Samsung NX20 vs Canon G1X Mark II

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Samsung NX20 vs Canon G1X Mark II

APS-C 369.7mm²
20.3 megapixels
ISO 100 - 12,800

Go in depth with our full Samsung NX20 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the NX20.

1.5 inch 233.8mm²
13.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 120.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G1X Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon G1X Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G1X Mark II.
Compare Canon G1X Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon G1X Mark II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon G1X Mark III
Compare G1X Mark II vs G1X Mark III
Compare Samsung NX20 vs Canon G1X Mark III

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Differences

Samsung NX20 advantages over Canon G1X Mark II

Less expensive
$400 vs $599*
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger sensor
APS-C vs 1.5 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
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.
NX20 test data on DxO Mark G1X Mark II test data on DxO Mark

785 vs 581 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.
NX20 test data on DxO Mark G1X Mark II test data on DxO Mark

12.9 vs 10.8 evs
Retain detail in highlight and shadows
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 240 shots
Capture more photos
Thinner
39 mm vs 66 mm
Thinner
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More pixels
20.3 vs 13.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
7.5 fps vs 5.3 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon G1X Mark II advantages over Samsung NX20

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Yes vs No
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Fast startup
~2.00 vs 3.0 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
More dots on screen
1040k vs 614k dots
Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
Less shutter lag
0.21 vs 0.35 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 11 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
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

In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
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

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read NX20 User Reviews

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Kit with 18-55mm Lens

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Canon G1X Mark II

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Review Excerpt

High quality images with lots of detail; Excellent graphical user interface is fun to use; Smart implementation of WiFi makes it relatively easy to share photos wirelessly.
Designed so much like a DSLR you may wonder why you shouldn't get a DSLR instead; Some performance issues, particularly slow buffer clearing and shot-to-shot speed; Initial WiFi set-up can be confusing.
Read our Samsung NX20 Review

Wider, longer, faster lens than predecessor, with good overall optical quality; Faster AF performance; Closer macro shooting; Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC with remote shooting; Decent JPEG burst performance; Excellent build quality.
Localized flare issue when wide open; No real net improvement in image quality over predecessor; Slow burst mode when shooting RAW files; Poor battery life; Video quality is so-so (not like Canon DSLRs).
Read our Canon G1X Mark II Review

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-01

Samsung NX20

Pentax K-01

$400
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$359
APS-C

Lens selection
Focus peaking

Compare Samsung NX20 vs Pentax K-01

Canon G1X Mark II

Pentax K-01

$599
1.5 inch

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$359
APS-C

Larger sensor
Better color depth

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Pentax K-01

Compared to Sony NEX-F3

Samsung NX20

Sony NEX-F3

$400
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Built-in Wi-Fi

$600
APS-C

Lens selection
In-camera panoramas

Compare Samsung NX20 vs Sony NEX-F3

Canon G1X Mark II

Sony NEX-F3

$599
1.5 inch

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$600
APS-C

Larger sensor
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Sony NEX-F3

Compared to Samsung NX30

Samsung NX20

Samsung NX30

$400
APS-C

Has anti-aliasing filter

$899
APS-C

Focus peaking
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Samsung NX20 vs Samsung NX30

Canon G1X Mark II

Samsung NX30

$599
1.5 inch

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Integrated ND filter

$899
APS-C

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Samsung NX30

Compared to Panasonic LX100

Samsung NX20

Panasonic LX100

$400
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$598
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Samsung NX20 vs Panasonic LX100

Canon G1X Mark II

Panasonic LX100

$599
1.5 inch

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$598
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Panasonic LX100

Compared to Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Samsung NX20

Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

$400
APS-C

Less expensive
Larger sensor

$875
4/3

Focus peaking
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Samsung NX20 vs Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Canon G1X Mark II

Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

$599
1.5 inch

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$875
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

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