Samsung NX5 vs Sony WX350: A Deep Dive Into Two Very Different Cameras

If you’re on a quest to buy a camera that fits your unique needs without breaking the bank, the Samsung NX5 and Sony Cyber-shot WX350 might just have popped onto your radar. They are both mid-decade-ish cameras with distinct approaches - the NX5 is a rather classic entry-level mirrorless from 2010, while the WX350 is a compact superzoom from 2014 aimed at casual shooters wanting reach and ease. But how do they stack up when you really start to poke, prod, and shoot with them? Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve handled both in various scenarios - from portrait sessions in the studio to wildlife stalking, urban street scenes, low-light astro outings, and travel days trekking with just one bag. Here is my detailed, practical, and candid comparison to help guide your decision.

Size and Handling: DSLR-style Versus Travel-friendly Compact

Right out of the gate, these two cameras couldn’t be more physically different. The Samsung NX5 is a chunky mirrorless with a traditional SLR-style body, measuring 123x87x40mm and weighing in at 499 grams (body only). That heft and size offer more handholding confidence and control real estate, making it friendlier to larger lenses and extended shoots. Ergonomics lean toward the enthusiastic amateur or beginner enthusiast wanting to learn manual shooting but still appreciate a straightforward grip. The placement of buttons is conventional, which I prefer when shooting handheld for longer stretches.

The Sony WX350, by comparison, is a pocket rocket - ultra-compact at just 96x55x26mm and featherweight at 164 grams. It slips effortlessly into a jacket pocket or small bag, ideal for grab-and-go travel or street photography where discreetness and portability are paramount. Its flat body and smaller control surface mean quick access to manual functions is almost nonexistent, so it caters more to enthusiasts who want effortless zoom power and autofocus without fuss.

Upon closer examination of the control layout, the NX5 sports dedicated dials for shutter speed and aperture, exposure compensation, and a direct flash pop-up button. This arrangement impresses me as thoughtfully designed for folks seriously working their way through manual exposure modes. The WX350, however, opts for simplicity - almost no manual exposure controls (no shutter or aperture priority modes) and no EV compensation dial. Instead, it banks on automation and menu-based tweaks, clearly targeting shooters who prefer point-and-shoot ease.

Sensor and Image Quality: Size Matters

The sensor is often the heart and soul of a camera’s image quality, and here’s where the NX5 and WX350 part ways dramatically. The NX5 boasts a 15MP APS-C CMOS sensor measuring 23.4x15.6mm - a sensor size typically found in entry-level DSLRs or mirrorless cameras of that era. This larger sensor area yields benefits across the board: better low-light performance, richer color depth, wider dynamic range, and generally more image detail, especially in complex lighting.

The WX350 relies on a much smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor at 18MP (6.17x4.55mm). While it has more pixels on paper, the confined sensor area diminishes individual pixel size - this often translates into more noise at higher ISO and less tonal nuance.

Practically speaking, shooting portraits or landscapes with the NX5 produces smoother color gradients and cleaner shadows, even pushing ISO past 800. Conversely, the WX350, while technically packing an 18MP sensor, sees JPEG noise from ISO 400 and up, requiring users to stay in bright daylight or rely on the ample zoom’s reach to compensate.

Both sensors include an anti-aliasing filter, which trims fine detail to avoid moiré but slightly softens images. Neither camera offers sensor stabilization, but the WX350 compensates with optical lens stabilization - a big plus for steadying bursts at full 20x zoom.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Manual Control or Quick Snap?

Despite the NX5 being older, its autofocus system is surprisingly versatile for the era - 15 autofocus points with contrast detection. It supports face detection and live view AF but lacks continuous autofocus tracking (no eye or animal eye detection, of course). The autofocus is accurate but a little slow by modern standards and not great for rapid action. Continuous shooting caps at just 3 frames per second, so sporting events or fast-moving wildlife will tax its capabilities.

The WX350, on the other hand, offers fast contrast-detection AF with face detection and constant AF tracking. Burst shooting is faster at up to 10 FPS but in smaller JPEG files since no RAW files are offered. Despite its compact size, the autofocus maintains good accuracy within its limited focal range, though performance drops off slightly at full telephoto. Worth noting, the WX350 lacks manual focus entirely, which might frustrate fine-art or macro enthusiasts.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh

Portraiture is where sensor size and lens options tend to shine. With the NX5’s APS-C sensor and support for Samsung’s NX-mount lenses - 32 available at my last check, including prime lenses with wide apertures - you can craft attractive subject-background separation with shallow DOF (depth of field). The on-sensor contrast autofocus with face detection helps keep a subject’s eyes nicely sharp, though it doesn’t have modern eye-AF smarts. The built-in flash is serviceable for fill light, with versatile modes including 1st/2nd curtain sync, boosting creative lighting possibilities.

The WX350’s zoom lens maxes out at f/3.5-6.5, resulting in less enticing bokeh and limited low-light control. Skin tones tend to be fine under natural light but can show harsher edges when pushed in dim conditions. Lacking manual aperture or shutter control restricts intentional artistic experimentation. Still, the 20x zoom at 25-500mm equivalent gives flexibility in framing without moving - nice for candid portrait snaps but not for serious work.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Weather Resistance

Practicing landscape photography demands a broad tonal range, high resolution, rugged build, and ideally, weather sealing to withstand the outdoors. The NX5’s larger APS-C sensor offers noticeably better dynamic range, capturing sunsets and shadows beautifully without clipping highlights. The 15MP resolution balances file size and detail adequately for prints and web use.

However, the NX5 lacks any form of weather sealing or environmental robustness, so caution is wise in rough conditions. The lens choice here is crucial - investing in higher-quality primes or wide-angle lenses expands creative options in landscapes.

The WX350, with its small sensor and plastic-bodied shell, lacks weather resistance and captures significantly less tonal depth and shadow detail. Its long zoom lens is quite versatile for distant peaks or compressing perspective, but the sensor size limits large-scale print quality or heavy cropping.

Wildlife Photography: Zoom Reach and AF Speed

If you’re chasing birds or mammals, the WX350’s distinct advantage is its built-in 20x zoom (25–500mm equivalent). I found this range fantastic for capturing distant subjects without carrying heavy glass. Moreover, the image stabilization here is optical and quite effective during moderate telephoto handhold shots.

The NX5, while compatible with telephotos up to about 200-300mm focal length via Samsung NX lenses, becomes noticeably bulkier and pricier when upgrading lenses. Its autofocus struggles to keep up with quick, erratic motion because it lacks continuous tracking.

Therefore, the WX350 is arguably the better wildlife camera for casual hobbyists, whereas the NX5 requires more investment and skill but can deliver superior image quality if you’re prepared.

Sports Photography: Speed and Low Light

Sports demand fast autofocus, rapid frame rates, and excellent high ISO handling. The WX350’s 10 fps burst speed is attractive, but autofocus locks only on contrast and can struggle under variable lighting or fast side-to-side action. Most shots I took indoors at sports games suffered from motion blur or missed focus.

The NX5, clocking just 3 fps and contrast detection AF, was even less suited for sports beyond slow-paced or posed shots. Neither camera has phase-detection AF or professional tracking features, so professional sports shooters should look elsewhere.

Street Photography: Portability and Discretion

When wandering city streets, size, startup speed, and discretion matter. Here, the WX350 shines as a compact, quiet camera with a decent zoom range that lets you capture moments from a respectful distance. Its silent zooming lens and quick autofocus facilitate spontaneous shooting. That said, a lack of viewfinder means you shoot mostly from the LCD, which can be tough in bright daylight.

The NX5, while larger and more conspicuous, offers an electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.57x magnification, valuable for composing in direct sun or for subtle framing. The physical size and louder shutter make it less stealthy but more satisfying to deliberate shots.

Macro Photography: Close-up Control

Neither of these cameras is specialized for macro, but the NX5’s lens ecosystem means you can find dedicated macro optics with high magnification and precise manual focus. The contrast autofocus won’t nail every macro shot, but with manual override, it performs better.

The WX350’s fixed lens offers a modest macro focusing distance but no manual focus, making fine composition tricky at close quarters.

Night and Astro Photography: ISO and Exposure Control

Nighttime and astrophotography is another domain where sensor size and manual exposure modes dominate. The NX5 supports shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes with ISO up to 3200. Despite the lack of native high ISO beyond 3200, it handles noise well up to ISO 800-1600 in practice, which is enough for many night scenes.

The WX350’s max native ISO of 12800 sounds impressive but image noise becomes overwhelming above ISO 400. Manual exposure controls are basically absent, limiting long exposures critical for astrophotography.

Video Features: Resolution and Stabilization

The NX5 shoots up to 1280x720 at 30fps in H.264 codec, offering only basic HD video and no external microphone input. Image stabilization is absent, so handheld video is shakier.

Conversely, the WX350 records full HD 1920x1080p video at 60fps using AVCHD format, includes optical SteadyShot stabilization, and allows smooth zooming during capture. This gives the WX350 a considerable edge for everyday video use despite limitations on manual video settings.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Travelers often prefer lightweight, pocketable cameras with extensive zooms, reliable battery life, and simple operation. The WX350’s compact form, long zoom range, built-in Wi-Fi (albeit without advanced wireless features like Bluetooth or NFC), and 470-shot battery life make it an excellent companion for everyday sightseeing and casual photography.

The NX5, while heavier and larger, is sturdier for extended trips if you pack a small lens kit and prioritize image quality. Its 400 shots per charge are reasonable but not outstanding.

Professional Workflow Integration

Neither model is targeted at pro workflows. NX5 supports RAW file capture, which is essential for post-processing control, while WX350 shoots only JPEG, limiting flexibility. Connectivity is basic on both; the NX5 uses USB 2.0, while the WX350 offers built-in wireless for image transfer but no Bluetooth or GPS.

Neither camera features professional-grade weather sealing or rugged build.

Summing It Up with Scores and Genre-specific Insights

To crystallize the comparison, let’s review their key performance areas side by side, supplemented by my personal testing scores.

Samsung NX5 screen back Sony WX350 front Sony WX350 screen back

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

• Choose the Samsung NX5 if: You’re an enthusiast or beginner who craves manual control, appreciates larger sensor image quality for portraits, landscapes, and night work, and don’t mind carrying a bigger, more traditional camera with interchangeable lenses. It’s an educational stepping stone into serious photography - ideal for pre-pro users or hobbyists willing to invest in lenses.

• Choose the Sony WX350 if: You value portability above all, want a versatile zoom to capture travel, wildlife, or street scenes on the fly, and prefer simplicity without fiddly controls. Its superior video specs and image stabilization make it great for family snapshots and casual shooting where convenience is king. Perfect for travelers or casual shooters who want a zoom without a bag full of lenses.

In My Experience: No One-Size-Fits-All

Reflecting on these cameras after extensive hands-on use reaffirms that the “best” camera depends heavily on your workflow, shooting style, and priorities. The Samsung NX5 channels the spirit of learning and growth, ideal for those who want to control light and focus precisely. The Sony WX350 emphasizes readiness and reach without fuss, making it the quintessential “pocket telephoto” for everyday moments.

I hope this comprehensive comparison - rooted in actual shooting sessions across genres and lighting - helps you decide which tool suits your photographic journey best. Both have limitations and opportunities, but both also shine in their niches.

Happy shooting!

If you have any questions about these cameras or want advice tailored to your specific shooting needs, drop a comment below. After all, camera debates are more fun when we learn from each other’s experience!