Samsung NX 18 55mm F3 5 5 6 OIS Review | 54 Data compared

The Samsung NX300 is evaluated as a highly mature and appealing mirrorless digital camera that scores 4 out of 5 stars overall. It is praised for its elegant, retro two-tone design, solid ergonomics, and comfortable grip. The camera's 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor delivers spectacular image quality, handling high sensitivity exceptionally well up to ISO 3200 with very well-contained noise smoothing. Other major advantages include an intuitive, tilting, multitouch 3.3-inch AMOLED screen and Samsung's exclusive lens-based iFn button for instant adjustments to exposure and white balance. Despite its strengths, the NX300 falls slightly short of a perfect rating due to several performance compromises. A significant disadvantage is the lack of a built-in flash, forcing users to rely on an external clip-on unit provided in the box. Its phase-detection hybrid autofocus improves standard speed, yet the device suffers from surprisingly slow startup times and sluggish focus in low light. Additionally, the continuous shooting burst mode is heavily restricted by a shallow buffer that locks the camera after just 5 RAW files. Finally, the camera's wireless capabilities are underwhelming due to a feature-poor...

However, the camera suffers from significant drawbacks that ultimately hurt its final score of 7/10. A major pain point is its steep launch price of €1,399, which is hard to justify when compared to standard mirrorless competitors. On the technical side, digital noise becomes noticeable at ISO 800 and heavily compromises details above ISO 1,600. Ergonomically, the extreme lack of physical buttons makes shifting between manual settings highly inefficient, while video recording is frustratingly restricted to full automatic mode. Users will also face a slow initial boot-up time of 24 seconds, an underpowered SVGA electronic viewfinder, and minor GPS tracking inaccuracies during field tests.

The Samsung NX2000 is an entry-level mirrorless camera that succeeds the NX1000 and borrows key features from the NX300, delivering outstanding image quality up to ISO 6400 that rivals amateur DSLRs. Its standout features include a highly reactive, intuitive 9.4 cm multitouch rear screen interface, integrated Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, Full HD video recording, and the innovative iFn lens button for quick setting adjustments. Packaged with unexpected premium touches, the camera pairs exceptionally well with kit or pancake lenses, maintaining excellent sharpness, exposure, and audio in video recordings. However, the camera has notable limitations, including a fixed, non-tilting screen and the lack of a built-in flash, though a compact external flash is included in the box. Autofocus performance slows down significantly in low-light environments, and the physical video and playback buttons are awkwardly placed near the lower left corner. Furthermore, continuous shooting is restricted by a weak buffer capacity that drops sharply to just 5 shots when capturing in RAW+JPEG format, and users are restricted to using tiny microSD cards rather than standard SD formats.

The Samsung NX200 marks a significant, 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor upgrade over its predecessor, introducing Full HD 1080p video recording at 30 fps in a slimmer, redesigned chassis. Highly praised for its image quality, the camera delivers exceptionally sharp, clean JPEG photos up to ISO 1600, paired with an effective in-camera correction for lens distortion. Its streamlined interface, sharp Amoled display, and the highly efficient "iFn" lens button system allow users to quickly adjust settings on the fly. Additionally, the camera features a respectable 6.5 frames-per-second continuous burst mode and comes with a decent 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. However, the NX200 exhibits notable performance bottlenecks, particularly a sluggish processing speed when saving large 50 MB Raw files that locks users out of settings menus during buffering. While the autofocus performs rapidly in bright daylight, it struggles significantly in low-light environments. The video recording is heavily marred by an irritating, non-stop focus-hunting ("pumping") effect, and you cannot change the ISO sensitivity mid-shoot. Physical downsides include an uninspiring, overly smooth body design that lacks a distinct identity, the absence of an integrated...

The Samsung NX 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS III is a standard kit lens designed for Samsung's NX mount, originally announced with a retail price of around $220 to $250. It features a focal length range of 18-55mm, an aperture range of f/3.5-5.6, and a 58mm filter diameter. Structurally, the lens consists of 12 elements arranged in 9 or 10 groups, including one aspherical lens element to handle optical aberrations. It also incorporates a 7-blade circular diaphragm, built-in optical image stabilisation (OIS), and a micromotor autofocus system, all packed into a compact build weighing just 198 grams. This review highlights several key advantages and drawbacks regarding the lens's design and market positioning. On the positive side, despite featuring a lightweight plastic outer barrel, the lens is built with a durable metal mount, making it relatively well-made compared to some budget kit lenses from larger, more established brands. It also comes bundled with high-end camera bodies like the NX300 and NX30, elevating expectations for its general performance. However, a notable downside is that kit lenses are historically viewed as some of the least...

The Samsung NX10 is a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera featuring a large 14-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor packaged into a highly compact, lightweight body. Designed to bridge the gap between bulky DSLRs and pocket cameras, it offers a DSLR-like physical layout with a comfortable grip, an integrated electronic viewfinder, and clear, intuitive menus. Its standout features include a vibrant and high-contrast AMOLED screen that excels in low-light framing, fast startup times, and reactive autofocus when shooting in well-lit conditions. Image quality remains strong up to ISO 800 with standard 720p HD video recording capabilities. However, the camera has several performance limitations, particularly in low light where the autofocus struggles to lock onto subjects and the electronic viewfinder becomes very noisy and dark. A major drawback is the complete lack of in-body image stabilisation, meaning users must rely entirely on optically stabilised lenses. Additional downsides include a relatively loud shutter mechanism, the absence of a dedicated video recording button, aggressive image smoothing at ISO 3200, and a proprietary NX lens mount that limits third-party lens compatibility.

The Samsung NX1000 is a budget-friendly mirrorless camera designed for beginners that shares the same 20-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as its higher-end counterparts. A major highlight of the camera is its integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing users to email photos or share them directly to social media and Samsung smartphones without a computer. In terms of performance, the camera delivers impressive image sharpness, highly accurate automatic white balance, and seamless, gentle focus tracking during Full HD video recording. Users will also appreciate the beautiful 3-inch LCD screen, an ergonomic grip, a continuous burst mode of 8 frames per second, and a highly precise 180-degree panorama mode. However, the camera comes with several physical and functional limitations. The menu system is fragmented, forcing users to navigate between different mode dial settings like "Scene" and "Special Effects" for similar color and creative options. Physically, the "Fn" button can feel too small for comfortable navigation. The external flash must be attached separately, and the bundled 20-50mm kit lens completely lacks optical image stabilization (OIS), making the stabilized 18-55mm lens the preferred but more expensive...