Canon G1X vs Samsung NX30

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon G1X vs Samsung NX30

1.5 inch 261.8mm²
14.3 megapixels
28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G1X Review.
See real-world photos taken with the G1X.

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.

Succeeded by the Canon G1X Mark II
Compare G1X vs G1X Mark II
Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Samsung NX30

Buy From

Differences

Canon G1X advantages over Samsung NX30

Less expensive
$800 vs $1000 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 12 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Samsung NX30 advantages over Canon G1X

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1.5 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Fast startup
~0.80 vs 1.9 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
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.
NX30 test data on DxO Mark G1X test data on DxO Mark

1,014 vs 644 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.
NX30 test data on DxO Mark G1X test data on DxO Mark

12.3 vs 10.8 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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 250 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
41 mm vs 64 mm
Thinner
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Less shutter lag
0.12 vs 0.70 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
20.3 vs 14.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
8.9 fps vs 4.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Bigger JPEG buffer
21 vs 6 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
8.8 fps vs 1.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in 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
25600 vs 12800 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
Tilt-swivel screen
Both provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

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
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read G1X User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read NX30 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon G1X

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Samsung NX30

Kit with 18-55mm Lens

Review Excerpt

Large-sensor image quality. Sharp lens with useful zoom range. Tilt/swivel LCD. Twin dials. Smaller than competing interchangeable-lens cameras with a similar lens. Lots of photographer-friendly features.
Not as small as you might hope. Mediocre burst shooting and autofocus speed. Far too easy to accidentally change exposure compensation. Viewfinder is of surprisingly little use. Battery life could be better.
Read our Canon G1X Review

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

The Competition

Compared to Sigma DP1 Merrill

Canon G1X

Sigma DP1 Merrill

$576
1.5 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$849
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon G1X vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Samsung NX30

Sigma DP1 Merrill

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$849
APS-C

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Compared to Fujifilm X-E2

Canon G1X

Fujifilm X-E2

$576
1.5 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1059
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon G1X vs 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

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Fujifilm X-E2

Compared to Fujifilm X-T1

Canon G1X

Fujifilm X-T1

$576
1.5 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$1299
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon G1X vs Fujifilm X-T1

Samsung NX30

Fujifilm X-T1

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Touchscreen

$1299
APS-C

Lens selection
More viewfinder magnification

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Fujifilm X-T1

Compared to Sigma dp2 Quattro

Canon G1X

Sigma dp2 Quattro

$576
1.5 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$899
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less shutter lag

Compare Canon G1X vs Sigma dp2 Quattro

Samsung NX30

Sigma dp2 Quattro

$899
APS-C

Tilt-swivel screen
Focus peaking

$899
APS-C

Higher max flash sync
Doesn't require an AA filter

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Sigma dp2 Quattro

Compared to Canon G1X Mark III

Canon G1X

Canon G1X Mark III

$576
1.5 inch

Bigger pixels
More telephoto lens reach

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon G1X vs Canon G1X Mark III

Samsung NX30

Canon G1X Mark III

$899
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$999
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Samsung NX30 vs Canon G1X Mark III

Compare Other Cameras?