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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55

Portability
75
Imaging
63
Features
85
Overall
71
Samsung NX30 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Samsung NX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 375g - 127 x 96 x 58mm
  • Released January 2014
  • Old Model is Samsung NX20
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Released August 2010
  • New Model is Sony A57
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55, former is a Advanced Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Samsung and Sony. There is a substantial difference between the resolutions of the NX30 (20MP) and A55 (16MP) but they feature the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NX30 was manufactured 3 years after the A55 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX30 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the NX30 matches up versus the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX30 over the Sony A55

 NX30 A55 
ReleasedJanuary 2014August 2010Newer by 41 months
Display resolution1036k921kSharper display (+115k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Samsung NX30

 A55 NX30 

Common features in the Samsung NX30 and Sony A55

 NX30 A55 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFully ArticulatedFully Articulated display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and size. The Samsung NX30 features external dimensions of 127mm x 96mm x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") having a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) and the Sony A55 has specifications of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

See the Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the NX30 and the A55.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the NX30 and A55 is 75 and 67 respectively.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to picture the difference between sensor dimensions purely by checking technical specs. The image below might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the NX30 and A55.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can anticipate the Samsung NX30 to give you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The younger NX30 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX30 Portrait photography factors
Sony A55 Portrait photography factors
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
73
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX30 Street photography factors
Sony A55 Street photography factors
75
fully articulated screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
features touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
77
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX30 Sports photography factors
Sony A55 Sports photography factors
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
supports phase detect AF
no image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
low battery power (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A55 as a Travel photography camera
74
features touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse function
62
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
no Timelapse recording
low battery power (380 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX30 Landscape photography factors
Sony A55 Landscape photography factors
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
67
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
low battery power (380 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX30 Vlogging factors
Sony A55 Vlogging factors
75
screen is selfie friendly
touch screen
includes face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external microphone support
no image stabilization
78
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone jack
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Samsung NX30 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX30 and Sony A55
 Samsung NX30Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX30 Sony SLT-A55
Class Advanced Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2014-01-03 2010-08-24
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip DRIMeIV Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 25600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 247 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,036 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech AMOLED -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359 thousand dot 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 375 grams (0.83 lb) 500 grams (1.10 lb)
Dimensions 127 x 96 x 58mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.3") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 77 73
DXO Color Depth score 23.5 23.0
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 12.4
DXO Low light score 1014 816
Other
Battery life 360 images 380 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP1410 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $699 $800