Samsung NX1100 vs. Samsung NX300M: A Thorough Comparison of Entry-Level Mirrorless Giants

In the dynamic landscape of mirrorless cameras, Samsung’s NX series has provided competitive options tailored for enthusiasts and rising professionals. Here, we delve deeply into the Samsung NX1100 and the Samsung NX300M, two notable models announced in 2013 that catered to entry-level mirrorless users seeking a balance between portability, image quality, and functionality. While both cameras share a lineage and sensor specifications, they differentiate sharply in terms of processing power, autofocus complexity, and user interface approach.

This comprehensive review is grounded in extensive hands-on testing and technical evaluation. It covers both cameras' capabilities across diverse photography disciplines and practical usage scenarios. Our goal is to equip photographers with candid, actionable insights that transcend spec sheets, ensuring discerning buyers make informed choices.

Body Design and Ergonomics: Compact versus Control Refinement

Understanding a camera’s physical dimensions, ergonomics, and handling characteristics is fundamental. These factors directly affect usability during extended shooting sessions and portability for on-the-go photography.

The NX1100 exhibits a markedly smaller footprint and lighter body weight, favoring street photographers and travel enthusiasts requiring a lightweight rig without compromising sensor size. Its fixed TFT LCD is clear but lacks articulation and touch input, which can hinder intuitive live-view shooting angles and menu navigation.

Conversely, the NX300M is slightly bulkier but integrates a tilting, larger 3.3-inch Active Matrix OLED touchscreen. This OLED technology allows higher contrast and better color rendition, which is advantageous for precise framing and reviewing images under varied lighting conditions. The touchscreen interface significantly improves operational speed and focus control, a tech-forward advantage given the NX1100’s absence of touch capability.

Ergonomically, both maintain a rangefinder-style mirrorless form, prioritizing compactness over DSLR-style grip comfort. Neither offers weather sealing, limiting rugged outdoor use in adverse conditions. Overall:

Size and ergonomic comparison highlighting the slimmer NX1100 body vs. the slightly more substantial NX300M.

Sensor and Image Quality: Technological Parity with Critical Differences

Both cameras employ an APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.7 mm) with 20 megapixels resolution (5472 x 3648 pixels), incorporating an anti-aliasing filter and supporting RAW file output. Their focal length multiplier is 1.5×, consistent with many crop-sensor systems.

While hardware similarities abound, image processing outcomes differ significantly due to the NX300M’s DRIMe IV processor, which boasts faster data throughput and enhanced noise reduction algorithms. This upgrade enables an extended ISO range of up to 25600 in the NX300M, compared to 12800 in the NX1100, affecting low-light shooting capabilities.

In practical evaluation, the NX300M consistently yields cleaner images at higher ISOs, approximately ISO 3200 and above, with reduced chroma noise and maintained detail retention. The dynamic range, while difficult to quantify precisely without DxO Mark data (unavailable for NX300M), appears improved through more sophisticated tone curve management.

The NX1100’s sensor performed admirably in daylight and controlled lighting, offering pleasing color depth and a respectable dynamic range of 12.5 EV per DxO analysis. However, its older processing pipeline entails more visible noise above ISO 1600, which constrains flexibility for shadow recovery and night shooting.

Sensitively detailed landscapes and portraits benefit from the higher resolution 20MP sensor in both cameras, but the NX300M’s processing results in crisper highlights and shadows without evident clipping.

Visualizing sensor dimensions and discussing their impact on image quality and lens selection.

Autofocus System: Enhanced Precision and Speed in NX300M

Autofocus (AF) performance is a critical metric for photographers engaged in rapid or unpredictable shooting - especially wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The NX1100 relies solely on contrast-detection AF across 15 points with face detection integrated. While adequate for portraits and static subjects, it displays latency and occasional hunting during dynamic scenarios or low contrast conditions.

The NX300M introduces a hybrid AF system, combining contrast detection with phase detection sensors across an expanded 247 focus point array - a steep improvement. This system delivers rapid, accurate focus acquisition and reliable subject tracking, particularly useful in sports and wildlife photography where subjects exhibit unpredictable motion.

During burst shooting at 9 fps, the NX300M maintains a higher retention rate of focus lock compared to the NX1100’s 8 fps burst with less consistent AF. Selective AF point choice and continuous AF tracking work more fluidly in the NX300M, making it suitable for users prioritizing action photography or challenging lighting.

Display and User Interface: Touch Evolves Experience

The difference in display technology and interface design considerably affects the shooting experience and workflow efficiency.

While the NX1100 exhibits a slightly higher resolution fixed TFT LCD, it lacks articulation and touchscreen support, limiting framing flexibility and intuitive focusing via touch. Users must rely on physical buttons and dials for navigation and AF point selection.

The NX300M’s tilting AMOLED screen provides greater compositional freedom - ideal for low-angle macro shots or overhead street photography where eye-level framing is impractical. Importantly, the touchscreen allows tap-to-focus and menu shortcuts, accelerating operation times in fast-paced shooting or video recording scenarios.

Absence of an electronic viewfinder in both models may dissuade some professionals preferring eye-level composition but remains typical for entry-level mirrorless cameras of this era.

Side-by-side comparison of rear screens illustrating size, technology, and articulating design differences.

Video Recording Capability: Entry-Level HD with Subtle Improvements

Video functionality in these models focuses primarily on Full HD capture, suitable for casual and semiprofessional applications.

Both cameras lack in-built stabilization and professional audio inputs, limiting video utility in demanding scenarios. The NX300M offers slight improvements in video autofocusing due to its hybrid AF system, enabling smoother focus transitions during recording.

Without internal stabilization, handheld video footage may require external stabilizers for fluid motion. Frame rates max out at 30 fps for full HD, reflecting typical offerings in entry-level models at the time.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility: Uniform Mount, Varied Options

Samsung’s NX mount enjoys a modest but competent lens lineup, with approximately 32 native lenses spanning focal lengths from wide-angle to super-telephoto.

Because both cameras leverage the NX mount, lens compatibility is entirely interchangeable, allowing users to build consistent systems. However, the NX300M’s superior autofocus speed and accuracy better exploit lenses with fast apertures for portraits and wildlife.

Battery Life and Storage: Marginal Differences

Battery endurance and storage versatility are essential for all-day shoots and extensive travel without frequent recharging or card swaps.

Both batteries afford similar usage times under standard testing conditions, permitting a full day's fieldwork with supplementary batteries recommended for heavy users. Neither model features dual SD card slots, a limitation for professional backup workflows.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Modest Modernization

Wireless connectivity in the NX300M includes NFC, facilitating one-touch pairing with compatible smartphones for rapid image transfer - an advantage absent in the NX1100. Both share standard Wi-Fi options allowing remote shooting and sharing but do not support Bluetooth.

Detailed Performance by Photography Genre

Evaluating cameras through the lens of specific photographic disciplines clarifies where each model excels or falls short.

Portrait Photography

• NX1100: The 15 AF points with face detection provide reasonable sharpness on static subjects. Skin tones reproduce richly, attributable to the APS-C sensor and Samsung’s color science. However, limited AF speed can frustrate when shooting unposed expressions or group shots.

• NX300M: A clear winner in AF responsiveness and tracking, enhanced further via 247-point coverage. The NX300M gives notably smoother bokeh with fast prime lenses due to better processing and AF precision on eyes.

Landscape Photography

• Both cameras’ 20MP resolution and dynamic range are sufficient for expansive detail capture. The NX1100’s more modest ISO ceiling may hinder shadow recovery slightly, especially in dusk/dawn shooting.

• The NX300M is advantaged by its improved processing and OLED screen for previewing subtle tonal gradations.

• Neither camera is weather-sealed, limiting heavy use in inclement environments.

Wildlife Photography

• The NX300M’s high AF point count and hybrid system substantially outperform the NX1100’s simpler contrast detection, delivering superior tracking on moving subjects.

• The slightly faster burst shooting speed (9 fps vs. 8 fps) also benefits capturing decisive moments.

Sports Photography

• Similar trends to wildlife apply. The NX300M affords faster focus acquisition and more reliable continuous focusing, crucial in fast-paced sports.

• Both bodies’ modest control layouts restrict customization, an aspect enthusiasts may find limiting during dynamic shooting.

Street Photography

• The NX1100’s smaller size and lighter weight significantly increase discretion and handheld comfort.

• The NX300M’s tilting touch AMOLED screen aids street photographers needing quick composition shifts but is bulkier.

• Both have no viewfinder, potentially distracting in bright environments.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras lack in-camera stabilization; macro shooters must rely on stabilized lenses or tripods.

• The faster AF and touch capabilities on the NX300M enable more precise focus control in close-up work.

Night and Astrophotography

• The NX300M’s extended ISO range and improved noise handling make it more capable under low-light conditions.

• The NX1100 can serve as an entry point but will require more noise management in post-processing.

Video Capabilities

• Both cameras target casual video users with Full HD capture but lack advanced video controls, internal stabilization, and professional audio ports.

• The NX300M’s touchscreen AF and hybrid system offer smoother focus pulls.

Travel Photography

• The NX1100’s compact, lightweight body and good battery life are ideal for extended trips.

• The NX300M trades size for enhanced operational versatility.

Professional Workflows

• Neither camera is suited for heavy professional use due to lack of weather sealing, limited build robustness, and absence of advanced file management features.

• RAW support is present on both, adequately serving semi-pro workflows.

Strengths and Weaknesses Summary

Comparative top view highlighting control layouts which differ slightly, favoring NX300M’s user interface.

Real-world Image Gallery and Quality Inspection

Side-by-side sample images from both cameras illustrate tangible differences in color rendering, sharpness, and noise characteristics. The NX300M’s shots display cleaner shadows and more saturated yet natural colors, especially in dynamic lighting.

Samsung NX1100 front Samsung NX1100 screen back Samsung NX300M screen back

Performance Evaluations and Overall Ratings

A holistic performance rating aggregates imaging, autofocus, speed, handling, and value. The NX300M scores higher thanks to its improved autofocus system, processing engine, and interface enhancements.

Genre-Specific Performance Chart

A breakdown of performance across photography disciplines visually highlights suitability. The NX300M leads in demanding categories like wildlife and sports, whereas the NX1100 remains competitive in travel and street work due to portability.

Final Recommendations

Who Should Buy the Samsung NX1100?

• Entry-level photographers or hobbyists on a strict budget valuing compact size.
• Street and travel photographers prioritizing lightweight gear.
• Users content with moderate autofocus performance and traditional menus.

Who Should Choose the Samsung NX300M?

• Enthusiasts needing faster, more accurate autofocus with wide coverage.
• Photographers shooting fast action, wildlife, or video requiring touch control.
• Those willing to trade increased size and cost for technological advancements and better low-light performance.

Conclusion

From a hands-on, technical perspective, the Samsung NX300M stands out as a more versatile and technologically advanced mirrorless camera. Its advancements in autofocus, ISO performance, and user interface meaningfuly enhance practical usability across genres. The NX1100 retains value for users emphasizing size, simplicity, and affordability but shows its limits under challenging photographic demands.

This detailed analysis underscores the importance of aligning camera selection with particular shooting styles and priorities over solely headline specs. Both cameras reflect Samsung’s commitment to bridging beginner-friendly design with enthusiast-grade capabilities, albeit at different operational tiers.

Prospective buyers are encouraged to consider the trade-offs carefully - especially regarding autofocus needs, interface preference, and budget constraints - to ensure the NX1100 or NX300M chosen matches long-term creative goals and workflow requirements.