Samsung NX30 vs Sony Cyber-shot WX5: An Expert Comparative Review for Discerning Photographers

When selecting a camera, the myriad options on the market today challenge even seasoned photographers. This detailed comparison dissects two markedly different models: the Samsung NX30, an advanced mirrorless system launched in early 2014, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5, a small-sensor compact camera released in 2010. These cameras illustrate contrasting design philosophies, target audiences, and imaging capabilities. Through comprehensive technical analysis and practical evaluation, this article guides photography enthusiasts and professionals to understand which camera aligns with their needs and workflows.

Physical Design and Handling: Mirrorless Versatility vs. Pocketable Convenience

Ergonomics and form factor critically influence shooting comfort and extended usability. The NX30 adopts a traditional SLR-style mirrorless body configuration, prioritizing manual control access and stability, while the WX5 embodies a compact point-and-shoot ethos emphasizing portability.

• Samsung NX30: Measuring 127×96×58 mm with a weight of 375g, the NX30 balances solidity and grip comfort. Its magnesium alloy construction ensures moderate durability without weather sealing. The camera sports a pronounced handgrip and substantial top-deck space for dials and buttons, facilitating tactile control without menu dependence. Articulated AMOLED touchscreen integration further improves framing flexibility.

• Sony WX5: Substantially smaller at 92×52×22 mm and 146g, the WX5 fits easily in pockets and purses. The compact design lacks a dedicated viewfinder, relying solely on its fixed 2.8" LCD screen. While highly portable, this form factor constrains manual handling and limits external control surfaces, reflecting target users prioritizing casual capture scenarios.

Ergonomics Verdict: The NX30’s design is suited to photographers demanding precise control and stability, especially for extended sessions. The WX5 offers supreme portability but sacrifices tactile command and practicality for professional or advanced users.

Sensor Architecture and Image Quality: APS-C Brilliance vs. Small Sensor Limitations

Image quality is fundamentally determined by sensor size, resolution, and processing capabilities. The NX30’s 20MP APS-C CMOS sensor contrasts starkly with the WX5’s 12MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor, a difference that echoes throughout all photographic disciplines.

• Samsung NX30 Sensor:

  • Dimensions: 23.5×15.7 mm (APS-C)
  • Resolution: 20MP (5472×3648 max)
  • ISO Range: 100–25,600 native
  • DxOMark Scores: Overall 77, Color Depth 23.5 EV, Dynamic Range 12.4 EV, Low-Light ISO 1014
  • Anti-aliasing filter included, aiding moiré reduction at slight resolution cost.

• Sony WX5 Sensor:

  • Dimensions: 6.17×4.55 mm (1/2.3")
  • Resolution: 12MP (4000×3000 max)
  • ISO Range: 125–3200 native
  • No DxOMark testing available, but small sensor size inherently limits dynamic range and high-ISO performance.
  • Despite BSI design aiding low-light sensitivity, noise suppression must be aggressive, often at detail expense.

Impact on Photography:

• The NX30’s larger sensor affords superior light gathering, enabling cleaner, more detailed images with higher dynamic range - crucial for landscape and portrait applications where tonal gradation and texture fidelity matter.
• The WX5 functions adequately under daylight but struggles with noise and limited depth-of-field control in low light or complex lighting environments.

Conclusion: For photographers prioritizing image quality, especially in challenging conditions, the NX30’s sensor is decisively superior.

Viewfinder and Rear LCD Interface: Electronic Precision vs. Budget Constraints

The method by which a photographer composes and reviews images dramatically affects usability. Here, the two models depart markedly.

• Samsung NX30:

  • Viewfinder: Electronic with 2359K dots resolution, 100% coverage, magnification 0.66×.
  • Rear Screen: 3" fully articulated AMOLED touchscreen with 1036K dots.
  • Touch functionality supports intuitive menu navigation, AF point selection, and focus peaking.
  • Articulated screen facilitates creative angles including low/high perspectives and selfies.

• Sony WX5:

  • No viewfinder present.
  • Rear Screen: Fixed 2.8" LCD, 461K dots; no touchscreen capabilities.
  • Limited interface customization and manual focus assistance.
  • Display technology is basic, which hampers visibility in bright conditions.

In practice, the NX30’s electronic viewfinder offers critical compositional advantages in bright outdoor lighting and fast action scenarios, while the touchscreen adds flexibility and responsiveness. The WX5’s absence of a viewfinder necessitates reliance on the LCD, which can be impractical for dynamic or prolonged use.

Lens Ecosystem and Focusing Mechanics: Professional-grade Versatility vs. Fixed Simplicity

Lens compatibility and autofocus sophistication critically determine photographic flexibility and creative control.

• Samsung NX30 Lens Mount: Samsung NX mount with more than 30 native lenses available, spanning primes, zooms, and specialty optics. This system supports wide apertures necessary for shallow depth-of-field effects and telephoto reach essential to wildlife and sports. Native lenses benefit from optimized communication enabling advanced image stabilization (if lens-based) and rapid autofocus.

• Sony WX5 Lens: Fixed 24–120 mm equivalent zoom (5× optical), with aperture ranging from F2.4 wide to F5.9 telephoto. This all-in-one lens is designed for casual users, sacrificing optical quality and speed for convenience.

Autofocus Systems:

The NX30’s hybrid AF system delivers fast, accurate focus locking and tracking critical for sports and wildlife photography, coupled with touch AF for ease. The WX5’s basic contrast detection AF suffices for general snapshot use but lags on speed and precision, especially in low light or action scenarios.

Burst Shooting and Shutter Performance: Meeting the Demands of Action Photography

Evaluating shutter speeds and continuous shooting rates is essential for dynamic photography genres.

• Samsung NX30:

  • Max shutter speed of 1/8000s enables freezing fast action or wide apertures in bright light.
  • Continuous shooting up to 9 fps supports rapid capture of fleeting moments.
  • Shutter priority, aperture priority and full manual exposure modes enhance creative control.
  • Max flash sync speed unspecified.

• Sony WX5:

  • Max shutter speed limited to 1/1600s, adequate for everyday use but restricting in bright conditions.
  • Burst speeds can reach 10 fps, though frame buffering and image quality constraints apply.
  • No manual exposure modes; shooting limited to program auto and scene modes, precluding exposure customization.

Professional photographers will find the NX30’s shutter capabilities crucial for sports, wildlife, and fast-paced street photography, while casual users may find the WX5’s limited shutter range satisfactory.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Usability: Balancing Signal and Noise

• NX30: No in-body stabilization; relies on lens-based stabilization when paired with compatible optics. This can restrict handheld shooting precision in macro or telephoto settings if non-stabilized lenses are used.

• WX5: Optical image stabilization included, enhancing handheld shooting capability in low light at the cost of slight framing limitations.

Low-light performance is heavily sensor dependent:

• NX30’s high maximum native ISO (25600) and respectable DxO Low-Light ISO score (1014) promise usable images at elevated ISO settings with manageable noise.

• WX5 is confined to ISO 3200 max native and smaller sensor noise characteristics limit clean exposure at higher sensitivities.

Practically, the NX30 is more reliable in poor lighting, while the WX5 might struggle outside bright or well-lit environments.

Video Recording Capabilities: Modern Mirrorless Flexibility vs. Basic Compact Execution

Video has become a vital facet in hybrid camera performance.

The NX30’s provision of an external microphone port is notable for improved audio recording, critical for professional video work. The WX5 targets casual videography with simpler AVCHD compression and no external audio options.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations for Field Use

• Samsung NX30:

  • Battery life rated at approximately 360 shots per charge, modest but typical for early mirrorless.
  • Uses BP1410 lithium-ion battery pack.
  • Single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.
  • Wireless connectivity includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for image transfer and remote control.
  • USB 2.0 and HDMI outputs available.

• Sony WX5:

  • Battery specifics less defined, typically supports fewer shots per charge owing to compact size.
  • Uses proprietary NP-BN1 battery.
  • Storage compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC plus Memory Stick formats, with one slot.
  • No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth; limited wireless transfer via Eye-Fi card compatibility.
  • USB 2.0 and HDMI available.

The NX30’s wireless features and battery capacity cater better to professional and travel photographers needing rapid file sharing and sustained shooting.

Comprehensive Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Strengths

Industry-standard DxOMark provides quantitative assessments where applicable. While only the NX30 is tested, combining these with hands-on experience informs genre suitability.

• Portraiture: NX30 excels due to wide lens availability and precise autofocus with face detection. WX5 limited by fixed lens and lower sensor performance; less control over bokeh and skin tone rendition.

• Landscape: NX30’s sensor dynamic range and resolution enable rich detail capture; WX5 constrained by sensor size and lower dynamic range.

• Wildlife and Sports: NX30 superior for speed, tracking AF, and telephoto compatibility. WX5 inadequate for high-speed autofocus or reach.

• Street Photography: WX5 offers discreet form factor and portability, advantageous in candid shoots. NX30 heavier but provides control for more deliberate composition.

• Macro: NX30’s lens system supports dedicated macro lenses; WX5 limited to close focusing with fixed zoom.

• Night/Astro: NX30’s superior high-ISO and manual exposure make it a better option; WX5 limited by sensor noise and fixed settings.

• Video: NX30’s external mic input and higher frame rate options make it versatile; WX5 basic consumer video.

• Travel: WX5’s compactness and light weight beneficial; NX30 offers higher versatility at size trade-off.

• Professional Work: NX30’s RAW support, build, and lens ecosystem favor professional workflows; WX5 unsuitable.

Sample Image Quality: Visual Evidence from Practical Usage

Samsung NX30 front Samsung NX30 screen back Sony WX5 front Sony WX5 screen back

Side-by-side comparisons illustrate the NX30’s superior tonality, resolution, and color fidelity. The WX5 tends to produce softer, noisier JPEGs with lower detail, particularly evident in shadow regions and complex textures.

Top-Deck Design and Control Layout: Experienced User Interaction

The NX30's top plate features dedicated dials for exposure compensation, mode selection, and a customizable control wheel. These improve fast adjustment without menu diving.

The WX5 has a minimalist top layout with limited buttons, reflecting its easy-use philosophy at the expense of swift manual control.

Final Recommendations: Matching Cameras to Photographer Profiles

*Street photographers with a preference for manual control might lean towards NX30 despite size.

Concluding Evaluation

The Samsung NX30 remains a compelling choice for photographers prioritizing image quality, creative flexibility, and advanced features in an approachable mirrorless form factor. Its APS-C sensor, comprehensive lens ecosystem, and modern autofocus system cater well to demanding scenarios across portrait, landscape, sports, and video work.

Conversely, the Sony Cyber-shot WX5 serves primarily as a highly portable, straightforward solution for casual shooting and travel documentation. Its sensor and lens limitations, along with basic feature set, preclude professional or serious enthusiast use but satisfy users requiring simplicity and ease in a pocket camera.

Choosing between them depends on the photographer’s priorities - image quality, control, and system expandability versus ultra-compact convenience and budget constraints.

By focusing on practical operational distinctions and thorough technical evaluation, this comparison aims to support informed, rational camera purchases aligned with real-world photographic goals.