• APS-C 357.3mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 28.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Sony A3000 advantages over Samsung NX1

  • Lens selection
    Good vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Less expensive
    $400 vs $2800 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 4.25 vs 3.63 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Lighter weight
    616g vs 1290g
    Lighter weight
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Samsung NX1 advantages over Sony A3000

  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (DCI) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Fast startup
    ~0.70 vs 2.2 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,363 vs 1,068 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Jack vs No jack
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/250 vs 1/160 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Higher-res screen
    346k vs 77k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.69x vs 0.47x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    28.2 vs 20.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    15.2 fps vs 3.5 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    53 vs 11 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 16000 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
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A3000

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Samsung NX1

Review Excerpt

  • Absolutely incredible value; Includes a stabilized kit lens; More versatile than a fixed-lens bridge camera; Comfortable body with good ergonomics; Great image quality; Good autofocus performance; Decent battery life.

  • Feels a bit plasticky; Slow burst shooting with limited buffer; Sluggish to power on or switch modes; Low-res EVF and LCD monitor; Can't review images using EVF; No video output; Weak flash; Battery charges in-camera.

  • Very good, high-resolution image quality; Excellent high ISO performance with RAW files; Very good dynamic range; Blazing fast 15fps full-res burst mode; Deep buffer; Great build quality & comfortable ergonomics; Lots of physical controls; Great battery life; Fast single-shot AF.

  • Continuous AF performance still not as robust as competing DSLRs; Aggressive JPEG noise reduction at high ISOs; JPEG colors and saturation less pleasing at higher ISOs; H.265 video codec can be difficult to work with.

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-01

Sony A3000
Pentax K-01
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Samsung NX1
Pentax K-01
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Lens selection

Compared to Sigma sd Quattro

Sony A3000
Sigma sd Quattro
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • HDMI out
Samsung NX1
Sigma sd Quattro
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $699
  • APS-C
  • Bigger pixels
  • More dots on screen

Compared to Fujifilm X-T2

Sony A3000
Fujifilm X-T2
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Tiltable Screen
Samsung NX1
Fujifilm X-T2
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Fast startup
  • $999
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Thinner

Compared to Canon EOS M5

Sony A3000
Canon EOS M5
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Touchscreen
  • Tiltable Screen
Samsung NX1
Canon EOS M5
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Larger sensor
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $787
  • APS-C
  • Lighter weight
  • Higher-res screen

Compared to Fujifilm X-T3

Sony A3000
Fujifilm X-T3
  • $500
  • APS-C
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Internal flash
  • $1299
  • APS-C
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
Samsung NX1
Fujifilm X-T3
  • $1797
  • APS-C
  • Fast startup
  • NFC
  • $1299
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Newer
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