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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230

Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62
Samsung NX3000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230 front
Portability
69
Imaging
50
Features
40
Overall
46

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 Key Specs

Samsung NX3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 230g - 117 x 66 x 39mm
  • Announced May 2014
  • Superseded the Samsung NX2000
Sony A230
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 490g - 128 x 97 x 68mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Earlier Model is Sony A200
  • Successor is Sony A290
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 Overview

Below, we are analyzing the Samsung NX3000 and Sony A230, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the sensor resolutions of the NX3000 (20MP) and A230 (10MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The NX3000 was brought out 5 years later than the A230 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX3000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A230 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summation of how the NX3000 grades vs the A230 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Sony A230

 NX3000 A230 
RevealedMay 2014May 2009More recent by 62 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A230 over the Samsung NX3000

 A230 NX3000 

Common features in the Samsung NX3000 and Sony A230

 NX3000 A230 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Samsung NX3000 has physical dimensions of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony A230 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7") accompanied by a weight of 490 grams (1.08 lbs).

See the Samsung NX3000 and Sony A230 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the NX3000 compared to the A230.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the NX3000 and A230 is 89 and 69 respectively.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through technical specs. The graphic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX3000 and A230.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Samsung NX3000 to provide you with greater detail having its extra 10MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The younger NX3000 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Portrait photography details
Sony A230 Portrait photography details
77
has manual focus
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
54
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview
sensor resolution low (10MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung NX3000
Street photography with Sony A230
81
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (230 grams)
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
67
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung NX3000
Sports photography with Sony A230
56
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
no liveview
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
low battery (230 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX3000 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A230 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition (230g)
MP count decent (20MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
45
flash built-in
no Time Lapse recording
low battery (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Landscape photography information
Sony A230 Landscape photography information
72
has manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is good (3")
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
51
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no liveview
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
low battery (230 shots)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Vlogging details
Sony A230 Vlogging details
34
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (230 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
missing external mic support
9
no video
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A230 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX3000 and Sony A230
 Samsung NX3000Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX3000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2014-05-26 2009-05-18
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 3872 x 2592
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 35 9
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 32 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.55x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 gr (0.51 pounds) 490 gr (1.08 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") 128 x 97 x 68mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 63
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.4
DXO Low light score not tested 531
Other
Battery life 370 photographs 230 photographs
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model B740 NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2-30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $897 $569