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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550

Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71
Samsung NX30 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 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
  • Earlier Model is Samsung NX20
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched December 2009
  • Old Model is Sony A100
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Samsung NX30 and Sony A550, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Samsung and Sony. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the NX30 (20MP) and A550 (14MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NX30 was brought out 4 years after the A550 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise overview of how the NX30 grades vs the A550 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Sony A550

 NX30 A550 
LaunchedJanuary 2014December 2009More modern by 50 months
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1036k922kSharper screen (+114k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Samsung NX30

 A550 NX30 

Common features in the Samsung NX30 and Sony A550

 NX30 A550 
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX30 has exterior measurements of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") having a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) while the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

See the Samsung NX30 and Sony A550 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the NX30 against the A550.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the NX30 and A550 is 75 and 63 respectively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through specifications. The image below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the NX30 and A550.

Plainly, both cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Samsung NX30 to give you extra detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The more modern NX30 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX30 Portrait photography advice
Sony A550 Portrait photography advice
77
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
delivers RAW files
72
manual focus
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Street photography camera
Sony A550 as a Street photography camera
75
screen articulates
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
comes with focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
74
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung NX30
Sports photography with Sony A550
73
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
67
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
low battery pack (480 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A550 as a Travel photography camera
74
comes with focus via touch
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
no Time Lapse recording
52
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (480 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung NX30
Landscape photography with Sony A550
71
focusing manually
switch lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low battery pack (480 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX30 Vlogging features
Sony A550 Vlogging features
75
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic support
no image stabilization
9
can't record video
Photography Glossary

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX30 and Sony A550
 Samsung NX30Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX30 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Category Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-01-03 2009-12-09
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip DRIMeIV Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 247 9
Lens
Lens mount type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 32 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,036 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology AMOLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 375 grams (0.83 lb) 632 grams (1.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 77 66
DXO Color Depth rating 23.5 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.4 11.8
DXO Low light rating 1014 807
Other
Battery life 360 photographs 480 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP1410 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $699 $749