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NX300 vs NX20

Started Jan 18, 2016 | Discussions
Massao Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
NX300 vs NX20

Hi,

I am considering buying a used NX20 or NX300. The price in used market is about the same. Any suggestions? I see on dxomark, that the sensor results are pretty similar...except for nx300 having a bit edge in low light.

Size is not a consideration since I am mostly using the 60mm or 18-200mm lens. And the times when I do use the 30mm and 16mm lenses...mostly they involve a Metz AF 1 44 flash , so no point saving few centimeters in size of camera.

But what are the other considerations? Focus speed/accuracy? Any edge for video work with any of these? Any features specific to one of these?

Any suggestion is appreciated.

Cheers,

Massao

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Samsung NX20 Samsung NX300
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TillmanB
TillmanB Contributing Member • Posts: 501
Re: NX300 vs NX20
1

I have the NX300, before I purchased it I considered the NX20 as well.  The NX300 has phase detect/contrast detect hybrid AF, and I believe the NX20 only has the contrast detect system.  Now I haven't had an NX20 so I cannot comment on whether this makes any difference but the reviews I read seemed to think it did and I was coming from an NEX 5t so I didn't want to lose something I had gotten used to.  Otherwise I believe the image quality is about the same without any significant difference.

wpstl Senior Member • Posts: 1,251
Re: NX300 vs NX20
1

Massao wrote:

But what are the other considerations?

The NX20 has an EVF and an articulated screen.

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otto k Senior Member • Posts: 2,252
Re: NX300 vs NX20

Depending on where you live you might be able to buy NX30 for roughly the same money or a bit more and it's much better in every way, from being faster, fully articulated screen, articulated evf, larger buffer, but most importantly it's faster when flushing images to card andnot locked in Processing... state. My biggest issue with both of your choices is camera being locked while flushing the buffer to card.

And IIRC nx30 is using better h264 profile for video (search threads here for nx300 video issues).

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OP Massao Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: NX300 vs NX20

TillmanB wrote:

The NX300 has phase detect/contrast detect hybrid AF, and I believe the NX20 only has the contrast detect system.

Thanks. That is a significant difference.

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OP Massao Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: NX300 vs NX20

otto k wrote:

Depending on where you live you might be able to buy NX30 for roughly the same money or a bit more and it's much better in every way, from being faster, fully articulated screen, articulated evf, larger buffer, but most importantly it's faster when flushing images to card andnot locked in Processing... state. My biggest issue with both of your choices is camera being locked while flushing the buffer to card.

You may be right, but NX30 is far too expensive new, and not (not even a single unit) available in used market here in Norway.

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Sony Alpha NEX-3 Pentax K-r Samsung NX300 Samsung NX1100 A3000 +40 more
Kisaha Senior Member • Posts: 2,300
Re: NX300 vs NX20

Depending on where you live you might be able to buy NX30 for roughly the same money or a bit more and it's much better in every way, from being faster, fully articulated screen, articulated evf, larger buffer, but most importantly it's faster when flushing images to card andnot locked in Processing... state. My biggest issue with both of your choices is camera being locked while flushing the buffer to card.

And IIRC nx30 is using better h264 profile for video (search threads here for nx300 video issues).

Completely agree with Otto, go for the NX30, if you don't care about the size, it is a better option (for the aforementioned reasons), and you will have a much better grip for the 60 and the 18-200, which are kind of big for a NXxxx. The thing is, they are slightly more expensive, but they worth it.

OP Massao Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: NX300 vs NX20

According to this website: http://www.cameradebate.com/2014/samsung-nx30-vs-nx20-vs-nx300-differences/

NX20 has a 15 point contrast AF, while NX300 has a 247 points contrast AF, AND 105 point contrast AF. I guess that makes the decision final J

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jimrpdx
jimrpdx Veteran Member • Posts: 3,954
Re: NX300 vs NX20

While both have 20.3Mpx sensors most reviews prefer the NX30/300 sensor - not just for onboard PDAF but about another step of noise improvement and better DR.  The tip screen and overall feature set in a small body outweighed the nx30's viewfinder.

I've just repurchased two nx300 bodies, one with 20-50mm included - that's a great lens but no OIS so my wife's cam will get the tiny 16-50pz.

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