Samsung NX M 9 27mm F3 5 5 6 ED OIS Review | 54 Data compared

The Samsung NX mini is introduced as the world's slimmest and lightest interchangeable lens camera, featuring a 20.5MP 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor and a 22.5mm thick body. Key strengths include a 180-degree tilting touchscreen, 650-shot battery life, and Wi-Fi/NFC connectivity, aimed at casual users. Conversely, the camera utilizes a new NX-M mount with limited lens options and suffers from a slow processor, sluggish performance, and a low-resolution 460k-dot screen. Other drawbacks include a lack of a proper grip and aggressive JPEG noise reduction.

The ePHOTOzine Samsung NX Mini review rates this ultra-slim, 20.5-megapixel 1-inch sensor camera "Highly Recommended" (4.5/5 stars) for its exceptional portability, 650-shot battery life, and 180-degree tilting touchscreen for selfies. Key strengths include rapid Wi-Fi/NFC connectivity and high-quality construction, though the compact design requires using MicroSD cards and lacks built-in stabilization. Conversely, the review notes significant handling trade-offs, specifically the lack of physical controls and reliance on touchscreen menus for manual settings. Other downsides mentioned include a low-resolution screen and the absence of native sensor-based stabilization, placing reliance on lens-based OIS.

The Samsung NX Mini offers a pleasant, portable shooting experience with a premium feel, featuring a bright, versatile zoom lens suitable for casual, one-handed outdoor photography. The camera excels in capturing vibrant, true-to-life colors, performing well as a luxury-level point-and-shoot. Conversely, the interface is cumbersome, as manual adjustments and menu navigation require slow, frustrating two-handed operation of the touch screen. The review concludes that while the camera is effective for snapshots, it becomes difficult to use for more advanced photographic tasks.

The Samsung NX Mini is positioned as a highly connected "smart camera" tailored for beginners, emphasizing seamless wireless connectivity for quick, quality photo sharing, particularly in low-light scenarios where smartphones struggle. Its design features a minimalist, retro aesthetic, serving as an effective extension for mobile users looking for better image quality. Conversely, the review notes the camera has a fragile, plastic feel and lacks the physical dials, customization, and flexibility required by enthusiast photographers. The device relies heavily on automation, making it less suitable for users seeking comprehensive manual control.

summary of the Samsung NX Mini review: The Samsung NX Mini is a pocketable, lightweight mirrorless camera system featuring a 20-megapixel 1-inch sensor that delivers outstanding image quality with impressive dynamic range, great colors, and excellent shadow recovery. The reviewer praises its highly intuitive, smartphone-like user experience, noting that its bright tilting touchscreen makes focusing and shooting fast and fun without needing to fiddle with physical dials. Furthermore, the battery life is highly reliable, lasting for hundreds of shots per charge. However, the system suffers from significant drawbacks, most notably its limited selection of only three native lenses, which often render a somewhat characterless, "digital" image style. Because the system was discontinued, the onboarding WiFi capabilities are completely non-functional due to abandoned mobile apps. Additionally, adapting third-party lenses is a major challenge because the camera requires proprietary pin connectors to fire, leaving users reliant on scarce, expensive custom adapters sold on eBay. Finally, the camera relies on tiny, easily misplaced microSD cards, and most available bodies are limited to uncommon bright colors like pink and seafoam green.

The Samsung NX Mini is a compact, mirrorless smart camera praised for its portable, pocket-sized design and highly capable 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor. It features a textured plastic body available in multiple colours, a 3-inch 180-degree rotatable touchscreen tailored for selfies, and handy connectivity options like Wi-Fi and NFC. These wireless features enable user-friendly remote viewfinding, easy photo backups, and direct emailing from the device. Performance highlights include a fast 10–15 second boot time, an impressive battery life capable of delivering up to 500 shots per charge when using the 9-27mm kit lens, and sharp, low-noise daylight photography supported by a rapid 1/16,000-second maximum shutter speed. However, the reviewer noted several drawbacks, particularly when using the basic 9mm lens which lacks Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), resulting in blurry images unless held perfectly still. Low-light photography is another weakness, showing noticeable digital noise and a loss of fine details. Video recording at 1080p lacks built-in stabilisation, and the autofocus mechanism frequently struggles when shifting between subjects. Furthermore, the camera experiences focus delays despite having a green focus assistant light, and the...