Tested: Samsung Galaxy NX Digital Camera

Posted by Chris Davies on 1 November 2013

Key Specifications

  • Image resolution: 20.3 megapixels (Sensor size: 23.4 x 15.7mm)
  • Crop factor: 1.54
  • Image formats: RAW (SRW ver2.0.0), JPEG (EXIF 2.21), MPO (for 3D)
  • Video formats: Full HD (1920×1080) NTSC at 30fps / PAL at 25fps
  • ISO range: 100 – 256000
  • Continuous shooting: 8.6fps
  • Viewfinder: Digital
  • Autofocus: Single, Continuous and Touch AF. 105 focal points
  • Shutter speed: 1/6000s to 30s / Bulb (maximum 4 minutes)
  • Built-in flash: Yes
  • Hot shoe: Yes
  • Image stabilizer: Optical
  • Lenses: Range of removable Samsung NX Mount lenses available
  • Audio: AAC stereo
  • LCD: 4.77″, 1280 x 720 touch screen
  • Connectivity: GPS, LTE 3G/4G, HSPA, Wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, DLNA, HDMI 1.4, KIES/KIES AIR for Android.
  • Dimensions: 136.5 x 101.2 x 25.7mm
  • Weight (incl. battery): 495g
  • Operating system: Android Jellybean v4.2
  • Processor: Quad Core / 1.6 GHz
  • Memory: 16GB internal / 1x Micro SD card slot (card not included)
  • Bundled software: Adobe Lightroom 5
  • Approximate retail price: R16,999 (includes 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 lens)

Full specifications here >

Buy the Samsung Galaxy NX here >

I honestly wasn’t sure what to make of the new Samsung Galaxy NX when it arrived on my desk late last week. Now, having played with it for a few days, I’ll be sad to see it go.

First off, this is probably not a camera that’s going to appeal to the devoted SLR photographer. The Galaxy NX does have full manual controls, plus shutter and aperture priority modes, but the single control wheel and touch screen interface makes manual operation feel slow and clunky. The digital viewfinder also leaves a lot to be desired and just can’t compete with a mirrored camera, but that’s pretty much all I can find wrong with it. At R16,999 it’s certainly pricey. Jaw-droppingly pricey if I’m honest, but it does have a lot to offer for that price. Here’s what impressed me most.

1. Excellent image quality: At 20.3 megapixels, RAW/JPG, and with a 23.4 x 15.7mm sensor, the Galaxy NX is able to take exceptional images. The autofocus is quick and crisp, and the 18-55mm NX lens I was using produced images I’d be pleased with on a full frame SLR.

2. Huge, crystal-clear touch-screen: Although a little tricky to see in full daylight glare, the screen is what really stands this camera apart. The touch-screen controls are intuitive – at least if you’re familiar with the Android OS – and once you figure out the knack of not bumping the screen with your right thumb, selecting and editing photos is quick and easy. As mentioned, it’s not the best interface for rapidly changing aperture and shutter speeds, but selecting the various shooting modes, and switching between galleries and editing software, is a breeze.

3. Android operating system and Google Play app store: The first thing I did when I got the phone was to sign into the office Wi-Fi and link it up to my Google and Dropbox accounts (the Galaxy NX ships with 50GB of free Dropbox cloud storage by the way). I then started downloading all my favourite Google Play apps for image editing and sharing. Within a few minutes I had Facebook, Instagram, Wassapp, Skype, Snapseed, and various other social media and photo editing tools available. And every time I took a picture the camera would automatically connect to the Wi-Fi and upload it to the cloud, my laptop would sync, and without doing anything else I had a copy of the image on my computer ready for desktop editing (in Adobe Lightroom 5, which also comes bundled with the camera).

4. Connectivity: None of this syncing and sharing is possible without a connection to the Internet. The Galaxy NX has Wi-Fi, a MicroSim slot for 3/4G, as well as Bluetooth and the usual USB cable connectors. There is also built in GPS for photo tagging. Download Google Maps or Navfree and you can turn your camera into a GPS navigator if you like. The only thing you can’t do is make standard cell phone calls, which is a pity, but Skype and other VoIP applications do work fine. Another potentially useful feature is Samsung’s ‘Photo Suggest’ which uses the GPS to display, on a map, a selection of other Samsung users’ photos taken near your current position. Great if you need some inspiration at a new location.

5. Useful and fun auto-shooting modes: If the manual modes are a little cumbersome, they’re more than made up for in the auto-shooting department. Night mode in particular really impressed me. In Night mode the camera takes a quick succession of shots at various exposures (without using the flash) and then creates a composite image with truly exceptional, grain-free results. Other useful modes include, Panorama, Drama (which captures a series of movements in a single image), and Interval – a built in, basic intervalometer, allowing 1 minute to 24 hour intervals and up to 9999 separate photos depending on your image quality and storage space. Some other more whimsical modes include Kids, which rather bizarrely plays a range of silly noises just prior to taking 5 rapid shots – apparently to attract attention. There are also options to animate photos, take single shots with multiple exposures, erase unwanted moving elements from backgrounds, remove blemishes from subjects’ faces, and a heap of others. This is definitely a camera that has lots going for it in its pre-set modes.

6. And finally, the range of lenses: The range of interchangeable lenses makes this camera a truly versatile tool. Unfortunately I was only able to test the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens, but I was very happy with it. The full list of NX Mount lenses is available below. The 45mm 1.8 3D lens in particular caught my eye. 3D screens are hardly commonplace in gear-categories Africa yet, but they seem to be the direction many manufactures are taking. 3D photography may remain a gimmick for some time to come, but it’s an exciting new direction and one you can jump right into with this Galaxy NX camera.

 

Galaxy NX Mount Zoom Lenses

  • 12-24mm F4-5.6 ED Wide Zoom Lens
  • 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS III Standard Zoom Lens
  • 20-50mm F3.5-5.6 ED II Standard Zoom Lens
  • 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 ED OIS Super Zoom Lens
  • 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED OIS III Telephoto Zoom Lens

gear-categories African prices and detailed specs for all NX Zoom lenses here >

 

Galaxy NX Mount Fixed Focal Point Lenses

  • 10mm F3.5 Fisheye Lens
  • 16mm F2.4 Ultra Wide Prime Lens
  • 20mm F2.8 Wide Prime Lens
  • 30mm F2 Standard Prime Lens
  • 45mm F 1.8 Mid telephoto Prime Lens
  • 45mm F1.8[T6] 2D/3D Lens
  • 60mm F2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA Lens
  • 85mm Telephoto Prime Lens


gear-categories African prices and detailed specs for all NX Prime lenses here >

 

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