Samsung NX1100 vs Samsung NX200

Samsung NX1100 vs Samsung NX200: An Expert Comparison for the Budget-Conscious Enthusiast

When it comes to entry-level mirrorless cameras that balance cost, performance, and portability, Samsung’s NX series often flies under the radar, but it deserves a second look - especially if you want APS-C sensor quality without busting the bank. Today, I’m rolling up my sleeves to compare two noteworthy contenders from Samsung: the NX1100, announced in 2013, and its predecessor, the NX200 from 2012. Both bring solid specs to the table, but which one suits your photography needs better? Having tested thousands of cameras across genres, I want to guide you through the nitty-gritty, focusing on real-world use cases and practical performance.

Let’s jump straight into the meat of it.

Size and Handling: Pocketability Meets Control Clubs

First impressions count, and both the NX1100 and NX200 are mirrorless cameras with rangefinder-style bodies, yet they differ subtly in their ergonomics. The NX1100 is slightly more compact, measuring 114 x 63 x 37 mm and weighing 222g, whereas the NX200 bumps up to 117 x 63 x 36 mm and 223g. That’s a neck-and-neck battle in lightweight portability.

From the hands-on side, the NX200’s minimal height and slightly squarer edges give a more secure grip, especially if you have bigger paws. Its body feels a bit more “camera-like” and less toyish, which is a nice confidence boost when shooting in the field. The NX1100 leans toward a sleeker design, making it a better pocket companion. But don’t expect any beefy thumb rests or pro-level dials here - these cameras cater more to casual shooters stepping up their game.

Design and Control Surface: Buttons, Dials, and Intuition

Diving deeper, the control layouts reveal the trade-offs Samsung made between simplicity and control. Both cameras lack fully customizable buttons or illuminated controls, a drawback for nighttime or fast-action shooting. The NX1100 offers a simplified dial and a dead-simple exposure compensation control - great if you want to avoid fuss.

The NX200, on the other hand, has a slightly more traditional approach: a shutter speed dial paired with aperture-priority modes, which rewards users familiar with manual exposure. Neither camera sports a touchscreen (common for their release years), but the NX200's OLED screen (more on that soon) and physical controls generally provide a more tactile, responsive feel. For photographers who expect a tactile and accessible control experience, NX200 edges ahead.

Sensor and Image Quality Analysis: Pixels with Punch

At the heart of every camera is the sensor, and surprisingly, both these cameras pack an APS-C sized CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.7 mm with approximately 20 megapixels (5472 x 3648 max resolution). On paper, they are twins in resolution and sensor dimensions, but subtle differences emerge in image processing and performance.

DxOMark scores show the NX1100 clocking an overall 73, slightly above the NX200’s 69. Color depth is nearly identical (23.0 bits vs. 22.6 bits), but where the NX1100 pulls ahead is in low-light ISO performance - achieving a max usable ISO around 852 compared to NX200’s 618. What does that mean in practice? You can expect cleaner images with less noise in dim scenarios on the NX1100. The dynamic range, however, remains neck and neck (12.5 vs 12.6 EV), so highlight and shadow recovery is equally strong on both.

For landscape photographers obsessed with color accuracy and shadow detail, this makes both cameras viable options. But if you’re the kind who shoots indoors or in the gloaming, the NX1100’s improved noise handling offers a little extra breathing room.

LCD Screen and Interface: OLED vs TFT Battle

Both models have a fixed 3-inch LCD screen, but they differ in panel technology - the NX1100 features a TFT LCD with a resolution of 921k dots, while the NX200 gets an Active Matrix OLED with 614k dots. This difference has practical implications.

The OLED screen on the NX200 delivers punchy colors, better contrast, and superior blacks, making previewing photos a joy, especially outdoors or in bright conditions. The higher pixel density TFT on the NX1100 offers more detail, but its colors aren’t quite as vibrant and viewing angles are narrower, sometimes making it a chore to see details in harsh sunlight without shading the screen.

From my experience, OLED displays - even at a lower resolution - feel “alive” and helpful during composition and quick checks. Casual shooters may appreciate the sharpness of the NX1100, but the NX200's OLED wins for reliability in varied lighting.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: The Pursuit of Sharpness

Both cameras come with contrast-detection autofocus systems offering 15 focus points, including face detection. Neither uses phase detection, so autofocus speed can be a bit slower and less confident in poor light, but for entry-level mirrorless, this is expected.

The NX1100 boasts a slightly faster continuous shooting rate at 8 fps versus the NX200’s 7 fps - on-paper a marginal gain but appreciated if you’re photographing fleeting moments or low-action events. However, neither model features AF tracking or animal eye autofocus, limiting effectiveness for wildlife or sports photographers obsessed with racking focus on fast-moving subjects.

Subjectively, I found both cameras reliable for portraiture, street, and travel photography - you just need patience when hunting focus in challenging light or fast action scenarios.

Photography Genres: Tailored Strengths and Limitations

Portrait Photography: How Do These Handle Skin Tones and Bokeh?

Both cameras lack built-in image stabilization, and neither is known for crazy shallow depth-of-field effects without investing in fast prime lenses. However, with Samsung's NX mount lens ecosystem (over 30 lenses), you can pair these bodies with sharp f/1.8 or f/1.4 lenses to get lovely creamy bokeh.

Skin tone rendering is vivid yet natural on both, although the NX200’s OLED screen helps you preview subtle color gradations better. The face detection autofocus is serviceable, locking quickly but sometimes hunting in tricky lighting. Neither camera offers eye detection autofocus, a feature that really came later and is sorely missed here for shooters who want razor-sharp portraits.

Landscape Photography: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Durability

The 20MP APS-C sensors excel for landscapes, delivering ample detail for high-quality prints and cropping latitude. Dynamic range scores are very similar, both hovering around 12.5 EV - this means healthy latitude for tweaking shadows and highlights in post.

Neither camera has any weather sealing or ruggedness, so caution is required if you plan to shoot outdoors in harsh conditions. The battery life is adequate but not stellar (320 shots for NX1100, 330 for NX200), so bring spares for extended trips.

If landscape photography is your main gig, the NX1100’s improved high ISO handling could help during dawn and dusk sessions, while the NX200’s superior EVF option (electronic viewfinder sold separately) gives a better framing experience in bright outdoor environments.

Wildlife and Sports: Speed, Autofocus, Burst Performance

While neither camera is optimized for hardcore wildlife or sports shooters, subtle differences exist. The NX1100’s faster burst speed (8 fps vs. 7 fps) can capture slightly more frames when the action peaks.

However, lack of continuous AF tracking, limited focus points, and slower contrast autofocus make both cameras less suited for aggressive subject tracking. Wildlife photographers will likely prefer faster, more advanced mirrorless or DSLRs with phase detection and animal eye AF.

Sports shooters, especially in low light, may find the maximum shutter speed limit at 1/4000s constraining. Neither camera features in-body image stabilization, so pairing with stabilized telephoto lenses is advisable.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion and Versatility

For street photographers who prize portability and discretion, the NX1100’s smaller, sleeker build will impress. Its lighter weight and streamlined design make it less conspicuous, perfect for candid captures. The NX200 feels slightly more “chunky,” though still within mirrorless norms.

Battery life differences are negligible, but as both use the same BC1030 battery pack, travel photographers should plan for spares or on-the-go charging solutions.

The NX1100’s built-in Wi-Fi gives it an edge for spontaneous social sharing - ideal when you want to post street shots or travel snaps right from your camera. The NX200 lacks wireless connectivity, meaning you’ll need to download images via USB or card reader the old-fashioned way.

Macro and Close-up Work: Precision and Stabilization

Neither camera shines specifically for macro photography since they lack built-in stabilization and macro-specific focusing aids. Samsung offers some macro lenses in the NX lineup, but focusing precision can be a hit-or-miss affair with contrast AF in close quarters.

If serious macro work is your passion, both bodies feel basic; investing in dedicated macro lenses with manual focus override will improve results on either model. Be prepared to employ tripods or external stabilization rigs as well.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Modes

In low light and astrophotography, sensor performance and exposure flexibility are paramount. The NX1100’s slight advantage in low-light ISO performance makes it the stronger candidate here - expect cleaner images at ISO 800+ settings.

Both cameras offer manual exposure and shutter/aperture priority modes, giving you full control over exposure times, however, neither supports bulb mode or extended long exposure modes commonly used in astrophotography. Neither has dedicated astro presets or noise reduction features optimized for star shooting.

So, while not ideal astro cameras, they can serve well for casual night shootouts, star trails, and light painting if you’re willing to tinker manually.

Video Capabilities: Limited but Adequate for Casual Use

Video is not the main attraction with these models, but both offer 1080p recording at 30 fps (NX200 adds 720p at 60 fps). Formats are limited to MPEG-4 and H.264 - no fancy codecs or LOG profiles here, so color grading options are modest.

Neither camera features in-body stabilization or microphone/headphone jacks, which frustrates creators looking for professional audio capture or smooth handheld footage. External mics can’t be connected. If video is a priority, better-equipped hybrids would serve you far more capably.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Handle with Care

Neither the NX1100 nor the NX200 is weather-sealed or ruggedized, so expect no dustproofing or splash protection. Their plastic-bodied builds help keep weight low but don’t inspire confidence for extreme conditions or heavy outdoor abuse.

If you’re a heavy-duty shooter or often work outdoors, consider aftermarket protective housings, but recognize these cameras are best for controlled or fair-weather environments.

Connectivity and Storage: Modern Conveniences and Limitations

The NX1100 pulls ahead on connectivity - offering built-in Wi-Fi for image transfer and remote shooting via smartphone apps. This is a welcomed feature for travel and casual users who want to share instantly.

The NX200, lacking wireless options, relies on standard USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs for transferring files or tethering, which is more cumbersome.

Both cameras use a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot - no dual slots here, which limits backup options for pros demanding security on shoots.

Price and Value: Stretching Your Camera Dollar

At time of announcement, the NX1100 was priced around $600, while the NX200 came in closer to $820. The price gap reflects somewhat improved specs on the NX1100, especially in sensor and connectivity.

Considering the technology is now several years old and both models can be found used in the $150–$300 range, your choice should weigh heavily on feature priorities rather than price alone.

The Final Scorecard: Which Camera Suits Your Style?

To break it down by overall performance and photographic specialties, here is a summarized view:

Specialty Genre Ratings for Context

Breaking down performance across genres:

• Portrait: Both capable, NX200’s OLED helps previews, NX1100 better in low light.
• Landscape: Comparable, minor edge to NX1100 for dynamic range and ISO.
• Wildlife: Neither ideal; NX1100 slightly favored for burst speed.
• Sports: Both limited; neither supports advanced tracking.
• Street: NX1100 is smaller and quieter (no EVF).
• Macro: Both reliant on external lenses, no stabilization.
• Night/Astro: NX1100 better low-light ISO.
• Video: Basic on both; NX200 allows 720p/60fps.
• Travel: NX1100 with Wi-Fi leads convenience.
• Professional: Neither built to pro ruggedness but good for casual use.

Wrapping It Up: Who Should Buy Which?

• Pick the Samsung NX1100 if:
  You want improved low-light performance, built-in Wi-Fi, and a lightweight, portable camera for travel, street, and general everyday shooting. It’s also the better value entry into APS-C mirrorless with modern conveniences in a surprisingly compact package.

• Pick the Samsung NX200 if:
  You prefer a slightly more traditional photographic experience with an OLED screen and potentially better tactile controls, and don’t mind skipping wireless features. It might appeal to shooters who want an affordable but capable camera with a vintage control feel.

Final Thoughts From the Field

As someone who’s spent years wrestling cameras into submission, I see both the NX1100 and NX200 as solid stepping stones into serious photography without the wallet-busting commitment. They won’t replace the advanced autofocus systems or video features from newer models, but if you want to learn, shoot, and grow with good image quality and manageable controls, you can’t go wrong.

Do temper expectations: no weather sealing, limited tracking, no eye AF, and basic video all hint these cameras cater more to budding enthusiasts than pros. But with Samsung’s robust lens selection and APS-C-sized sensors, both models punch well above their weight for entry-level mirrorless.

Whichever you pick, you’ll be holding a lightweight workhorse that rewards patience, learning, and an eye for composition.

Sample Photos from Both Cameras

Samsung NX1100 front Samsung NX1100 screen back Samsung NX200 screen back

Check out this gallery showcasing real-world shots - portraits, landscapes, street scenes - all shot under varied conditions, revealing the strengths and subtle differences detailed above.

Happy shooting, and don’t be shy to share your experiences with these underrated nuggets!