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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57

Portability
83
Imaging
62
Features
73
Overall
66
Samsung NX20 front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 Key Specs

Samsung NX20
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 341g - 122 x 90 x 40mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Replaced the Samsung NX11
  • Renewed by Samsung NX30
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Released September 2012
  • Old Model is Sony A55
  • Successor is Sony A58
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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 Overview

Below, we will be matching up the Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Samsung and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the NX20 (20MP) and A57 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NX20 was launched 4 months earlier than the A57 so they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX20 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the NX20 grades versus the A57 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX20 over the Sony A57

 NX20 A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Samsung NX20

 A57 NX20 
Screen resolution921k614kSharper screen (+307k dot)

Common features in the Samsung NX20 and Sony A57

 NX20 A57 
ReleasedApril 2012September 2012Same age
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Both good for selfies
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Samsung NX20 offers exterior dimensions of 122mm x 90mm x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Sony A57 has dimensions of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") having a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

Look at the Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the NX20 versus the A57.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the NX20 and A57 is 83 and 64 respectively.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizes just by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the NX20 and A57.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can count on the Samsung NX20 to result in greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX20 Portrait photography features
Sony A57 Portrait photography features
77
manual focus
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX20 as a Street photography camera
Sony A57 as a Street photography camera
77
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (341 grams)
no image stabilization
75
screen articulates
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX20 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A57 as a Sports photography camera
61
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
78
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX20 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A57 as a Travel photography camera
77
lighter than competitors (341g)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse recording
67
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
no Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung NX20
Landscape photography with Sony A57
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX20 Vlogging features
Sony A57 Vlogging features
78
selfie friendly screen
supports face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone support
lighter than competitors (341g)
no image stabilization
77
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic socket
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Samsung NX20 vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX20 and Sony A57
 Samsung NX20Sony SLT-A57
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX20 Sony SLT-A57
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Introduced 2012-04-20 2012-09-13
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Highest enhanced ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 15 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 614k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology Active Matrix OLED screen Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 8.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 341 grams (0.75 lb) 618 grams (1.36 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 90 x 40mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.6") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 75 75
DXO Color Depth rating 23.4 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.9 13.0
DXO Low light rating 785 785
Other
Battery life 360 pictures 550 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP1130 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $1,100 $1,000