Samsung has made a solid name for itself by adding new features and technology to any gadget and seeing what sticks.
The process has certainly helped the company refine its products, although earlier adopters are often left with the features that fell flat.
Consumers will get some more of that with Samsung’s newest camera, the NX1, a mirror-less digital camera that comes with some pretty impressive features, although with some slightly irritating additions.
From a photography standpoint, the Nx1 offers some great options. Without the traditional mirror of an SLR getting in the way, users can see what their photos will look like before they ever click the shutter button. This was great for framing portraits, as I could adjust the exposure to get exactly the image I wanted. No more bracketing to make sure at least one of your pictures is perfect.
Auto-focusing was also solid. It was just as fast as my USM lenses on my Canon, although there were a few instances of multi-second lag, which was frustrating when trying to take action shots. The camera offers excellent multi-frame shooting, with a 15 fps burst rate and a 1/8000th shutter speed. The ISO ranges is between 100 (bright sunshine) and 51,200 (coal mine).
The camera also offers a great sensor, which is the chip at the heart of its imaging capabilities. While many lower-range DSLR offer smaller sensors, the NX1 offer a full-frame 35-mm 28.2 MP sensor which can record 4K video at 24 fps, or 1080p video at 60 fps.
The camera also combines networking capabilities with the introduction of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technology into its cameras. The camera comes with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, so you can transfer pictures with a tap of the phone to a tablet or smartphone. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooh can be used for batch transfers.
Longer lenses
On the body-side, the camera is relatively light (compared to other cameras with interchangeable lens) and has a user interface comparable to other manufacturers. Unlike a number of other mirrorless-cameras, which tend to be boxier, the Nx30 uses a DLSR-style body. It’s bigger and not as sleek, but as a user, I prefer the DSLR body, especially when using longer lenses. The body also has a pop-up flash, a shoe for an external flash and a 3-inch touch screen, which can also be used as view finder.
Had Samsung simply left well-enough alone, the body would have been fine, but Samsung decided to push the envelope. While this works with technology, Samsung isn’t quite as adept at design.
First, is the decision to place a clickable lock on the mode selector. After years of using other DLSR cameras and being able to quickly switch back-and-forth, the lock completely threw me for a loop.
Next to the shutter button is a small red button for video. However, it’s small and flush with the body, making it difficult to push at times. Not a big problem, but frustrating when speed is an issue.
The NX1 is priced at Dh5,499 for the body, but additional lenses can push the price to up to Dh10,399.
