Go IT World: Review: Samsung NX10

DPReview posted information about Samsung NX10 digital camera.

AMOLED Screen

As with many cameras at this price point, the NX10 features a 3.0" VGA (640x480 pixel) screen. However, it uses two technologies that distinguish it from almost every other camera on the market - firstly it is an AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen that selectively emits light, rather than an LCD which selectively blocks the light coming from a large white light-source behind the panel. This produces efficiency benefits that should result in better battery life compared to conventional TFT screens.

The other difference is that, rather than using a red, a green and a blue dot to represent each pixel, it uses pairs of sub-pixels to present the same information, without any visual difference. This technology, originally developed by a Californian company, is now owned by Samsung and the results seem very impressive - the screen is very bright, has a wide viewing angle and looks very detailed.

The 3.0" AMOLED screen is simply superb: dark blacks, excellent contrast, a wide viewing angle and a high refresh rate. The unusual ('PenTile') RGB array gives a visually higher resolution than you'd expect from 614k pixels whilst keeping power consumption down.

Electronic Viewfinder

The NX10 - like the Panasonic GH1/G1 twins - features a low profile color electronic viewfinder. Whilst not as impressive as the G1/GH1 (or the Olympus E-P2's add-on unit), it's still very good, with 921,000 dots, 100% frame coverage and a large, bright image (it's around the same size as most entry-level APS-C SLRs). Just underneath the viewfinder is an eye sensor that automatically switches between the screen and EVF when you look into it (annoyingly you can't turn this off and - on our sample - it is activated by things several inches away passing in front of it).

Viewfinder size

One figure hidden away in every SLR's spec is the size of the viewfinder (often in a format that makes comparison between competing models impossible). The size of the viewfinder is a key factor in the usability of an SLR - the bigger it is, the easier it is to frame and focus your shots, and the more enjoyable and involving process it is.

Because of the way viewfinders are measured (using a fixed lens, rather than a lens of equivalent magnification), you also need to take the sensor size into account, so the numbers in the diagram below are the manufacturer's specified magnifications divided by the respective 'crop factors'.

The diagram below shows the relative size of the viewfinders of the Samsung NX10, Panasonic GH1, Olympus E-620 and - for reference - the EOS-1Ds Mark III (currently the biggest viewfinder on the DSLR market). The Samsung NX10's viewfinder is essentially the same size as those of found on entry-level digital SLRs from Nikon, Canon, Sony etc.

Screen / Viewfinder view

The NX10's new user interface is pretty and generally functional too. There's little in the way of customization of the display (you can hide the numerous icons down the sides of the preview and add grid lines, but that's it). The main shooting information is shown in a nice faux SLR viewfinder strip. The display on the EVF and main screen is identical. We'd like to see the option to use the EVF for framing and the rear screen as a status / control panel (something the Panasonic G1/GH1 manages) - then you really could use the NX10 just like any conventional SLR.

You can alter the level of information shown on screen but you always get this natty exposure info strip along the bottom.


The Fn button brings up a Function menu that contains all the most commonly accessed controls (even dedicated external controls tend to invoke a menu of some type, meaning accidental changes are rare, but it's not the fastest camera to operate).

The NX10's screen can get a bit busy if you leave the full info display turned on, but it does have the advantage that you can see pretty much everything you need to know at a glance. The diagram below shows the main icons you'll see when using the NX10.

Battery / battery Charger

The NX10 uses a new 1300mAh 74V (9.6Wh) Li-Ion cell that locks snugly into place in the battery compartment in the grip of the camera. The battery is charged in the supplied BC1310. We don't have any information at the moment on battery life, but on our pre-production sample it seemed excellent.

SD Card Slot

Like most of cameras at this end of the market, the NX10 accepts the popular SD format of memory card (including the larger capacity SDHC variety). The card slot sits under a sturdy slide-out spring-bound door (there's no lock but the door is stiff enough to avoid accidental opening).

Connections

On the left hand side of the camera is the familiar micro USB digital/video connector and a c-type Mini HDMI connector for connection to your HDTV. No HDMI cable is included with the camera, however, so that's something you may need to invest it. The NX10 also sports a remote-in socket (for the optional wired remote release) and an AC port (for use with the optional mains adaptor).