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Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580

Portability
86
Imaging
63
Features
73
Overall
67
Samsung NX300 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Samsung NX300
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 331g - 122 x 64 x 41mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Old Model is Samsung NX210
  • Later Model is Samsung NX500
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Revealed May 2011
  • Superseded the Sony A100
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Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Samsung NX300 versus Sony A580, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Samsung and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the NX300 (20MP) and A580 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NX300 was introduced 2 years after the A580 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX300 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a simple summary of how the NX300 scores against the A580 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX300 over the Sony A580

 NX300 A580 
RevealedNovember 2013May 2011More modern by 31 months
Screen dimensions3.3"3"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Samsung NX300

 A580 NX300 
Screen resolution922k768kClearer screen (+154k dot)

Common features in the Samsung NX300 and Sony A580

 NX300 A580 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you'll need to take into account its weight and volume. The Samsung NX300 has got outside measurements of 122mm x 64mm x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") along with a weight of 331 grams (0.73 lbs) whilst the Sony A580 has sizing of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

See the Samsung NX300 versus Sony A580 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the NX300 versus the A580.

Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the NX300 and A580 is 86 and 64 respectively.

Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by going over a spec sheet. The pic below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the NX300 and A580.

As you can see, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Samsung NX300 to offer extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The younger NX300 is going to have an edge in sensor technology.

Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX300
Portrait photography with Sony A580
77
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
supports RAW files
73
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung NX300
Street photography with Sony A580
80
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
provides focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
75
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX300 Sports photography info
Sony A580 Sports photography info
73
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
comes with phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX300 Travel photography info
Sony A580 Travel photography info
67
provides focus via touch
megapixel count decent (20MP)
lack of Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
better than average battery pack (1,050 CIPA)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX300 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A580 as a Landscape photography camera
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
nice screen size (3.3 inches)
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse function
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
better than average battery pack (1,050 per charge)
has dual storage slots
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX300 Vlogging details
Sony A580 Vlogging details
33
has touchscreen
includes face detect focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of mic jack
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external microphone jack
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Samsung NX300 vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX300 and Sony A580
 Samsung NX300Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Manufacturer Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX300 Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-11-24 2011-05-26
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by DRIMe IV 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
Highest Possible resolution 5472 x 3648 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 247 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen diagonal 3.3" 3"
Resolution of screen 768 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech Active Matrix OLED screen -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/6000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 9.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080, 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)
Maximum 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 Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 331g (0.73 lb) 599g (1.32 lb)
Physical dimensions 122 x 64 x 41mm (4.8" x 2.5" x 1.6") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 76 80
DXO Color Depth score 23.6 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 12.7 13.3
DXO Low light score 942 1121
Other
Battery life 330 photographs 1050 photographs
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BP1130 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 sec to 30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One 2
Launch price $750 $848