Samsung NX1000 vs Sony WX80: A Hands-On Comparison for the Savvy Photographer

When it comes to hunting down the best camera on a budget, it’s easy to get lost in specs sheets that feel like rocket science. Having put thousands of cameras through their paces over the past 15 years, I know what really makes a difference in real-world photography. Today, we’re looking at two distinct, affordable options from the early 2010s: the Samsung NX1000, an entry-level mirrorless with interchangeable lenses, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX80, a compact point-and-shoot with a fixed zoom lens.

These two cameras serve very different camps, yet both promise versatility at wallet-friendly prices. So, which one deserves your hard-earned cash? Read on as I break down everything from image quality and autofocus to ergonomics and shooting styles - with honest takeaways to guide your decision.

Size, Build, and Handling: Clubs for Your Thumbs?

If you care about portability without completely sacrificing manual controls, size and ergonomics matter. The Samsung NX1000 is a classic rangefinder-style mirrorless that feels substantial yet not overbearing at 114 x 63 x 37 mm and 222 grams. The fixed lens compact Sony WX80 is smaller and lighter at 92 x 52 x 22 mm and 124 grams, noticeably pocketable and travel-friendly.

Ergonomically, the NX1000 sports a thoughtfully laid-out control set but lacks weather sealing or robust construction. It’s plastic through and through, with a decent grip that avoids feeling toy-like - a pleasant surprise for an entry-level system. The WX80, meanwhile, feels like a simple, streamlined gadget, ideal for grandparents or casual shooters who detest complexity. Both cameras have fixed LCDs: the NX1000’s 3-inch 921k-dot TFT LCD is bigger and more detailed vs. Sony’s 2.7-inch 230k-dot screen, which looks dated and struggles in bright light.

The NX1000’s physical interface offers more clubs for your thumbs - dedicated dials and buttons for exposure compensation, aperture, shutter priority, and ISO. Sony’s control scheme is minimal with no manual exposure modes, leaving you mostly at the mercy of its programmed auto modes and limited white balance tweaking.

Bottom line: if big hands, versatility, and better manual control matter, NX1000 wins the feel test despite its bulk. If ultralight carry and absolute simplicity top your checklist, the WX80’s charm is undeniable.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: More Than Megapixels

One of the most critical differentiators here is the sensor size. The NX1000 sports an APS-C sized CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.7 mm delivering 20 megapixels, while the Sony WX80 relies on a tiny 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) packing 16 megapixels.

As I always emphasize in real testing, sensor size dramatically influences dynamic range, depth of field control, low-light performance, and overall image quality. The NX1000’s APS-C sensor is more than 13 times larger in surface area than the WX80’s tiny sensor, which means cleaner images, better noise control, and the ability to separate subject from background with creamy bokeh.

Samsung’s sensor boasts a native ISO range of 100-12800 with a modest DxO Mark score overall of 72 - which still smokes most compacts. It offers a respectable dynamic range of 12.4 EV and color depth of 22.8 bits, translating to richer, more nuanced images. In contrast, Sony WX80’s small sensor inherently limits detail retention in shadows and highlights, performs much worse under low light (native ISO max 3200), and creates flatter images.

For landscape photographers craving rich tonal gradations, or portrait shooters wanting subject-background separation, this sensor size gap matters a lot. However, if your usual canvas is social media sized images or snapshots in bright daylight, WX80’s sensor still holds up decently.

Handling Focus: Autofocus Systems and Accuracy

Autofocus (AF) can make or break your shooting experience depending on how fast and accurate it is - especially for wildlife, sports, and street photography.

Samsung’s NX1000 features a contrast-detection AF system with 15 focus points, face detection, and single, continuous, and tracking AF modes. It lacks phase-detect points and does not offer eye or animal eye AF, which is understandable for a camera from 2012 at this level. In practice, the NX1000’s AF is brisk and reliable for portraits, landscapes, and general use but can lag slightly when tracking erratic or fast-moving subjects.

Conversely, Sony’s WX80 offers contrast detection as well but with a simpler AF system integrated into the fixed lens. It supports face detection and center-weighted AF but no continuous AF for video or burst sequences. Its autofocus speed is reasonable for casual shooting but not suited for demanding subjects. Interestingly, it features optical image stabilization which partially aids handheld shooting stability.

In short, if autofocus speed and flexibility matter to your style - say for sports or wildlife - the NX1000’s AF system nudges ahead. For casual snaps the WX80’s system suffices but don’t expect racehorse reflexes.

Viewfinders and Screens: What You Actually See While Shooting

Neither camera offers an optical or electronic viewfinder, sticking to LCD displays for composition. As mentioned earlier, NX1000’s 3-inch 921k-dot fixed TFT LCD outclasses the WX80’s smaller, lower-res 2.7-inch 230k-dot LCD. Dynamic range and viewing angles on the Samsung model hold up better in sunlight, though neither is touch-enabled.

In my time testing, a better LCD makes framing easier and reviewing images less of a pain, particularly when shooting in bright conditions or when reviewing critical details like sharpness or focus. The WX80’s dimmer, flatter screen can be frustrating if you don’t want to chase shadows blindly.

Additionally, the NX1000 offers live view with manual focus aids, focus peaking (on some firmware), and more detailed info overlays, making it a better tool for precise composition and creative control.

Photo Sample Showdown: Putting Pixels to the Test

Nothing beats seeing how the cameras perform in well-lit and challenging scenarios.

Samsung NX1000 screen back Sony WX80 front Sony WX80 screen back

In controlled tests, portraits taken with Samsung’s NX1000 showcased crisp skin textures, smooth gradations, and a pleasant background blur from its APS-C sensor paired with Samsung NX lenses. Colors leaned natural with excellent warmth and skin tone rendition - no telling “digital” feel.

Sony WX80 samples are competent but flatter and noisier in ISO 400+ shots. Backgrounds are more “busy” due to the deeper depth of field inherent in small sensor cameras. The WX80’s fixed lens at wide angle occasionally distorted edges, but it handled macro-ish shots well (down to 5 cm focusing distance).

For landscapes, NX1000’s wider dynamic range preserved skies and shadows with richness and fine detail. WX80 compressed shadows and clipped highlights much sooner. Night shots also heavily favored NX1000 owing to its larger sensor.

Burst Shooting and Video Capabilities

Burst speeds can matter for sports and wildlife shooters.

• Samsung NX1000: 8 fps continuous shooting at full resolution - impressive for its class and time.
• Sony WX80: 10 fps burst mode at lower resolution, adequate for quick sequences but usually with compromises.

Video-wise, both provide Full HD 1080p output but with differences:

• NX1000 records at 30 fps in MPEG-4 and H.264 with no microphone/headphone jacks.
• WX80 does 1080p at 60 fps with AVCHD format, bringing smoother motion capture but also no external audio support.

Neither model offers advanced video features like 4K or in-body stabilization. The WX80’s optical image stabilization gives a small edge for smoother handheld clips.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility: Fixed Zoom or Interchangeable Play?

This is where the Samsung NX1000 flexes its muscles. Using the Samsung NX mount, it supports over 30 lenses ranging from ultra-wide to telephoto primes and zooms, including macro optics. This gives a huge advantage for creative photographers wanting to customize their setup for portraits, landscapes, or wildlife.

The WX80 is a fixed-lens camera with an 8x zoom equivalent to 28-224mm full-frame equivalent, aperture f/3.3-8.0. This versatile zoom can cover everything from wide to moderate telephoto, but the tradeoff is optical compromises like softness and variable distortion. No lens swapping possible here, meaning limited long-term growth.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot?

Samsung NX1000 uses proprietary BC1030 batteries providing about 320 shots per charge. Sony WX80 uses NP-BN batteries with around 240 shots measured.

While not game-changers, the NX1000’s slightly better battery life means fewer worries on day-long shoots, though lugging spares is always recommended.

Storage support differs: NX1000 handles SD/SDHC/SDXC cards while the WX80 accepts SD cards plus Sony’s Memory Stick Duo format - a minor edge if you’re invested in Sony’s ecosystem.

Connectivity: Wireless and Ports

Both cameras ship with basic WLAN connectivity built-in (Wi-Fi), enabling easy image transfer to phones and computers - a handy feature even on budget models.

Both have HDMI and USB 2.0 ports but lack Bluetooth, NFC, and GPS, limiting modern remote control and geotagging capabilities.

Pricing and Value: Which One Wins the Wallet War?

At around $388 new for the Samsung NX1000 and roughly $275 for the Sony WX80, price is a key factor for many buyers.

If you consider the lens ecosystem, sensor size, and manual controls, the NX1000 offers better long-term value for enthusiasts wanting an affordable way into mirrorless systems.

The WX80, however, is a solid choice for casual users wanting a simple, all-in-one camera for uniform snapshots and travel - no fuss, no lenses to buy or carry.

How These Cameras Score Across Photography Genres

Let’s break down their strengths and weaknesses by common photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography

• NX1000: Big APS-C sensor + interchangeable lenses = superior skin tones and rich bokeh. Face detection AF works well but no eye-tracking. Manual exposure control for artistic depth.
• WX80: Smaller sensor yields flatter images with less background separation. Convenient face detection but limited manual options and slow aperture range hinder creativity.

Landscape Photography

• NX1000: Wide dynamic range and 20MP resolution capture fine detail superbly. Weather sealing absent but kit lens options include ultra-wide primes.
• WX80: Compacts inherently struggle with dynamic range and resolution, often resulting in less dramatic skies and shadow detail.

Wildlife Photography

• NX1000: Moderate autofocus speed and 8fps burst good enough for casual wildlife, especially paired with telephoto NX lenses.
• WX80: Fast burst but small sensor and fixed lens limit telephoto reach and image quality.

Sports Photography

• NX1000: Good shutter speed range (up to 1/4000) and burst rates make it a viable budget sports shooter.
• WX80: Limited shutter speed ceiling (1/1600) and weak AF restrict action shooting capabilities.

Street Photography

• NX1000: Bulkier and less discrete but offers manual exposure and focus modes.
• WX80: Lightweight and pocketable, perfect for stealth snaps but limited creative control.

Macro Photography

• NX1000: With compatible macro lenses and focus aids, excels at close-up work.
• WX80: 5 cm min focusing distance decent but no lens swap limits overall versatility.

Night and Astro Photography

• NX1000: Larger sensor and ISO 12800 enable usable low light images; manual modes help with long exposures.
• WX80: Noisy high-ISO performance limits night photography. No bulb or specialized exposure modes.

Video Capabilities

• NX1000: 1080p at 30p standard, no stabilization or microphone ports.
• WX80: 1080p 60p smooth video plus optical stabilization improves handheld footage.

Travel Photography

• NX1000: Versatile but heavier; lens swapping can be cumbersome on the move.
• WX80: Ultra-portable, minimal gear hassle - ideal for casual travelers.

Professional Work

• NX1000: Raw support and manual controls allow integration into workflows but lacks durability and advanced AF.
• WX80: Limited file formats and minimal controls make it unsuitable for demanding professional use.

My Take: Pros and Cons Summary

So, Which One Should You Buy?

If you’re an enthusiast or stepping into the mirrorless world on a budget, the Samsung NX1000 offers far more creative freedom and future-proofing with its interchangeable lenses and superior sensor. Its manual exposure, raw shooting, and versatile lens system suit people aiming to learn and grow their photography skills - especially for portraits, landscapes, and controlled shooting.

However, if your priority is ultimate convenience, travel snapshots, family photos, or you want a simple “point and shoot” that fits in your jacket pocket, the Sony WX80 remains a competent, compact option with easy operation and decent video abilities - perfect for someone who just wants to press the button and share.

Final Thoughts From Someone Who’s Held Both in Hand

Both cameras remind me how choices depend less on specs and more on your style and plans. I've seen many photographers frustrated by “better spec” cameras that complicated things, as well as many stuck with compacts wishing for sharper images and more control. The NX1000 bridges that gap on a budget, while the WX80 slingshots you into snapshots with minimal fuss.

If you want a camera that grows with you, offers manual control, and delivers richer images, go for the Samsung NX1000 and invest in one or two good NX lenses. If convenience trumps all and you’re more of a casual content creator, the Sony WX80 still holds up as a friendly choice.

And that’s coming from someone who’s tested both thoroughly and seen their results across multiple genres firsthand. Happy shooting!

Note: Prices and availability vary with region and used market; consider searching for bundles or used gear when budgeting.