Samsung NX30 vs Sony DSC-T110: An Experienced Photographer’s Close-Up on Two Worlds Apart

When it comes to choosing a camera, you sometimes find yourself staring not just at pixel counts or buzzwords but at fundamentally different approaches to photography technology. Take the Samsung NX30 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T110, for example. On paper - and in actual feel - these two cameras live on opposite ends of the photographic spectrum. Yet, both have their niche fans and practical uses.

Having spent over 15 years rigorously testing cameras across all genres, from commercial portraits to wildlife fast-action shots, I've had my hands on hundreds, and importantly, I've loaded their SD cards with thousands of frames. This in-depth comparison between Samsung’s advanced mirrorless system and Sony’s ultra-compact point-and-shoot will walk you through the technical nitty-gritty, usability, and whether the price tag justifies the experience - or if it’s just marketing fluff.

Setting the Stage: Two Cameras, Two Worlds

First, let’s appreciate the <Samsung NX30> stepping onto the stage as a fully-fledged advanced mirrorless camera announced in early 2014, built with a DSLR-style body, a proper APS-C size sensor, and a fully articulating AMOLED touchscreen. Contrast that to the <Sony DSC-T110>, debuting in 2011 as one of the more compact cameras you can slide in any pocket - with a tiny 1/2.3” CCD sensor and a fixed lens.

At their core, these two are designed for different photographers and shooting styles. Here’s a snapshot:

• Samsung NX30: APS-C mirrorless, 20MP, interchangeable Samsung NX lenses (32+ available), 9 FPS burst rate, electronic viewfinder, full manual controls.
• Sony T110: Ultracompact fixed-lens, 16MP, 27-108mm equivalent zoom, slim with touchscreen, very basic controls.

This fundamental divergence means the debate isn’t about one being “better” overall - it’s about which suits your photographic ambitions, habits, and budget. So buckle up because we’re measuring sensor sizes, handling, autofocus tech, all the way to real-world image quality.

Handling & Ergonomics: Size Matters (or Does It?)

Picking up the NX30 feels like holding a serious photographic tool. Its SLR-style grip, accessible physical dials, and button layout feel intuitive after spending some time with DSLRs or mirrorless cameras of that era. The 375-gram weight and 127x96x58mm size give it presence - not bulky but reassuringly substantial. Physical controls for shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual mode give you creative freedom at your fingertips.

The Sony T110, on the other hand, boasts a pocket-sized 93x56x17mm frame weighing just 121 grams. It’s the epitome of grab-and-go - but the tradeoff? Limited physical controls and a fixed lens means less flexibility. The touchscreen is the main interaction method, but it offers just basic adjustment sliders and a menu. No manual mode, no raw files.

I swear by ergonomic design during intense shoots, and the NX30 feels much better for serious photography sessions - the T110 is more like a clever holiday snapper. In street or travel photography, the T110 wins on concealability, but handling precision leans heavily toward the NX30.

Sensor Talk: The Heart of Image Quality

Here’s where the gear aficionados and pixel-peepers go wide-eyed. The Samsung NX30 packs a 23.5 x 15.7 mm APS-C CMOS sensor (an impressive 368.95 mm² sensor area), delivering 20MP resolution with an anti-aliasing filter. This is the kind of sensor size found on serious enthusiasts’ cameras, supporting high dynamic range, strong low-light performance, and detailed images.

The Sony T110’s 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor is tiny in comparison - just 6.17 x 4.55 mm or 28.07 mm² sensor area - with a modest 16MP resolution. Such a sensor means more digital noise at higher ISOs, limited dynamic range, and inherently less flexibility in post-processing. Also, CCD sensors tend to excel in color fidelity for bright lighting but struggle under complex conditions.

From hands-on tests with dynamic scenes and varying light conditions, the NX30’s image quality is a clear winner. Deep shadows retain detail, highlights stay crisp, and color rendition is vibrant yet natural. The Sony T110 manages respectable daylight shots but cannot compete in indoor, low light, or any scenario requiring creative control over depth of field.

Display and Viewfinder: Framing Your Vision

The NX30’s 3-inch, 1036k-dot fully articulating AMOLED touchscreen is a joy - bright, color-accurate, and flexible for high and low-angle shots, vlogging, or selfies (yes, it’s selfie-friendly). Touch responsiveness to autofocus point selection is snappy, with customization options for function buttons. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is 2359k dots, 100% coverage, and 0.66x magnification, which is very decent for composing shots confidently in bright conditions.

In contrast, the T110 sports a 3-inch, 230k-dot Clear Photo LCD Plus touchscreen - comparatively dim and low resolution. No viewfinder at all, so bright sunlight limits your composing options to the screen alone, which can be a challenge outdoors.

If you appreciate a professional feel, the NX30’s rich EVF and versatile screen put it far ahead. But the T110’s simplicity isn’t inherently bad - it’s aimed at minimalists who prefer quick framing without fuss.

Autofocus and Burst Shooting: Catching the Moment

Autofocus (AF) systems can make or break many photography scenarios - wildlife, sports, or fast-moving kids demand speed and reliability.

• The NX30 employs a hybrid AF system with 247 focus points combining phase-detection and contrast-detection. Features include face detection, eye detection, continuous and tracking autofocus modes. In real-world testing, it nails focus swiftly indoors and outdoors, locking on faces accurately with good eye detection, making portraits and street photography a pleasure.

• The T110 uses a simpler contrast-detection AF with just 9 points, no phase detection, no eye or face detection. Tracking or continuous AF are absent, so it’s best for static subjects. In practice, hunting focus on moving subjects is frustrating, with noticeable lag and occasional misfocus.

The NX30 also offers a 9 frames-per-second burst, excellent for sports and wildlife sequences, while the T110 is limited to a single frame per second - a snail’s pace by today’s standards. So, if timing and precision are vital to your work, the Samsung easily takes the crown.

Lens Ecosystem: More Than Just Glass

One of the biggest advantages the NX30 holds is the Samsung NX lens mount with over 32 lenses available - from wide-angle to telephoto, primes to fast zooms, and specialized macro glass. Samsung’s lens technology ranges from affordable to pro-level optics, giving photographers the ability to tailor gear to shooting style and budget. This flexibility extends the life of your system and creativity.

The Sony T110’s fixed 27-108mm equivalent f/3.5-4.6 zoom lens covers a useful everyday range but restricts optical quality and depth control. Macro focusing down to 1cm is impressive but with limited sharpness compared to dedicated macro lenses.

For serious shooters weighing system expansion, the NX30 offers a clear advantage - but if all you want is a simple pocket camera, the T110’s simplicity might appeal.

Image Stabilization & Low Light Performance: Keeping it Steady

Neither camera features in-body image stabilization. That puts the onus on the lens (if any) or user technique. Samsung NX lenses often include optical image stabilization, but it depends on the lens chosen.

For low light, the NX30 shines thanks to its larger sensor and ISO sensitivity range from 100 to 25,600. This means cleaner shots handheld at dusk or indoors, with good detail retention at ISO 1600 or 3200. My tests showed usable images in dim conditions with minimal noise reduction artifacts.

The T110 offers a maximum ISO of 3200 but with a smaller sensor and CCD technology, noise and softness appear at ISO 400 or above, limiting hand-held night photography options. You’ll likely rely on flash indoors - but the built-in flash only reaches about 2.8 meters, so its utility is somewhat capped.

Video Capabilities: Beyond Stills

For hybrid shooters, video is important. The NX30 offers Full HD 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second with MPEG-4 and H.264 codec support. Moreover, it has a microphone port, which gives control over audio quality with external mics. However, no headphone port means audio monitoring is limited.

The Sony T110 maxes out at 720p video at 30fps, with basic MPEG-4 format and no external mic input. It’s geared more for casual video snippets rather than serious videography.

Neither camera features 4K or advanced video stabilization, but the NX30’s sharper sensor, better autofocus during video, and mic input give it larger creative tools for video storytellers.

Battery Life and Storage: A Quick Check

The NX30’s BP1410 lithium-ion battery delivers about 360 shots per charge - not the longest, but decent for a mirrorless from 2014. Its single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot offers flexible storage, essential for RAW file shooting.

Sony’s T110 lacks published battery life data, but from practical use, it lasts a typical day of casual shooting. It supports multiple media formats including SD cards and Sony’s Memory Stick formats, which is a bit of a legacy convenience.

If you’re a professional or enthusiast, the NX30’s battery and card setup are better designed to keep you shooting longer and with more capacity.

Pricing and Value: What You Get for Your Money

At launch, the NX30 priced around $700, targeting enthusiasts and semi-professionals who demand camera system growth, image quality, and manual controls. Today, it can be found on the used market for less, offering a strong value in the mirrorless category.

The T110 started at about $199, aimed squarely at casual photographers wanting the smallest, easiest camera. Its price reflects that simplicity. While you won’t get stunning low-light performance or creative controls, it remains a very affordable entry for quick snapshots.

Real-World Use Across Photography Genres

To make this practical, let’s consider how these two cameras perform in genres that matter to photographers.

Samsung NX30 front Samsung NX30 screen back Sony T110 front Sony T110 screen back

Scoring Each in a Face-Off

To distill the comparative insights, I compiled an expert scoring breakdown based on direct hands-on testing metrics such as image quality, user experience, autofocus, build, and value.

The Samsung NX30 ranks firmly as an advanced mirrorless camera with high marks in image quality and versatility. The Sony T110 scores well for compactness and simplicity but falls short in most performance categories.

Specialized Scores per Photography Type

Because great gear must suit your main subject, here are scores highlighting strengths relative to each photography discipline.

This gives a motivated buyer a quick glance at where each camera shines or stumbles.

Final Verdicts: Who Should Choose Which?

• Choose the Samsung NX30 if:

  • You want serious image quality on par with entry-level DSLRs.
  • You’re comfortable with manual controls and intend to expand with interchangeable lenses.
  • You need dependable autofocus for portraits, wildlife, sports, or street photography.
  • You want video capabilities with decent sound input.
  • Your budget can stretch for a professional-grade used mirrorless system.

• Choose the Sony DSC-T110 if:

  • You prioritize ultracompactness above all else - to slip into a pocket or handbag effortlessly.
  • Your photography is casual snapshots, travel snapshots, or you want a ‘point and shoot’ without fuss.
  • Low-light performance or manual control aren’t your pain points.
  • Budget is tight, and you want something simple for everyday use.

Last Thoughts From a Veteran Reviewer

Comparing these cameras was like evaluating a sleek sports car against a reliable city scooter. Both have their place, and knowing what you want to get out of your camera matters more than specs alone. The Samsung NX30 is a genuine tool for photographers who want to grow skills and craft beautiful images. The Sony T110 is a friendly grab-and-go friend for moments where carrying anything more substantial is a hassle.

Having tested thousands of cameras, what I appreciate most is how a camera becomes an extension of the photographer’s vision - so match your gear to your passion, and you’ll make magic no matter the model.

Hope this detailed comparison helps you make a well-informed choice. Happy shooting!