Samsung NX300 vs Sony W650: A Hands-On Comparison for Real-World Photography

Choosing between cameras from wildly different categories can feel like comparing apples to oranges - but if you're weighing the Samsung NX300 mirrorless against the Sony Cyber-shot W650 compact, understanding their strengths and limitations side-by-side will help you make a smarter buy. I've personally tested thousands of cameras over 15+ years, and after thoroughly evaluating these two, I’ll walk you through not just specs on paper but what these specs translate to in actual shooting scenarios. Whether you’re a budget-conscious enthusiast or a professional looking for a reliable backup, this detailed comparison covers everything from sensor physics and autofocus wizardry to ergonomics and price-value ratio.

Let’s get into it.

Size and Ergonomics: Bulk vs Pocket-Friendly

Right off the bat, the Samsung NX300 and Sony W650 couldn’t look more different. The NX300 follows a rangefinder-style mirrorless design, while the W650 is a compact pocketable shooter.

The NX300 measures 122 x 64 x 41 mm and weighs about 331 g, offering a solid grip with dedicated clubs for thumbs and well-spaced, tactile buttons - great for enthusiasts and newcomers who prefer physical controls. The tilting 3.3-inch OLED touchscreen adds flexibility for shooting at awkward angles, which is a big plus.

By contrast, Sony’s W650 is tiny at 94 x 56 x 19 mm and weighs just 124 g, making it an ultra-lightweight travel buddy. It fits easily in pockets but has a much smaller 3-inch, lower-resolution LCD and minimal physical controls due to its compactness.

So, ergonomically:

• NX300 suits those who want full manual control and a substantial hand feel.
• W650 is perfect for cheapskate street photographers who prize portability over granular settings.

Sensor Technology & Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

At the core, the Samsung NX300 screams serious imaging. It packs a large 23.5 x 15.7 mm APS-C CMOS sensor with 20 megapixels, a respectable 1.5x crop factor, and an anti-aliasing filter. This sensor area is around 369 mm², facilitating bigger pixels that mean less noise, better dynamic range, and overall improved image quality.

Meanwhile, the Sony W650 carries a tiny 1/2.3" CCD sensor, with an area roughly 28 mm² and 16 MP resolution. It’s a common sensor size for cheap compact cameras but doesn’t compare to APS-C in sheer pixel quality or light gathering capability.

Practically speaking:

• The NX300 dominates in dynamic range (rated a solid 12.7 EV on DxOMark) and color depth (23.6 bits).
• The W650’s smaller sensor limits it to good quality in well-lit scenarios but struggles in dim conditions, producing more noise and less detail retention.

This is evident when you look at high ISO results: NX300 sustains clean images up to ISO 3200 or even 6400 with mild noise reduction, while W650 maxes out at ISO 3200 with visible grain.

Autofocus Systems: Speed vs Simplicity

Samsung’s NX300 features a hybrid autofocus system using 247 phase-detection and contrast-detection points, with face detection, live view, and continuous tracking modes. This makes it a remarkably speedy AF performer for its class, great for following moving subjects and locking eyes in portraiture.

Comparatively, the W650 employs a simple contrast-detection AF system with fewer focus points and no phase detection. It supports face detection but is limited in continuous autofocus and tracking.

In real-world shooting:

• The NX300 can consistently nail focus in fast-paced environments like street photography and casual sports.
• The W650 is better suited for static or slower subjects given its single-shot AF and slow (around 1 shot per second) continuous shooting pace.

Build Quality, Weather Sealing, and Reliability

Neither camera is weather sealed or ruggedized. The NX300's build is sturdier with metal accents and durable plastic, while the W650 is all plastic but well assembled for a budget compact.

If you’re shooting outdoors regularly, the NX300’s heft and design better resist knocks and handle a bit of abuse, although keep your rain gear handy for both.

Handling, Controls & User Interface

On the NX300, Samsung provides shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure modes with dedicated wheels and buttons, plus a useful exposure compensation dial. The touch OLED screen is responsive and bright. However, the absence of an electronic viewfinder can challenge compositions in bright sunlight, where LCD glare becomes an issue.

Sony’s W650 has a basic interface: no manual modes, limited in-camera adjustments, and a fixed, non-touch TFT LCD with a modest 230k-dot resolution. It's straightforward for point-and-shoot snapshots but frustrating for users who want creative control.

Lens Ecosystem & Focal Length Flexibility

One of the NX300’s strongest suits is its compatibility with the Samsung NX lens mount, which supports over 30 different lenses ranging from ultra-wide primes to super-telephotos and specialized macro optics. Enthusiasts have access to prime lenses with wide apertures (~f/1.4 - f/2.8), ideal for portraits, low light, and backgrounds with silky bokeh.

The W650, like most compacts, comes with a fixed 25-125 mm equivalent zoom lens (5x optical zoom) with a variable aperture range of f/2.6–6.3. This covers typical shooting needs (from moderate wide-angle to medium telephoto) but can struggle in low light or produce noisy results at longer focal lengths due to small sensor size.

Burst Shooting & Buffer Capabilities

Burst shooting is essential for action or wildlife photographers:

• The Samsung NX300 can shoot at a solid 9 frames per second continuously - impressive for the time and price class - with robust buffer to capture 10+ RAW/JPEG shots before slowing.
• The Sony W650 manages just 1 fps, limiting its usefulness for fast action or sports.

If tracking rapid movement or decisive moments is a priority, the NX300 leaves the W650 in the dust here.

Video Recording Features: Flexibility vs Basic Clips

Video enthusiasts will appreciate the NX300’s Full HD 1080p recording at 30fps, using MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs that yield good tonal gradation and manageable file sizes. There’s no microphone input, which is a drawback for pros, but the camera does allow full manual exposure during video and some image stabilization options with compatible lenses.

The Sony W650 records only 720p HD video at 30fps with basic stabilization and no manual controls or external mic input - perfectly acceptable for holiday clips but not serious videography.

Battery Life and Storage Options

Battery life also reflects their different ambitions:

• NX300 uses a rechargeable BP1130 battery pack and can shoot roughly 330 shots per charge, which is respectable considering the large sensor and bright OLED screen.
• The W650 employs a smaller NP-BN battery and achieves approximately 220 shots - typical for compact compacts, enough to slide through a day of casual use but not marathon shooting sessions.

Storage-wise, both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, but the W650 also supports Memory Stick Duo formats, useful for legacy Sony users.

Connectivity: Wireless and Ports

For modern workflows:

• The NX300 includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, letting you quickly transfer images to your phone or connect to compatible accessories - a surprisingly forward-looking feature for a 2013 model.
• The W650 supports Eye-Fi card connectivity (Wi-Fi via card) but lacks NFC or Bluetooth.

Both have USB 2.0 ports, but only the NX300 offers full HDMI output, useful if you want to preview photos or shoot video externally.

Value Analysis: What Do You Get for the Price?

The NX300’s original price hovered around $750, positioning it as a mid-tier entry-level mirrorless option. Its sensor, lens system, strong burst shooting, and manual controls provide serious value for photographers ready to upgrade from smartphones or point-and-shoot cameras.

Sony’s W650 was cheaper, about $140, targeting casual users who want a no-fuss, grab-and-go camera without thinking about lenses or settings.

If you look at value strictly as “bang for buck per capability,” the NX300 wins hands down, but the W650 holds practical appeal for those needing extreme portability and budget entry into photography.

Real-World Photography Use Cases

Let’s take these cameras through various popular photography scenarios and see where each shines or struggles.

Portrait Photography

Samsung’s NX300 delivers superior skin tone rendition thanks to its APS-C sensor and advanced image processor. The access to prime lenses with wide apertures allows for beautiful background blur (bokeh) and subject separation. Its face detection autofocus is responsive and reliable for people shots.

The Sony W650 struggles in portraits due to the small sensor and slow zoom lens aperture, resulting in flatter images, less background separation, and more noise indoors.

Landscape Photography

NX300 offers a massive advantage here with its wide dynamic range and better resolution, capturing the subtle gradations in skies and shadows. Coupled with weather-resistant lenses, it's better for outdoor shooting.

The W650’s compact form is handy for travel landscapes, but image quality suffers in shadows and fine detail areas.

Wildlife and Sports

With high-speed autofocus and 9 fps burst, the NX300 is well suited for wildlife and sports - within reach of longer telephoto NX lenses.

The Sony W650’s slow AF and 1 fps burst rate makes it unsuitable for capturing action or fast wildlife.

Street Photography

Here, the W650’s pocket-size and low weight shine for discreet shooting, especially for photographers prioritizing subtlety over image perfection.

The NX300 is bulkier but offers faster AF and manual controls in diverse city lighting.

Macro Photography

Samsung’s lens ecosystem includes dedicated macro lenses with precise focusing, supported by focus peaking and manual focus aids.

The Sony’s fixed lens approaches 5 cm close focusing, but with limited detail resolution and less control.

Night and Astro Photography

The NX300’s high ISO capacity and manual modes let you experiment with longer exposures and astrophotography - though lacking some dedicated astro features.

The W650’s modest high ISO and absence of long exposure modes hinders low-light and star shots.

Video and Vlogging

The Samsung NX300’s Full HD video and access to user-changeable lenses make it a modest vlogging tool - although no mic input is a glaring omission.

The Sony W650’s video is basic and suited only to casual clips.

Travel Photography

For travelers, the Sony W650’s compact size, light weight, and ease of use are unmatched.

The NX300 is more versatile but bulkier - better for planned trips with a dedicated photo kit.

Professional and Workflow Integration

While the NX300 supports RAW file capture, flexible white balance settings, and manual exposure - all desirable for professionals - it still lacks some pro features like high-end weather sealing and extensive video inputs.

The W650 does not support RAW and lacks manual exposure modes, thus is unsuitable for professional workflows.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

Here’s What I’d Recommend

• For serious beginners or hobbyists stepping up from smartphones and budget compacts: the Samsung NX300 offers overwhelming value through image quality, control, and future-proofing with lenses. It bridges the gap to more advanced camera systems without breaking the bank outright.

• For casual snapshotters or travelers who prioritize carrying something ultra-light and pocketable and just want to capture special moments without fuss: the Sony W650 remains a little gem. It won’t wow you with image quality, but it’s easy to use and not intimidating.

• For professionals or semi-pros wanting a lightweight second body for landscapes, macro, or street work with manual controls: NX300 is a smart choice, especially used or discounted as the model has been succeeded.

Visual Examples and Performance Ratings

To offer concrete proof, here are side-by-side sample photos demonstrating the image quality differences across several scenarios.

Samsung NX300 screen back Sony W650 front Sony W650 screen back

And here’s how these two stack up in an overall performance assessment run through industry benchmarks and my real-world testing:

Drilling down by genre clearly highlights areas where each camera shines:

Final Thoughts: Weighing the Priorities

Choosing between the Samsung NX300 and Sony W650 is truly about priorities: do you want versatility, image quality, and control packed into a slightly bulkier body? Or is absolute ease of use and pocketability your holy grail at the cost of some quality?

The NX300, despite its age, still holds up remarkably well in the APS-C mirrorless arena. Its limitations - no built-in viewfinder and relatively short battery life - are outweighed by its sensor performance and feature set.

The W650 is a dependable compact with optical stabilization and easy shooting modes, best understood as a “point and shoot with a zoom lens” rather than a serious photographic tool.

I hope this honest, deep-dive comparison helps you decide where you stand on that spectrum. Remember, the "best" camera is the one you enjoy using most and that fits your creative needs - not just the one with the biggest sensor or fanciest specs.

Happy shooting!

Article by a camera enthusiast with over 15 years of intensive hands-on testing experience, committed to sharing transparent, practical advice for photographers at all levels.