Samsung NX100 Samsung 20 50mm NX i-Function Standard Zoom Review | 108 Data compared

The ⁠ePHOTOzine review highlights the Samsung NX100 as a lightweight, portable mirrorless camera, bridging the gap between compacts and DSLRs. Key pros include a sleek, comfortable design with light lenses, an intuitive user interface, a vibrant LCD screen, and fast, responsive autofocus in bright daylight. However, the review cites cons such as a plastic build that lacks a premium feel and slow operational speeds similar to point-and-shoot cameras. Specific limitations include a sluggish 0.7 fps continuous shooting mode and significantly reduced autofocus tracking in low-light environments.

Conversely, the review highlights the lack of a built-in flash and viewfinder, alongside slow raw image processing times that can lock the camera for 30 seconds. Additionally, the camera suffers from poor battery life—sometimes yielding only 150 shots—and the AMOLED screen is difficult to view in direct sunlight, limiting its effectiveness for outdoor photography.

The Samsung NX100 is a 14.6-megapixel compact system camera designed to bridge the gap between point-and-shoot compacts and traditional DSLRs. It features a large, DSLR-sized APS-C sensor that delivers sharp focus across the frame and rich, vibrant colors. Reviewers praised its fast, DSLR-like response times, quick power-up, and highly visible 3-inch AMOLED screen, which offers excellent clarity and deep blacks. A standout feature is the unique "iFunction" (iFn) lens control system, which allows users to easily adjust settings like exposure directly by pressing a button on the lens barrel and rotating the lens ring. Despite these strong features, the camera has notable drawbacks, particularly its lack of a built-in flash and an integrated optical or electronic viewfinder out of the box. The build quality feels cheaper and more plastic-y compared to its competitors, and the sensitive rear scroll wheel can be fiddly to navigate. Additionally, the lack of a one-touch video recording button reduces convenience when capturing 720p video, and the body remains slightly too bulky for standard pockets despite losing the traditional SLR mirror mechanism. Ultimately, while the NX100...

Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks regarding handling, as the smooth, plastic body lacks grip, resulting in a slippery, hollow-feeling design. Furthermore, the lack of a built-in viewfinder or pop-up flash, combined with a slow start-up time caused by the retractable kit lens, presents challenges in varied lighting conditions. Amateur Photographer

However, the camera suffers from several prominent design and performance drawbacks. The entirely slick metal body acts like a slippery bar of soap, making it difficult to grip without two hands. On the feature side, it severely lacks a built-in flash, sensor-based stabilization, and lens stabilization on the kit lens, which also uses an odd 40.5mm filter size and excludes a hood. Performance-wise, its autofocus system lags behind competitors like Panasonic and Olympus, occasionally overshooting and backtracking. Furthermore, while image quality is perfectly fine at base ISO, the older-generation sensor experiences a severe drop in dynamic range and blocked contrast at ISO 3200, making the reviewer hesitant to push the camera past ISO 800.

However, the camera falls short in several key design and performance areas, ultimately earning a mediocre 3 out of 5 rating. The ultra-smooth finish of the body makes it feel insecure to grip, and it lacks both a built-in flash and an electronic viewfinder. In terms of performance, the autofocus system is heavily criticized for being inaccurate and incredibly slow, particularly in low-light environments. Image noise also becomes a problem at ISO 400 and above, while video capabilities are limited to 720p resolution with restrictive mono audio and no external microphone input.

However, the review details distinct shortcomings that hinder its overall value proposition. The camera's 720p video recording capabilities are described as uninspiring; although the overall colors and resolution are adequate, the footage suffers from a noticeable and distracting "jelly-vision" rolling shutter effect post-recording. Furthermore, the original retail price of $949 is marked as a major drawback, with the publication concluding that the camera is quite a steep financial investment for consumers.

However, the review highlights significant limitations, specifically the lack of a built-in flash, the absence of an integrated viewfinder, and the inability to use both hot-shoe accessories simultaneously. Performance concerns include a very short battery life and slow buffer clearing times, alongside raw images that can appear flat, according to tests in the What Digital Camera review.

The Samsung NX100 is a 14.6-megapixel mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera designed to deliver dSLR-quality images with the simple operation of a compact point-and-shoot camera. Equipped with a large APS-C-sized CMOS sensor, it consistently produces sharp photos with striking, vibrant colours and excellent noise control in shadow areas. A standout feature is the 20-50mm retractable kit lens, which introduces an "iFn" (Lens-priority) button and control ring, letting users adjust settings like exposure compensation, white balance, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO (up to 6,400) directly from the lens barrel. The device also boasts a highly responsive performance, an exceptionally bright and sharp 3-inch AMOLED screen, 14 scene modes, and 720p HD video recording at 30 frames per second. Despite its strong imaging performance, the camera has notable design omissions and handling quirks. Its primary drawbacks are the total lack of a built-in flash and a built-in viewfinder, meaning users must buy expensive hotshoe accessories to get these functionalities. It also lacks a dedicated video recording button, requiring users to switch modes via the top dial instead. Physically, the camera features a slippery, plasticky...

While the camera excels in image clarity and portability, it comes with several notable drawbacks. Its 7.6cm AMOLED rear screen becomes virtually useless when shooting in bright sunlight, making the purchase of an optional electronic viewfinder necessary for outdoor use. Additionally, the body has a cheap, "plasticky" feel, the bundled 20-50mm zoom lens lacks image stabilisation, and shooting at high sensitivities like ISO 6400 degrades image quality significantly. Working with RAW files is also a cumbersome process, as users are forced to use the proprietary Samsung RAW Converter software before they can edit their files in mainstream programs like Photoshop.

This Macworld review evaluates the Samsung NX100, an innovative but sometimes impractical compact interchangeable lens camera priced competitively around $450 with a 20-50mm kit lens. On the positive side, the camera boasts a large, standard-DSLR-sized APS-C sensor that captures crisp, high-quality 14.6-megapixel images with clean color fidelity up to ISO 1600. It features a bright, clear 3-inch AMOLED display and a user-friendly menu system. A major highlight is the unique iFunction control ring on the lens, which allows users to quickly adjust settings like ISO, white balance, and exposure compensation without digging into menus. Additionally, performance is snappy with minimal shutter lag and a fast 3 fps burst mode. However, the camera suffers from several distinct drawbacks, particularly regarding physical design and Mac compatibility. The slim, handsome body lacks a textured grip, making it slippery to hold, and it missing a built-in pop-up flash. Neither the camera body nor the 20-50mm kit lens includes image stabilization, and the lens itself is criticized for a noisy, grinding focus mechanism and a 30mm effective focal length that is not wide enough for...

However, the review highlights several distinct cons, particularly regarding the camera's video performance and hardware omissions. Filming in the maximum 720p HD movie mode reveals noticeable color moiré artifacts around fine architectural details and background patterns, whether shooting outdoors on a tripod or indoors in dim bar lighting. Furthermore, while the camera includes a hotshoe and an accessory port for an optional electronic viewfinder (EVF), the body completely lacks a built-in flash and an integrated viewfinder. This reliance on external accessories significantly limits user convenience unless additional gear is purchased. If you plan on using this camera, let me know: Will you primarily shoot still photography or video? Do you plan to shoot with stabilized (OIS) or unstabilised lenses? Are you interested in finding out how it handles high ISO noise compared to modern cameras? I can provide specific tips on how to work around its limitations.