Samsung Digital Imaging has provided the author of this review with the mentioned digital imaging device.
The First lens interchangeable type digital camera having the APS-C sensor
Compared to previous days, Micro Four Thirds shows better image quality than I expected, but some users want a bigger sensor. The slight quality different from a large sensor is not that small. If a sensor is bigger when the pixel number is similar, basically the pixel area is bigger and receives more light, so the quality will be different. Below pictures are the sensors I drew by looking at materials from Internet.
When we say 1.5x crop, 1.6x crop, or 2x crop, it’s a rate of focus length considering the film size 35mm as 1x. Looking at t he area, not the comparison of crop, the different between the NX10 sensor and Micro Four Thirds becomes larger. The sensor of the NX10 has 1.6x larger than the sensor of Micro Four Thirds. That means the NX10 has better detail, color expression, and gradation with the same pixel number. And with the same angle, it gets bigger out of focus pictures. It might be not easy to distinguish the difference with small pictures for web sites, but for those who think quality as the first, the slight difference is a difference of value. As far as I know, the NX10 outdoes Micro Four Thirds in gradation, resolution, and detail. On the other hand, in a movie recording, it’s not as good as the Panasonic Micro Four Thirds and when it comes to details in high ISO, the image processing needs to be improved.
* The body and lens I used was not the official product, because the firmware upgrade was still going on. Therefore, attached pictures and the performance might be different from the official one. Especially, the lens had a problem to display the focus length and the finishing was also incomplete. However, I think it was at least 90% of the performance.
Samsung NX new standard mount 1.54x crop
The NX10 has Samsung’s own mount. AF is controlled by the lens unlike the Pentax body and through signal exchange, when recording a movie, continuous AF can be used by the depth preview button on the front. Now, it’s impossible to take a shot without a lens, and in order to use previous Pentax and Samsung lens, an adapter is needed, but even though you have the adapter, the AF doesn’t work. Image Stabilization works in the lens, not in the body. It provides stability and advantage for a video recording, but you can’t apply it to all lenses through the body image stabilization unlike Olympus, Sony, Pentax, and previous GX body, and it will affect the size and cost of the lenses. On 35mm, the focus length is 1.54x, so the 30mm lens has 46.2mm and 18-55mm lens has 27.7-84.7mm.
Below is the cropped mount of the NX and Micro Four Thirds with setting the sensor height to the same. The difference of the aperture is not that much. After this comparison, I thought the flange back of Micro Four Thirds should have been reduced more.
Both Micro Four Thirds and the NX10 expose the sensor when the lens is detached and Focal plane shutter type which shutter curtains moves twice when the shutter is pushed has been applied for both. It’s because the exposed sensor displays images in real time and after pushing the shutter button, the shutter curtains come down once and also needs to cut out the light by the shutter curtains. (If possible, I could have shown the movement of the shutter curtains.) Therefore, when it comes to shutter lack, it’s not as good as a middle range camera, but you will not feel the lack much, so there will be no much inconvenience. The shutter sound is quite loud and thick.
Shutter Sound (Continuous Shots)
The NX10 supports an anti-dust function and it can be activated when it’s on. But people said the coated front sensor might be changed to something strong to dust. Anyhow, it will be as great as Olympus or Panasonic, but we can expect it, because they said they would do their best to make the body strong to dusts. According to my experience, it didn’t seem to be very strong to dusts.
Compact Lens interchangeable camera always with me
Super compact might not be suitable for the body size, but it’s amazing they’ve made this small size with the APS-C sensor. Looking at the body structure, if the view finder is taken out, it’s possible to make a similar body size to the Panasonic GF1, I think. To be honest, it wasn’t easy for Samsung to make everything from sensors to lenses fitting the NX system. They needed to make the body as small as possible, put all the functions in the small body, and make their own lens, not like the GX. That’s why I would like to give a high score to the NX10. With the pancake lens, it fits in a small hand bag or a brief case without any burden.
Convenient, comfort design and Great grip
When the photo of the NX10 was exposed for the first time, people were disappointed at the featureless design. However, now they are accepting it as a comfort. It has better grip than mirror-less Olympus E-P series and Panasonic G series, and compared to DSLRs, it provides quite good feeling. It seems like an old friend. Samsung has made rather comfort and modern style than classical square type. If you like a classical style, it’s featureless to you, but if you like comfort and circular type, you will feel it when touching it. I like it more and more.
It has really good grip. Probably, Samsung has taken care of this comfort grip very much. Grip is appropriate not to harm the slimness and the urethane on the grip is also good to hold the body. Samsung also has considered the interface of thumb much. There’s no spot to place your little finger, but it doesn’t affect the grip.
On the front, assist light, depth preview button, and lens separate button are located. If you get accustomed to previous Samsung bodies, the lens separate button might be unfamiliar. Because the grip is a little curved to outside, it’s easier to hold the camera. I don’t know why but I’m proud of the Samsung logo and NX mark.
3” 624K pixels AMOLED
It has 624K pixels 3” AMOLED. The panel is made of multi coated hard panels. The advantage of the AMOLED is 3000x faster response time than TFT LCD, wide viewing angle almost 180 degree, less power consumption, 100,000:1 contrast ratio, and so on. The image contrast might be weaker than TFT LCD, but through outdoor visibility, natural colors, and appropriate exposure review, it looks like real pictures. That’s why the sharpness isn’t that high. Color temperature is slightly warm and through approximately 100% viewing angle full time live view, you can take cool pictures. The viewing angle is approximately 100% here, it means it’s close to 100% and you won’t feel the difference. One more thing! When using a large sensor and telephoto zoom lens, if you move a camera a little, the screen looks like slightly moving. It’s a feature of a large sensor, so you should be used to this.
VGA level 920K pixels Electronic Viewfinder
The viewfinder is automatically activated by the eye sensor and it’s 640×480 VGA 920K pixels. It has outstanding quality compared to normal high zoom cameras, but not as good as the GH1 from Panasonic. The specification is 0.86x 100% visibility and it’s like an entry level DSLRs. On the side, there’s an adjusting controller. I wish there was a button to change the mode from the display to viewfinder. It’s a little bit brighter and all information is displayed, so it’s useful when it’s difficult to check the display or you need to hold your position.
User convenient button arrangement
One of the themes of the NX10 is a convenient control. Looking at the buttons on the back, only a menu button is on the left and most other buttons are on the right side such as display, FN, play, delete, 4 way, AEL and exposure button. The whole control is convenient. However, I thought the menu button should have been in the right side. Because of the menu button, I had to take out my left hand often in this cold weather.
A Flash button is located on the left top, while mode dial, power dial, shutter button, command dial, green button, and continuous/timer setting button are located on the right side. The command dial is in a line like Rico or Minolta. It’s good to control the exposure button for manual exposure. Command dial and mode dial are appropriate, but when it comes to the command dial, the value changes a bit slowly than the real control.
HDMI, supporting release port
Looking at the side, ED, HDMI, Release port(SR9NX0), and USB/AV port are located in a line. On the other side, SD/SDHC memory is inserted and it can be changed even when a tripod is connected. 8GB memory is officially supported, but after testing, more 16GB is supported. I think it will be decided with the official product.
Built-in pop up flash, TTL supporting Hot shoe
There will be accessories related to flash, but the hot shoe is the same as the previous GX system, so TTL flash with SEF 42A and SEF 20A from Samsung can be used. With the previous Pentax flash, only manual flash using x contact point is possible without TTL flash. It has 1/180 sec of synchronize speed, guide number of the flash is 11 in ISO100. Flash can be compensated with the range -2 ~ +2EV and without the hood it pops up in order to have sufficient light with the 18-55 lens.
Battery capacity enough to take More than 400 photos on CIPA
The battery capacity was on the specification as CIPA 400 shots, but I could take more shots. Of course, it depends on the flash or a movie recording, but I think the battery is good. The battery is 1300mAh Lithium battery and I think it can sufficiently stand for a day. If you’d like to travel around, you’d better have a spare battery. The charging time is 150 minutes, so I recommend charging it before getting sleep.
The battery is inserted to the bottom and there’s a battery lock. The battery cover has an inside lever for safety. The bottom of the camera doesn’t look pretty, but firm. The tripod hall looks also very strong to abrasion.
Size
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* New eyes for the world, Samsung NX10 -Part 1-
* New eyes for the world, Samsung NX10 -Part 3-
* New eyes for the world, Samsung NX10 -Part 4-
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