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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7

Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71
Samsung NX30 front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
71
Features
80
Overall
74

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 Key Specs

Samsung NX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 375g - 127 x 96 x 58mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX20
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Announced January 2014
  • Renewed by Sony A7 II
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 Overview

Here is a thorough comparison of the Samsung NX30 versus Sony A7, former being a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Samsung and Sony. The resolution of the NX30 (20MP) and the A7 (24MP) is pretty comparable but the NX30 (APS-C) and A7 (Full frame) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The NX30 was introduced very close to the A7 so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before going right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise overview of how the NX30 scores against the A7 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Sony A7

 NX30 A7 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Samsung NX30

 A7 NX30 
Screen resolution1230k1036kClearer screen (+194k dot)

Common features in the Samsung NX30 and Sony A7

 NX30 A7 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014January 2014Same age
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Samsung NX30 features physical dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") with a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) while the Sony A7 has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Contrast the Samsung NX30 versus Sony A7 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the NX30 compared to the A7.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the NX30 and A7 is 75 and 78 respectively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing merely by checking out technical specs. The visual here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX30 and A7.

As you have seen, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The NX30 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A7 will produce more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures a bit more aggressively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX30
Portrait photography with Sony A7
77
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
82
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Street photography camera
Sony A7 as a Street photography camera
75
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch focus
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
79
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
above average high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A7 as a Sports photography camera
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
offers tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
66
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (340 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung NX30
Travel photography with Sony A7
74
comes with touch focus
good resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse function
69
lighter than competitors in class (474g)
environment sealing
good resolution (24MP)
low battery life (340 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A7 as a Landscape photography camera
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment sealing
does not have image stabilization
low battery life (340 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung NX30
Vlogging with Sony A7
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
offers face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
no image stabilization
36
comes with face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
lighter than competitors in class (474 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX30 and Sony A7
 Samsung NX30Sony Alpha A7
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX30 Sony Alpha A7
Category Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2014-01-03 2014-01-22
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip DRIMeIV Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 25600 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 50
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 247 117
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX Sony E
Amount of lenses 32 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,036 thousand dots 1,230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology AMOLED Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dots 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash options - no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 375g (0.83 lb) 474g (1.04 lb)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 90
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 24.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.2
DXO Low light rating 1014 2248
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 340 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP1410 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $699 $798