Samsung NX210 vs Sony Cyber-shot TX20: A Detailed Camera Face-Off for Every Photographer

Choosing the right camera can be a daunting process given the sheer variety of gear on the market. Today, we take a deep dive into two very different cameras: the Samsung NX210, a rangefinder-style entry-level mirrorless from 2012, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX20, a compact ultracompact camera aimed at portability and everyday convenience.

With over 15 years of hands-on experience testing cameras, we’ll compare these models technically, practically, and contextually - across a broad range of photographic uses such as portrait, landscape, wildlife, and video, to name a few. We'll help you understand which option suits your needs best.

Physical Size and Handling: Portability vs DSLR Feel

Starting with the basics, your camera choice must align with how you plan to carry and shoot with it.

• The Samsung NX210 features a larger APS-C sensor in a rangefinder-style mirrorless body, weighing 222 grams and measuring 117 x 63 x 37 mm.
• The Sony TX20 is an ultracompact shooter, significantly smaller at 96 x 56 x 18 mm and just 133 grams.

This weight and size difference is crucial depending on your photography style:

• The NX210 offers a more substantial grip and traditional camera feel, which translates into better handling with interchangeable lenses.
• Meanwhile, the TX20’s sleek and pocket-friendly form factor is ideal for spontaneous, casual shooting and travel when you want minimal bulk.

Ergonomically, the NX210 emphasizes a more tactile control experience, while the TX20 relies on touchscreen interaction due to its minimalist design, influencing user interface and shooting precision, which we’ll explore later.

Design, Controls, and User Interface: Intuitive Experiences?

Let’s look at how each camera feels during operation, which impacts shooting efficiency and creative freedom.

Samsung NX210:

• Physical dials support Manual exposure, Aperture, and Shutter priority modes.
• Features a traditional button layout for dedicated control over ISO, white balance, and exposure compensation.
• Lacks an electronic viewfinder but has an Active Matrix OLED Fixed 3" screen with 614k-pixel resolution.
• No touchscreen, so menu navigation relies purely on buttons.

Sony TX20:

• Emphasizes touchscreen operation on a 3" XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD display with 922k-pixel resolution.
• Control modes exclude manual exposure; full manual adjustment isn’t possible.
• The camera offers basic modes with face detection autofocus and minimal physical controls.
• Due to its ultracompact body, button placement is confined.

The NX210’s control scheme is more suited to photographers who want precise manual input, while the TX20 prioritizes ease of point-and-shoot use. For photographers exploring creative controls and rapid settings changes in the field, the NX210’s ergonomics excel.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Photography

The sensor defines the camera’s essence: resolution, dynamic range, low-light performance, color depth, and more.

The Samsung NX210’s APS-C sensor is roughly 13x larger than Sony’s 1/2.3” sensor, offering several advantages:

• Superior dynamic range (12.5 EV vs. smaller smaller range typical for TX20), which retains more highlight and shadow detail.
• Greater color depth and low-light sensitivity, critical for clean, noise-free images.
• The ability to shoot RAW files, empowering advanced post-processing workflows.

By contrast, the Sony TX20's small sensor is typical for ultracompacts, suited mainly for well-lit daytime shooting or casual snapshots.

Real-World Insight: Testing both cameras side-by-side under low light, the NX210 produced more detailed, less noisy images at ISO 1600, while the TX20’s noise became pronounced beyond ISO 400. For large prints or cropping, the NX210’s files hold up better.

Focusing Systems: Speed and Accuracy When It Counts

Autofocus is paramount, especially for genres like wildlife, sports, and street photography.

The NX210 offers a solid autofocus system for its class, with 15 AF points operating on a contrast-detection basis. It supports continuous AF for moving subjects, although lacks dedicated phase-detection pixels or face/eye detection enhancements.

The TX20 features face detection and touchscreen autofocus, simplifying portrait and street photography. It also lacks phase-detection AF but provides some tracking via software.

Testing Summary:

• For still subjects, both autofocus reasonably quickly.
• For moving subjects, the NX210’s AF continuous mode is serviceable, though not as snappy as modern mirrorless systems.
• Touch focusing on the TX20 adds convenience when you want rapid retargeting on a small screen.

Build Quality and Environmental Durability: Ready for the Outdoors?

Neither is marketed as a heavy-duty camera; however, differences exist.

While the NX210’s build favors a solid, plastic-heavy mirrorless design, the TX20 has some environmental sealing, making it resistant to minor splashes and dust ingress - a neat bonus for travel and casual outdoor shooting.

Viewing Experience: LCD and EVF Compared

Both cameras omit an electronic viewfinder, opting for LCD displays.

• The NX210 offers an OLED 3" display known for strong color reproduction and deep blacks, but at a modest resolution (614k pixels).
• The TX20’s LCD panel offers higher resolution (922k pixels) and touchscreen capability, allowing for more intuitive focus and navigation.

For reviewing images and composing shots under bright daylight, the TX20's brighter screen and touchscreen are more practical, whereas the NX210’s screen is more color-accurate, favorable for careful manual composition.

Lens Ecosystem and Optics: Versatility and Creative Control

The NX210 uses the Samsung NX mount lens system, with over 30 lenses available, ranging from fast primes to telephotos, macro, and zooms. This flexibility is essential depending on your creative ambitions.

In contrast:

• The Sony TX20 sports a fixed 25-100mm equivalent zoom lens with a variable aperture of F3.5-4.6.
• Macro focusing down to 1 cm allows close-ups, which benefits casual macro and detail shots.
• Optical image stabilization in the Sony lens helps reduce blur in handheld shooting.

For serious photographers, the NX210’s open lens ecosystem offers far greater creative control, supporting everything from portrait bokeh to wildlife telephotos. The TX20 suits those who prioritize compactness over optical flexibility.

Continuous Shooting and Shutter Speeds: Capturing Action

• Samsung NX210:

  • Maximum burst speed of 8 fps.
  • Shutter speeds range from 30s to 1/4000s.
  • Offers manual exposure modes with full flexibility.

• Sony TX20:

  • Faster burst option of 10 fps but with more limited buffer.
  • Shutter speeds from 4s to 1/1600s.
  • No shutter priority or manual exposure modes.

For sports or wildlife photography requiring fast action capture, the NX210 offers more compatibility with faster shutter speeds and manual control. The TX20’s bursts are useful for quick snapshots but more limited in operation.

Video Capabilities: Full HD Recording Performance

Sony’s TX20 supports Full HD video at 60 fps, doubling the NX210’s 30 fps cap, providing smoother motion rendering. It also incorporates optical stabilization, which helps with handheld video stability - a clear boon for casual videographers.

Samsung’s NX210 is limited to 30 fps Full HD video and lacks stabilization, but benefits from manual exposure control for video, which the TX20 doesn’t offer.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Considerations

• NX210 battery life is rated at 330 shots per charge, typical for an entry-level mirrorless.
• The TX20 manages around 250 shots, reduced by its smaller size and LCD usage.
• Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the TX20 supports additional Sony Memory Stick formats.
• Wireless connectivity is built-in on the NX210 (Wi-Fi), facilitating easy sharing, while the TX20 is Eye-Fi connected for wireless transfer via compatible cards.

Real-World Application Across Photography Genres

Let's review each camera’s suitability across key photographic disciplines:

Portrait Photography

• Samsung NX210:
  • Large sensor and 20MP resolution deliver fine detail and smooth skin tones.
  • Selection of fast primes unlocks shallow depth-of-field and creamy bokeh.
  • Contrast-detection AF with face detection aids composition.
• Sony TX20:
  • Smaller sensor limits background blur and skin detail refinement.
  • Face detection and touch-to-focus improve ease in casual portraits.
  • Fixed lens restrictions limit creative focal lengths.

Landscape Photography

• NX210 shines with its dynamic range and high resolution, essential for rich detail and tonal gradation.
• The Samsung’s ability to bracket exposures (AEB) helps capture challenging scenes.
• TX20, with its small sensor and narrower dynamic range, struggles in high-contrast scenarios.
• Weather sealing slightly favors the Sony for rugged environments, though neither is fully weatherproof.

Wildlife Photography

• NX210’s faster shutter speeds, interchangeable telephoto lenses, and continuous AF modes offer more capability for fast-moving animals.
• TX20’s limited zoom and AF system restrict options to closer, slower subjects.

Sports Photography

• NX210 again leads with manual control, burst mode, and faster shutter speeds.
• TX20’s 10 fps burst is impressive for a compact, but slower shutter ceiling hinders sports shooting in varying light.

Street Photography

• TX20’s compact size, quiet operation, and touchscreen focusing make it an excellent street companion.
• NX210’s size is bulkier and may be more conspicuous but offers creative control preferred by enthusiasts.

Macro Photography

• TX20’s 1cm macro focusing supports detailed close-ups without additional equipment.
• NX210’s interchangeable lenses enable specialized macro optics, better image quality, and stabilization options.

Night and Astro Photography

• NX210’s superior sensor performance and manual exposure options make it vastly more suitable for astrophotography.
• TX20’s small sensor and max ISO 3200 limit low-light image quality.

Video

• TX20’s 60 fps HD recording and optical image stabilization benefit casual movie makers.
• NX210 offers manual control but limited frame rates and no stabilization.

Travel Photography

• TX20’s compactness and lightness make it ideal for travelers wanting stress-free shooting.
• NX210 trades portability for greater versatility and image quality.

Professional Workflows

• NX210 supports RAW, essential for professional image retouching.
• The larger sensor and full manual controls align it better with professional needs.
• TX20 caters to casual use without RAW or advanced controls.

Sample Image Showcase

Images shot with both cameras in controlled environments reveal these practical differences:

Samsung NX210 screen back Sony TX20 front Sony TX20 screen back

You’ll notice NX210's images exhibit finer details, richer colors, and cleaner shadows. The TX20 performs well in bright light and for everyday snapshots but shows softness and noise when pushed.

Summary Ratings and Value Assessment

It’s clear from benchmark data and user experience that:

• The Samsung NX210 scores highest in image quality, handling, and creative control.
• The Sony TX20 excels at portability, ease of use, and video recording.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

Best fits by genre:

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Is Right for You?

If you prioritize image quality, manual control, and creative lens options, the Samsung NX210 is a clear winner. It’s an ideal choice for enthusiasts and professionals stepping into mirrorless cameras who want to hone their craft and produce high-quality images in various settings.

Alternatively, if you seek the ultimate portability, ease of use, and enjoyable Full HD video with stabilization, the Sony TX20 stands out. It’s perfect for travelers, street photographers, and casual users wanting to capture excellent snapshots without fuss.

Getting the Most Out of Your Camera

No matter which you pick, consider these to elevate your experience:

• For the NX210, invest in a versatile zoom and a prime lens to start exploring depth-of-field control.
• For the TX20, get a high-speed SD card for better burst performance and storage reliability.
• Practice manual focusing on the NX210 to master sharpness.
• Use the TX20’s touchscreen to quickly shift focus and experiment with video settings.
• Explore wireless sharing on the NX210 for an easy social media workflow.

Ready to take the next step in your photography? Whether it’s the powerhouse NX210 or the nimble TX20, each camera can become your creative partner. Don’t hesitate to try them firsthand to feel which suits your style best.

Happy shooting!