• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  •  
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Sony NEX-5N advantages over Samsung NX300

  • Lens selection
    Good vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,079 vs 942 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 430 vs 320 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    10.0 fps vs 8.1 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Samsung NX300 advantages over Sony NEX-5N

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Fast startup
    ~1.20 vs 1.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.23 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • More pixels
    20.3 vs 16.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    14 vs 7 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/6000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Both provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • 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

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • 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
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Samsung NX300

Review Excerpt

  • Fast autofocus and prefocused shutter lag; Quieter shutter sound; Captures 10 frames per second; Supports AVCHD 2.0.

  • Limited first-party lens selection; Slow and confusing on-screen user interface; top-mounted, proprietary accessories are quite pricey.

  • Stylish "retro modern" design in two color schemes; attractive 3.3-inch AMOLED tilting touchscreen; new APS-C CMOS sensor with on-chip phase detection AF; better image quality, particularly in low light at high ISOs; faster all-around performance; improved Wi-Fi connectivity.

  • Camera feels more plasticky than expected when you pick it up; slower shot-to-speeds compared to rivals; poor buffer depth with raw files; aggressive anti-noise processing destroys detail in high ISO shots; display smudges easily and is rather dim; no EVF support.

The Competition

Compared to Sony NEX-3

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
Samsung NX300
Sony NEX-3
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compared to Sony NEX-C3

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-C3
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Shoots 24p video
  • Shoots 1080p video
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Fast startup
Samsung NX300
Sony NEX-C3
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
  • $559
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive

Compared to Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $1248
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Samsung NX300
Sony NEX-7
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $1248
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder

Compared to Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N
Sony NEX-5R
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Touchscreen
Samsung NX300
Sony NEX-5R
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • More pixels
  • Faster shutter
  • $499
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Faster JPEG shooting

Compared to Fujifilm X-E2

Sony NEX-5N
Fujifilm X-E2
  • $700
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Eye-level viewfinder
Samsung NX300
Fujifilm X-E2
  • $1200
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Touchscreen
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Eye-level viewfinder
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