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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100

Portability
89
Imaging
64
Features
62
Overall
63
Samsung NX3000 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Samsung NX3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 230g - 117 x 66 x 39mm
  • Revealed May 2014
  • Succeeded the Samsung NX2000
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Announced August 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony a5000
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Samsung NX3000 versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by companies Samsung and Sony. The sensor resolution of the NX3000 (20MP) and the a5100 (24MP) is very comparable and both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The NX3000 was revealed 2 months earlier than the a5100 so they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a brief summary of how the NX3000 matches up against the a5100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung NX3000 over the Sony a5100

 NX3000 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Samsung NX3000

 a5100 NX3000 
Display resolution922k461kSharper display (+461k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Samsung NX3000 and Sony a5100

 NX3000 a5100 
AnnouncedMay 2014August 2014Same age
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display size3"3"Same display measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Samsung NX3000 offers outside measurements of 117mm x 66mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check out the Samsung NX3000 versus Sony a5100 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the NX3000 vs the a5100.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the NX3000 and a5100 is 89 and 89 respectively.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to picture the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through a spec sheet. The photograph below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the NX3000 and a5100.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size but different resolution. You can expect to see the Sony a5100 to produce more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively.

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Samsung NX3000
Portrait photography with Sony a5100
78
you can focus manually
decent MP (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
72
manual focus
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Street photography advice
Sony a5100 Street photography advice
81
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (230g)
great ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
82
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features focus by touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Sports photography factors
Sony a5100 Sports photography factors
57
decent MP (20MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
68
megapixel count good (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (400 CIPA)
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung NX3000
Travel photography with Sony a5100
68
lighter than competition (230g)
decent MP (20MP)
does not have Timelapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
80
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
features focus by touch
megapixel count good (24MP)
flash built-in
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Landscape photography advice
Sony a5100 Landscape photography advice
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
79
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count good (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (400 per charge)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX3000 Vlogging factors
Sony a5100 Vlogging factors
34
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (230 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
34
touchscreen functionality
provides face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing external microphone socket
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Samsung NX3000 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX3000 and Sony a5100
 Samsung NX3000Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Company Samsung Sony
Model Samsung NX3000 Sony Alpha a5100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-05-26 2014-08-17
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 25600 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 35 179
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount Samsung NX Sony E
Number of lenses 32 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options no built-in flash Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
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 grams (0.51 lb) 283 grams (0.62 lb)
Physical dimensions 117 x 66 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.5") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 370 pictures 400 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model B740 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2-30 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $897 $448