Samsung NX20 vs Sony Cyber-shot HX1: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Eras of Digital Photography

In the vast cosmos of digital cameras, every model tells a story - not just about the specs, but about the era it emerged from, the technology it championed, and the photographers it sought to empower. Today, I’m diving headfirst into comparing two cameras that are about as different as apples and… compact superzooms. On one side, we have the Samsung NX20, an advanced mirrorless APS-C shooter launched in 2012, and on the other, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1, a 2009-era small sensor superzoom bridge camera.

This isn’t just a specs headline match; it’s a clash of philosophies, sensor sizes, and photographic ambitions. But which one serves your photography needs better? Let’s settle in, unpack the details, and get practical with this comparison. Buckle up - it’s going to be a nuanced ride.

Size and ergonomics: Samsung NX20’s compact mirrorless body versus Sony HX1’s bulkier bridge camera build

First Impressions: Size, Feel, and Handling

When you pick up the Samsung NX20 and the Sony HX1 side-by-side, the difference is palpable. The NX20 is a mirrorless camera that channels a DSLR-style SLR body, compact yet with confident heft (weighing just 341g). It offers a nice in-hand balance, textured grip, and surprisingly ergonomic controls for a camera of its time. The HX1, while SLR-like in appearance, actually sits in the bridge camera realm - slightly larger, heavier (544g), and sporting a fixed lens. Its heft speaks to that long zoom range but is less comfortable to hold steady for extended shooting sessions.

The Samsung NX20 measures roughly 122 x 90 x 40 mm versus HX1’s chunkier 115 x 83 x 92 mm (note the thickness!). The NX20’s smaller footprint certainly appeals if portability and comfort factor high on your list.

But size isn’t everything - control layout matters just as much, especially when you need to shoot quickly or customize settings on the fly.

Control layouts bring nuance to the handling experience: buttons, dials, and function placements

The NX20 sports dedicated dials for exposure modes, an exposure compensation button, and a smart top panel layout - although it lacks illuminated buttons. The HX1, aimed more at casual shooters, offers simpler controls but includes a single aperture/shutter dial and shutter priority/manual modes. For shooters who cherish manual exposure tweaking, the NX20 provides a richer tactile experience.

Ergonomics Winner: Samsung NX20 - more refined design, balanced controls, and a comfort edge.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Ah, sensors - the very soul of a digital camera’s ability to capture light, color, and detail. The Samsung NX20 impresses with its APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.5 x 15.7 mm, packing 20 megapixels. By contrast, the Sony HX1 sports a modest 1/2.4” (6.1 x 4.58 mm) CMOS sensor with 9 megapixels. Yes, you read that right: the NX20’s sensor area is nearly 13 times larger than the HX1’s!

Sensor size comparison underscores the NX20’s major advantage in image quality potential

What does all this mean in real-world terms? Larger sensors generally deliver:

• Better dynamic range: capturing details in shadows and highlights without clipping.
• Improved low-light performance: less noise at higher ISO levels.
• Shallower depth of field: more pronounced background separation and “bokeh.”

From my hands-on experience shooting in diverse conditions, the NX20 consistently produces richer color depth, more nuanced shadows, and less graininess up to ISO 3200 - well beyond what the HX1 can muster at ISO 800, let alone 3200 (which it barely achieves). DxOMark’s color depth rating gives the NX20 a strong 23.4 bits. The HX1, unfortunately, remains untested there but the small sensor size inherently limits performance.

Resolution-wise, the NX20’s 5472 x 3648 pixel files provide room for cropping or large prints with confidence, whereas the HX1's 3456 x 2592 output is more suited to small-to-medium enlargements.

Image Quality Verdict: Samsung NX20 handily outperforms the Sony HX1, especially in demanding lighting conditions.

Rear Display and User Interface: Looking at What You See

The NX20 comes outfitted with a 3-inch fully articulated Active Matrix OLED screen delivering 614,000 dots of resolution. This means crisp detail, excellent contrast, and flexibility to tilt/flip for creative angles - very handy for macro work or low shooting positions.

Meanwhile, the HX1 is equipped with a slightly smaller (but same 3-inch) tilting LCD panel with only 230,000 dots resolution - noticeably less sharp and less vibrant. It lacks touch sensitivity or advanced interface aids, which can affect quick menu navigation or focusing.

OLED brilliance versus basic tilting LCD: the NX20's screen provides a major usability boost

From extensive field testing, I noticed the NX20’s screen clearly gives better feedback for accurate focusing and image review - especially when shooting outdoors in various light conditions. The HX1’s screen, while decent for its era, falls short in detail and viewing angles.

Display and UI Takeaway: Samsung’s OLED articulated display plays a significant role in ease-of-use and creative shot-making, surpassing the HX1’s more pedestrian offering.

Autofocus Systems: Precision and Speed in the Moment

Autofocus can make or break a shooting experience - especially with moving subjects or fleeting moments. The NX20 employs a contrast-detection autofocus system featuring 15 focus points and face detection. It supports continuous AF but lacks phase detection (common for mirrorless cameras of that era). Face detection is welcome for portrait enthusiasts, although there’s no dedicated eye or animal eye AF.

The HX1 has a simpler contrast-detection AF with 9 points, including a center-weighted mode. There's no face or subject detection, making focusing on moving or unpredictable subjects a little less reliable. Continuous AF is also not supported.

In practice, while the NX20’s autofocus is not lightning quick compared to modern standards, it’s more accurate, especially in decent light conditions. The HX1, with its slower and sometimes “hunt-y” focus, is better suited to static or slow-moving subjects.

In burst shooting, the NX20 tops out at 8 frames per second - quite respectable for the time - whereas the HX1 offers 10 fps but only in a limited buffer and resolution.

Autofocus Edge: Samsung NX20 for accuracy and face detection; HX1 has a burst edge but less refined AF.

Lens Ecosystem: Flexibility vs Fixed Convenience

The Samsung NX20 uses the proprietary Samsung NX mount, granting access to a growing lineup of 32 lenses at launch - ranging from fast primes to versatile zooms. Unfortunately, Samsung’s lens ecosystem never reached the scale or prestige of Sony’s or Fuji’s, but in its day, it delivered respectable options for portrait, landscape, macro, and telephoto needs.

On the flip side, the Sony HX1 has a fixed 28-560mm equivalent lens with an aperture range from f/2.8 to f/5.2. That’s a whopping 20x zoom with respectable wide-to-tele reach for a compact category camera, all packed in a single body. Plus, it includes optical image stabilization to compensate for hand shake at long focal lengths.

From a practical standpoint, if you prize interchangeability and creative lens control, the NX20 wins hands down. However, if you want all-in-one convenience without swapping glass, and perhaps a travel-friendly zoom range, the HX1 provides undeniable value.

Build Quality and Weather Resistance: Durability in the Field

Neither camera offers weather sealing or toughened ruggedness. Both are primarily plastic-bodied but feel solid for their respective categories. The NX20’s mirrorless design and interchangeable lens mount could leave lenses vulnerable if you aren’t careful in dusty or wet environments.

The HX1’s fixed lens design simplifies weatherproofing, but Sony did not advertise it as weather sealed. The mirrorless era’s standards for durability weren’t as rigorous in 2012 as today, so I wouldn’t recommend either for heavy outdoor or professional adventure use without additional care.

Battery Life and Storage: Getting Through the Day

Samsung rates the NX20 for approximately 360 shots per charge, using the BP1130 pack. That’s adequate for casual to intermediate use but may require a spare battery for full-day shoots.

In contrast, the Sony HX1’s battery life is less documented, but bridge cameras typically have similar or slightly poorer endurance due to their smaller batteries and power-hungry zoom lens operations.

Storage-wise, the NX20 uses the popular SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, offering broad compatibility and affordable options. The HX1 uses Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo cards along with internal storage - a more Sony-centric choice that might limit flexibility and increase cost.

Image Stabilization: Optical vs None

The HX1 benefits from optical image stabilization, critical for handheld shooting at 560mm equivalent focal length in the zoom’s upper range. The NX20 has no in-body stabilization, so users must rely on stabilized lenses - which were limited in Samsung’s NX lineup at the time. This absence can be frustrating for telephoto or low-light shooting without a tripod.

Video Capabilities: HD on Both, But Which Packs More Punch?

Both cameras record HD video but with differing capabilities. The NX20 supports full 1080p at 30fps (MPEG-4, H.264), offering decent video quality for casual projects. The HX1 maxes out at 1440 x 1080 (standard definition-ish) at 30fps.

The NX20 includes a microphone port for external audio input - a valuable feature for serious videographers. The HX1 lacks any audio inputs, limiting sound quality enhancement options.

For those intending to shoot hybrid photo/video projects, the NX20 presents a clearly superior option.

Real-World Photography: Genre-by-Genre Performance

Let’s get to the juicy part - how these cameras perform across popular genres. Based on my extensive testing spanning diverse scenarios, here’s a breakdown:

Portrait Photography

The NX20’s larger sensor combined with face detection and a choice of fast lenses delivers richer skin tones, creamy bokeh, and crisp eye detail. The HX1 struggles to isolate subjects due to tiny sensor depth of field and lack of eye detection.

Landscape Photography

The NX20’s superior dynamic range and resolution offer detailed landscapes with plenty of tonal gradation. Weather sealing is absent but shooting on tripod and manual exposure control supplement fieldwork. HX1’s smaller sensor limits shadow detail and color fidelity under wide gamut landscapes.

Wildlife Photography

Here’s a tricky one. The HX1’s lens reaches 560mm equivalent, allowing distant wildlife framing. Autofocus is slower, and small sensor noise at higher ISO can hinder detail. The NX20 supports longer telephoto lenses, but these add bulk and cost. For casual wildlife, HX1’s zoom is convenient; serious wildlife shooters would look elsewhere.

Sports Photography

NX20’s 8 fps burst and manual controls favor sports shooters; HX1’s 10 fps bursts are shorter. Autofocus tracking is too basic on both models for fast action, but NX20 offers more creative control and higher image fidelity for freezing fast action scenes.

Street Photography

The NX20’s articulation, discreet size, and image quality tilt the scale here. HX1 is bulkier and more conspicuous. Low-light capabilities favor NX20 as well.

Macro Photography

NX20 can be paired with dedicated macro lenses, offering precise focus stacking and detail capture. HX1’s 1cm macro focus range is respectable but image quality limits close-up appeal.

Night / Astro Photography

NX20’s APS-C sensor handles high ISO and long exposures better. HX1’s small sensor produces noise early, limiting astro utility.

Video

NX20 is superior with full HD, external mic input, and better processor. HX1’s video is limited in resolution and lacks audio inputs.

Travel Photography

HX1’s zoom versatility and fixed lens appeal to light packers wanting diverse focal lengths. NX20’s interchangeable lens system offers quality and versatility at the cost of size and weight.

Professional Work

Neither camera is truly professional-grade by today’s standards - no weather sealing, limited dynamic range compared to modern models, and dated AF systems. However, the NX20’s RAW support, better sensor, and manual controls provide a foundation for semi-pro or enthusiast workflows.

Technical Performance Rating: Numbers Do Tell a Tale

DxOMark overall score for the NX20 sits at 75, reflecting very good image quality for its era. The HX1 remains untested but falls short in low-light and dynamic range due to sensor limits.

Connectivity and Extras

The NX20 sports built-in Wi-Fi (quite advanced for 2012), HDMI out, and USB 2.0 ports. The HX1 lacks wireless connectivity but offers HDMI and USB.

Price and Value: What Will Your Wallet Say?

The Samsung NX20 launched at a $1100 price point, positioning it as an advanced enthusiast mirrorless camera. Today, used prices vary but still hold value for APS-C shooters seeking affordable options.

The Sony HX1, now discontinued, originally retailed around $480 but with its aging sensor and features, represents an ultra-budget choice for casual users or collectors.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose Which Camera?

If you’re a serious photography enthusiast or semi-pro seeking versatile image quality, creative control, and future flexibility - the Samsung NX20 is the clear choice. Its APS-C sensor, articulated OLED screen, manual controls, and interchangeable lens ecosystem make it a capable all-rounder even by today’s standards in the used market.

If you want an all-in-one bridge camera with a massive zoom and simple point-and-shoot functionality, for travel or casual use, and you mostly shoot daylight or well-lit scenarios, the Sony HX1 offers incredible focal length range and value. Just temper expectations on image quality and low-light performance.

Samsung NX20 front Samsung NX20 screen back Sony HX1 front Sony HX1 screen back

In Summary

In the end, the Samsung NX20 feels like the camera that strives to uncomplicate serious photography, giving you tools and image quality that still impress long after its debut. The Sony HX1 is a charming relic of compact superzoom experimentation - great fun for casual shooters but limited if you want to grow as a photographer.

If you ask me - and you did - I’d go with the NX20 every time, especially for portraits, landscapes, and controlled shooting. But if your value scale tips toward convenience and immense zoom range, the HX1 could still find a place in your kit.

Happy shooting - and do let me know which camp you fall into!