what diGitalcamera
such as the PEN and Lumix GF1 respectively – focus on small, compact-like designs, Samsung’s NX10 is very DSLR-like in finish. Actually, with its built-in viewfinder and body styling, it feels like this could well be Samsung’s replacement for the GX-series DSLR. Although the company has only confirmed that all current efforts are with the NX-series, thus not ruling out future DSLR developments, it really is all systems go on the mirrorless front. With the size scaled down, yet with the DSLR-stylings kept so firmly in design, the NX10 is very small in the hand, like a mini-DSLR – arguably too small, with too small a grip for extended use. The lenses, however, are larger than those of Samsung’s MFT rivals, thanks to the latters’ smaller sensors. The NX lenses seem almost disproportionate to the body, and don’t therefore lend themselves to keeping the system small overall. From a personal point of view the compact-style design of competitors’ models like the Panasonic GF1 represent a breakthrough in what the mirrorless format offers to users looking for something small. The button layout is uncomplicated, with a number of function and quick-access buttons featuring, including: rapid drive mode, Picture Wizard, exposure compensation, AEL lock, and a user-assignable Function (Fn) control. The usual d-pad feature on the back controls much of the action, though in menus a circular, wheel-like design will require using the top thumbwheel to adjust a number of options. Occasionally it was easy to flick past an option prior to having set it, though enough use quickly fixes the button combinations into mind. The in-depth menu also arranges itself into single pages; despite the seven of these, they are sensibly grouped and represented by small icons to signify their category. For example the three ‘camera’ icons indicate changing photo-related options such as JPEG quality, whereas the ‘cog’ icons indicate camera-related options such as date & time or shutter sounds. Not having to dig through menus to find an option is definitely a positive, even if the controls do feel slightly haphazard on occasion.
colour
From our first taster with the NX10 in Las Vegas: the bright, contrasting sunlight lent itself well to black and white shooting using the ‘Classic’ (mono) picture mode.
Samsung NX10, 18-55mm OIS @ 18mm, f/5.6, 1/640th, ISO 100, Classic picture mode
the camera shot until the card was full. Star of the show has to be the AMOLED
screen. Its smooth motion is superb, playback is crisp, it looks great and out-classes competitors. However, the screen coating seems fond of fingerprints that can then cause
Star of the Show haS to be the amoled
Screen. itS Smooth motion iS Superb...
PERFORMANCE
So is the NX10 a true DSLR-buster? In many respects, yes, thanks to its small size and affordable price. The 14.6MP output means big files and, if shooting Raw & JPEG Super Fine, expect each pair of files to be around 35MB total. Great for detail-packed post-production work, though Raw-junkies beware the impact this may have on card space and, indeed, the NX10’s buffer. Such a large file size will quickly clog the buffer when continuous shooting, though only when the Raw files are concerned. With a claimed 3fps drive mode to three Raw files, the Panasonic Gold Standard Class 6 SD card used in this test happily shot Raw + JPEG Super Fine at this pace, taking some 11 seconds to then clear the buffer for the next round of shooting. Using Super Fine JPEG only,
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reflective sunlight issues in bright conditions. To accompany the screen is the 921k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF). It’s a great viewfinder that produces the same AF-point feedback as per the main screen. Although it’s still a long way from optical viewfinders, and one of the key differences from a DSLR set-up, it’s a positive step in the right direction and the auto screen-to-EVF eye sensor means there’s no faffing with buttons to switch from screen. A slight nuisance is the fiddly dioptre adjustment, which you’ll need delicate hands to adjust, but it has an excellent range of -4.0 to +2 for glasses wearers. On the upside this does mean accidental adjustment is unlikely. However, the AF system, as per so many other contrast-detection systems, does present some limitations. Autofocus can be
a touch inconsistent – focusing on the same static subject a number of times can produce different AF-points taking focus priority, despite no change in scene. Switching to the 50-200mm tele-zoom lens also found focusing between focal lengths slow – not the sort of performance desired from a long lens. The Continuous AF system works to the best of its ability, yet the ‘forward and back’ contrast-detect AF focus-checking can prove to be slow – too much so for very fast-moving subjects. Also, in low light, and despite a superbly bright green AF illuminator lamp, there can be the tendency for focus to opt for brighter backlight with Multi AF active (though Selection AF can be a more accurate way for subject-specific work). With Auto ISO there is also a tendency for the camera to expose with ‘on-the-cusp’ shutter speeds of 1/15th or even 1/6th second in reasonably good light, capturing at ISO 480 for example. Despite the presence of capable in-lens image stabilisation, a faster ISO sensitivity choice and snappier 1/30th exposure time would have been preferable to pertain optimum sharpness. Of course, there are all the manual and aperture/shutter priority controls to override this, but with the NX10 crossing over to both step-up auto users and more advanced
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