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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390

Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71
Samsung NX30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
54
Features
54
Overall
54

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 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
  • Announced January 2014
  • Replaced the Samsung NX20
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A380
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 Overview

Below is a thorough assessment of the Samsung NX30 and Sony A390, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the NX30 (20MP) and A390 (14MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The NX30 was manufactured 3 years later than the A390 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a thorough comparison, below is a concise view of how the NX30 scores versus the A390 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Sony A390

 NX30 A390 
LaunchedJanuary 2014July 2010More recent by 42 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1036k230kClearer display (+806k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Samsung NX30

 A390 NX30 

Common features in the Samsung NX30 and Sony A390

 NX30 A390 
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Samsung NX30 offers outer dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") with a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) and the Sony A390 has dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Samsung NX30 and Sony A390 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the NX30 compared to the A390.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the NX30 and A390 is 75 and 66 respectively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The visual here will give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX30 and A390.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Samsung NX30 to produce more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The newer NX30 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX30 Portrait photography information
Sony A390 Portrait photography information
77
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung NX30
Street photography with Sony A390
75
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A390 as a Sports photography camera
73
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX30 Travel photography features
Sony A390 Travel photography features
74
provides focus via touch
sensor resolution is decent (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
does not have Time Lapse function
53
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (230 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A390 as a Landscape photography camera
71
manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
terrible battery pack (230 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX30 Vlogging details
Sony A390 Vlogging details
75
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic jack
no image stabilization
9
can't shoot video
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX30 and Sony A390
 Samsung NX30Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Type Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-01-03 2010-07-28
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor DRIMeIV Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5472 x 3648 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 247 9
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 1,036k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology AMOLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.49x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 9.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 375 gr (0.83 lbs) 549 gr (1.21 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 77 66
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 11.5
DXO Low light score 1014 607
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 230 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP1410 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD, SDHC, SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Price at release $699 $500