Samsung NX300 vs Sony RX10 IV: A Hands-On Deep Dive for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing your next camera is always a balancing act - between features, performance, budget, and your personal photography style. Today, I’m putting two interesting but distinctly different models head to head: the Samsung NX300, an entry-level mirrorless camera from 2013, and the much more recent Sony RX10 IV, a large sensor superzoom bridge camera launched in 2017. Both have their loyal fans and unique selling points, but how do they really compare when pushed through the paces across various photographic disciplines?

I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing these cameras in real-world conditions, and this detailed, no-nonsense comparison will help you decide if either - or neither - is your next photographic sidekick. I’ll walk you through sensor tech, autofocus prowess, ergonomics, and usability for purposes ranging from portraits to wildlife, nightscapes to travel. Let’s get into it.

How Big Is Big? Ergonomics and Handling First

Before you even pop the batteries in, size and comfort shape your shooting experience. The NX300 is built in a compact, rangefinder-style mirrorless body, while the RX10 IV takes after an SLR-style bridge camera with a large, fixed zoom lens and heavier build.

You can see right away the RX10 IV dwarfing the NX300 in sheer bulk and weight - 1095g versus a mere 331g for the Samsung. That tripod-friendly heft translates to better grip and stability but is a dealbreaker for anyone prioritizing pocketability or daylong walks. The NX300’s smaller size means it tucks discreetly into a jacket pocket or small bag, a definite plus for street and travel shooters who don’t want to scream “look at me” with a giant lens hump.

Design and Controls: How Intuitive Is Your Workflow?

Good ergonomics go beyond just size. How controls are laid out shapes your ability to shoot fluidly without fumbling through menus mid-action.

Samsung’s NX300 reveals a minimalist top design with a dedicated mode dial, shutter release, and a command dial near the thumb area. It’s straightforward but lacks a dedicated top screen or specialized buttons for quick parameter tweaks. The touchscreen LCD is intuitive for focus control and menu navigation, but those who prefer a physical joystick or more function buttons may find it limiting.

Sony’s RX10 IV goes for a more traditional enthusiast DSLR-style array of buttons, dials, and a top status display giving quick glance info. There’s definitely a higher learning curve, with buttons packed around the grip, but seasoned photographers will appreciate the tactile feedback and quick access. Touchscreen support is present but more as a complement.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: APS-C vs 1 Inch

The hearts of these cameras couldn’t be more different. The NX300 sports a large APS-C sensor (23.5x15.7 mm) with 20 megapixels, while the RX10 IV uses a smaller 1-inch sensor (13.2x8.8 mm) also at 20 megapixels.

In general, larger APS-C sensors deliver better dynamic range, lower noise at high ISO, and richer color depth. That’s exactly what I experienced shooting the NX300 - they retain more highlight and shadow detail, especially useful in challenging landscape scenes.

The RX10 IV’s smaller sensor is beaten in pure image quality, but it’s balanced by an impressive 24-600mm equivalent zoom with a bright f/2.4–4 aperture range. This superzoom versatility is a godsend for wildlife and sports where you need reach without swapping lenses. Despite the sensor size disadvantage, Sony’s BSI-CMOS sensor and Bionz X processor help deliver surprisingly clean images and smooth gradations, although pushing beyond ISO 3200 reveals more noticeable grain.

Viewing and Interface: LCD and EVF Battle

For framing your shots accurately and reviewing images, both cameras offer different approaches.

The NX300 has a generous 3.3-inch tilting OLED touchscreen with 768K dots - vivid and responsive for touch focusing, but no electronic viewfinder (EVF). This absence is a dealbreaker in bright outdoor conditions where screen glare hampers composition.

Sony’s RX10 IV features a smaller 3-inch LCD with a higher resolution (1.44M dots) and an excellent built-in EVF with 2.36M-dot resolution covering 100% frame - a massive plus for precise framing and manual focusing. Its articulating tilt lets you shoot awkward angles easily, and eye-level viewing is a boon in bright sunlight.

Autofocus Systems Compared: Hunting or Hitting?

If you’re shooting fast-moving subjects, autofocus (AF) is your main weapon. Samsung’s NX300 offers a hybrid AF system with 247 phase and contrast detection points across the frame, complete with face detection and continuous AF for video and live view.

Sony RX10 IV boasts an advanced AF system with 315 hybrid phase-detection points, including animal eye AF (a feature NX300 lacks), and Highly effective Real-time Tracking. In practice, I found RX10 IV’s AF markedly faster and more reliable in continuous and burst modes. That autofocus prowess shines in fast-paced situations like sports and wildlife.

Burst Rate and Buffer: Catching the Action

Samsung’s NX300 can shoot up to 9 frames per second (fps), which is respectable in its class. However, buffer clears surprisingly slow after longer bursts, making it inefficient for extended action sequences.

The RX10 IV crushes this with a blazing 24 fps continuous shooting mode and a deep buffer capable of hundreds of JPEGs before slowing down. When shooting sports or wildlife, that difference could mean the difference between nailing the perfect moment or missing it completely.

What About Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility?

The NX300 uses Samsung’s proprietary NX lens mount, with about 32 native lens options available back in the day, covering wide-angle, prime, zoom, and macro lenses from f/1.4 primes to telephotos.

The downside with Samsung’s lens system is that the company exited the camera business in 2015, so the lens lineup hasn't grown since, limiting future-proofing and availability.

The Sony RX10 IV comes with a *fixed 24-600 mm f/2.4–4 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T zoom lens**. While you can't swap lenses due to the bridge design, this lens covers an extraordinary focal length range with excellent optical quality, including decent close focusing at 3 cm macro distance. This provides unmatched versatility for shooters unwilling to carry lens clubs for their thumbs throughout the day.

Durability and Weather Sealing

If you’re outdoors often, weather resistance is a key consideration.

The RX10 IV features environmental sealing, dust resistance, and limited splashproofing, enabling tough shooting conditions like rain or dusty trails. It’s not waterproof, but the rugged build stands up to professional use outdoors.

Samsung’s NX300 does not offer any weather sealing, so caution is advised in challenging conditions to avoid sensor or electronics damage.

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras use proprietary battery packs with similar endurance.

Samsung’s NX300 battery life is rated at about 330 shots per charge, respectable but modest for mirrorless cameras of its generation.

Sony’s RX10 IV ups the ante with 400 shots per battery charge, aided by efficient power management optimized for its hybrid EVF and lens.

Storage-wise, both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. The RX10 IV also supports Sony’s Memory Stick formats, but SD UHS-I cards are recommended for video-heavy workflows.

Connectivity and Convenience Features

Samsung’s NX300 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing easy image transfer and remote control via compatible smartphones (a neat 2013 feature). Unfortunately, no Bluetooth or GPS are onboard by default, though GPS can be added via optional accessories.

The Sony RX10 IV comes with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, providing versatile wireless options and convenient smartphone tethering with the Imaging Edge Mobile app.

Photo Quality Deep Dive: Portraits, Landscapes, Wildlife, and More

Let’s dissect real-world applications, where these cameras prove their mettle.

Portrait Photography

Skin tones require accurate color rendition and creamy background blur. The NX300’s larger sensor and compatibility with fast primes (like the Samsung 30mm f/2.0) give it a clear edge in producing natural skin tones and smooth bokeh. Its face detection AF is reliable but limited to human subjects.

The RX10 IV’s smaller sensor limits shallow depth of field, so background blur is less pronounced, but its sharp optics capture detail vividly. Notably, its animal eye AF supports pet and wildlife portraits, a plus if you shoot beyond people.

Landscape and Travel

Dynamic range is king for landscapes. The NX300’s APS-C sensor offers superior DR (~12.7 EV in DXO tests), capturing subtle highlight-shadow nuances better than the RX10 IV’s 1” sensor (~not tested, but inherently lower due to sensor size). Higher max ISO on the NX300 (25600 vs 12800 native) allows cleaner low-light landscape shots.

However, the RX10 IV’s immense zoom flexibility means you can switch focal lengths without swapping lenses - quintessential for travel photographers who want all-in-one convenience. Its rugged weather sealing also bolsters confidence outdoors.

Wildlife and Sports

Here, the RX10 IV truly shines with its lightning-fast 24 fps burst, snappy 315-point hybrid AF, and telephoto zoom reaching 600mm equivalent. The NX300, handicapped by the 1.5x crop factor and available telephoto lenses capped below 300mm equivalent, struggles to compete for reach and AF tracking fluidity.

Street Photography

The NX300’s compact rangefinder style and lightweight body make it far more discreet in urban environments. Conversely, the RX10 IV’s size and weight draw more attention but offer versatile focal lengths; the silent electronic shutter mode partially mitigates noise in quiet settings.

Macro Photography

The RX10 IV boasts close focusing down to about 3 cm, allowing impressive 1:1 or near 1:1 magnification hand-held. Its optical image stabilization smooths out handheld shakes at close range.

Samsung’s system depends on macro lenses which can achieve higher magnifications but require additional investment and gear. Without in-body stabilization, macro shooting demands a steady hand or tripod.

Night and Astro

The NX300 has better noise control at high ISO, crucial for astrophotography and night scenes. Its slower max shutter speed (30 seconds typical max) limits very long exposures but is adequate for casual night shooting.

The RX10 IV offers extended electronic shutter speeds up to 1/32000s for daylight but doesn’t exceed 30s mechanical shutter. Noise rises above ISO 3200, capping its night photo usability.

Video Capabilities

Samsung’s NX300 supports Full HD 1080p at 30p and 720 at 30p but lacks 4K. It has no external microphone input, limiting audio quality for videographers.

Sony’s RX10 IV elevates this with 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) up to 30p, Full HD up to 60p, and support for professional codecs like XAVC S - ideal for content creators hungry for cinematic footage. It includes microphone and headphone ports for audio monitoring and live adjustments, a significant edge.

Sample Shots: Seeing Is Believing

Samsung NX300 screen back Sony RX10 IV front Sony RX10 IV screen back

Side-by-side image galleries from both show the NX300’s better dynamic range in sunlight, smoother out-of-focus backgrounds, and overall more natural colors. The RX10 IV impresses with sharpness across the zoom range, especially telephoto wildlife shots, albeit with slightly harsher noise in shadows.

Performance Ratings At A Glance

These scores summarize testing data and real-world experience:

• Samsung NX300: Strong in image quality and portability but average autofocus and video.

• Sony RX10 IV: Exceptional autofocus, zoom versatility, and video but compromises with sensor size and heft.

Performance By Photography Genre

• Portraits: NX300
• Landscape: NX300
• Wildlife: RX10 IV
• Sports: RX10 IV
• Street: NX300
• Macro: RX10 IV
• Night/Astro: NX300
• Video: RX10 IV
• Travel: Tied - NX300 for size, RX10 IV for versatility
• Professional use: RX10 IV

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

As someone who treasures practicality and value as much as bleeding-edge spec sheets, here’s my frank take.

• Samsung NX300: If you’re a beginner or enthusiast prioritizing image quality, portability, and classic mirrorless flexibility (with interchangeable lenses), this is a solid pick - especially at budget-friendly prices on the used market. Its APS-C sensor shines in portraits, landscapes, and low-light, but AF and video capabilities feel a generation behind.

• Sony RX10 IV: This camera is a powerhouse superzoom ideal for wildlife, sports, and hybrid photo-video content creators who demand AF speed, zoom reach, and 4K video in one package. The tradeoffs are size and sensor limitations on image quality (especially in low light), plus a higher price tag. If you want a versatile one-lens solution and don’t mind carrying a brick, RX10 IV delivers superbly.

Who Should Buy The Samsung NX300?

• Enthusiasts on a budget looking for their first serious mirrorless
• Portrait, street, or travel photographers favoring compact systems
• Users who want better dynamic range and color depth with interchangeable lenses

Who Should Buy The Sony RX10 IV?

• Wildlife and sports shooters needing top-tier AF and long zoom reach
• Hybrid shooters wanting outstanding 4K video with mic/headphone jacks
• Photographers who prioritize rugged weather resistance and lens versatility without swapping optics

In Summary

Both cameras carve out clear niches. The NX300 impresses with its imaging fundamentals and miniaturized mirrorless charm, while the RX10 IV dazzles with innovation in autofocus, zoom range, and video features. Your choice boils down to whether you want a nimble APS-C system with lenses or an all-in-one powerhouse bridging photo and video at the cost of size and budget.

Either way, I hope this hands-on comparison helps you avoid the common pitfalls I see people make - spending loads of cash on gear that doesn’t fit their shooting style or needs. Shoot smart and enjoy the hunt for your perfect tool!

I’ve tested and compared thousands of digital cameras - and these two, though worlds apart, each bring unique advantages. Got questions? Drop me a line - I’m always eager to share insights or help you decide.