Samsung NX30 vs Sony HX30V: A Thorough Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

In the fast-evolving world of digital cameras, choosing the right model is as much about understanding your shooting style and priorities as it is about parsing specs. Today, we're diving deeply into two very different beasts: the Samsung NX30, an advanced mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V, a small-sensor superzoom compact camera designed for versatility on the go. Both launched around the mid-2010s, each targets a distinct segment of photographers, but how do they truly stack up in real-world use and technical prowess? Having rigorously tested both cameras over years and across genres, I’ll guide you through every key detail.

Let’s start with the basics: the build, controls, and sensor differences that shape every image you capture.

First Impressions: Handling and Ergonomics

When you pick up the NX30 and HX30V side-by-side, the disparity in size and handling is immediately apparent. The NX30 sports a traditional SLR-style mirrorless body, larger and more substantial. The HX30V, true to its compact category, is pocketable and lightweight.

At 127 x 96 x 58 mm and 375 grams, the NX30 feels robust and well-balanced, especially when paired with Samsung NX lenses. This heft contributes to stability during shooting and a reassuring grip for those prolonged sessions in the field. By contrast, the HX30V’s compact 107 x 62 x 35 mm dimensions and 254 grams make it eminently portable but less secure in-hand for extended use or telephoto shots.

From a photographer’s standpoint, the NX30’s ergonomics cater to an involved shooting style - rapid button access, a tweak-friendly design encouraging manual control. The HX30V, on the other hand, aims for opportunistic shooting: quick, stealthy snaps without fuss. That’s reflected in their control layouts.

The NX30 boasts an array of dedicated dials and buttons, including exposure compensation, a mode dial, and a rear thumbwheel, putting intricate exposure adjustments at your fingertips. The HX30V’s simpler interface, with fewer physical controls, emphasizes ease of use over deep configurability, aligning with its compact, all-in-one ethos.

Both offer touchscreens, but the NX30’s 3-inch AMOLED fully articulated display shines with vibrant colors and flexible angles – great for creative framing including high or low-angle shoots and selfies. The HX30V’s 3-inch XtraFine TruBlack TFT LCD is fixed, limiting compositional freedom but sufficing for straightforward framing.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Here’s where the two cameras fundamentally diverge. The Samsung NX30 incorporates a large APS-C CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.7 mm) - essentially the gold standard for image quality in mid-tier mirrorless cameras of its era. The Sony HX30V packs a much smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm) typical for compact superzooms.

From a technical testing perspective, sensor size directly influences low-light performance, dynamic range, and depth of field control. Larger sensors, like the NX30’s APS-C, collect significantly more light (sensor area of 369 mm² versus 28 mm² for the HX30V), boosting image quality. This translates to:

• Greater dynamic range: The NX30 scores 12.4 stops on DxOmark, helping preserve highlight and shadow detail - critical for landscape and high contrast scenes.
• Better color depth: With 23.5 bits versus the untested but known lower color fidelity on the HX30V, the NX30 produces richer, more nuanced skin tones and vibrant colors.
• Impressive ISO performance: The NX30’s native ISO extends to 25600, with usable quality up to around ISO 1600-3200, whereas HX30V struggles at high ISOs due to its diminutive sensor, capped at ISO 12800 but with marked noise beyond ISO 800 in practical use.

The HX30V compensates somewhat by offering a jaw-dropping 20x optical zoom (25-500mm equivalent) aperture range of f/3.2-5.8, giving it incredible reach for distant subjects - something the NX30 cannot match without costly telephoto lenses.

From a practical standpoint, the NX30’s sensor enables professional-grade output suitable for large prints, commercial work, and advanced post-processing, while the HX30V excels as a versatile “travel camera” capturing quick shots without lens changes.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed and Precision in the Field

The NX30 impresses with an advanced hybrid autofocus system featuring 247 focus points combining phase and contrast detection, including face detection and touch-to-focus capabilities. This array offers rapid, accurate focusing - close to DSLR speed - with smooth subject tracking. Such AF sophistication benefits wildlife, sports, and portrait photography where eye detection and selective focusing are paramount.

In contrast, the HX30V utilizes a relatively basic 9-point contrast-detection AF system with face detection but no phase detection or advanced tracking. Autofocus speed is decent for daylight shooting but sometimes sluggish or “hunting” in low contrast or dim conditions.

Continuous shooting speeds reflect these AF strengths:

• NX30 shoots at 9 fps with continuous AF - enabling you to capture fast sports action or bird flight.
• HX30V maxes out at 10 fps but with single AF and less tracking reliability, limiting burst usability for dynamic subjects.

Both cameras include built-in stabilization, but only the HX30V has optical image stabilization (OIS) integrated in the lens, crucial to counterbalance handshake at long zooms. The NX30 lacks in-body stabilization; instead, it relies on lens-based systems and fast shutter speeds to reduce blur.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Now that technical specs are out of the way, how do these cameras perform when pushed in various real-world photographic disciplines?

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooting demands faithful skin tone rendition, creamy bokeh, and reliable eye detection autofocus.

• The NX30's APS-C sensor and access to 32 Samsung NX lenses provide superb depth of field control. Fast primes and mid-range zooms with wide apertures yield excellent background separation.
• Immersive face detection and touch AF further enhance usability.
• The HX30V, fixed lens with limited maximum aperture and smaller sensor, delivers less pronounced bokeh and muted dynamic range, resulting in less flattering portraits overall.

If you’re invested in portraiture, the NX30 is a clear professional-grade choice.

Landscape Photography

Landscape work thrives on high resolution, wide dynamic range, and robust weather sealing.

• NX30 offers 20 MP resolution at 5472 x 3648 pixels, capable of large prints and fine detail.
• While lacking formal weather sealing, its sturdy build fares well with general outdoor use.
• HX30V’s lower resolution and dynamic range put it at a disadvantage for landscape detail and tonal subtlety.
• The HX30V’s integrated wide-angle (25mm) zoom is handy for scenery but limited in artistic control.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

For subjects in motion at a distance, autofocus speed, burst rate, and long focal lengths matter.

• NX30 shines here with fast AF, 9 fps continuous shooting, and interchangeable lenses - a clear advantage for telephoto reach and optical quality.
• HX30V’s 20x zoom is tempting but paired with less effective AF and slower shutter speed max (1/1600 sec), which limits critically sharp action capture.

Street Photography

The HX30V’s compactness and silent operation suit candid street shooting, where discretion and portability are prized. The NX30, while relatively compact for a mirrorless, is more conspicuous and can be less agile in tight urban settings.

Macro Photography

Neither camera excels in macro by default. The HX30V’s close-focus distance (1 cm) and optical zoom provide a decent casual macro experience. The NX30 requires appropriate macro lenses but benefits from precise manual focus and sensor quality for high detail.

Night and Astrophotography

The NX30’s large sensor and high ISO performance make it the better candidate for low-light specialist work. The HX30V struggles considerably due to sensor limitations.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras support Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps. The NX30’s microphone input allows better audio capture, whereas the HX30V lacks this feature. Optical stabilization on the HX30V stabilizes handheld footage to an extent but video professionals will appreciate the NX30’s manual exposure controls during recording.

Usability, Controls, and User Interface

Samsung admiredly packed the NX30 with a fully articulated AMOLED touchscreen, which dramatically aids both static shooting and video framing. Its electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage and 2.35 MP resolution offers a sharp, lag-free viewfinder experience.

The HX30V had no EVF - relying instead on the rear LCD alone - and lacks touchscreen, limiting composition flexibility in bright conditions.

Both cameras provide face detection AF, but the NX30's hybrid system is more consistent. The NX30’s interface is more complex but highly customizable; HX30V’s straightforward menus cater better to casual users.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Battery Life

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, highlighting their positioning outside harsh professional applications.

Battery life is modest on both: 360 shots on the NX30 and 320 on the HX30V under CIPA ratings. The NX30’s larger grip helps fit the bigger battery, crucial for extended outings.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability

A significant strength of the NX30 is its support for the Samsung NX mount system with over 30 lenses available - primes, zooms, macros, telephotos - offering tremendous creative freedom.

The HX30V’s fixed zoom means no lens swapping, which suits convenience but severely limits versatility.

Connectivity and Storage

Both include Wi-Fi for quick sharing, but the NX30 adds NFC for simple pairing and a full-size HDMI port for video output. USB connectivity across both is USB 2.0.

Price-to-Performance and Overall Value

The NX30, priced around $700 at launch, positions as a serious enthusiast mirrorless option, delivering excellent image quality and control for its price.

The HX30V, at roughly $420, is a budget-friendly superzoom compact emphasizing convenience and reach, but with image quality and feature limitations inherent to its sensor size and design.

Sample Image Quality: Seeing Is Believing

To better ground the technical talk, compare this gallery of photos shot side-by-side under varied conditions.

Samsung NX30 front Samsung NX30 screen back Sony HX30V front Sony HX30V screen back

The NX30 images show richer colors, smoother gradients, and better sharpness throughout the zoom range. The HX30V provides respectable results but displays higher noise, especially indoors and at long focal lengths.

Objective Performance Scores

Here’s a quick look at overall camera ratings compiled via rigorous benchmarking:

Predictably, the NX30 dominates in image quality and handling metrics, while the HX30V scores well in convenience and zoom reach.

Genre-Specific Strengths at a Glance

Breaking down performance by photographic discipline:

• Portraits: NX30 superior
• Wildlife: NX30 superior
• Sports: NX30 superior
• Landscape: NX30 superior
• Street: HX30V favored for stealth and portability
• Macro: HX30V edges due to close focus and zoom
• Night: NX30 clearly better
• Video: NX30 better mic/input options
• Travel: HX30V preferred for weight and zoom versatility
• Professional: NX30 the only viable choice

Final Verdict: Who Should Choose Which?

Samsung NX30 is the choice for aspiring to semi-pro photographers who value image quality, manual control, and lens flexibility. Its APS-C sensor, sophisticated AF, and rich features empower everything from portraits to long exposures with professional standards. Even though it lacks weather sealing and in-body stabilization, pairing it with quality lenses yields stunning results. Its weight and size are justified by performance.

Sony HX30V suits casual shooters, travelers, and those on a tighter budget seeking a versatile all-in-one camera with massive zoom reach. It’s great for documented adventures, street candids, and quick snaps. Just temper expectations on image quality, high ISO performance, and manual control - it cannot replace an interchangeable-lens system for serious photography.

Testing Methodology Notes

My evaluation comprised lab sensor benchmarking using DxO-like protocols, field tests across multiple trips including wildlife excursions, portrait sessions in varied lighting, and real event shooting. I examined raw and JPEG outputs, tested autofocus under low light, simulated long telephoto handheld shots, and assessed ergonomics over extended hourly use.

Choosing between a powerful mirrorless system and a feature-packed superzoom compact closes on priorities. If image quality and creative control top your list, the Samsung NX30 still holds up as a capable workhorse today. For effortless travel zoom coverage and pocket portability, the Sony HX30V remains a solid choice despite its technical constraints.

Whether you prioritize technical excellence or practical portability, understanding these trade-offs before buying makes all the difference - and hopefully, this detailed comparison arms you with just that.

Happy shooting!

References available on request.