Samsung NX30 vs Sony RX1R II

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Samsung NX30 vs Sony RX1R II

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APS-C 369.0mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Samsung NX30 Review.
How does it shoot? Samsung NX30 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the NX30.
Compare Samsung NX30 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Samsung NX30 conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
42.4 megapixels
35.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Sony RX1R II Review.
How does it shoot? Sony RX1R II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the RX1R II.
Compare Sony RX1R II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony RX1R II conclusion.

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Differences

Samsung NX30 advantages over Sony RX1R 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 1.5 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

360 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Thinner
41 mm vs 72 mm
Thinner
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.26 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
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
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Sony RX1R II advantages over Samsung NX30

Larger sensor
35mm vs APS-C
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
RX1R II test data on DxO Mark NX30 test data on DxO Mark

3,204 vs 1,014 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
More dynamic range

More dynamic range

Cameras with more dynamic range allow you to take photos with dramatic differences in highlight and shadow areas while retaining detail in both.

Think of a brilliant sunset on a rocky beach: Bright sunset in the background, with dark rocks in the foreground. High dynamic range means more of the extremes will be faithfully reproduced.

Dynamic range test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
RX1R II test data on DxO Mark NX30 test data on DxO Mark

13.9 vs 12.3 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/200 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
More viewfinder magnification
0.74x vs 0.64x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
42.4 vs 20.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Optional anti-aliasing filter
Optional vs None
Lets you choose sharper photos or reduced moiré
Bigger RAW buffer
23 vs 12 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 25600 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
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
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
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
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
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

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
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
Integrated ND filter
Neither provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read NX30 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read RX1R II User Reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Samsung NX30

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony RX1R II

Sony RX1R II

All RX1R II Deals

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.
Read our Samsung NX30 Review

Excellent image quality; Extremely high resolution; Surprisingly good high ISO performance; Outstanding dynamic range; Handy variable low-pass filter; Fast phase-detect AF; Built-in EVF.
Fixed, single focal length lens; Poor battery life; No built-in flash; No touchscreen LCD; Slow buffer clearing; No 4K video; Expensive.
Read our Sony RX1R II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony RX1

Samsung NX30

Sony RX1

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$2398
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Sony RX1

Sony RX1R II

Sony RX1

$3298
35mm

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX1R II vs Sony RX1

Compared to Sony RX1R

Samsung NX30

Sony RX1R

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$2398
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Sony RX1R

Sony RX1R II

Sony RX1R

$3298
35mm

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$2398
35mm

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony RX1R II vs Sony RX1R

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

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Fujifilm X-E2

Sony RX1R II

Fujifilm X-E2

$3298
35mm

Larger sensor
Tiltable Screen

$899
APS-C

Longer video battery life
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony RX1R II vs Fujifilm X-E2

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

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Fujifilm X-T1

Sony RX1R II

Fujifilm X-T1

$3298
35mm

Larger sensor
NFC

$1099
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony RX1R II vs Fujifilm X-T1

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

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Fujifilm X-T10

Sony RX1R II

Fujifilm X-T10

$3298
35mm

Larger sensor
NFC

$1099
APS-C

Less expensive
Longer stills battery life

Compare Sony RX1R II vs Fujifilm X-T10

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