Review Date: October 24, 2010
Category: Beginner to Serious Amateur
Samsung NX100
Photoxels Editor’s Choice 2010 – Compact Mirrorless
USER’S EXPERIENCE
Tuesday, October 5, 2010 – Here’s what I receive in the box:
- Samsung NX100
- No memory card
- Li-ion Battery BP1310 7.4V 1300mAh 9.6Wh
- Battery Charger BC-1310 and power cord
- Neck Strap
- Body Cap
- USB Cable and A/V Cable
- Documentation: Basic Operation
- Software CD: User Manual (detailed); RAW Converter; Intelli-studio
- Samsung 1:3.5-5.6 20-50mm ED kit lens
Samsung is a company that has competely surprised photographers. Unlike some new entrants who simply rebadge other manufacturers’ DSLR cameras or get their toes gingerly wet in cold water, Samsung has plunged into the DSLR category with cameras that embrace the large sensor mirrorless digital interchangeable lens concept.
The NX10 introduced Samsung’s own mount — which spoke volume about its commitment to its new cameras and its confidence that it can succeed. While the NX10 looked distinctly DSLR-like, the new NX100 abandons all semblance of looking like one and instead targets the compact mirrorless category that is increasingly becoming the favorite choice of enthusiasts.
Even jaded camera reviewers wait with abated excitement to see if the traditional DSLR camera manufacturers will introduce their compact mirrorless cameras… and wait, and wait. Meanwhile, the train has left the station and one of the “little engine that can” proudly bears the Samsung logo.
If you didn’t pay much attention to the Samsung NX10, then it’s not too late to wake up to the fact that there is a new player in this new category. The Samsung NX100 wants to compete head-on with the micro Four-Thirds from Olympus and Panasonic. It’s about the same size (120.5 x 71.0 x 34.5 mm, 282g) as the Panasonic GF1 (119.0 x 71.0 x 36.3 mm, 285g) and Olympus E-P2 (114.6 x 72.2 x 41.5 mm, 296g), the included 20-50mm (equiv.) kit lens even includes the retractable zoom feature we first saw on the Olympus 14-42mm, and it uses a much larger APS-C CMOS image sensor. But don’t think that Samsung is just copying them. Samsung has come up with a philosophy uniquely its own that is apparent in its body design, menu design as well as in its controls.
The NX100 with the 20-40mm kit lens attached is light but the lens makes the body tilt forward when you put the camera/lens combo on a flat surface. Attaching a longer and heavier lens will only accentuate this effect. The NX100 needs a slight projection at the base to increase the surface area under the lens to keep it all level, at least with the lighter lenses.
When the NX10 came out, we wrote that we wished it were a little bit more compact — and that is exactly what the NX100 is. But it unfortunately still doesn’t have a tiltable LCD. A tiltable LCD is a must these days; contorting your body to peer into the LCD when shooting low to the ground (or when the camera is on a tripod) is so passé. All we really need is to be able to tilt the LCD up and down.
One new design feature Samsung is advertising big time is the i-Function (iFn) or Lens Priority mode on its new lenses. Press the iFn button on the lens barrel and you can use the lens focus ring to set exposure: aperture, shutter speed, EV Compensation, ISO, and WB. It’s not a bad idea at all but it does take some getting used to.
From what I hear, some photographers love this functionality while I admit I’m still somewhat sitting on the fence with this one. I love being able to use the lens focus ring as an Aperture ring (that feels right), but I still have to get used to selecting the other functions (shutter speed, EV compensation, ISO, WB) via the lens focus ring (that just feels strange). The placement of the iFn button on the lens barrel is also problematic for me: I have inadvertently pressed the iFn button once too often, dialed in an exposure compensation value and ended up with an exposure different from what I intended. My recommendation is to definitely try it first.
TIP: You can disable the WB and ISO options in Menu [Menu – Setup 5 – Lens i-Function – WB – Off, ISO – Off].
I simply love the NX100 screen display. It is like the one on the NX10 with the bottom band of info below the image (not transparently overlayed onto it, like on the TL500/EX1). Just love it.
A Basic Operation Manual in how to setup and operate your camera is provided in print. The detailed User Manual is on the CD, which means you can’t carry it with you, but on the other hand it is easily searchable (and available in many languages).
The new Intelli-studio software replaces the Samsung Master. It does its job but I don’t like pop-up windows. For example, if you want information about an image, you need to pop-up a separate window to view properties (though you do get a short version just by mousing over an image). Also, it does not display any of your RAW files, requiring you to launch the RAW Converter 4 to view and edit them. Just plugging your camera to your computer will not download your RAW files. I needed to use Windows Explorer to do so. Forget, and you’ll delete all your RAW files without ever having moved them off your camera to your computer first.
What I like about the NX100:
- Very good to excellent image quality from ISO 100 to ISO 400, even ISO 800.
- Complete shutter speed range available in all PASM modes.
- Excellent build and looks.
- Fast and precise AF, even in low light.
- Best screen info display.
- High resolution AMOLED screen.
No review is complete without a couple of improvement suggestions:
- Rubberize the grip. The camera is too slippery.
- Incorporate a pop-up flash.
- An LCD that gains up in low-light.
- Put in a tiltable LCD.
- Provide option for automatic sensor cleaning when powering off the camera.
- Increase the surface area under the lens (a slight projection might be all that’s needed) so the camera stays level when put on a flat surface with the kit lens attached.
The Samsung NX100 takes great pictures, is intuitive and is a compact mirrorless Digital Interchangeable Lens camera that serious photographers will enjoy using. Highly Recommended.
Next: Samsung NX100 QuickFact Sheet / Buy