Samsung NX300 Review

Main Features

20MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 25600

3.3" Tilting Screen

9 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video

Built-in Wireless

331g. 122 x 64 x 41 mm

Replaced Samsung NX210

Replaced by Samsung NX500

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Samsung NX300 Overview

First introduced in November 2013 , Samsung NX300 is a 20.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor. Samsung replaced the older Samsung NX210 with this model and later NX300 was replaced with Samsung NX500. Follow the links to compare these cameras in detail:
Compare Samsung NX300 vs Samsung NX210
Compare Samsung NX300 vs Samsung NX500

Alternatively, try our multi-camera comparison to see all three cameras on one page:

Compare Samsung NX300 vs NX210 vs NX500

Samsung NX300 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Samsung NX300 has an Overall Score of 63/100 and ranked #106 out of 204 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #241 out of 1212 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Samsung NX300 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Samsung NX300 Compared to other Mirrorless Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Samsung NX300 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)

NFC Connectivity

Articulating Screen

Full HD Video

Touch Screen

Face Detection Focusing

20.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

25.600 Max ISO

247 Focus Points

Large 3.3" Screen

768k dots LCD Resolution

1/6000s High Shutter Speed

9.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

331g Light Body

3D Shooting Capability

Panorama Shooting

Flash Sync Port

Report a correction

Buy Samsung NX300 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Image Stabilization

No Built-in Viewfinder

No External Viewfinder Option

x magnification - Small Viewfinder

Low Battery Life: 330 shots

No Environmental Sealing

Report a correction

Samsung NX300 Lens Mount and Lenses

Samsung NX300 has a Samsung NX lens mount and currently there are 32 native lenses available for this mount. Samsung is one of the newest players in the mirrorless world so the NX mount lens selection is not very wide, optically they are well regarded though.

Samsung NX300 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 7 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 2 lenses with weather sealing for NX300 but bear in mind that NX300 body doesn't have weather sealings.

Here are some of the most popular Samsung NX300 Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Samsung NX Mount Lenses for Samsung NX300

Model	Focal Length on NX300	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Samsung NX 50-200mm F4-5.6 OIS	75-300mm	APS-C / DX	417gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Samsung NX 16-50mm F2.0-2.8 S ED OIS	24-75mm	APS-C / DX	622gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Samsung NX 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 ED OIS	27-300mm	APS-C / DX	549gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Samsung NX 30mm F2 Pancake	45mm	APS-C / DX	85gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Samsung NX 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS	24-75mm	APS-C / DX	111gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Samsung 50-150mm F2.8 S	75-225mm	APS-C / DX	920gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Samsung NX 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS	27-82.5mm	APS-C / DX	198gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Samsung NX 60mm F2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA	90mm	APS-C / DX	389gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Check our Samsung NX300 Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

Samsung NX300 Sensor and Photography Features

Samsung NX300 has a 20.0MP APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DRIMe IV processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 5472 x 3648 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9. NX300 has a native ISO range of 100 - 25600 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Samsung NX300 is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Canon M6 MII with its 33.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Samsung NX300 vs Canon M6 MII or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

Samsung NX300 DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Samsung NX300 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 76 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Samsung NX300 here.

Let's look at how the size of the Samsung NX300's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Samsung NX300 Physical Specs

Samsung NX300 weighs 331 g (0.73 lb / 11.68 oz) and has external dimensions of 122 x 64 x 41 mm (4.8 x 2.52 x 1.61″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 435g, Samsung NX300 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 41mm, it is also quite small, 8mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Samsung NX300

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Samsung NX300

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Samsung NX300 with the dimensions:

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Samsung NX300 with its main competitors:

Samsung NX300 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs NX300	Thickness	vs NX300
Samsung NX3000 Compare	230g	101g lighter	39mm	2mm thinner
Samsung NX500 Compare	287g	44g lighter	43mm	2mm thicker
Samsung NX1000 Compare	222g	109g lighter	37mm	4mm thinner
Samsung NX2000 Compare	228g	103g lighter	36mm	5mm thinner
Sony A6000 Compare	344g	13g heavier	45mm	4mm thicker
Sony a5000 Compare	269g	62g lighter	36mm	5mm thinner
Samsung NX300M Compare	331g	equal weight	41mm	equal thickness
Samsung NX30 Compare	375g	44g heavier	58mm	17mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Samsung NX300 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Samsung NX300 LCD

Samsung NX300 has a Tilting 3.3" LCD screen with a resolution of 768k dots. The Samsung NX300's 3.3" screen is larger than average and its resolution is up to the class standarts.

LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

NX300 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Mirrorless camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Sony Alpha A7 III (Compare) or Nikon Z6 (Compare).
If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

Samsung NX300 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Samsung NX300 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( Dual band 802.11 b/g/n) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection. With its NFC feature, NX300 can communicate with devices such as smartphones which are also equipped with this technology by simply touching each other.

You can connect NX300 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Battery

Samsung NX300 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 330 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 366 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

Samsung NX300

Min

Average

Max

Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Samsung NX300 vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

Samsung NX300 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Samsung NX3000 Compare	1920 x 1080	370shots	Yes	No	Yes
Samsung NX500 Compare	4096 x 2160	370shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Samsung NX1000 Compare	1920 x 1080	320shots	Yes	No	No
Samsung NX2000 Compare	1920 x 1080	340shots	Yes	No	Yes
Sony A6000 Compare	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	Yes
Sony a5000 Compare	1920 x 1080	420shots	Yes	No	Yes
Samsung NX300M Compare	1920 x 1080	330shots	Yes	No	Yes
Samsung NX30 Compare	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	Yes

Samsung NX300 Video Features

With Samsung NX300, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Samsung NX300 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.
You can also consider its successor, the Samsung NX500 which features 4K video recording.

NX300 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
Samsung NX300 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Sony Alpha A7 III or Nikon Z6 in a similar price range.

Samsung NX300 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Samsung NX300 can shoot continuously at max speed of 9 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/6000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately NX300 doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

Focusing

Samsung NX300 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 247 points to choose from.

Samsung NX300 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

What type of Photography is Samsung NX300 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Samsung NX300 in 5 different photography areas.

Samsung NX300 for Portrait Photography

Samsung NX300 has a score of 51 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling

No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder

Read the details of how we scored Samsung NX300 for Portrait Photography

Samsung NX300 for Street Photography

Samsung NX300 has a score of 60 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor

Medium sized Body
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Samsung NX300 for Street Photography

Samsung NX300 for Sports Photography

Samsung NX300 has a score of 60 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/6000s
247 Focus Points
Wireless Connection

Average Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Samsung NX300 for Sports Photography

Samsung NX300 for Daily Photography

Samsung NX300 has a score of 67 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Medium size Body

331g
Body Thickness 41mm

Read the details of how we scored Samsung NX300 for Daily Photography

Samsung NX300 for Landscape Photography

Samsung NX300 has a score of 41 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Live-view
Large APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) sensor

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Samsung NX300 for Landscape Photography

Samsung NX300 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Samsung NX300 compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of NX300 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Samsung NX300 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Samsung NX300

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Samsung NX300 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Samsung NX3000

Compare

Samsung NX500

Compare

Samsung NX1000

Compare

Samsung NX2000

Compare

Sony A6000

Compare

Sony a5000

Compare

Samsung NX300M

Compare

Samsung NX30

Compare

Samsung NX300 Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Samsung NX300 with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Samsung NX300's price range.

Pentax K-1

Compare

Pentax K-1 II

Compare

Nikon D750

Compare

Nikon D810

Compare

Nikon D500

Compare

Canon 5D MIV

Compare

Canon 90D

Compare

Canon 6D MII

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung NX300

Does the Samsung NX300 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Samsung NX300 have RAW support?
Does the Samsung NX300 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Samsung NX300 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Samsung NX300?
What is the Sensor Size of Samsung NX300?
is the Samsung NX300 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Samsung NX300 have Touch Screen?
Does the Samsung NX300 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Samsung NX300?

Samsung NX300 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Samsung
Model	Samsung NX300
Announced	2013-11-24
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Samsung NX
Number of Lenses	32
Focal Length Multiplier	1.5×
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Tilting
Screen Technology	Active Matrix OLED screen
Screen Size	3.3"
Screen Resolution	768k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	30s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/6000s
Continuous Shooting	9.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync	1/180s
Flash Modes	Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, 1st/2nd Curtain, Smart Flash, Manual
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	76
DxO Color Depth	23.6
DxO Dynamic Range	12.7
DxO Low Light ISO	942
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Size	APS-C
Sensor Dimensions	23.5 x 15.7 mm
Sensor Area	368.95mm²
Sensor Resolution	20 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	5472 x 3648
Max Native ISO	25,600
Min Native ISO	100
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	247
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	331g
Physical Dimensions	122 x 64 x 41mm
Battery Life	330 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	BP1130
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 sec to 30 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	Optional
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage Slots	1