• APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 50.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000

Buy From

Differences

Samsung NX30 advantages over Sony A1

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Thinner
    41 mm vs 80 mm
    Thinner

Sony A1 advantages over Samsung NX30

  • Slower slow-motion
    240 fps vs 120 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • Lens selection
    Good vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    No vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 530 vs 360 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/400 vs 1/200 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Newer
    4 years vs 11 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.90x vs 0.64x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    50.1 vs 20.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    30.0 fps vs 8.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    165 vs 21 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    20.0 fps vs 8.8 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    155 vs 12 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/32000 vs 1/8000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    102400 vs 25600 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Focus peaking
    Both provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Both provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Both provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Buy From

Review Excerpt

  • Very good image quality at low to moderately high ISOs; Blazing fast single-shot autofocus; Fast 9fps burst with RAW and JPEG files; Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC; Good build quality; Tilting EVF; Articulating touchscreen monitor; Bundled with Adobe Lightroom 5 software; Excellent value.

  • Dynamic range not as good as the best APS-C models; Slow buffer clearing even with fast UHS-I cards; Buffer depth with RAW files is underwhelming; Native lens selection is still fairly limited.

The Competition

Compared to Fujifilm X-E2

Samsung NX30
Fujifilm X-E2
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Doesn't require an AA filter
Sony A1
Fujifilm X-E2
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • In-camera panoramas

Compared to Fujifilm X-T1

Samsung NX30
Fujifilm X-T1
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $1099
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • More viewfinder magnification
Sony A1
Fujifilm X-T1
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1099
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Fujifilm X-T10

Samsung NX30
Fujifilm X-T10
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $1099
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Doesn't require an AA filter
Sony A1
Fujifilm X-T10
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1099
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Sony A7R IV

Samsung NX30
Sony A7R IV
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $3120
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Sony A1
Sony A7R IV
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Slower slow-motion
  • Longer video battery life
  • $3120
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • High resolution composite

Compared to Canon R5

Samsung NX30
Canon R5
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • NFC
  • $3349
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A1
Canon R5
  • $5498
  • 35mm
  • Slower slow-motion
  • NFC
  • $3349
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
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