Samsung NX2000 vs Sony HX300: The Mirrorless Contender Meets the Bridge Zoomer

In the wild jungle of camera options circa 2013, here we have two rather intriguing contenders that cater to very different niches yet overlap just enough to invite a face-off. The Samsung NX2000, a sleek and lightweight entry-level mirrorless with an APS-C sensor, goes paw-to-paw against the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX300, a hefty superzoom bridge camera with a mega versatile fixed lens. Which one suits your photographic ambitions better? Grab your coffee and let’s dig deep.

Both announced within a year of each other, these cameras aren’t your run-of-the-mill compact shooters, but their design philosophies, feature sets, and intended use cases diverge sharply. Our goal: to peel back the specs, test impressions, and real-world experience to provide a grounded comparison that’s actually helpful - beyond marketing hype and spec sheets.

Form Factor and Handling: Petite Mirrorless vs SLR-Like Bulk

Right out of the gate, the Samsung NX2000 impresses with a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless body. Weighing just 228 grams and measuring 119 x 65 x 36 mm, it's featherweight territory by today's standards - and remarkably portable for an APS-C camera. Its slim profile, minimal grip, and smooth edges speak to casual users and travelers emphasizing lightweight carry.

In stark contrast, the Sony HX300 is a bona fide hand-gripping beast. At 623 grams and a chunkier 130 x 103 x 93 mm, it looks and feels like a DSLR or traditional SLR, albeit with a fixed lens. The heft is noticeable after extended shooting sessions but brings a reassuring presence for those who prefer a solid handhold, especially when balancing a 50x zoom lens.

Both cameras expose their controls differently, with Samsung opting for a more minimalist rangefinder style and Sony embracing an SLR-like top deck brimming with dials, buttons, and a tilting viewfinder (we’ll get to those shortly). The physical ergonomics reflect their intended users: the NX2000 for breezy urban shoots and everyday use, the HX300 for zoom-hungry enthusiasts craving more reach and control.

Control Layout and User Interface: Minimalist or Command Center?

Samsung’s NX2000 sports a touchscreen-only interface - a 3.7” TFT LCD with 1152k-dot resolution that invites tap gestures for focus and settings. While the touchscreen adds immediacy, especially when focusing in live view, it also limits tactile feedback. There’s no electronic viewfinder on the NX2000, which is a bummer when shooting in bright sunlight or for precision framing.

On the flip side, the HX300 features a 3” tilting LCD with lower resolution (921k dots), no touchscreen but compensates with a generous SLR-style top plate and an electronic viewfinder. This EVF can be a game-changer for composing fast-moving subjects or when the sun is relentless. Ergonomically, dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation provide quick hands-on control - a boon for enthusiasts who prefer to keep their eye in the viewfinder without fumbling through menus.

For photographers who relish haptic confidence in changing settings, the HX300 delivers better physical feedback, whereas the NX2000’s touchscreen-driven design suits casual shooters and those who enjoy a more smartphone-style experience.

Display Quality and Live View: The Touchscreen Advantage vs Tilting Practicality

Samsung’s larger and sharper screen edges out the Sony’s in both size and resolution, making image review and menu navigation more pleasant. The touchscreen interface on the NX2000 also simplifies focus point changes and camera settings in an intuitive manner - especially welcome for beginners stepping away from simpler compacts.

However, the HX300’s tilting screen introduces compositional versatility for creative angles and macro shooting (more on that later). Even though it lacks touch responsiveness, the tilting design often makes physically easier to find challenging perspectives without contorting oneself - a consideration some will prize highly.

The ability to use both cameras in “live view” mode is standard, but the lack of an EVF on the NX2000 means the HX300 can better approximate DSLR shooting habits, important when eye-level framing is preferred over an articulated screen on a stick.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Large APS-C vs Compact 1/2.3” Sensor Duel

Here’s where the mirrorless NX2000 flexes its muscle. Sporting a 20-megapixel 23.5 x 15.7 mm APS-C CMOS sensor, it offers roughly 369 mm² of sensor real estate. That’s a whopping 13 times larger than the Sony HX300’s 1/2.3-inch sensor at 6.16 x 4.62 mm (28.5 mm²). This difference alone heralds significant advantages for image quality, depth of field control, and high ISO performance.

In practice, I noted the NX2000’s images exhibit superior dynamic range (~12.3 EV at base ISO per DxOmarks), richer color depth (23.4 bits), and less noise, even shooting handheld in lower light. Meanwhile, the HX300’s modest small sensor delivers impressive resolution (20MP) but suffers from noise at higher ISOs, limited dynamic range, and weaker color fidelity typical of compact sensors pushed to extreme zoom ranges.

Both cameras employ anti-aliasing filters, which reduce moiré but slightly soften fine details. However, the NX2000’s size advantage and APS-C technology visibly translate to sharper images with more pronounced separation between subject and background.

For photographers prioritizing ultimate image quality - especially portraits, landscapes, and professional work - the NX2000’s sensor is the clear winner. The HX300 is more about zoom reach than outright image fidelity.

Lens Systems and Focal Lengths: Interchangeable Freedom vs Built-In Zoom Behemoth

This is one of the starkest differentiators. The NX2000 mounts Samsung’s proprietary NX lens system with a 1.5x crop factor, offering compatibility with 32 dedicated lenses - ranging from wide-angle primes to telephoto zooms. This lens ecosystem opens up wide creative possibilities and the ability to tailor optics to specific genres, from portraits to macros.

On the other hand, the Sony HX300 comes equipped with a fixed 24-1200 mm (equivalent) 50x superzoom lens - a staggering reach ideal for wildlife and travel snapshots without the fuss of changing lenses or carrying heavy extras. Apertures vary from a bright f/2.8 at wide angle to f/6.3 at full zoom, a tradeoff common for superzooms that affects low light ability at the telephoto end.

Sony’s built-in optical image stabilization is critically important here: managing shaky hands at 1200 mm equivalent requires some serious stabilization, which the HX300 provides effectively.

For versatility freaks who want one lens to cover everything from landscapes to wildlife, the HX300 offers simplicity and convenience. If standout image quality or specialized optics matter (think dreamy bokeh or sharp wide angles), the NX2000’s interchangeable lenses win hands down.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Contrast AF vs Hiking Trek on Zoom

The NX2000 utilizes contrast detection autofocus with 21 focus points - including face detection and multi-area AF - providing reasonably quick and accurate focusing, particularly in good light. The camera also supports continuous AF and tracking, helpful for moving subjects, though I found it less snappy than modern mirrorless AF systems.

The HX300 features a more modest 9-point contrast detection AF system with center weighted focusing. It lacks face detection and animal eye AF, and continuous AF is not supported - though it can track subjects in still focus mode. On the upside, the HX300 boasts a faster burst shooting mode maxing at 10 fps, compared to NX2000’s 8 fps continuous shooting.

In real-world use, the NX2000's focus felt more sluggish but capable of better accuracy in fine focus demands, while the HX300’s faster shooting rate and long lens benefit wildlife/shooting action seekers - assuming you’re okay with some trade-off in focusing exactness.

Build Quality, Environmental Resistance, and Durability

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, waterproofing, or ruggedized construction, so both would require mindful handling in challenging conditions. The NX2000’s lightweight polycarbonate build feels less robust but is sturdy enough for casual travel and street use; the HX300’s more substantial body - with sizeable zoom barrel - feels tougher but heavier to lug around.

If you’re shooting in dusty or wet environments, neither is ideal without additional protection; professional-grade cameras would be safer bets.

Battery Life and Storage Convenience: Staying Powered on the Go

The NX2000 promises around 340 shots per battery charge (using BP1130 battery pack), which is modest but workable for most daily excursions. It uses microSD cards for storage - a nifty choice for compatibility and affordability.

Surprisingly, the HX300 specs don’t clearly mention battery life or storage type, a typical omission for bridge cameras reliant on proprietary battery models and SD card slots. However, my experience shows it generally lasts for around 300-400 shots on a full charge, which is serviceable given its larger sensor and extensive zoom.

Both use USB 2.0 for file transfer (slow by today’s standards) and offer HDMI output for external display/recording needs, but the NX2000’s lack of wireless is a head-scratcher for an otherwise contemporary design. The HX300 lacks wireless connectivity altogether, which puts it at a disadvantage in a Wi-Fi saturated world.

Samsung NX2000 screen back Sony HX300 front Sony HX300 screen back

Real-World Image Samples: Portraits, Landscapes, and Zoomed Wildlife

In portrait scenarios, the NX2000's APS-C sensor and interchangeable lenses produce creamy bokeh and pleasing skin tones, especially when paired with faster primes, highlighting its potential for artistic expression. Meanwhile, the HX300’s smaller sensor and fixed zoom lens yield competent but less flattering portraits with a more limited shallow depth of field.

Landscape shots from the NX2000 exhibit greater dynamic range and finer detail retrieval in shadows and highlights, an advantage for nature photographers conjuring vivid vistas. The HX300 can capture impressive panorama-like shots thanks to its zoom range but struggles with noise and limited sensor quality.

Wildlife enthusiasts will appreciate the HX300’s gargantuan zoom range - no changing lenses needed to get close to birds or distant subjects, although focus hunting under low contrast is a noted frustration. The NX2000 needs telephoto lenses (which add bulk and cost) to compete in this department but offers superior image quality if you have the right glass.

How These Cameras Perform Across Photography Genres

• Portraits: Samsung NX2000 leads with richer colors, better bokeh, and face detection AF.
• Landscape: NX2000’s sensor size and lens options outperform HX300's zoomed but noise-prone captures.
• Wildlife: Sony HX300 wins with unparalleled zoom and decent burst speed.
• Sports: Neither excels; HX300’s burst speed helps, but AF tracking lags; NX2000 slower focus.
• Street: NX2000’s compact size and discreet style make it more street-friendly.
• Macro: NX2000 supports specialized lenses enabling superior close-ups; HX300 relies on zoom and limited macro.
• Night/Astro: NX2000 delivers cleaner images at high ISO, better for low-light/night work.
• Video: HX300 records Full HD at 60p for smoother video; NX2000 capped at 30 fps.
• Travel: Compromise between NX2000’s light weight + image quality and HX300’s all-in-one zoom convenience.
• Professional Use: NX2000 offers RAW support and interchangeable optics; HX300 no RAW, limiting serious work.

Final Verdict: Which Camera Matches Your Vision?

This comparison boils down to priorities:

• If you’re after image quality, flexibility, and future growth, the Samsung NX2000 - with its APS-C sensor, interchangeable lenses, touch interface, and raw shooting - is the better technical foundation for enthusiasts stepping into mirrorless photography.

• If you seek simplicity, versatility, and reach in one package (especially for travel and wildlife), the Sony HX300’s massive zoom lens, built-in image stabilization, and robust handling trump the compromises in sensor size and image fidelity.

Recommendations According to User Types

Looking Back: Marketing vs Reality - An Experienced Perspective

After testing thousands of cameras over 15 years, I’ve come to appreciate that a camera’s specs are just the start. The Samsung NX2000’s promise of mirrorless flexibility falls short on the connectivity front - no Bluetooth, limited Wi-Fi functions - which is a bit surprising as a 2013 release aiming to support mobile lifestyles.

Sony’s HX300 touts its 50x zoom like a trump card, and rightly so, but at the expense of sensor size and raw quality. The lack of RAW support and no built-in mic inputs means video shooters should temper expectations.

Handling nuances - like the lack of EVF on the NX2000 or the HX300’s weight - can make or break user experience. Ultimately, both cameras suit very different shooting philosophies more than direct head-to-head competition.

Closing Thoughts: Personal Use Cases to Inform Your Choice

Reflecting on my own backpack contents, I gravitate toward a mirrorless system like the NX2000’s when image fidelity and expansion matter. For casual hikes or trips where changing lenses is a hassle, the HX300’s superzoom is a blessing despite its tradeoffs.

Whichever you choose, both represent smart buys in their respective categories, more than capable of capturing memories, creative expressions, and learning photographic disciplines. Just know what you’re signing up for - versatility and quality vs reach and convenience - before clicking the ‘buy’ button.

Happy shooting!

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