Clicky

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170

Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72
Samsung NX500 front
 
Samsung PL170 front
Portability
99
Imaging
39
Features
20
Overall
31

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 Key Specs

Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Bump to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Replaced the Samsung NX300
Samsung PL170
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 0 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • n/ag - 95 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 Overview

Below is a in depth overview of the Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Ultracompact and both of them are manufactured by Samsung. There exists a big gap among the resolutions of the NX500 (28MP) and PL170 (16MP) and the NX500 (APS-C) and PL170 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor dimensions.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The NX500 was launched 4 years later than the PL170 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Samsung PL170 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the NX500 grades against the PL170 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Samsung PL170

 NX500 PL170 
ReleasedFebruary 2015January 2011More recent by 50 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1036k230kClearer screen (+806k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung PL170 over the Samsung NX500

 PL170 NX500 

Common features in the Samsung NX500 and Samsung PL170

 NX500 PL170 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Samsung NX500 enjoys exterior measurements of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) and the Samsung PL170 has proportions of 95mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).

Check the Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the NX500 vs the PL170.

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX500 and PL170 is 87 and 99 respectively.

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements only by looking through specifications. The graphic here will provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the NX500 and PL170.

Plainly, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The NX500 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF easier and the Samsung NX500 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 12MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The younger NX500 will have an advantage in sensor technology.

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX500 Portrait photography highlights
Samsung PL170 Portrait photography highlights
80
has manual focus
sensor resolution is fantastic (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
30
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung NX500
Street photography with Samsung PL170
81
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
good high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
50
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Body cameras now worn by bakery staff to deter stealing

Sports Comparison

Samsung NX500 Sports photography info
Samsung PL170 Sports photography info
75
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
sensor resolution is fantastic (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
27
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Samsung NX500 Travel photography details
Samsung PL170 Travel photography details
78
has bluetooth
provides focus by touch
sensor resolution is fantastic (28MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
71
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
very good max aperture (f)
does not have Timelapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung NX500
Landscape photography with Samsung PL170
80
has manual focus
change lenses (Samsung NX mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
sensor resolution is fantastic (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti-alias filter
good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
39
very good max aperture (f)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung NX500
Vlogging with Samsung PL170
34
touch screen
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (4096 x 2160 pxls)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone jack
27
very good max aperture (f)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone port
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Samsung NX500 vs Samsung PL170 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX500 and Samsung PL170
 Samsung NX500Samsung PL170
General Information
Make Samsung Samsung
Model Samsung NX500 Samsung PL170
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Released 2015-02-06 2011-01-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DRIMe 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 369.0mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 28 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 6480 x 4320 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 -
Min native ISO 100 -
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 209 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Samsung NX fixed lens
Lens focal range - ()
Total lenses 32 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,036 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/6000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 9.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash -
Flash settings Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off -
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 1280 x 720
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1280x720
Video data format H.265 -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 287g (0.63 lbs) -
Physical dimensions 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") 95 x 57 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 87 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 24.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 13.9 not tested
DXO Low light score 1379 not tested
Other
Battery life 370 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BP1130 -
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC -
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $800 $175