Advice on NX3000 + 30 f2 for 2nd system

David Banner wrote:

After playing with the NX300 at B&H today, and discussing with the salesman, I really think I want the EVF. I liked the samsung and it's lens so it's a close call but I think the EVF is necessary for me. So I think I will go with a Sony.

Thanks for all the info.

After shooting with my new Sony RX100M3 I haven't required the viewfinder one single time. I did use it a few times just for fun, and when I did I found it less enjoyable than using the LCD (viewfinder is too small).

So I think the Samsung NX300 can still be interesting for me. I like the RX100 but I like the idea of having a lightweight DSLR-like camera hanging on my shoulder, ready to take a shot in a moment's notice. Taking the RX100 out of its case, turning it on, etc. is a bit slow. And the DSLR is too heavy. It seems the Samsung can be a good compromise between the two.

I do like the cropping zoom on the Sony though. I usually shoot 5MP because that's enough for family snapshots and that gives me a 2x zoom by cropping. I have used the Sony 2x "clear image zoom" but so far I'm not convinced on that.

On the NX300, can I set the resolution to 5MP and then have 2x zoom automatically available? Or do I have to enable that for each shot? That's not clear to me. For the Sony, if shooting in 5MP then the 2x is always available, which is quite nice. At 10MP it's around 1.5x. And at 20MP there is no cropping zoom available.

The samsung is much more affordable than the Sony A6000, but a 18-55 is pretty limiting (the Sony RX100 M3 has 24-70mm). And 2x on 70mm = 140mm. With the samsung i think the 18-200 would be necessary.

PS: Does the Samsung have HDR?  The RX100M3 has +/- 3 stop HDR which is nice.  That and sweep panorama, to useful features.