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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R

Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71
Samsung NX30 front
 
Sony Alpha A7R front
Portability
78
Imaging
74
Features
76
Overall
74

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R 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
  • Released January 2014
  • Older Model is Samsung NX20
Sony A7R
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 465g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Launched February 2014
  • Successor is Sony A7R II
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R Overview

Here, we are reviewing the Samsung NX30 and Sony A7R, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Samsung and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the NX30 (20MP) and A7R (36MP) and the NX30 (APS-C) and A7R (Full frame) boast different sensor sizes.

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The NX30 was announced very close to the A7R and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras feature the same body design (SLR-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise overview of how the NX30 grades vs the A7R in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Sony A7R

 NX30 A7R 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A7R over the Samsung NX30

 A7R NX30 
Display resolution1230k1036kClearer display (+194k dot)

Common features in the Samsung NX30 and Sony A7R

 NX30 A7R 
LaunchedJanuary 2014February 2014Same age
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and volume. The Samsung NX30 features exterior measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") along with a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) and the Sony A7R has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") along with a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs).

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Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the NX30 against the A7R.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX30 and A7R is 75 and 78 respectively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specs. The picture here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the NX30 and A7R.

All in all, both the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The NX30 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony A7R will provide you with extra detail with its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos way more aggressively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R sensor size comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX30
Portrait photography with Sony A7R
77
focusing manually
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW files
84
manual focus
MP count fantastic (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX30 Street photography highlights
Sony A7R Street photography highlights
75
screen articulates fully
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
provides touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is great (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
lighter than competition in class (465 grams)
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX30 Sports photography factors
Sony A7R Sports photography factors
73
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
62
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
MP count fantastic (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
weather proofing
slow fps (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
low battery power (340 shots)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A7R as a Travel photography camera
74
provides touch to focus
good resolution (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
70
lighter than competition in class (465 grams)
weather proofing
MP count fantastic (36MP)
low battery power (340 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX30 Landscape photography highlights
Sony A7R Landscape photography highlights
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
78
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count fantastic (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
no image stabilization
low battery power (340 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX30 Vlogging details
Sony A7R Vlogging details
75
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
offers face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic port
no image stabilization
36
provides face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
lighter than competition in class (465 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A7R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX30 and Sony A7R
 Samsung NX30Sony Alpha A7R
General Information
Brand Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX30 Sony Alpha A7R
Type Advanced Mirrorless Pro Mirrorless
Released 2014-01-03 2014-02-13
Body design SLR-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip DRIMeIV Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 36 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 7360 x 4912
Max native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 247 25
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX Sony E
Amount of lenses 32 121
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,036 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech AMOLED Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash modes - no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 375 grams (0.83 lbs) 465 grams (1.03 lbs)
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 All around rating 77 95
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 25.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 14.1
DXO Low light rating 1014 2746
Other
Battery life 360 shots 340 shots
Battery form 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 recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $699 $1,898