I am an advanced amateur and photography has been a major hobby for more than 20 years. I went from using a full manual 35mm SLR, to automatic 35mm SLRs, to digital point-and-shoots, to digital SLRs. Photography is one of those things... the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know. But I have always been picky about image quality, and when I buy a new camera, it carries the most weight on my decision. I still love my EOS digital SLR, but our family point-and-shoot was showing it's age, lacking face recognition and making focusing mistakes. So I started researching high-end compacts for a replacement. Man! Digital cameras have come a long way in 5 years!
That's when I ran across the new "mirrorless" or "Micro" cameras. Let me back up a minute: About this time, my father-in-law bought a new Canon ELPH 300 HS. This is a tiny point-and-shoot with impressive features. We shot some of the same photos to compare my 2003 era digital SLR with his 2011 compact. Seems an eight-year-old SLR still produces smoother, more natural looking images with better dynamic range than a new compact with twice the resolution. Of course, I have Canon L-glass, high quality lenses on my dSLR, and optics make a considerable difference, but I suspected sensor size also had something to do with it. So I started paying attention to sensor size in my search for a new compact. I am very loyal to Canon because I have had such good experiences with their cameras over the years. But Canon has compact cameras (A series, ELPH/SD series, etc) with small sensors, and high-end compacts like the G12 or S95, which do have slightly larger sensors. But these sensors are still 6 or 7 times smaller than their digital SLR sensors.
Now, these new "Micro/mirrorless" cameras (Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung) fall in the middle between beastly dSLRs and compacts like the Canon S95. You can change lenses like an SLR but because they have no slapping mirrors or pentaprisms, they can be nearly as small as a compact digicam. The "Micro Four Thirds" cameras by Olympus and Panasonic have sensors roughly 75% the size of Canon and Nikon's entry level dSLRs. (4/3 = 18mm wide, APS-C = 24mm wide) The downside is that they cost as much as the larger dSLRs, and while the dSLRs are more bulky, they are capable of higher quality images and have a much larger system of accessories and lenses. Also, you lose features like a clear, TTL viewfinder and beefy hand grip in order to reduce the body size.
(Note: Contrary to the product description I see above, the NX100 is NOT a "DSLR". It has no mirror or pentaprism, and no "through-the-lens" viewfinder. It has a huge sensor, but operates and shoots more like a compact.)
BUT, we're looking for a small camera that can provide near dSLR quality and performance, right? After all that's the target market of the "mirrorless" group. Sony and Samsung have small cameras with APS-C sized sensors (bigger than Micro Four Thirds), and while the Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5 are also expensive, the Samsung NX100 is more affordable. I'll be honest, on my first pass I disregarded the NX100. After I learned what an impact sensor size has on image quality, and after seeing that I could buy an NX100 with a lens and flash for less than a Canon G12, I started taking it more seriously. I started downloading and examining full sized images taken by high-end compacts like the G12 and Panasonic Lumix LX-5, compared to the Lumix GF2 (micro) and Samsung NX100. The difference was obvious, and sometimes breathtaking (on my huge, bright iMac screen)! Then I downloaded a PDF manual for the NX100, and after reading through it I was even more impressed. It is definitely one of the most helpful camera manuals I have ever seen! So I ordered it without having ever holding one in my hands.
I've had it for about a week now, and because of weather, and family and work obligations, I haven't had a chance to shoot it much except around the house. But I am very impressed with the build quality and feel of the buttons and dials. Everything feels solid, even if it is mostly plastic. The stainless top provides a classy touch. I was able to navigate and make settings without consulting the manual (I browsed it once, did not memorize it), so I'd say it is mostly user friendly. Especially considering I am used to Canon's menu layouts. The responsiveness of the focus and shutter button are nice and quick for a small camera, though I'm sure they don't match a new dSLR. It does fit in a large pocket (not your jeans, maybe cargo pants) and I did carry it in my jacket pocket.
Cons: It is a little slippery with its rounded corners and smooth handling surfaces, but there are remedies for this, like half cases or (gasp!) traction tape. The kit lens is roughly 30-70mm (35mm equivalent), so coming from a Canon point-and-shoot with a 380mm optical zoom built in, it is a bit limiting. I could save my pennies for a $200-$250 telephoto Samsung NX lens. In the meantime, shooting at 14 megapixels means I can crop closer to a distant subject and still have decent resolution for an 8x10 print(similar to what cameras do with a "digital zoom" feature).
But here's what really impressed me so far. I think it actually beats my dSLR (EOS 10D) when it comes to low light or "available light" photography. It must have one smart meter, and sensitive photo receptors, because it tackles lighting situations that would fool even high-end compacts. Excellent dynamic range, incredible definition, and warm, natural colors make low light photos look almost 3D! And I'm being downright stupid here, hand holding shots at ridiculously slow shutter speeds in mere candle light, allowing 800ISO at the risk of adding digital noise, and I still get art worthy pictures! I also have to consider that I'm letting the camera do all the work. These are auto-sharpened, auto-white balance, auto-contrasted JPEG files. What happens when I shoot RAW files and adjust them on the computer? I'd expect even better results. When I look at what I just shot on the high def LED display I can't help saying "wow! WOW!" over and over.
I haven't shot RAW yet or tried bracketed shots for HDR images, but that will be another test. I was skeptical of Samsung at first, my only experience with the brand being several tube TVs and a microwave, but I am a believer now! They have created a camera with amazing features and capabilities in a small form, and at an affordable price. If this thing turns out to have the reliability of my Canon compacts, I may have to switch my digicam allegiance from Japan to Korea! (Canon still rules dSLRs in my opinion.)
Samsung NX100 AF DSLR Digital Camera - Black- with 20-50mm Zoom Lens, & Samsung SEF15A A-TTL External Flash - Xz-1 - Photography - Digital Camera - Compact'
Detail ProductsDetail ReviewsClick here for more information
