sensor offering 20 MP resolution and an anti-aliasing filter to tame moiré.

Relative sensor size difference between APS-C in the NX1000 vs 1/2.3” sensor in the HX30V dramatically impacts noise and dynamic range.

The Sony HX30V utilizes a much smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring just 6.17 x 4.55 mm, with an 18 MP effective resolution. While BSI technology improves low light sensitivity compared to older designs, physical pixel size remains much smaller, impacting noise and detail retention.

I subjected both to my standard lab and real-world image quality tests. In daylight, the NX1000’s larger sensor delivered cleaner images with superior dynamic range and color fidelity, reproducing subtle gradations in shadows and highlights. Skin tones in portraits maintained natural warmth without oversaturation - a critical factor for portrait photographers.

The HX30V performed admirably in good light, but its smaller sensor resulted in more smudging of fine textures and less nuanced tonal transitions. Noise became progressively more evident above ISO 800. However, its 20x zoom lens compensates by offering versatile framing without swapping lenses.

In practical shooting, landscapes captured on the NX1000 brimmed with detail and excellent color separation, while the HX30V’s images, albeit less detailed, presented pleasing JPEGs good for casual sharing or travel snapshots.

Autofocus Systems Compared: Precision vs Speed

Autofocus (AF) is a make-or-break point depending on your genre preference. I tested both cameras under various focusing scenarios - low light, moving subjects, and precise spot focusing.

The Samsung NX1000 uses contrast-detection AF with 15 focus points, plus face detection. While contrast detect systems lag behind phase detect in speed, I found the NX1000’s AF sufficiently snappy for everyday shootings, responding well in still and portrait settings but slower to lock when hunting in dimmer conditions.

The Sony HX30V also utilizes contrast detect AF but with only 9 sensors. Its standout here is its continuous AF tracked moving subjects well for a compact camera, albeit with some search tendency under challenging light. I noticed the HX30V's AF excelled for casual wildlife and sports shooting at moderate distances during the zoom, helped by stable grip and faster burst rate.

Neither camera has advanced hybrid AF nor phase detection, which limits their sports and wildlife capability compared to modern mirrorless models. Still, the HX30V's 10 fps continuous burst surpasses the NX1000’s 8 fps, useful when capturing fleeting action.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance

Both cameras are designed primarily for casual to enthusiast use, without professional ruggedization.

The NX1000’s build is plastic-based with a matte finish and lacks weather sealing. It feels solid but fragile compared to robust DSLRs or higher-end mirrorless. The lack of any dust or splash resistance limits outdoor use in adverse conditions.

The HX30V’s compact body also lacks weather sealing. Its design protects against dust to some extent but expects owners to keep it dry.

In summary: neither camera suits harsh environments or professional-heavy workloads, but my experience showed the NX1000 requires a bit more care given its interchangeable lenses and exposed mount.

Controls and Interface: Intuitive or Clunky?

User interface affects how quickly you can respond to changing shoot conditions.

Samsung’s NX1000 puts primary controls on a dial near the shutter, while Sony’s HX30V centers around a mode dial and a zoom rocker on the lens.

The NX1000 offers familiar PASM modes, exposure compensation dial, and manual focus with focus peaking absent (a 2012-era limitation). Physical buttons are minimal but logically arranged. I found the lack of an electronic viewfinder challenging outdoors despite the rear LCD’s brightness.

The Sony HX30V has no electronic viewfinder either but boasts a simple mode dial, zoom rocker, and quick access buttons, carried over from Sony’s Cyber-shot design lineage. Its menus are approachable for beginners yet flexible enough for enthusiasts.

Neither camera features touchscreen input, which is a drawback by today’s standards but typical for its era.

Lens and Zoom Flexibility

For me, lens options can be a deal-maker or breaker, depending on photographic ambitions.

The Samsung NX1000 uses the Samsung NX mount with access to 32 lenses ranging from fisheye primes to telephotos - largely third-party and Samsung’s own optics. This variety invites experimentation for portraits, macro, or wide scenes. The crop factor of 1.5x also means lenses behave differently than full frame, which can be a creative tool.

Conversely, the Sony HX30V comes with a fixed 25-500 mm (20x) zoom lens with a variable aperture of f/3.2-5.8. This superzoom lens covers everything from wide landscapes to distant wildlife or sports. Built-in optical stabilization helps at longer focal lengths, an asset given the small sensor size.

While a fixed lens constrains creativity compared to NX1000, the HX30V suiting travel and walk-around scenarios where lens changing is impractical.

Stability and Flash: Tackling Motion and Low Light

Neither model sports in-body image stabilization (IBIS), but:

• Sony HX30V relies on Optical Image Stabilization in the lens, crucial at long zooms and handheld video.
• Samsung NX1000 has no stabilization, so effectiveness depends on lens used.

Both cameras provide built-in flashes with various modes, but the NX1000 notably does not include a built-in flash - you must attach an external one via hot shoe. This can be a limitation for casual use but a boon for professionals wanting off-camera control.

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras use removable batteries typical for their class. The NX1000’s BC1030 battery delivers about 320 shots per charge, comparable to HX30V’s NP-BG1 battery life.

Each has a single slot for SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the Sony adds support for Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick format - a niche but useful feature if you own legacy cards.

For extended shoots and travel, carrying spares will be essential for both.

Connectivity and Extras

Both feature built-in Wi-Fi, enabling easy image transfer to smartphones or tablets - especially useful in the NX1000 for photographers wanting quick sharing options.

The HX30V provides built-in GPS for geotagging - a fantastic bonus for travel photographers logging locations. Both support HDMI and USB 2.0 connectivity.

Video Capabilities: What’s Behind the Scenes?

Videographers will appreciate the differences here.

• The NX1000 shoots 1080p at 30 fps and other HD resolutions in H.264/MPEG-4, with manual exposure control and face detection for video.
• The HX30V ups the ante with 1080p at 60 fps, plus AVCHD recording for higher quality compression. Optical stabilization also enhances hand-held capture smoothness.

Neither camera offers external microphone inputs or headphone outputs, limiting audio control options.

Real-World Shooting Scenarios: Who Thrives Where?

Let’s break down performance based on specific photographic genres.

Portrait Photography

The NX1000’s large sensor yields excellent skin tone rendition and natural background blur when paired with fast primes. Face detection helps lock focus on eyes, though no dedicated eye AF exists.

The HX30V, by contrast, offers less bokeh due to small sensor but compensates with decent face detection and a versatile zoom for candid and environmental portraits.

Landscape Photography

Thanks to superior dynamic range and resolution, the NX1000 is the standout for landscapes, capturing crisp, detailed files ready for large prints.

The HX30V handles wide scenes acceptably but lacks the fine detail and subtle tonality achievable with APS-C sensors.

Wildlife Photography

The HX30V’s impressive 20x zoom and good AF tracking cater well to casual wildlife shooting, despite smaller sensor noise at higher ISO.

In contrast, the NX1000’s interchangeable lens mount means you can fit dedicated telephotos to improve reach and image quality but at the cost of heavier, bulkier gear.

Sports Photography

Neither is ideal for professional sports, but the HX30V’s faster burst mode of 10 fps and decent AF tracking edge out the NX1000’s 8 fps with limited tracking.

Street Photography

Sony’s compact size and stealth profile shine here, allowing discreet shooting. The NX1000 requires a bit more intentionality but produces higher image quality.

Macro Photography

Samsung’s lens ecosystem includes dedicated macro lenses offering better magnification and focusing precision than the HX30V’s fixed lens. However, the HX30V’s 1cm macro target distance is great for casual close-ups.

Night and Astro Photography

The APS-C sensor of the NX1000 manages high ISO noise better and supports longer exposures without significant hot pixels, aiding night scenes and star shots.

The HX30V suffers at high ISO; while optical stabilization helps with hand-shake, sensor noise limits astro potential.

Video Work

Sony’s 1080p 60fps with optical stabilization outperforms the NX1000’s 30 fps, producing smoother home movies and web videos.

Travel Photography

The HX30V’s all-in-one superzoom design and GPS are perfect travel companions who prioritize portability and range.

The NX1000 offers greater creative scope but demands more gear and care.

Professional Use

Neither camera meets the mark for professional daily work - lack of weather sealing, electronic viewfinders, and limited workflow integration constrain them. Nonetheless, the NX1000’s RAW support, manual controls, and lens interchangeability offer a weaker but still viable entry point for budget-conscious pros.

Samsung NX1000 screen back Sony HX30V front Sony HX30V screen back

My Testing Methodology: How I Compare Cameras

To ensure fairness and accuracy:

• I shot identical scenes side-by-side in RAW and JPEG.
• Used standardized controlled lighting and diverse real-world scenarios.
• Applied same ISO settings across cameras.
• Evaluated autofocus repeatability and speed using both static and moving targets.
• Tested battery life through continuous shooting and video recording.
• Analyzed image files in Adobe Lightroom and DXO Mark labs.

This approach yields nuanced, reliable insights rather than superficial spec quoting.

Overall Performance Ratings

Genre-Specific Suitability Scores

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Choosing between the Samsung NX1000 and Sony HX30V comes down to your priorities.

• Pick the Samsung NX1000 if you:

  • Value high image quality and low noise from an APS-C sensor.
  • Want to explore interchangeable lenses and manual control.
  • Shoot portraits, landscapes, macro, or night scenes needing dynamic range.
  • Are comfortable carrying additional lenses and gear.
  • Don’t mind the lack of built-in flash or in-body stabilization.

• Pick the Sony HX30V if you:

  • Need an all-in-one compact travel companion with huge zoom reach.
  • Prioritize versatility over pixel-peeping image quality.
  • Desire built-in GPS and optical image stabilization.
  • Want decent full HD video at 60 fps.
  • Value ease, portability, and burst speed for casual wildlife or street photography.

In my experience, both cameras have held their own despite being nearly a decade old, each serving distinct niches well. If you want a foot into mirrorless creativity and image quality, Samsung NX1000 is the way - provided you accept bulkier handling and some limitations. For point-and-shoot versatility with an extended zoom and reliable AF, the Sony HX30V remains a compelling choice.

Whichever one you pick, approach your photography with curiosity and patience - it’s your vision, not just the camera, that crafts timeless images.

I hope this deep dive helps you make your camera decision confidently! If you have follow-up questions or want recommendations on lenses or accessories, feel free to reach out.

Happy shooting!