Samsung NX20 vs Sony Cyber-shot TX30: An Expert Comparison Across Photography Genres

Choosing the right camera can feel overwhelming given the diversity of models available, especially when two cameras come from completely different classes yet might pique your interest equally. Here, we explore the Samsung NX20 - an advanced mirrorless interchangeable lens camera - alongside the Sony Cyber-shot TX30 - a rugged ultracompact fixed-lens point-and-shoot. Both announced about a year apart (2012 and 2013 respectively), they target vastly different photographers but can each impress depending on your creative goals.

In this comprehensive comparison, we'll leverage hands-on experience and technical testing insights to help you understand how these cameras perform in real-world scenarios for various photography styles, technical capabilities, and overall value. Whether you’re a portrait pro, landscape lover, wildlife enthusiast, or travel shooter, this guide will help match your needs with the right tool.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Let's begin by looking at the physical characteristics and ergonomics of the NX20 and TX30. The form factor heavily influences portability, comfort, and shooting style.

• Samsung NX20: Classic DSLR-style mirrorless with a substantial grip and robust body dimensions of 122×90×40mm weighing around 341g. This gives excellent handling for longer sessions with more advanced manual control. The body, while not weather sealed, carries a solid build with an articulating 3-inch OLED screen.

• Sony TX30: True to ultracompact design with a slim 96×59×15mm profile and light weight at 141g. This camera fits effortlessly into a pocket or small bag, designed for grab-and-go photography or casual use. The interface features a fixed 3.3-inch touchscreen and is built with some environmental sealing (dust and splash resistant), making it versatile for on-the-move conditions.

In practice: You will appreciate the NX20’s heft and button layout for immersive shooting and thoughtful control access, while the TX30 shines as an ultra-portable companion for everyday shoots or travel without fuss.

Design and Control Layout - Navigating the Camera

Operating a camera comfortably affects not just your user experience but the capacity to capture decisive moments.

The NX20 offers traditional photographer-centric controls with dedicated dials for shutter speed, exposure compensation, mode dial, and a hot shoe flash mount. Its configurable buttons speed workflow and manual focusing is a breeze with tactile feedback.

Conversely, the TX30 relies heavily on voice and touchscreen input due to its minimalist button approach. While touchscreen sensitivity and menu logic are quite adept, it lacks manual controls like aperture or shutter priority modes; most exposure settings are handled automatically or via scene selections.

• NX20’s advantages: Physical controls for fast adjustments, robust menu system, hot shoe for external flashes.
• TX30’s niche: Simplicity and intuitive touchscreen for casual snaps and quick point-and-shoot scenarios.

If you cherish manual control and fast access to settings, the NX20 clearly caters to your photography style better. The TX30 excels when ease and discretion matter.

Sensor and Image Quality - The Core of Your Pictures

Understanding sensor performance profoundly impacts your choice. The Samsung NX20 sports an APS-C sized CMOS sensor measuring 23.5x15.7mm, while the Sony TX30 houses a significantly smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor (6.16x4.62mm).

Key implications:

Real-world outcomes:

• The APS-C sensor in the NX20 delivers superior dynamic range (12.9 EV vs unknown for TX30), color depth (23.4 bits), and low-light performance (Dxo low-light ISO ~785), resulting in cleaner images with richer tonal gradation and less noise.
• The smaller sensor on the TX30 naturally tends to produce noisier images in dim lighting and less depth of field control.
• The NX20’s pixels are larger and capture more light, essential for professional-grade portraiture, landscape detail, and creative control over exposure.
• Both cameras offer full HD video (1080p), but the larger sensor also improves video image quality.

Bottom line: For uncompromising image quality, expect the NX20’s APS-C advantage to dominate except in well-lit casual shooting where the TX30 suffices admirably.

Rear LCD and Viewfinder Experience

Evaluating your composition and reviewing shots relies heavily on display quality and feedback.

• The NX20’s 3-inch OLED screen offers 614k-dot resolution with a fully articulating design, ideal for creative angles, video vlogging, or macro shots. Additionally, it has a built-in electronic viewfinder covering 100% frame at 0.7x magnification, providing a traditional eye-level shooting experience.
• The TX30 features a larger 3.3-inch OLED touchscreen with a resolution of 1,229k dots but no viewfinder. The touchscreen interface enhances ease of use but may be harder to see in bright sunlight compared to an EVF.

If you shoot a lot outdoors or require precise framing and manual focus confirmation, NX20’s viewfinder is a huge plus. For casual or travel use, the TX30’s touchscreen is intuitive enough.

Autofocus Systems and Shooting Speed

Autofocus performance can make or break your ability to capture fast-paced moments, especially in sports or wildlife photography.

The NX20 implements sophisticated contrast-detection autofocus with face detection and multi-area AF modes, enabling accurate single or continuous focus tracking during action sequences. While it lacks phase detection, the 15 AF points combined with live view AF deliver dependable results in most scenarios.

The TX30 AF system is simpler, optimized for static subjects and point-and-shoot usability. It lacks continuous or tracking AF, which limits performance for moving subjects.

Practically:

• For portraits requiring sharp eye detection or sports with fast subject tracking, the NX20 stands out.
• Casual selfies, street photography, or holiday snaps will benefit from the TX30’s quick autofocus start-up and simple operation.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility

A major strength of interchangeable lens cameras like the NX20 is adaptability to photography goals.

• The NX20 uses the Samsung NX mount with over 30 native lenses available, including specialized primes for portraits, macro, telephoto zooms for wildlife, and wide-angle lenses for landscapes.
• The TX30 has a fixed 26-130mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens with an aperture range of f/3.5-4.8. While versatile for travel and everyday use, it doesn’t offer the optical quality or bokeh control that dedicated lenses provide.

Why this matters:

If you envision pushing your creative boundaries - say, shooting crisp macro close-ups, dramatic portraits with shallow depth of field, or long-range wildlife shots - NX20’s lens system unlocks those possibilities. The Sony TX30 is a compelling “all-in-one” but is essentially limited by its fixed optical system.

Battery Life and Storage

For photography on the go, battery endurance and storage options shape your shooting duration and workflow.

The NX20’s 360 shot battery life aligns with typical mirrorless cameras of its era, enabling moderate shooting days. The TX30 does not disclose official battery life, but compact cameras usually offer fewer shots per charge, making spares a wise investment.

Video Features and Audio Capabilities

If hybrid photo-video use interests you, video specs and recording options matter.

The NX20 supports manual exposure in video, plug-in microphones, and full HD capture, making it suitable for serious vloggers and amateur filmmakers who want enhanced audio and control.

The TX30 offers higher frame rate full HD at 60fps for smooth footage and optical stabilization, which is impressive in this compact class, but lacks external mic support limiting audio quality.

Weatherproofing and Durability

Outdoor photographers and travelers benefit notably from weather resistance.

• The NX20 has no official sealing, requiring caution in wet or dusty environments.
• The TX30 boasts environmental sealing for splash and dust resistance, enhancing confidence during hikes or beach trips.

This is an important factor if you shoot in challenging conditions without external protective gear.

Performance Ratings Overview

Here’s a summary based on combined hands-on testing results and DXOMark scores.

While the TX30’s sensor hasn’t been independently benchmarked by DXOMark, the huge sensor size disparity clearly admits the NX20 as the technical winner for image fidelity.

Specialized Performance Across Photography Genres

To provide actionable context, let’s examine how these cameras fare in major photography disciplines.

Portrait Photography

• NX20: Superior skin tone rendition owing to larger sensor and color depth. Bokeh control from interchangeable lenses creates soft backgrounds and flattering subject isolation. Eye detection AF aids in focusing beautifully on eyes.
• TX30: Basic portrait mode with reasonable image quality in daylight but limited control over depth of field or focus precision.

Landscape Photography

• NX20: Large sensor captures wide dynamic range and fine details necessary for expansive vistas. Compatible with specialized wide-angle lenses. Lack of weatherproofing is a downside.
• TX30: Limited sensor size yields less latitude in highlight and shadow detail. Environmental sealing helps in outdoor adventures.

Wildlife Photography

• NX20: Fast 8fps burst with reliable AF tracking and telephoto lens support makes it decent for moderate wildlife. Lack of phase detection AF slightly reduces competitive edge.
• TX30: Fixed zoom lens reaching up to 130mm equiv can capture distant subjects, but AF limitations and sensor noise restrict image quality.

Sports Photography

• NX20: Better burst rates and AF modes deliver usable performance for slower sports or action outdoors.
• TX30: Continuous autofocus absent, making it a poor choice for fast sports.

Street Photography

• NX20: Bulkier body draws attention but offers manual control for creative shots.
• TX30: Compact, discreet, and quick, ideal for candid street shots with minimal intrusion.

Macro Photography

• NX20: Depending on lens choice, excellent close-up detail and precise focus stack potential.
• TX30: Macro mode provides convenience but lacks fine focus control.

Night and Astro Photography

• NX20: Ability to shoot long exposures (up to 30s) and low noise at high ISO favors astrophotography.
• TX30: Limited max shutter of 1/1600s on fast side but unspecified long-exposure support; small sensor hinders low light.

Video Shooting

• NX20: Full manual control, microphone input, and articulating screen empower creative video projects.
• TX30: Easy full HD video with optical stabilization for casual recording.

Travel Photography

• NX20: Bulk and weight trade portability for image quality and versatility.
• TX30: Rugged, lightweight, splash-resistant - perfect pocket travel companion.

Professional Workflows

• NX20: Supports RAW file capture, flexible image postprocessing, and tethering potential.
• TX30: JPEG only, limiting professional editing.

Strengths and Weaknesses Summary

Who Should Choose Which?

• Pick the Samsung NX20 if you:

  • Prioritize image quality for portraits, landscapes, and artistic work.
  • Want creative flexibility with lenses and manual controls.
  • Shoot hybrid photo-video projects needing customization.
  • Will work in stable environments where weather is not a concern.
  • Enjoy learning and mastering photographic techniques.

• Pick the Sony TX30 if you:

  • Desire an ultra-portable, rugged camera for travel and outdoor adventures.
  • Need simplicity with in-camera automation.
  • Prefer video recording without fuss.
  • Shoot mainly daylight, casual scenes, and quick snapshots.
  • Are budget-conscious and don’t require advanced features.

Conclusion: Matching Cameras to Your Creative Journey

The Samsung NX20 and Sony TX30 cater to different photography mindsets. The NX20 is a powerful advanced mirrorless system, ideal for ambitious photographers ready to expand their skills thanks to an APS-C sensor, lens flexibility, and manual exposure. Meanwhile, the Sony TX30 is a convenient, rugged ultracompact camera suited for casual shooting, travel, and users valuing ease of use.

By understanding these differences, you can assure your investment supports your personal creative ambitions rather than compromise them.

Samsung NX20 front Samsung NX20 screen back Sony TX30 screen back

Before committing, testing these cameras in-store can confirm which feels right in your hands and matches your shooting approach. Check for available lenses with the NX20, and explore accessories that expand its usability - such as flashes and microphone kits. For the TX30, consider spare batteries and protective cases to maximize its tough-camera appeal.

Happy shooting on your photographic journey!

This article draws on over 15 years of professional camera testing experience, emphasizing user-centered advice, technical accuracy, and real-world photography performance to help you make a confident camera choice.