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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500

Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62
Samsung NX3000 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A500 front
Portability
63
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 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
  • Revealed May 2014
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX2000
Sony A500
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 630g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced August 2009
  • Replacement is Sony A560
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Samsung and Sony. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the NX3000 (20MP) and A500 (12MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The NX3000 was released 4 years later than the A500 and that is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Samsung NX3000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A500 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the NX3000 grades versus the A500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Sony A500

 NX3000 A500 
IntroducedMay 2014August 2009More recent by 58 months
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A500 over the Samsung NX3000

 A500 NX3000 

Common features in the Samsung NX3000 and Sony A500

 NX3000 A500 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera often, you will have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX3000 comes with physical measurements of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony A500 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") and a weight of 630 grams (1.39 lbs).

Examine the Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the NX3000 versus the A500.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX3000 and A500 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out a spec sheet. The photograph below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the NX3000 and A500.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Samsung NX3000 to show greater detail as a result of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher NX3000 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX3000 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A500 as a Portrait photography camera
77
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX3000 as a Street photography camera
Sony A500 as a Street photography camera
81
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (230g)
great high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
74
tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Samsung NX3000
Sports photography with Sony A500
56
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
low fps (5.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
51
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (520 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Samsung NX3000 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A500 as a Travel photography camera
68
lighter than competition (230g)
decent megapixels (20MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
43
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (520 CIPA)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Landscape photography details
Sony A500 Landscape photography details
72
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
60
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (520 shots)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Vlogging details
Sony A500 Vlogging details
34
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (230g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
lack of external mic support
9
can't shoot video
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony A500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX3000 and Sony A500
 Samsung NX3000Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
General Information
Make Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX3000 Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2014-05-26 2009-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 5472 x 3648 4272 x 2848
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 35 9
Cross type focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 32 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.53x
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter rate 5.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 230 gr (0.51 lbs) 630 gr (1.39 lbs)
Dimensions 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 64
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 772
Other
Battery life 370 images 520 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID B740 NP-FM500H
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/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $897 $638