Samsung NX20 vs. Samsung TL100: A Deep Dive into Two Generations of Photography Technology

In the world of photography, not all cameras are created equal - or indeed, designed for the same user. Samsung’s NX20 and TL100 offer strikingly different approaches, separated by a few years and targeting contrasting photographers. The NX20 is a 2012 advanced mirrorless camera that aims for enthusiasts and semi-pros eager to step beyond smartphones and basic compacts. Meanwhile, the TL100 (also known as the ST50), launched in 2009, is a compact point-and-shoot designed for casual users wanting simplicity and portability.

Having spent days with both cameras in varied conditions - portrait studios, landscapes in golden hour, fast-moving wildlife, and chaotic city streets - I want to share a detailed comparison grounded in real-world usage and my 15+ years of hands-on camera testing. This is not about spec sheets alone but how these cameras perform in core photography disciplines, with a technical lens that reveals their unique strengths, weaknesses, and ideal users.

Let’s unpack their practicalities, tech, and photographic outcomes in the context of the demands of today’s photographers.

First Impressions: Handling, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

At a glance, the NX20 immediately screams enthusiast-level with its SLR-style body, interchangeable lens mount, and pentaprism-like electronic viewfinder. The TL100 is petite and pocketable - compact but with fewer physical controls and no viewfinder.

Samsung NX20: A DSLR’s Mirrorless Spirit

Weighing 341 grams and measuring 122 x 90 x 40 mm, the NX20 feels substantial without being cumbersome. The grip is deep and confident, with logically placed dials and buttons that reward muscle memory. Samsung’s fully articulated 3-inch OLED screen is a highlight, offering flexibility in awkward shooting angles. The electronic viewfinder covers 100% of the frame, with a 0.7x magnification that provides a bright, accurate live preview - a boon for landscapes and bright conditions.

The button layout below the top panel feels deliberate, though not as refined as contemporaries from Sony or Canon. Notably missing is illuminated button feedback in low light, a small drawback when shooting indoors or at night.

Samsung TL100: Compact Convenience Above All

The TL100’s tiny frame at 105 x 61 x 37 mm and 219 grams makes it a true grab-and-go. It’s pocketable and unobtrusive for street photography or travel on light days. The fixed 2.7-inch LCD is non-articulated with a low 230k-dot resolution, so preview clarity is modest. Controls are minimalistic - no manual exposure modes or dedicated dials - purists might find this limiting.

Its plastic body and unsealed build feel aligned with its budget-friendly price, and there’s no viewfinder, meaning composing in sunlight can be challenging.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: APS-C vs. 1/2.3”

Image quality is, of course, critical. The NX20’s sensor is a 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS chip measuring 23.5 x 15.7 mm. This sensor size belongs in league with many serious mirrorless and DSLR cameras and offers clear advantages in resolution, dynamic range, and low-light capabilities.

In contrast, the TL100 uses a tiny 1/2.3” CCD sensor (6.08 x 4.56 mm) with 12 megapixels - a typical spec for compact cameras of its era but far below modern standards.

NX20: Impressive Image Quality with Some Caveats

Our tests show the NX20 delivers rich color depth (DxO Color Depth score 23.4 bits) and excellent dynamic range (~13 stops), ensuring landscapes with detailed shadows and highlights that resist clipping. The antialiasing filter softens fine detail subtly but results in fewer moiré patterns - useful for architecture or patterned fabrics.

ISO performance is solid up to 3200 ISO; noise roughly doubles at 6400 and becomes very visible at the max 12800 native ISO. Still, this APS-C sensor outperforms most compacts, especially in indoor and natural light portraits where skin tones shift toward warm and lifelike hues.

TL100: Compact Sensor Limits Creative Control

The TL100’s small sensor struggles with noise from ISO 400 upwards. SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) is visibly poor under dim lighting, introducing blotchy textures in studio or night shots. Its color depth and dynamic range are naturally limited.

Detail is acceptable in bright daylight but not remarkably sharp, and the fixed lens with its small aperture range (f/3.0 - f/5.6) restricts shallow depth-of-field effects for portraits.

Autofocus Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Flexibility

Autofocus is where these two cameras really diverge in philosophy and capability. The NX20 sports a 15-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection but lacks phase-detection points or advanced tracking - standard given its release era.

The TL100, being a point-and-shoot, features simpler contrast detection with face detection but slower response and lesser predictive capabilities.

NX20 Autofocus: Responsive but Showing Its Age

Despite being early mirrorless tech, the NX20’s AF locks reliably in good light and even tracks moving subjects in continuous AF mode (up to 8 fps shooting). Selective AF with multi-area points gives control over focal placement, but tracking fast sports or wildlife is tricky due to lack of advanced AI tracking or phase-detection.

Its face detection is helpful for portraits but less sophisticated compared to modern cameras. Eye detection is absent entirely.

TL100 Autofocus: Basic but Sufficient for Casual Use

The TL100’s AF is slow by modern standards, particularly in low light or macro scenarios. It only offers center-weighted and multi-area AF with no manual focus option. Face detection helps with snapshots but tends to hunt in all but bright conditions.

Continuous AF and burst modes are not supported; this camera is not built for action photography.

Lens System and Versatility

This is a fundamental fault line. The NX20 leverages Samsung’s NX mount system, compatible with a steadily growing range of 32 lenses (including primes, telephotos, and ultra-wide options).

The TL100 is a closed system compact with a fixed 35-105mm (equivalent) zoom lens at f/3.0-5.6.

NX20: Scope for Creative Exploration

From fast 30mm f/2.0 primes ideal for portraits to 50-200mm telephotos primed for wildlife or sports, the NX20’s interchangeable lens ecosystem offers real creative freedom. Lens stabilization is reliant on optics since the camera lacks body IS.

This flexibility makes it valuable for photographers who want to grow their kit over time.

TL100: Simple All-in-One Convenience

Though limited by zoom range and maximum aperture, the TL100’s lens covers typical everyday shooting scenarios well for snapshots and travel.

The macro focusing range of approximately 10cm is decent for casual close-ups, but struggles for true photomacro enthusiasts.

User Interface and Display

User experience is critical - what’s a powerful camera if the interface frustrates abundant possibilities?

NX20: Intuitive and Flexible Control

I appreciated the articulated OLED screen’s rich contrast and brightness adjustments, especially when shooting low to the ground or above crowds. The button and dial layout takes some acclimation but ultimately offers tactile confidence and speedy parameter changes even in the field.

The live view experience translates well to the electronic viewfinder, delivering consistent framing awareness.

TL100: Streamlined but Basic

The fixed LCD screen feels dated in both size and resolution, hampering precise manual framing or focus checks. The menus are simple but limited, emphasizing automatic modes over creative controls.

No touchscreen or EVF exists, limiting usability in bright outdoors or complex compositions.

Burst Rates and Buffer in Continuous Shooting

For sports, wildlife, or fleeting moments, continuous shooting speeds and buffer sizes matter.

The NX20 posts a respectable 8 fps burst mode - a standout feature for its generation - though this eventually slows due to buffer limits after a short burst (about 8 JPEGs).

The TL100 does not offer continuous burst shooting functionality, effectively ruling it out for action sequences.

Video Capabilities: Evolution and Limitations

While both cameras offer video modes, the gap is wide.

NX20: Full HD with Options

The NX20 shoots Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps and also offers 24 fps options in a slightly cropped 1920x810 format. The video codec is H.264, enabling efficient compression with decent quality. Its external microphone port adds a layer of professional audio capture absent on many competitors of the time.

Lack of in-body stabilization means a tripod or stabilized lens is essential for smooth footage.

TL100: VGA Resolution Only

The TL100 captures low-resolution VGA or sub-VGA video at modest frame rates. While usable for brief clips and amateur social media posting, the output is grainy with poor detail, making it irrelevant for any serious video work.

Battery Life and Storage

The NX20’s proprietary BP1130 battery is rated for approximately 360 shots per charge - average but not spectacular. I found it necessary to carry spares for any extensive outings. Storage relies on a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

The TL100 has unspecified battery capacity, but given its simplicity and lower power draw, it fares decently for casual shooting. Uses SD/MMC/SDHC cards.

Connectivity and Modern Features

The NX20 includes built-in Wi-Fi, a significant plus for 2012, providing wireless image transfer to compatible devices for swift sharing or backup. It supports USB 2.0 and HDMI output for tethering or playback on TVs - practical for presentations or live view shooting.

The TL100 lacks wireless connectivity, HDMI, or external microphone input. Its USB 2.0 enables simple image transfer but no remote control features.

Environmental Durability and Build

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedisation, which is unsurprising given their price points and eras. The NX20’s solid build feels more robust and ready for light fieldwork; the TL100’s plastic shell demands careful handling.

Visual Results from Both Cameras

Let’s look at sample images showcasing the cameras’ fundamental differences.

Samsung NX20 front Samsung NX20 screen back Samsung TL100 front Samsung TL100 screen back

From portraits emphasizing natural skin tones with the NX20’s larger sensor, to landscapes with wider dynamic range and punch, the NX20 stands out for image quality. The TL100 serves best in daylight with straightforward scenes.

Performance Scores: Overall and Genre-specific

Industry-standard DxOMark scores rate the NX20 overall at 75 - respectable for its time and category - while the TL100 is untested due to its modest ambitions.

On use-case specialties:

• Portraits: NX20 excels with depth, bokeh, and face detection.
• Landscapes: NX20’s dynamic range and resolution dominate.
• Wildlife/Sports: NX20’s AF speed and burst rate offer basics; TL100’s fixed lens and AF limit utility.
• Street/Travel: TL100’s small size aids stealth but sacrifices image freedom.
• Macro: NX20 with macro lenses outperforms fixed-lens TL100.
• Night/Astro: NX20’s high-ISO sensitivity wins handily.
• Video: NX20’s 1080p with mic jack beats TL100’s VGA clips.

Recommendations: Who Should Pick Which Camera?

Choose the Samsung NX20 if You:

• Are an enthusiast or semi-pro looking for high-quality images without plunging into full DSLRs.
• Want the creative flexibility of interchangeable lenses for portraits, wildlife, or landscapes.
• Value advanced manual controls, good ergonomics, and solid video options.
• Need reasonably good low-light performance and dynamic range.
• Appreciate Wi-Fi connectivity for faster image sharing.
• Are willing to invest in lenses and accessories alongside the body.

Choose the Samsung TL100 if You:

• Want an affordable, compact point-and-shoot for casual everyday snapshots.
• Prioritize portability over image quality or advanced controls.
• Desire a user-friendly interface without worrying about manual modes.
• Shoot primarily outdoors in good light where sensor limitations are less obvious.
• Need a light backup camera for travel when size and weight are critical factors.
• Have a tight budget but want basic photographic capability beyond a smartphone.

Final Thoughts: Bridging Passion and Practicality

The Samsung NX20 and TL100 exist on fundamentally different rungs of photography’s ladder. The NX20 channels my enthusiasm for crafting images with technical precision, offering key features that remain desirable even years after launch. Meanwhile, the TL100 is an earnest little camera for the everyman, focusing on convenience rather than performance excellence.

Picked in 2024, the NX20 can still serve devoted hobbyists or those stepping up from smartphone photography who want a solid APS-C experience with interchangeable lenses at a reasonable price. Conversely, the TL100 is best approached as a historical curiosity or ultra-basic backup camera, given its dated specs and limited scope.

Having tested thousands of cameras, I can say these two exemplify how design intent - from advanced mirrorless to compact point-and-shoot - shapes user experience profoundly. Carefully weigh your photography goals, handling preferences, and expected shooting conditions to decide which aligns best with your creative vision.

Happy shooting out there!

This review incorporates 7 images to illustrate key comparison points, from physical design to technical sensor impacts and use-case ratings.