• APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • 35mm 855.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Samsung NX30 advantages over Sony A7 II

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~0.80 vs 1.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • More telephoto lens reach
    84 mm vs 70 mm
    Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Thinner
    41 mm vs 59 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    654g vs 930g
    Lighter weight
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.22 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    8.9 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    8.8 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Sony A7 II advantages over Samsung NX30

  • 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
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.97 vs 4.29 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,449 vs 1,014 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    13.6 vs 12.3 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.71x vs 0.64x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 20.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    52 vs 21 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    28 vs 12 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 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
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • 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

Common Weaknesses

  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

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.

  • Excellent 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization; Sensor-shift IS brings stabilization to nearly any lens; Much-improved ergonomics and top-deck control layout; 'Mark II' maintains same impressive image quality, dynamic range and high ISO performance; XAVC S 50Mbps video format; Faster start-up time; Hybrid AF performs well with good continuous AF.

  • (Similar to A7): Loud shutter (but electronic first-curtain helps); Battery life could be better; Low-light AF still not as good as most DSLRs; High ISO JPEGs look over-processed; Slow buffer clearing; Limited selection of native Sony FE lenses (but it's getting better).

The Competition

Compared to Sony A7

Samsung NX30
Sony A7
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7 II
Sony A7
  • $1170
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $748
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive

Compared to Fujifilm X-E2

Samsung NX30
Fujifilm X-E2
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • $1059
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Doesn't require an AA filter
Sony A7 II
Fujifilm X-E2
  • $1170
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1059
  • APS-C
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Internal flash

Compared to Fujifilm X-T1

Samsung NX30
Fujifilm X-T1
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
  • $1299
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • More viewfinder magnification
Sony A7 II
Fujifilm X-T1
  • $1170
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1299
  • APS-C
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Less shutter lag

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 A7 II
Fujifilm X-T10
  • $1170
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1099
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compared to Sony A7 III

Samsung NX30
Sony A7 III
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1865
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
Sony A7 II
Sony A7 III
  • $1170
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $1865
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
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