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Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55

Portability
87
Imaging
68
Features
80
Overall
72
Samsung NX500 front
 
Sony SLT-A55 front
Portability
67
Imaging
56
Features
80
Overall
65

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 Key Specs

Samsung NX500
(Full Review)
  • 28MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • 287g - 120 x 64 x 43mm
  • Revealed February 2015
  • Older Model is Samsung NX300
Sony A55
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 500g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Launched August 2010
  • Replacement is Sony A57
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Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Samsung NX500 and Sony A55, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Samsung and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the NX500 (28MP) and A55 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The NX500 was announced 4 years after the A55 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Samsung NX500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the NX500 scores vs the A55 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Samsung NX500 over the Sony A55

 NX500 A55 
LaunchedFebruary 2015August 2010Newer by 55 months
Display resolution1036k921kCrisper display (+115k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A55 over the Samsung NX500

 A55 NX500 
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Samsung NX500 and Sony A55

 NX500 A55 
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Samsung NX500 comes with external dimensions of 120mm x 64mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs) while the Sony A55 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Examine the Samsung NX500 and Sony A55 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the NX500 against the A55.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the NX500 and A55 is 87 and 67 respectively.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 top view buttons comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the NX500 and A55.

As you can see, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Samsung NX500 to render greater detail with its extra 12MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more recent NX500 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 sensor size comparison

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung NX500 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A55 Portrait photography highlights
80
manual focus
high megapixels (28 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW formats
73
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung NX500 Street photography highlights
Sony A55 Street photography highlights
81
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
77
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Samsung NX500 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A55 as a Sports photography camera
75
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000s)
high megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery power (380 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung NX500
Travel photography with Sony A55
78
has bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
high megapixels (28MP)
display is not selfie friendly
62
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse function
low battery power (380 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung NX500 Landscape photography information
Sony A55 Landscape photography information
80
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Samsung NX mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
high megapixels (28MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
67
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (380 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung NX500 Vlogging highlights
Sony A55 Vlogging highlights
34
touchscreen enabled
comes with face detect focus
video res high (4096 x 2160 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no microphone port
78
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes microphone support
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Samsung NX500 vs Sony A55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung NX500 and Sony A55
 Samsung NX500Sony SLT-A55
General Information
Brand Name Samsung Sony
Model type Samsung NX500 Sony SLT-A55
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2015-02-06 2010-08-24
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor DRIMe 5 Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 28 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 6480 x 4320 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 25600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 51200 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 209 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Samsung NX Sony/Minolta Alpha
Available lenses 32 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,036 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/6000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 9.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings Smart flash, auto, auto w/redeye reduction, fill flash, fill w/redeye reduction, 1st-curtain, 2nd-curtain, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest 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 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 4096x2160 1920x1080
Video format H.265 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 287g (0.63 pounds) 500g (1.10 pounds)
Dimensions 120 x 64 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.5" x 1.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 87 73
DXO Color Depth rating 24.8 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating 13.9 12.4
DXO Low light rating 1379 816
Other
Battery life 370 pictures 380 pictures
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP1130 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 - 30 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $800 $800