Review Date: November 28, 2011
Category: Beginner to Serious Amateur
Photoxels Gold Award – Interchangeable Lens Camera
USER’S EXPERIENCE
Tuesday, November 11, 2011 – Here’s what I receive in the box:
- Samsung NX200
- No memory card
- Li-ion Battery BP1030 7.4V 1030mAh 7.6Wh
- Battery Charger BC1030B and power cord
- External Flash SEF8A
- Neck Strap
- Body Cap
- USB Cable
- Documentation: User Manual (Basic Operation)
- Software CD: User Manual (detailed), RAW Converter, Intelli-studio
- Samsung 1:3.5-5.6 18-55mm OIS II i-Function kit lens (Filter diameter: 58mm)
Enjoyable. The Samsung NX200 is the new kid in town. Handsome, fast, responsive and capturing great images, the NX200 is elbowing established mirrorless DSLRs aside to establish a solid foothold. It succeeds in once again proving that Samsung is quietly becoming a major player in the compact mirrorless DSLR category. It has one of the best implemented controls layout and one of the most pleasant screen info display I’ve ever used. It is that rare camera where you pick it up and everything works as you’d expect (and without having to resort to the User Manual).
I simply love the NX200 screen info display. The exposure settings below the image is one of the most legible and attractive.
One feature that may appeal to some: the Sound Picture scene mode allows you to capture 5 seconds of sound before and 5 seconds after you press the shutter release button. Imagine recording the giggle of a child and attaching that to the picture.
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. While the User Manual [pdf] does a pretty good job in explaining the various features and functions of the camera, links are missing, i.e. it mentions page numbers but you cannot click on them to get there immediately.
The new Intelli-studio software does its job but I don’t like the 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 NX200:
- Very good to excellent image quality from ISO 100 to ISO 800, even ISO 1600.
- Complete shutter speed range available in all PASM modes.
- Very good build and looks.
- Fast and precise AF.
- High resolution AMOLED screen.
- Best screen info display.
No review is complete without a couple of improvement suggestions:
- Need an AE-L/AF-L button.
- Need a built-in flash.
- Need a tiltable LCD.
Samsung is definitely battling to become top-of-mind when enthusiasts think of a compact mirrorless DSLR. I believe it can gain market share by building a digital camera that answers all the needs of the enthusiasts and of those learning digital photography seriously. The Samsung NX200 is already a great enthusiast camera. On future digital cameras, Samsung may want to consider adding the following (besides the improvement suggestions we listed above):
A built-in EVF. Though I personally don’t care much for a viewfinder, others swear by it.
A bigger grip. The grip is fine as it is, but if you want photographers to buy the longer and heavier lenses, a bigger grip will provide a better grip.
A Touch Screen display. Touch focus point and touch and shoot capabilities are so convenient and showing up in all the newer cameras.
A Remote Control, an Intervalometer and Double/Multiple Exposures capability. In other words, there is nothing that the next camera should not be able to do.
Lastly, the tripod socket needs to be both centered and inline.
Also to consider if Samsung wants to convince photographers to switch to its brand: it needs to build not just a great camera, but a great camera system that appeals to many different types of photographers. Photographers need to know that it is here to stay and that their investment in its cameras, lenses and accessories will last a lifetime of enjoyable photography, wherever their interests take them, whether to explore macro photography, portrait photography or astro photography. The fact that Samsung continues to introduce new lenses for the NX System is a good sign.
As it stands, the Samsung NX200 is already a great enthusiast camera. It takes great pictures, is intuitive and is a compact mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera that serious photographers will enjoy using in spades. Highly Recommended.
Next: Samsung NX200 QuickFact Sheet / Buy
