I-functionLens
Latest
Samsung unveils i-Functional NX11 mirrorless camera, WB700 with 24x zoom (update: pictures)
Just when you thought it'd be a week devoid of notable announcements -- what, with CES less than a week away -- along comes Samsung with two new cameras. The first one is an upgrade to the mirrorless NX10, naturally called the NX11, that boasts a change in grip design and compatibility with the i-Function lens found on the NX100. The other nitty-gritty details for the 14.6 megapixel shooter: a 3-inch AMOLED LCD screen, VGA viewfinder, 720p 30fps HD recording, and an APS-C sensor. Price and date? $649 with a bundled 18-55mm zoom lens, available in February. In smaller news -- volumetrically, at least -- the 16 megapixel Samsung WB700 sports a 24x zoom (that's 18x optical and 1.3x smart zoom), a 24mm ultra-wide Schneider Kreuznach lens, CCD sensor, and 1080p 720p HD video. You're gonna have to wait a little bit longer for that one -- April, to be more specific -- for a penny under $300. Press releases are after the break, and we'll get you the pictures as soon as Sammy sends 'em. Update: We found the pictures! Update 2: Samsung just informed us of an error in the WB700 press release. It records 720p, not 1080p as first written. Also, it doesn't shoot RAW. First the words giveth, then they taketh away. %Gallery-112146%
Samsung NX 100 gets reviewed, deemed a good option for the CSC curious
We've shared exclusives of Samsung's NX100 in the wild, gone hands on and even completed a quick and dirty mini review at Photokina this year, and for the most part walked away impressed by its i-Function lens controls and wallet-friendly price. Now, the folks at Photography Blog have shared their own exhaustive review of the mirror-less camera and recommend the NX10's little brother as a good option with a high-quality APS-C sensor for those looking to dip their toes in the Compact System Camera waters. However they were less enthused about the NX100's i-Function controls than we were, feeling the concept would work better on units with electronic viewfinders (which they missed on the NX100) -- since they can be held close to the eye as opposed to at arm's length. The lack of a built-in pop-up flash, and optical or in-body stabilisation was also a disappointment. Benefits like a good Smart Auto scene selection system, competitive focusing speed, and an impressive AMOLED 3-inch screen were mentioned as redeeming high points though, which combined with rock-bottom pricing, put the camera in a unique competition-undercutting position. For more juicy details, be sure to hit up the review link below.
Samsung releases NX10 1.20 firmware update, brings i-Function lens compatibility
Just as the outfit promised us at Photokina, Samsung has outed an anticipated firmware update for its NX10 interchangeable lens camera. Version 1.20 adds support for Sammy's downright brilliant i-Function lens collection, which enables shooters to adjust controls (ISO, shutter speed, aperture, etc.) by simply tapping a button on the lens and then twisting a dial. We adored this feature when toying with the NX100, and couldn't be happier that it's coming to adopters of the camera's predecessor. Hit the source link if you're looking to get your upgrade on, or head on past the break if there's any question about how it'll revolutionize your life.
Samsung NX100 preview
It's arguable, but we'd say that Samsung's NX100 is the news coming out of Photokina 2010. You could say that Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH2 (and its 3D interchangeable lens), Fujifilm's not-yet-released FinePix X100 or Sigma's Foveon-packin' SD1 were of equal importance, but it's pretty clear who stands to lose (or gain) the most from their ginormous push in Cologne. You wouldn't know that Samsung even brought another product to the show if you casually glanced at its booth, and we were able to take the outfit's newest starlet out for a spin in order to gain a few impressions. Priced at just $599 (with a 20-50mm lens; the 20mm pancake lens bundle will run you $50 more), this October-bound camera is certainly positioned to rival the other major players in terms of MSRP. But does it actually live up to the hype? Join us after the break to find out. %Gallery-103165%
Samsung NX100 priced at $599+, NX10 gaining i-Function lens support in October
Samsung's press event kicked things off here in Cologne, and Photokina 2010 just wouldn't be Photokina 2010 without oodles of talk about mirrorless cameras. After talking up its NX100 for the better part of an hour, the company took a moment to answer a few questions from the crowd. The biggest news, however, was the unveiling of the price point. Up until now, Sammy has remained mum on how much its latest and greatest compact would run, but we were told the 20-50mm bundle would ship at some point in the near future for $599 (we've confirmed that it'll ship in October), while the 20mm pancake lens bundle would go for $649. In related news, last year's NX10 will be gaining a huge level of functionality thanks to an October-bound firmware update, which will add full support for the company's range of i-Function lenses. You heard right -- the NX10 you splurged on last year will soon be able to play the same tap-and-scroll settings game as the NX100. Speaking of lenses, Samsung also confirmed that it would be willing to "provide technical information" to other companies in order for third-party i-Function lenses to be created. We didn't get the impression that any other outfit had come forward with interest, but we couldn't be happier to hear that there's no walled garden surrounding the technology -- particularly with how impressive it was during our initial NX100 hands-on. Lastly, the company admitted that it's hoping to have a 1080p model ready at some point in 2011, and it's also hard at work on an APS-C sensor that's better geared for low-light situations. Music to our ears, to say the least.
Samsung NX100 hands-on (video)
We're expecting to get our grubby paws on an NX100 later today for some longer-term testing, but for now, we wanted to go ahead and get you our initial impressions after handling the new mirrorless compact for a couple of minutes following Samsung's Photokina 2010 press event. The device itself is far smaller than the NX10 of last year, but it's still decidedly solid, if not a touch thick. The 20mm pancake lens on the model we tested was well built, and the i-Function capabilities were downright impressive. It took us a tick to grok how it works, but a good 30 seconds of learning presented us with loads of on-the-fly flexibility. You simply tap the i-Function button with your right hand in order to select what type of setting you'd like to change (exposure, ISO, shutter speed, etc.), and then rotate the wheel on the lens in either direction in order to change the value. Despite our doubts, it actually worked beautifully, and now we're eager to see this type of technology on even more cameras (even if its reserved for Samsung's range). The 3-inch AMOLED on the rear was also stunning, sharp and bright, and the whole thing fit in our hands well. We're still fond of our DSLR for most things, but we could totally see a unit like this making the most sense for amateurs who aren't fond of lugging around something so gigantic. Ergonomics, design and i-Function? All were stellar -- here's hoping the image and video quality meet those same standards, and we'll be bringing you those opinions just as soon as we can form them. Video's after the break, if you're thirsty for more. %Gallery-102746% %Gallery-102745%
Samsung NX100 mirrorless camera gets official: 14.6MP, i-Function lens, 3-inch AMOLED
Look out, world -- the mirrorless camera game just got a lot more interesting. Shortly after Olympus introduced a new mid-range DSLR, Samsung has outed its newest, the (previously rumored) NX100. It's the predictable successor to last year's NX10, offering a sleeker body, 14.6 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, a 3-inch VGA AMOLED display 'round back, an ISO range of 100 to 3200 (with a boost mode hitting 6400), 720p movie recording (H.264), SD / SDHC card slot, optional geo-tagging with GPS10 module and 'Sound Picture' mode that allows users to record audio when a photo is taken. The standout feature here, however, has little to do with the body itself; instead, it's the new i-Function lens system, which features a dedicated 'i-Function' button that allows users to scroll through manual settings, and a focus ring which is used to change parameters for each setting. Users can toggle between shutter speed, aperture, EV, WB, and ISO by simply using the i-Function button and ring on the lens, and it's a feature we're frankly desperate to try out ourselves. Sammy's planning to offer a variety of lenses for the NX100, including a 60mm macro, 18-200mm telephoto, 20mm wide-angle pancake and a 20-50mm compact zoom. The full details on the camera as well as the glass arrangement is just after the break, but good luck finding a price and release date. Depressing, we know. %Gallery-102062%
