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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7

Portability
83
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66
Samsung NX20 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
71
Features
80
Overall
74

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 Key Specs

Samsung NX20
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 341g - 122 x 90 x 40mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Old Model is Samsung NX11
  • Replacement is Samsung NX30
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Successor is Sony A7 II
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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Samsung NX20 versus Sony A7, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the NX20 (20MP) and the A7 (24MP) is fairly comparable but the NX20 (APS-C) and A7 (Full frame) offer different sensor dimensions.

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The NX20 was launched 21 months earlier than the A7 making them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go right into a thorough comparison, here is a simple summary of how the NX20 scores versus the A7 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX20 over the Sony A7

 NX20 A7 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Samsung NX20

 A7 NX20 
LaunchedJanuary 2014April 2012Newer by 21 months
Display resolution1230k614kSharper display (+616k dot)

Common features in the Samsung NX20 and Sony A7

 NX20 A7 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Touch display No Touch display

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Samsung NX20 provides outside measurements of 122mm x 90mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) whilst the Sony A7 has specifications of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Look at the Samsung NX20 versus Sony A7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the NX20 vs the A7.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NX20 and A7 is 83 and 78 respectively.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The picture underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the NX20 and A7.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The NX20 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Sony A7 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged NX20 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX20 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A7 as a Portrait photography camera
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
82
focusing manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
offers face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX20 Street photography advice
Sony A7 Street photography advice
77
fully articulated screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (341 grams)
lack of image stabilization
79
screen tilts
great sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW files
weather proof
lighter than competition (474g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX20 Sports photography info
Sony A7 Sports photography info
61
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count good (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
66
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
good resolution (24MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
weather proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (340 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX20 Travel photography factors
Sony A7 Travel photography factors
77
lighter than competition in class (341 grams)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
69
lighter than competition (474 grams)
weather proof
good resolution (24MP)
bad battery (340 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX20 Landscape photography details
Sony A7 Landscape photography details
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
76
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
good resolution (24 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
weather proof
lack of image stabilization
bad battery (340 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX20 Vlogging features
Sony A7 Vlogging features
78
screen is selfie friendly
offers face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external mic support
lighter than competition in class (341 grams)
lack of image stabilization
36
offers face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone socket
lighter than competition (474g)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX20 and Sony A7
 Samsung NX20Sony Alpha A7
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX20 Sony Alpha A7
Class Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-04-20 2014-01-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 50
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 15 117
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX Sony E
Amount of lenses 32 121
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 614k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech Active Matrix OLED screen Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 11.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/180s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1920 x 810 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 gr (0.75 pounds) 474 gr (1.04 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 90 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 75 90
DXO Color Depth score 23.4 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.9 14.2
DXO Low light score 785 2248
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 340 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP1130 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $1,100 $798