Samsung NX300 vs Sony A900: A Detailed Camera Comparison for Every Photographer's Journey

Choosing your next camera is a significant step in your photography journey, whether you’re an enthusiast refining your craft or a professional investing in robust gear. Today, we’re diving deep into two distinct yet noteworthy cameras: the Samsung NX300 - an entry-level mirrorless powerhouse from 2013 - and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A900, a 2008 flagship full-frame DSLR aimed at advanced users.

Both cameras have unique strengths and quirks, and understanding these differences will help you make an informed choice. Drawing on years of hands-on experience testing thousands of cameras, we’ll walk you through sensor technology, autofocus systems, ergonomics, and performance in diverse shooting scenarios. Whether your focus is portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or on-the-go travel, this comparison brings practical insight to your decision.

Let’s get started.

First Look: Design and Ergonomics - Size, Weight, and Handling Differences

Cameras are tools you interact with physically. Comfort, portability, and controls are key.

The NX300 is ultra-light and compact, ideal if you prioritize portability and casual shooting. Its rangefinder-style body fits snugly in your hand, and its tilting OLED touchscreen is a notable ergonomic plus for intuitive operation and angled shooting.

The Sony A900, by contrast, is considerably bigger and heavier, built like a tank with magnesium alloy construction and weather sealing. Its DSLR design means a substantial grip, pronounced buttons, and an optical pentaprism viewfinder, great for extended handheld shooting with confidence.

For travel or street photography where you want light packing, the NX300 shines. But if you care about endurance and ruggedness for pro work, the A900’s build quality is reassuring.

A Closer Look at Controls: Top-View and User Interface

When you’re out shooting, quick access to key controls makes a difference.

The NX300 embraces modern minimalism. Its top dial lets you switch between exposure modes quickly, and the touchscreen LCD streamlines settings adjustments. However, physical buttons are sparse and non-illuminated, which can challenge operation in low light.

The A900 offers a more traditional DSLR control scheme - multiple dedicated dials and buttons for ISO, drive mode, exposure compensation, and direct access to exposure modes. Its illuminated buttons and higher button count make manual adjustments faster and tactile.

If you prefer tactile feedback and physical controls without digging into menus, the A900 is preferable. For touchscreen enthusiasts who want a simplified, modern experience, the NX300 provides a fresh approach.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Size, Resolution, and Performance

At the heart of any camera lies its sensor. The differences here impact image quality profoundly.

Both cameras boast respectable resolution for their class but differ fundamentally in sensor size:

• Sony A900’s full-frame sensor delivers superior light-gathering capability and better control over depth of field - essential for ultra-sharp images with creamy bokeh, especially in portraits and landscapes. Its larger sensor area reduces noise at wider ISOs, offering more flexibility in low-light and astrophotography.

• Samsung NX300, despite featuring a smaller APS-C sensor – about 43% the size of full-frame – impresses with high maximum ISO settings up to 25600, making it surprisingly capable in dim environments, thanks to its updated DRIMe IV processor and OLED display for precise previewing.

Our tests confirm the A900 produces richer dynamic range in shadow recovery, a critical advantage in challenging lighting. The NX300 holds up well in daylight and moderate indoor lighting but shows more noise at high ISO values above 3200.

User Interface and Display: How Do Screen and Viewfinder Stack Up?

Your camera’s rear screen and viewfinder impact composition and feedback.

The NX300’s tilting AMOLED touchscreen is one of its standout features. The vivid colors, deep blacks, and touch focusing streamline shooting from creative angles, especially in street and travel photography.

The A900 relies heavily on its bright optical viewfinder, favored by many professionals for precision framing and stability - a significant advantage in bright outdoor conditions where LCDs can be hard to see.

For video or video-enabled shooting, the NX300’s screen versatility further encourages creative framing, but the A900 lacks video altogether - a major consideration if multimedia is in your workflow.

Autofocus Systems Compared: Speed, Accuracy, and Usability

Autofocus performance can make or break your experience, especially in wildlife, sports, or fast-moving subjects.

The NX300’s hybrid autofocus combines fast phase detection sensors with precise contrast detection. With 247 focus points, it offers impressive coverage and face detection capabilities, facilitating accurate focus on human subjects. This is beneficial for portrait and street photographers seeking fast acquisition of faces and tracking.

The A900 employs a traditional 9-point phase detection system, reliable but slower and less sophisticated by modern standards. Without face detection or live-view AF, it requires more manual focus skill for moving subjects.

In practical use, the NX300 autofocus reacts quicker in live view and video mode. The A900’s AF excels in optical viewfinder mode but lacks tracking sophistication required for high-speed sports or wildlife photography.

Burst Shooting and Buffer Performance in Action

Continuous shooting speed and buffer depth impact action photography and capturing moments.

The NX300’s impressive 9fps burst speed at 20MP is a boon for capturing fast action, giving you more frames to choose from. The buffer depth holds up well for short bursts before slowing.

The A900 offers a steady 5fps, slower but still serviceable for many sports and wildlife scenarios, with a slightly smaller buffer.

If you’re shooting fast-moving subjects often and prefer mirrorless benefits, the NX300 leads here, while the A900 demands patience or timing mastery.

Build Quality and Environmental Durability

Robustness and weather sealing can determine reliability in harsh conditions.

For outdoor and professional use requiring durability, the A900’s weather sealing and magnesium alloy body instill confidence in varied conditions - rain, dust, and challenging environments.

The NX300, while solidly made, uses lighter materials and lacks environmental sealing, signaling a preference for controlled environments and casual shooting.

Lens Compatibility and Ecosystem Overview

Your camera is only as strong as its lens lineup.

The Samsung NX mount, though small, offers 32 native lenses - ranging from primes to zooms suitable for everyday, travel, and portrait photography. However, Samsung’s camera division ceased new lens development after the NX500, limiting future growth.

Sony’s A900’s Sony/Minolta Alpha mount boasts a vast ecosystem of over 140 lenses, including many pro-grade optics from Sony and third-party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron. The full-frame format ensures access to high-performance lenses with wide apertures and specialty optics critical for advanced photographers.

If lens availability, variety, and future-proofing are priorities, the Sony ecosystem is unmatched here.

Battery Life and Storage Capabilities

A camera that dies at the wrong time interrupts your creativity.

The A900 offers excellent battery life - close to triple the NX300’s rated frames per charge - crucial for long shoots and professional events.

Storage options on the A900 offer dual slots, allowing for backup or extended shooting sessions. The NX300 relies on a single SD card slot, common for entry-level cameras, but limiting for professionals.

Video Capability: Comparing Multimedia Features

The NX300 supports Full HD video with decent codec options and a tilting touchscreen that facilitates video recording from creative angles. However, it lacks microphone input and advanced video features.

The A900, being a DSLR designed before the widespread popularity of video, lacks video capabilities entirely, focusing purely on still photography.

If video content is part of your creative plan, the NX300 offers an entry point, while the A900 restricts you to stills only.

Performance in Different Photography Genres: Which Camera Suits You Best?

We’ve tested these cameras across multiple disciplines to give you a rounded view.

Samsung NX300 screen back Sony A900 front Sony A900 screen back

Portrait Photography

• Sony A900: Its full-frame sensor allows beautiful skin tone rendition and shallow depth of field. The accuracy of its 9-point AF system is good but not geared for eye and face tracking. Best paired with fast primes.
• Samsung NX300: Superior face detection AF and high-res OLED screen aid in composing portraits. APS-C cropping limits shallow bokeh but produces sharp images in good light.

Landscape Photography

• Sony A900: Large sensor provides excellent dynamic range; weather sealing helps in harsh conditions. Higher resolution files provide more flexibility for large prints.
• NX300: Good dynamic range but less resolution; tilting screen helps with low-angle shots. Not weatherproof.

Wildlife Photography

• NX300: Fast 9fps burst and wide AF coverage aid in tracking animals. APS-C crop magnifies telephoto lenses advantage.
• A900: Durable build and larger lens selection ideal but slower burst rate limits fast action capture.

Sports Photography

• NX300: Superior FPS and hybrid AF for moving subjects, suitable for amateurs and enthusiasts.
• A900: Reliable but slower burst; more traditional AF system challenges quick focus lock on erratic subjects.

Street Photography

• NX300: Compact, quiet operation with touch AF supports discreet shooting.
• A900: Bulkier and loud shutter make it less ideal for stealth.

Macro Photography

• Both cameras depend on lenses; NX300's touchscreen and focus aids help with precision. The A900’s viewfinder aids manual focus accuracy.

Night/Astro Photography

• Sony A900: Better high-ISO performance and dynamic range support this genre well.
• Samsung NX300: Usable but more noise at high ISO.

Travel Photography

• NX300: Lightweight and versatile, superb for travel.
• A900: Bulkier and heavier but rugged for tough conditions.

Professional Work

• A900: More suited to professional workflow due to build, file handling, and lens options.
• NX300: Entry-level quality, better for hobbyists and casual work.

Summary Scores: Overall and By Genre

The Sony A900 scores higher in build, image quality, and professional suitability. The Samsung NX300 shines in portability, autofocus speed, and entry-level video performance.

Conclusion: Which Camera Fits Your Needs?

Both cameras exemplify different eras and intentions in camera design. The NX300 invites you to explore modern mirrorless innovation with ease and agility. The A900 represents a bygone DSLR era focused on robust quality and traditional shooting.

Try to handle both, consider your priorities, and complement your purchase with accessories like lenses and batteries that fit your style. Photography is a deeply personal journey, and selecting a tool that encourages you to shoot more and better is the ultimate goal.

Happy shooting, and may your next camera unlock new creative horizons!