Samsung has expanded its range of digital cameras by introducing new system NX mini. So far, it has only one camera and a couple of lenses, but the shooting results suggest that the story will continue, and it will be interesting.
Miniature size - that's one of the main trump cards of the Samsung NX Mini. Even with a 3x zoom lens, the camera fits comfortably in a spacious jacket pocket, let alone a bag. Weight is about 200 grams, what else is required from the device for every day?
The design is eclectic - the silver top of the case hints at retro fashionable in certain circles, the rest of the details are pure digital classics. There are five colors to choose from, including strict black and elegant white.
The front panel houses the Samsung NX-M mount, an autofocus assist lamp (switchable via the menu), and a built-in flash.
In the delivery set there is also an on-camera flash, it is installed in the socket on the upper edge of the case and secured with a screw. Unfortunately, the direction of the light flux cannot be changed: the design is not rotatable. When using an external flash, the internal flash turns off automatically.
There are three buttons next to it - establishing a wireless connection, turning on the power and Shutter.
Under the cover on the right side of the body is a slot for a microSD memory card, a Micro-USB connector and an HDMI output.
The battery is removable, but it is charged in the camera, the package includes a USB kit: cable and AC adapter. From a single charge (2330 mAh), the device can take up to 650 frames - the result is excellent for mirrorless models.
The camera can shoot and charge at the same time, so the question of the number of frames is more likely to go into the capacity of your power bank.
The LCD screen is rotary, touch, its diagonal is three inches, and the number of image elements is a little more than four hundred and sixty thousand. Capacitive technology, accuracy and responsiveness are excellent.
There is only one degree of freedom, but the design is optimized for self-portraits. If you rotate the screen by 180°, the camera will automatically change the settings: it will turn on face detection in the frame and the timer.
On the rear panel there is a five-way joystick (it displays the input of exposure compensation, the choice of autofocus modes, advance and display information on the display), as well as five hardware buttons, incl. to record video.
Functionality
The 13.2 x 8.8 mm (one inch diagonal) sensor produces 21 megapixel stills that can be saved in RAW format. Sensitivity ranges from ISO 160 to 12800, expandable from ISO 100 to 25600.
The shutter speed range is from 30 seconds to 1/16000, there is manual focusing. The flash is synchronized at shutter speeds up to 1/200, there is a choice between the first and second "curtains", which allows, for example, to receive nice pictures moving objects with a blurry trail.
The control is optimized for working with the screen, it is well thought out: almost all parameters can be changed in one menu.
Program and priority, as well as manual exposure modes are available. For beginners, there is a fully automatic mode. There is also a set of presets for shooting in different situations, for example, macro or silhouette and "computing" modes - HDR, panorama, portrait auto-enhancement, etc.
In self-portrait mode, the camera recognizes a wink as a signal to take a picture.
The contrast autofocus system deserves praise for its ability to focus even in very low light, giving odds to many SLR devices with phase sensors, although its speed is not a record.
As you can see, the little one can do almost everything a photographer needs. Now there are only two lenses in the system - a triple optically stabilized zoom with a focal length approximately equivalent to 24-70 mm with an aperture of 3.5-5.6, as well as a "pancake" 24 / 3.5, with which the camera fits into a jacket pocket. . When the system was announced, a lens with a focal length of approximately 46 mm and an aperture of 1.8 was promised.
The crop factor of the NX-M system is x2.7. The installation of all lenses of the NX system through a proprietary adapter is officially supported.
The camera records Full HD video at up to 30 fps. On the big screen, the picture looks good, detailed and vivid. Thanks to the Multi Motion function, the device can make videos in the style of Time-lapses, choosing the acceleration of time by five, ten and twenty times.
Since the Samsung NX Mini is equipped with a wireless communication module, the machine can be controlled remotely from a smartphone/tablet. The Samsung Remote Viewfinder app is available for Android and iOS platforms.
The camera creates its own Wi-Fi network, so no router is required. The NFC chip makes it easy to connect to suitably equipped mobile devices.
Through a convenient on-screen menu, the main shooting parameters are changed, the selection of the focus point by touching the image works.
To conserve battery power, the camera screen turns off quickly.
However, remote control is not everything. Footage can be sent to e-mail, automatically transfer to your computer, upload to Dropbox, Picasa or Flickr, share on social networks.
Samsung NX Mini is able to work as a network surveillance camera, for example, for a child left in the bedroom. It is enough to install mobile app Baby Monitor and connect the device to wireless network, providing for long-term work with stationary power.
The broadcast is conducted in real time, if necessary, you can turn on the autofocus backlight from your smartphone. If the camera “hears” the sound that has appeared (the child woke up and cried), then a notification will appear on the smartphone.
Image quality
There is a prejudice that small matrices are not serious. But Samsung NX Mini is willing to bet. Files for self-study are available at this link.
The shots taken outdoors under normal lighting are lively and juicy. White balance in most situations is determined correctly. A 20-megapixel matrix allows you to significantly reduce the image when using it, whether it's printing or screen viewing, respectively, artifacts that are visible at a scale of 100% (I remind you that, as a rule, only the author views pictures this way) will simply be invisible.
No wonder, now all devices can do this. However, it is worth increasing the sensitivity and the situation will change.
When I first looked at the shots taken at ISO 6400 and 12800, I thought I made a mistake and did not change the sensitivity. The results, especially given the size of the matrix, are striking.
On the left - a fragment of a file from a Samsung NX Mini, on the right - from a SLR camera with an APS-C sensor (about twice the price of the NX Mini, model 2013), ISO 6400, 100% scale.
And these are the results of shooting at ISO 12800. Impressive? It is clear that it is wrong to directly compare an ultra-compact interchangeable lens camera with a reflex camera, even APS-C: these are different devices with different usage models. But the examples given clearly demonstrate the success of Samsung engineers and programmers.
This is a scaled-down version of the file and was shot at ISO 12800. This is what the appropriately sized print would look like. The device even in JPEG provides results suitable for amateur printing on a format of 13 x 18 centimeters with minimal processing, in difficult cases, of course, it is better to have a RAW file.
Speaking of RAW. Files from the NX Mini show excellent resistance to underexposure and overexposure. Here is an example of a processed shot taken in low light at ISO 200 and underexposed by three stops. In Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, you can extract a lot of information from a very dark image, and the noise will still remain at an acceptable level. This property helps when shooting very contrasting scenes, when you have to consciously choose between the need to use HDR technology (which is not always possible) or leave the extraction of details from "incorrectly" exposed areas in post-processing.
Finally, there is one more example. The shot was taken in low light, at ISO 6400, overexposed by three stops. Typically, such overexposure is detrimental to yellow even in cameras with an APS-C sensor, however, with simple manipulations in Photoshop, yellow (and at the same time blue) colors were restored to an acceptable level. Possibility to extract useful information from overexposed areas is especially useful when shooting winter landscapes, when dark objects make up a small part of the frame area, but detail in them is important for the photographer.
Verdict
Samsung engineers have been able to create a very small camera with interchangeable lenses. She looks great and is comfortable to work with. Despite the dimensions (both cases and matrices), this is a very serious tool capable of skillful hands implement a wide range of creative ideas.
If you're looking for a lightweight, compact device for everyday use, be sure to include the NX Mini in your list of purchase candidates. It will confidently win against any smartphone in competitions for image quality in difficult conditions, and if you choose a complete set with a zoom lens, then the smartphone is better off becoming a partner - a remote viewfinder, stopping the competition.
It also comes with a full-featured, no-Creative Cloud subscription version of the best cross-platform digital photo archive management and image processing application.
In terms of price/performance/feature, the Samsung NX Mini receives Editors' Choice: Best Buy in the ultra-compact interchangeable lens camera category.
 |
Samsung NX mini kit 9-27mm Notify when available |
| Camera category | Compact camera with interchangeable lens |
| Type of | BSI-CMOS |
| The size | 13.2×8.8 mm |
| Number of megapixels | 21 |
| Maximum frame size | 5472×3648 |
| Interchangeable lens | + (Samsung NX-M) |
| 24-75 | |
| Maximum aperture | 3,5-5,6 |
| optical zoom | 3x |
| 0,25 | |
| ISO sensitivity | auto, 160-12800 |
| Exposure range, sec | 30-1/16000 |
| Modes: Shutter Priority/Aperture/Manual | +/+/+ |
| Manual focus | + |
| white balance | |
| Continuous shooting, frames / sec. | 6 |
| Exposure compensation, EV | +/-3, 1/3 |
| metering | |
| Built-in flash modes | |
| File types | JPEG, RAW |
| 1920×1080 (30fps) | |
| Video Format | AVCHD,MP4 |
| Viewfinder | — |
| Live View (for mirror) | — |
| 3\", 460800 """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" " | |
| Swivel screen | + |
| depends on the lens | |
| External flash socket | — |
| Built-in microphone | + |
| Memory cards | SD (SDHC, SDXC) |
| Interface | USB 2.0, Mini HDMI |
| Food | Li-Ion battery |
| Charger | + |
| Dimensions, (W × H × D) | 10x62x23 |
| Weight | 196 |
| Additionally | WiFi, NFC |
Samsung NX mini interface
The menu here is almost the same as in the NX300 or NX30, only a little cut down. The touch display allows you to set the focus point with your finger and similarly release the shutter. A bar graph and an electronic horizon can be displayed.
Functionality
With the development of the NX mini, Samsung discovered a completely new sensor format. An inch matrix (13.2x8.8 mm) has not yet been used in any of the Samsung cameras. Resolution 20 megapixels this case looks overpriced. Used to improve sensitivity CMOS sensor with backlight technology. The extended ISO adjustment range is 100-25600, while the upper limit can be set up to ISO 3200. Particularly pleased with the ability to set the minimum shutter speed in the range from 1/2000 s to 1 s. The camera tends to expose more long exposures, rather than overestimate the ISO, which is not always convenient. However, you can always set these parameters manually. Samsung NX mini offers three aspect ratio settings - 3:2, 16:9 and 1:1. The maximum frame resolution is 5472x3648.
The speed of the camera was also pleasantly surprised. Within a second after pressing the power button, the camera is ready for use. In our case, however, the time was also wasted on the extension of the lens. The burst rate is 6 frames per second in full resolution with continuous autofocus. By lowering the resolution to 5 megapixels and turning off autofocus, you can achieve a rate of fire of 30 frames per second. At the same time, performance is severely limited by the shallow buffer. After a dozen frames in JPEG format, the continuous shooting process is seriously slowed down. Here Samsung NX mini is definitely inferior to Nikon 1 J4. On the other hand, the rate of fire and buffer depth are important for reporters, not for the target audience of a budget mirrorless camera.
Autofocus is carried out according to the contrast principle with 35 points. We recommend leaving the AF-assist illuminator on to avoid focusing problems in low light. There are no complaints about the speed of autofocus, but at dusk the camera focuses very uncertainly. In the test shots in the next section of the article, an example of a night cityscape will be given, and in this case the camera focused only on the second or third attempt. As already mentioned, manual focus is implemented using the navigation keys. At the same time, the focus peaking function is not provided, there is only an increase in the frame fragment by five and eight times.
It is natural that such a thin camera received exclusively electronic shutter, thanks to which the minimum shutter speed is 1/16000 s. However, the electronic shutter has one unpleasant feature in the form of stripes on the image when shooting in artificial lighting conditions at shutter speeds shorter than about 1/200 s. The same situation was observed in Panasonic Lumix GM1.
Image stabilization "fell on the shoulders" of the lens. Of the three NX-M mount lenses available, only the bundled zoom has built-in IS. We must give him credit in this regard, given its ultra-small dimensions.
Samsung NX mini is the first case in our memory when the camera is not only equipped with a built-in flash, but also equipped with an additional, more powerful flash. The optional flash, however, is not much more powerful than the built-in one. Its guide number is 7 m at ISO 160. An external stereo microphone can also be installed in the same jack. We also note that both the built-in and external flashes can fire on the front and rear curtains, which is usually unusual for cameras of this level.
The camera does not shine with additional modes and it is generally assumed that most of the time you will shoot in automatic mode. In this mode, you can shoot exclusively in JPEG format without any interference with the exposure settings. Half the time we used the camera in this mode and, admittedly, it turned out to be quite working. Samsung NX mini can shoot panoramas and stitch together HDR images, but there is no multiple exposure and interval shooting. In Smart mode, various shooting scenes and retouching tools are available, creative filters are available only through the main menu.
If the NX mini is strong in any way, it's in its wireless functionality. It belongs to the Smart Camera 3.0 series, like the older NX30 mirrorless camera. This means that the set of possibilities is the same here. In addition, the camera is equipped with an NFC sensor for fast communication with mobile devices and one-touch image transfer. We are finally convinced that in terms of wireless capabilities, Samsung is in the lead today.
To use the wireless arsenal, you need to install the free Samsung Smart Camera App, which supports Android and iOS. The camera can be controlled remotely, and the screen of a smartphone or tablet acts as a viewfinder. The application also allows you to copy pictures from the camera, and in the menu of the camera itself there is a function to send content to several devices at once. The camera can also communicate via a wireless router with a home network and transfer pictures directly to a PC. There is also a function to send pictures by e-mail and in social networks, including on Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki, as well as on cloud service Samsung Link.
We tried the baby monitor mode on the Samsung NX30, and now we played babysitter again. This mode allows you to remotely turn on the camera as needed and look after the child on the smartphone display. To do this, however, both the camera and smartphone must be connected to your home wireless network. The function is especially convenient for large cottages, country houses and other situations where the child can be quite far from the parents. In this case, the camera reacts to the crying of the baby and sends a notification to the smartphone. Screenshots of the Samsung Smart Camera App and Home Monitor are shown below.
Contents of delivery:
- Camera
- Battery
- Charger with USB cable
- Lens 9mm (or 9-27mm)
- external flash
- Instruction
- Adobe LightRoom 5 version
Positioning
Samsung believes that the company must conquer the camera market, it was under such slogans that expansion began several years ago. model range. No sense was achieved in this, the company followed the same course as in other segments, gradually increasing the functionality of cameras, offering good NX-mount lenses for little money - they are the best in terms of price / quality ratio. But at the same time, Samsung greatly underestimated the influence of the brand on the perception of cameras - it is extremely difficult to convince fans of Canon or Nikon to try something else. When you have been using equipment of a certain brand for years, overgrown with lenses, then switching to another photographic equipment is almost impossible, it should be clearly an emotional decision. And taking into account that it was impossible to make the picture quality better than that of the giants of the photo industry, in general there was no active development of this direction within Samsung. Perhaps the second problem is the cost of such devices from Samsung - they are very, very expensive compared to competitors. That is, there is no allowance for the fact that Samsung is little known in the segment of semi-professional equipment, the company considered that the popularity of its other products will speak for itself. And I was wrong.
In general, good cameras, such as the NX30 or last year's NX300, are quite good for filming and cover the needs of many amateur photographers, including advanced ones. But at the start, these cameras are obscenely expensive, which scares potential buyers.
In the past, Samsung has taken the camera market by storm with low-cost digital cameras, and in 2014, it decided to repeat that stunt with a new technology twist. In particular, by creating a new line of NX Mini, as well as the NX-M mount. It's a reimagining of what amateur cameras could be in the coming years - mostly point-and-shoot shooting, minimum size, long battery life on a single charge. The ideas are correct, but they didn't work in other models, so it's more surprising to see what happened with the NX Mini. I had a prejudice against this device, I used it immediately after the NX30 and expected that in terms of price / quality ratio it would be far from optimal. Moreover, it will lose to many analogues with the same matrix. How it turned out in practice, read below, I will not reveal the secret.
Who is NX Mini for? Definitely not for those who know how to take pictures and do it all the time, it requires the maximum number of settings from the camera. The ergonomics of this solution will not please such people. As a second camera, it is quite suitable - here its compactness comes to the fore. What more can be said? For amateurs who don't want to think too much about how to get a good picture, this camera allows you to achieve good quality with minimal effort and without taking up much space in your pocket or bag. Compactness comes to the fore.
The marketing story about the fact that you can mount lenses from the NX mount with adapters, let it remain a beautiful fairy tale. There is no point in this - the crop factor in this case will be three times, and on a 1-inch matrix this will lead to very strange results, they will definitely not suit you. Moreover, I think that it is necessary to focus on the fact that this camera is bought with one lens and you will not buy new ones. The target audience will definitely not need this. This is such a controversial decision, which, nevertheless, has the right to life. Let's see why this is so.
Design, dimensions, control
All in classical style the latest generation of devices - plastic under the skin, different body colors for every taste.
In my opinion, the plastic here is made somehow very inexpensively, the impression is enhanced when you take the camera in your hands. But you quickly get used to it. More frustrating is that the plug covering the connectors is constantly moving away, a gap is visible. This is perhaps the most serious flaw in the design, the sloppiness that catches the eye.
Of the minuses, it is worth noting that the flash must be screwed into the connector on the upper end at the moment when you are going to use it. In most cases, this will not come to that, and frankly speaking, wearing a flash on the device all the time is inconvenient. Hence the conclusion - it's good that it is included. It remains to be content with the built-in flash, which is rather weak, but it is quite suitable for domestic purposes.
The camera weighs 196 grams, it's not much, you don't feel it in your pocket. Size - 110.4x61.9x22.5 mm - a very small camera. But the small size always turns into an inconvenience in handling, for example, one of the best compact cameras Sony RX100 in all three versions is extremely inconvenient, you have to get used to it. You will also have to get used to the NX Mini - the buttons are small, the elements are crowded.
With a standard 9-27mm lens, the weight will increase by 73 grams, the size will increase slightly. By the way, the size of ordinary NX lenses is also a minus for the camera, it will look awkward with them, not to mention the fact that they are almost completely useless here. Marketing, I will not tire of repeating it.
On the right side, behind a hinged shutter, there are connectors: microUSB (USB version 2), HDMI, and a microSD card slot (this is another proof that the camera is positioned for the mass market). On the top, you'll find the shutter button, Wi-Fi shortcut key, and the power key.
You can use the device with a tripod, the connector, you guessed it, is on the bottom end.
The display in this device is three-inch, it leans back 180 degrees, so you can take photos of your loved one. The screen resolution is small - 320x480 pixels, it becomes very blind in the sun, but you can still see the picture. The touch screen, which allows you to quickly change settings and shooting modes, is a plus. But the display is a very weak point of the device, so if you are used to seeing what you are photographing, then this model will not suit you - I repeat, it may come in handy only as a second device.
The lens does not have a motor, so it must be brought into working condition by hand (for a fix of 9 mm, this is irrelevant). Sometimes the electronics do not understand that the lens is in the working position, then you have to turn the device off and on again, after turning the lens all the way.
Specifications and ergonomics of the camera
Matrix resolution - 20.5 megapixels, size - 1 inch (CMOS, BSI), no ultrasonic cleaning matrices. The ISO value in automatic mode is up to 3200, in manual mode - from 160 to 12800 (can be expanded from 100 to 25600). The working value of ISO can be considered 1600, then the matrix starts to make noise.
In continuous shooting, the camera can do up to 6 frames per second, the declared 30 frames are possible at a resolution of 5 megapixels.
Of the obvious disadvantages, this is white balance adjustment, exposure compensation, ISO change. In all cases, you have to go deep into the menu, which is inconvenient during shooting. This camera will take some getting used to. Autofocus is average, in macro mode (the camera detects it automatically) often the focus is on the background, and not at all on what you are shooting. In static scenes, autofocus can also miss, it is contrasty and not always correct.
The logic of the camera is not always clear, for example, why in Auto mode there is no option to select the RAW format for saving your pictures? Only JPEG and no other options.
Of the three lenses presented for the NX-M, only one has a built-in stabilizer - 9-27 mm. In my opinion, it is worth stopping your attention on this delivery option. It is the most versatile.
Without going into details, I will repeat my thought - this camera is not bad for the option when you take it out and take pictures without bothering with additional settings. That is, it can be a second camera or the main soap box for those who do not experiment with photographic equipment, shoot with one click.
From what you expect in a camera from Samsung, there is everything, and even a little more. The device is equipped with built-in NFC, as well as Wi-Fi. With one touch, you can transfer pictures from the camera to a smartphone or tablet, it's convenient. On the other hand, you won’t surprise anyone with this today - but nevertheless, this is implemented in the NX Mini conveniently and well. For example, you can immediately send your photos to Dropbox, and you can also set your photos to be sent there when you connect to your home Wi-Fi network. There is support for other services.
A built-in photo editor is of little use, as well as sending photos to social networks such as Facebook. Still, you will rather do it from a smartphone / tablet, where such programs are more convenient. But the possibility is there.
Battery
I complained a lot about how many shots from a single charge cameras like the NX30 / NX300 give out - they were clearly inferior to all competitors. In NX Mini, everything is exactly the opposite, the Li-Ion 2330 mAh battery, the declared number of shots is 530 (CIPA method). In my case, it was about 300 photos in a week and about half the battery. The time to fully charge the battery is about 2 hours.
Image quality - video examples
Below I will give the pictures that were taken on the NX Mini, since the camera acts as an amateur soap box, I did not see any point in trying it in different modes. Look at the photos, as well as the video - by the way, it can be recorded in FullHD, at up to 30 frames per second.
Brief impressions
Let's start with strengths – compact camera, excellent implementation of NFC / Wi-Fi, pleasant photo quality (average, but this will be enough for many), great battery life from a single charge. Of the serious disadvantages, I note a small display, which does not give very beautiful picture, in the sun it becomes very blind. The presence of interchangeable lenses is not a necessity, but rather a thing that potential buyers of such a camera will not be interested in. It's completely different the target audience, and here it was not necessary to subtilize.
Given the competition that has unfolded in the market, it is extremely difficult to imagine that someone will choose the NX Mini, and not competing solutions. Let's take a look at the Sony RX100M2, this camera has a similar sensor, but is much more convenient to operate due to its greater similarity with digital cameras produces a much better picture. But it costs about 27,000 rubles and does not have interchangeable lenses (26-100 mm is quite sufficient).
You can think of a camera like Nikon 1 J3, it looks comparable to the NX Mini - not as compact, but with the same matrix, while the image quality is slightly higher.
You can give many other examples, the same Sony cameras. But this is redundant, since the NX Mini loses to them all in the main - Samsung cameras are unknown to the market and the mass consumer, all other things being equal, buyers will still choose devices from other companies, and this cannot be changed. At a cost of 14,990 rubles (NX Mini with a 9 mm lens, f3.5), this is not very bargain for the majority, with a 9-26 mm lens at a price of 17,990 rubles - exactly the same situation. This device is suitable only in one case - you need a minimum body size, you do not need above-average image quality and manual settings. For those who want a point-and-shoot camera, this solution is noticeably more expensive than conventional cameras. Perhaps if Samsung makes a big effort, the NX Mini line will be at least a little popular in the future. In the distant future. But so far the prerequisites are only for this product to remain a niche, highly overvalued manufacturer. Having received such a camera as a gift, you will be satisfied, especially if you do not compare it with others. But buying with your own money, you will definitely lose a lot - it is better to look for products from other manufacturers that will more fully meet your needs.
Samsung occupies a special position among manufacturers of photographic equipment. Its cameras are designed to impress even the most tech-savvy photographers, and are tightly integrated into what is perhaps the largest and most affordable family of Samsung's digital home and portable products to date.
The portfolio of the Korean manufacturer is the first in the industry to include cameras with a secondary display on the front for selfies, cameras with unparalleled wireless capabilities, and even cameras with full operating system Android. No less interesting is the novelty with which I have to spend a whole week - a miniature smart system camera, Samsung NX Mini.
Samsung NX Mini on this moment The world's thinnest interchangeable lens camera, equipped with everything you need for both amateur and professional photography. This is an excellent pocket camera for every day, at the same time it is a great choice for traveling, and at any time, Samsung NX Mini is ready to come to the rescue and replace an “adult” camera. Moreover, even in a smart home or at the baby's crib, she will find her own functional wireless place. We will talk about this in our test.
Samsung NX Mini opens a new system in the manufacturer's lineup with its own ultra-compact NX M optics and an inch matrix. At the moment, there are only three lenses in the system, and they overlap each other in focal lengths.
The first lens is a pancake: the Samsung NX-M 9 mm F3.5 ED is only 12.5 mm thick when turned off and allows you to carry the camera even in your jeans or trousers pocket. This lens has a unique front lens design. The fact is that this is, perhaps, the first lens in my practice that fundamentally dispenses with the front protective cover, which, even if desired, simply has nowhere to fasten - its entire front part is covered with reliable protective glass. The 35mm equivalent focal length of this lens is about 24mm, which is very versatile in many situations: landscapes, everyday indoor shots, street scenes from life. The weight of this lens is only 31 grams. It seems that there has never been a lighter and more compact optic in our test studio.
The second lens will go on sale in the middle of summer and will be a classic “fifty kopeck” (equivalent for a 35mm camera) - this is the Samsung NX-M 17 mm F1.8 OIS. Its purpose is to take sharp shots with beautiful background blur in any lighting conditions thanks to its high aperture and built-in optical image stabilization. The size of the lens is unique - this is one of the most compact fast fixes in my memory. Its height is only 27.5 mm, including the mount! With this lens, the Samsung NX Mini will probably no longer fit in any pocket, but in a jacket or even the smallest bag, a smart mirrorless camera will feel at home.
Finally, the third and certainly the most popular lens of the new family is a zoom with a 35mm-equivalent focal length close to the classic 24-70mm. Its name is Samsung NX-M 9-27 mm F3.5-5.6 ED OIS. A feature of the lens is the presence of an effective stabilizer, which I will definitely test during our week with an expert. Unfortunately, with this lens, the camera can no longer be called a pocket camera - you will have to carry it in a bag (lens height in the folded position is 29.5 mm) or on a strap on your hand. Moreover, in order to maintain such dimensions, Samsung engineers had to compromise: the photographer is forced to activate the lens each time when turning on the camera by slightly turning the zoom wheel until a characteristic click. Without this, the camera will refuse to shoot, displaying a warning on the screen that the lens is not ready to shoot. Still, the Samsung NX-M 9-27mm F3.5-5.6 ED OIS is by far the lightest and most compact zoom in the 24-70mm equivalent focal length range I've ever held in my hands - and it's a great achievement by Samsung engineers.
There is another accessory in the system for those who plan to use interchangeable lenses. This is the NX Mount Adapter (MA4NXM), which allows you to install the entire line of autofocus optics from the older NX system, which has quite a few interesting lenses, on the tiny Samsung NX Mini.
Appearance and control
I have repeatedly written that the Samsung NX Mini is a very compact camera that fits easily into a pocket. Surprisingly, this interchangeable lens camera weighs less than my smartphone, but offers much more freedom for creative photography. The only thing worth remembering is that despite the ultra-compact dimensions of the camera, you should not carry it all the time in your pocket. After a couple of days so disrespectful to system camera relations, chips and scuffs may appear on the body and lenses. The best place to store and carry your Samsung NX Mini is in a nice soft-lined bag or branded case.
Interact with Samsung NX Mini allow 13 buttons and touch screen with multi-touch support. The screen, by the way, is swivel, but with one degree of freedom: it can be tilted 180 degrees to take selfies. That's just in the bright sun, the screen dims a little and catches glare. Therefore, his ideal position would be “the screen is strictly in front of the eyes.”
Thanks to the touch screen, the photographer gets a very convenient menu that allows you to accurately and quickly adjust each shooting parameter - from shutter speed and aperture to zone and focus mode. For an amateur to take a good shot, this is a very convenient solution. On the one hand, there are no extra controls like wheels and joysticks on the camera, and interacting with the Samsung NX Mini will definitely not scare a beginner. On the other hand, if necessary, full manual control is always available.
On the top panel there are buttons for activating wireless modes, turning on the camera and a two-position shutter button directly. The solution seemed to me to be a compromise. On the one hand, Samsung hints at the presence of extraordinary wireless capabilities in the little NX Mini (which we will definitely return to), on the other hand, I’m still not used to the fact that the camera is turned on by the second button located between the wireless mode activator and the shutter release. In addition to the buttons, there is an accessory port with a protective cover on the top panel. At the moment, only the Samsung SEF-7A external flash can be installed there, but other accessories, such as an external microphone or video light, will probably appear.
The location of the buttons on the rear panel will not be able to confuse any person who has ever communicated with digital cameras any class. Everything is so clear here that you don’t even need to read the instructions. However, I always advise you to read this fascinating book to the end, especially if you are wondering what else your camera is capable of. In addition, each button has several functions that are activated when you select different shooting modes.
The left side of the Samsung NX Mini is free from controls and connectors, but on the right, under a long flap, there are micro USB 2.0 and HDMI communication ports. The first is designed not only to connect the camera, but also to charge the battery from any USB port capable of delivering 5V and 550 milliamps, and HDMI supports the function feedback, that is, the camera can be controlled, for example, with a remote control from a connected TV.
Also on the right side are a compartment for a removable battery and a slot for a micro SD memory card. This is important, since classic SD / SDHC / SDXC cards cannot be installed in Samsung NX Mini. Be careful when choosing a memory card! Another inconspicuous detail is an additional hole for the power cable. With this accessory, Samsung NX Mini connects to external source power and can work, for example, in baby monitor mode thanks to its Wi-Fi capabilities.
The bottom of the camera has only a standard thread for mounting on a tripod.
The Samsung NX Mini fits comfortably in your hand. Thanks to the deep texture on the front of the camera and on the special platform near the video record button, you can securely hold the camera with one hand and be sure that you will not get tired quickly. However, I recommend that owners of large palms hold the camera in their hands before buying - it is very compact, and Samsung designers completely abandoned any influx in the “hand” area.
Now that we have met the Samsung NX Mini, it's time to go shooting. First - in full automatic modes. To be continued: tomorrow we will publish the second part of our big test.
The world's thinnest and lightest interchangeable lens camera (in the Compact System Camera category as of April 2014). The NX mini's durable magnesium body with a leather-like finish is sure to impress. This is the epitome of elegance.
The NX mini makes taking selfies easy and fun. Just wink at the camera and you'll have your shot ready in two seconds. You don't need to press the trigger. But you have to smile.
With the NX mini's wide-angle lenses (9mm and 9-27mm), you can take great shots, whether you're taking self-portraits or photographing any other scene in your life.
The NX mini's large 1-inch 20.5-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor delivers exceptionally high resolution, capturing the finest details of a scene with natural color reproduction.
The Samsung Photo Beam feature allows you to share photos with a simple touch of another device. Simply touch your Smart Camera to any NFC-enabled smartphone and the image will be automatically transferred to the smartphone. It is so simple!
NX mini shoots Full HD video in 1080/30p H.264 at 30 frames per second and captures the finest image details. H.264 allows you to record more videos than MPEG4, so you can shoot more interesting scenes.
The Samsung NX mini camera allows you to take pictures at ISO sensitivities up to ISO 25600, i.e. practically in the dark. This means that when shooting without a flash in a dimly lit room or outdoors in the evening, you will get bright, contrasty and clear pictures, practically not spoiled by noise and image blur.
The NX M mount gives you the freedom to choose high quality lenses from the wide range of Samsung NX lenses. Master your craft with the stunning NX series lenses.
One charge of the NX mini camera battery lasts for 650 shots or 190 minutes of video (9mm lens, CIPA standard)*. Regular batteries just can't match. Stop worrying and keep shooting.
Monitor your baby from another room with the Home Monitor app installed on your smartphone. If your baby suddenly wakes up or cries, the NX mini camera will send a notification to your smartphone.
NX mini comes with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5, a photo editor that lets you edit and add special effects to your photos and videos. Edit, crop, improve quality and add special effects.