Samsung Galaxy NX Hands-on: Digital Photography Review

Body & Design

With a body design that's defined by the massive 4.8-inch LCD, the shape and feel of the Samsung Galaxy NX will seem unusual to those accustomed to standard SLR and mirrorless camera design. The overall message of the design, however, is that this is a substantial camera compatible with interchangeable lenses. The front of the camera features an AF-assist lamp and lens release button, while the left side has a joint headphone/mic jack, and HDMI and USB jacks are concealed beneath a plastic door to the side.

Top of camera

The top view shows the the Galaxy NX's physical controls. Literally all of them. There's a flash pop-up button, diopter control, power button, rear dial, record button, and shutter button. Stereo microphones flank the viewfinder hump. A large rubber eyecup surrounds the electronic viewfinder, and simple polished strap loops jut out from the sides. You can see in this view, too, just how slim the body of the NX is, and by contrast, how bulbous the hand-grip seems (a consequence of the very large battery installed within it).

In your hand

The extremely large screen on the back of the Galaxy NX presents both opportunity and obstruction. In our time with the camera, we were left with the impression that the electronic viewfinder was nearly superfluous, given that the camera's primary interface is the rear LCD. Although you can take advantage of the iFunction control on Samsung's lenses for some manual control in concert with the top-mounted dial, it is impossible to change most key shooting settings with your eye to the Galaxy's viewfinder.

The grip and thumbgrip combination are designed well enough that they keep your thumb largely off the screen while holding the camera, but the long beam between the lens and grip does feel a bit cumbersome.

Interface

With very few buttons, the Galaxy NX Camera's main interface is the 4.8-inch LCD screen, which uses largely the same onscreen controls found on the Galaxy Camera. A series of virtual dials slide out from the right side of the screen, which the user then manipulates with onscreen swipe motions. Standard and Expert modes change how complex the interface appears. Unfortunately for those more accustomed to using an electronic or optical viewinder, this interface is unavailable when you put the camera to your eye.

Working with the built-in GPS, the Galaxy NX's 'Photo Suggest' feature recognizes your location and consults a database of photographs to suggest 'popular photography spots.' 'Story Album' is a timeline feature that helps create digital photo books that can be viewed and shared on other devices. Creative filters are accessed via an arrow at the bottom of the screen and are applied to the camera's live view.

Camera Studio is expected to allow users to give third-party apps control of the camera in ways that aren't normally available for simple smartphone applications.

Samsung NX1000 White ~ 20.3MP Digital Camera with 20-50mm Lens	$299.99
Samsung NX20 20.3 MP SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD Camera (Black)	Too low to display
Samsung NX210 Kit 20.3-megapixel Digital Camera	$385.85
Samsung NX1100 Smart Wi-Fi Digital Camera Body & 20-50mm Lens (White)	$320.88
Samsung NX1000 Black ~ 20.3MP Digital Camera with 20-50mm Lens	$297.75
Samsung NX EV-NX300ZBFUUS Wireless SMART Digital Camera 20.3MP Compact System Camera with 3.3-Inch AMOLED- with 20-50mm Lens (White)	$576.29
Samsung NX1100 Compact Camera and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Tablet bundle with 20-50mm Lens and Camera Strap	$560.00
Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 8GB Black, Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean) 3G...	$328.50
Samsung NX2000 20.3MP SMART Camera with 20-50mm Lens(White) Bundle with Samsung 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED OIS II NX Lens - (White) + 32GB SD Card + Tiffen 40.5mm and 52mm UV Protection Filter + Tiffen 40.5mm and 52mm Circular Polarizer Polarizing Lens + HDMI Standard to Micro Cable + Spider Tripod + Short Zoom Case and Accessories	$999.00
Samsung Galaxy Camera EK-GC100 8GB White, Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean) 3G...	$327.00

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Comments

Total comments: 183

I am all for having a custom android OS drive a camera, but not at the expensive of ergonomics and quick access buttons. I still want my viewfinder! Give me a traditional DSLR button layout, with a 4" lcd. mirrorless so i can use any lens adapters for a wide access of glass. EVF to save space, wifi so i can upload photos/videos instantly to smugmug, google, flickr, facebook, email etc.

0 upvotes

this is how to combine a nice camera and a huge phone to end in an ugly cameraphone.

1 upvote

As cameras go I think this will make an excellent doorstop.

5 upvotes

How long is it going to take to upload 100 20 megapixel images back to my computer with any wireless camera system, let alone this one?

1 upvote

To DPR editors:
Kindly,whenever there is not a data available in the specifications page,please say so!
In this case,next to the evf as well as lcd screen resolution line,would be better writing "Not available''.
It's definately a best info than just stating nothing at all?? Nobody's going to blame you afterall!
Regards..

0 upvotes

Admin... Why don't these cameras list their flash sync speed? That's a pretty fundamental piece of knowledge to omit from the specs.

Have we strayed so far from traditional photography that flash sync speed is no longer notable? Noticed this trend for a few cameras now...

External Flash is listed as "YES Hotshoe". Can we get a little more photo centric info on this please?

Thanks.

1 upvote

I can plug my smartphone into my car and use it as an MP3 player, navigator and hands-free phone.

Would I want to remove the steering wheel and controls and drive using the phone? Er..... no.

This does not replace a phone, and a phone does not replace it. So a far better answer is improved interoperability not integration IMO. I can really see the benefits of connecting a camera to my phone and using it for geo-tagging, backup and RC, even firmware updating and customisation, but not to replace the control dials on my camera.

Especially at this price....!

1 upvote

The ugliest camera on earth, who needs it? I want NX30!

0 upvotes

I'd be curious what the battery life on this looks like when it comes out. Seems like every other Android device I've owned goes dead halfway through the day.

Probably not a camera that is going to win over a lot of converts. After all, Canon and Nikon are optics companies first - Camera companies second. Even the underdogs like Sony and Pentax have a good footing in optics. If I were a first time camera buyer I'd feel wiser choosing a company that offered me more options, so if I decide to go pro, I don't have to sell all my hardware and start from scratch.

All that being said, this is still a pretty cool concept and while it will never come close to replacing a professional camera, it would be a fun toy to have.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

You can probably play angry birds on it too. LOL

0 upvotes

"Overall the Galaxy NX looks like an interesting concept that doesn't appear to be without its flaws, but Samsung diserves some kudos for the bold move of implementing Google's Android OS in a mirrorless system camera and we are looking forward to receiving a production unit for testing."

What if Samsung didn't gave DPR 1st hand review, or maybe DPR landed in 3rd line review queue, or it didn't pay up the require Ads/PR fees? Will DPR still reviewing Galxy NX camera?

0 upvotes

Why would I want to sacrifice all the nice controls of the NX20 for an Android OS?

I already have my smartphone in my pocket if I want to play chess or RushHour.

Also, I could think of some nice Nikon or Canon FF cameras if I wanted to lug around something this large.

2 upvotes

Maybe this will be different given the higher resolution and generally larger screen, but ultimately it's just difficult (and in low light situations impossible) to focus using a screen, especially when your autofocus stops working. EVFs and LCDs just fall short of being usable, don't make the mistakes I have in the past, please.

Lots of wasted money I could have spent earlier on a real SLR.

0 upvotes

Is it same with NX300 body?

I think NX300 is start to compete with other mirrorless.

just soft OS is different?

0 upvotes

Wrong Direction I think...

0 upvotes

its a complet nice & full app insterument

0 upvotes

Great but like all these touchscreen phones - utter garbage in high humidity.

2 upvotes

1st i agree there are pts where it is much easier in touch screen there are in mechanical. 2nd should have been dslr type android.3rd the screen should ve been 1080 p(449ppi) superamoled screen to portrayed the good picture.4rd i find 4.8 inch is a bit small for photo or video editting.(galaxy camera is used in this case as it has the same screen size as nx) 5th does it have sleeping mode n front camera. Other than that this is true innovation.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 4 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I'm still waiting on the digital camera that can be surgically implanted in my eye, and the cell phone that is an implanted chip in my tongue. Anything else is archaic.

1 upvote

Google Glass is well on its way... not sure if that is good or bad

1 upvote

There's a new tyranny. We must work without wheels, dials and buttons, waving our fingers in front of our field of vision constantly. There is a place and use for touch screens, but far, far greater proprioceptive and information processing power in the simple computer mouse, even given the new touchscreen "gestures." Or as we advance in voice commands, do folks really want to talk their way through everything.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

Samsung make a wrong decision. The camera should be dslr not mirrorless android. This mirrorless camera is too bulky but cannot performs as good as dslr. 2nd the screen should be at least 5inch full hd 449ppi to portray the good captured picture. The lcd makes the good picture looks ordinary n pale than samoled. Pity wrong decision

0 upvotes

Do you know the difference between Mirrorless and DSLR. Didn't know that a mirror help so much on performing better....

0 upvotes

you might be right, that is probably why i left dslr systems at home and use mirrorless only. You write here without knowing what's on, as it seems.

0 upvotes

Samsung should consider having 5inch superamoled screen 1080p at least not lcd.why?good picture capture will look awful in lcd but look great in samoled full hd. Your picture looks pale compare to olympus.

0 upvotes

I just bought a new smartphone yesterday, didn't even see this article. Should of waited and got this bad boy. I don't care if people see me making a phone call with a ilc camera to my face. I carry my nex or dslr with me all the time as well as my phone, this can kill 2 birds with one shot.

so what is the price

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 8 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

it offers no data plan or cell phone hookup. It's just a more integrated camera. If you used your phone for more than angry birds, you're still going to need a phone.

0 upvotes

The android OS looks interesting and attracive to me first, until I looked at another review which says that it needs quite some time to load the OS when you switch on the camera. That's quite unacceptable for a camera in my opinion. Of course you can go to sleep mode (instead of switching it off) and this allows the camera to wake up instantly, but then it would drain up your battery...

2 upvotes

Would have shaved 1/2 inch or more off rear dimensions width ,but that would probably have necessitated rewriting/reworking the adapted tablet.

Comment edited 34 seconds after posting

1 upvote

I like the idea, I'd like to see this actualized in a more serious camera though. I don't care that much about upload connectivity, I don't see batch upload of 500-1000 or so photos from, say, shooting a wedding being fast or cost effective, (or not battery draining!) but I'd love to be able to use my phone or tablet as a remote control/tethering device for the camera, maybe with the ability to control focus, zoom, and exposure from said phone or tablet.

How about a remote control motorized tripod as well? I'm not talking about wheels to move the tripod, but the ability to pan or tilt, or change the axis. That would be very useful in many situations.

RC lighting umbrellas and boxes anyone? Possibly RC gel spots, etc.

1 upvote

With something as simple as the NX1000, a smartphone can control some operations and preview images.

0 upvotes

CHDK and Magic Lantern already showed us how enormously useful third party apps on a camera can be, and those are just ugly kludges - with the manufacturer actually supporting and encouraging that kind of thing, the possibilities are truly endless. AND it lets the camera people focus on what they (should) do best - kick-ass hardware and optics instead of worrying about getting every last corner of the firmware perfect.

Sony had a chance to get this ball rolling with the PlayMemories apps on last NEXes, but they blew it by trying for Apple-like walled garden approach. This is the future.

2 upvotes

What is this, a camera or a space ship?

0 upvotes

Jeez! I LOVE spaceships!

1 upvote

I don't understand. Can I play Fruit Ninja on this camera? Then put it up to my ear and talk to my friend?

0 upvotes

I think they should not call it a "phone" - if you read the spec. the 3G/4G connection is for data only.

I guess you can do VOIP on some apps, but do you really want to hold up the to your ears?? (Don't think there is Bluetooth on board so no Blutooth headset).

0 upvotes

...er - it's trivial but the 5472 x 3080 is duplicated.

0 upvotes

And just when you were about to press the shutter and take the photo of the century....

...Your mom rings and ruins the shot.

Ba-dum-tsss!

1 upvote

Sadly it's Apple who should have done this awhile back. I have been saying for years that Canon or whoever should make a camera that takes an iPhone inserted in the back and uses it for the control interface.

But kudos to Samsung for innovating. The claim of DPreview that it somehow lacks "external controls" is the stupidest thing I've ever read. Hasn't DPreview ever heard of gestures? They could easily make certain gestures correspond with certain controls, completely obviating the need for dials and buttons. You know, swipe right while looking through the finder to see ISO. Swipe left to do exposure compensation. Double-tap for AE-lock. Etc. etc. ad infinitum.

People lack imagination and clarity of thought these days. It's just pathetic.

2 upvotes

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA GOOD ONE!

Apple didn't do this because it seems they are smart!

1 upvote

As an iPhone user, I hate Samsung with a passion, but admit, this is kind of cool and an idea I've thought of long ago.

I can already tell that there are some Professional Photographers out there that are scared of this cameras potential. I figure someone with a good set of lenses, SnapSeed and WiFi capabilities will trump all their hard Photoshop work in an instant.

Of course a camera like this wont trump portrait photographers that require studio equipment, etc. But it can sure make things easier for someone to get quick exposure on places like Instagram, DeviantArt, etc.

Comment edited 50 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

> I figure someone with a good set of lenses, SnapSeed and WiFi capabilities will trump all their hard Photoshop work in an instant.

You've made my day. I've not laughed that hard for a while.

1 upvote

Why do you have to hate Samsung to be an iPhone user? Their making phones doesn't prevent you from enjoying your iPhone. Sorry for being totally off-topic... But it just bugs me, since I never understand the irrational hatred/fanaticism on either side of the divide.

3 upvotes

"as an iphone user I hate samsung"

a clueless iphone user perpeuating iphone-user stereotypes.

Do you think he/she also subscribes to:

"as an american I hate Afghanistan"
"as a christian I hate muslims"
...

0 upvotes

LOL it has all this connectivity, hooks up to FB etc etc, does everything you can do on a cell phone except..... Make a phone call! So you still have to carry a cell phone. Skip the EVF for this type interface, come up with some sort of pancake lens, allow it to also make phone calls and maybe this would be interesting. Then it might make it where you don't have to carry a cell phone & a camera.

0 upvotes

Have you heard of the iPad? Does exactly what my iPhone does. It is 100% redundant. But remarkably it has sold 100MM units. Why? Because it does a couple of things better - larger screen, easier to type, etc. iPad is nothing more than a big iPhone that can't make calls. Same logic applies to Samsung Galaxy NX. I for one will be buying one.

1 upvote

A somewhat novel idea kind of nullified by the lack of portability.

I think the ultimate compromise would be to utilize their NX mirrorless APS-C platform with either a new pancake lens or a fixed retractable wide angle lens (~20mm). The challenge there is still balancing packaging with optics though. That would be really incredible though. APS-C performance in your pocket!

1 upvote

there are already two Galaxy cameras. Soon there will be a whole line, probably including the design you just mentioned.

1 upvote

maybe, I do not know how long Samsung continues building just anything around that 20 mpix sensor, but let's wait and see. If I where in their place, i would try to get something done on the sensor side. The way they do, it will end getting a permanently repolished antiquity

0 upvotes

Is that just a fake EVF, or what?

Looks OK for a 1st gen attempt at this, though. Need to be able to use it as a phone!

Comment edited 6 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I assume you're commenting on the looks of the thing not the EVF?

This isn't exactly a first gen Samsung Android camera, two+ already exist, the GC110 and the GC120 the first is wifi, and the second has the electronics for communication over cell phone networks.

0 upvotes

It would be awesome if I can use it as a phone as well. Imagine someone calling you when you are taking long exposure shot and you forgot to turn off vibration... :D

Comment edited 13 seconds after posting

7 upvotes

:-) +1

2 upvotes

... and result a new technique :)

3 upvotes

How come nobody complains that iPads can't make calls? You people are silly.

0 upvotes

I was curious until I saw this:
•MicroSD card slot supports up to 64GB

I don't even like SD cards because of the small size. Sure hope this won't be the future of DSLRs.

0 upvotes

It will be the future because of it's small size. :D
or you are talking about micro SD card?

1 upvote

You may not like SD cards but are you expecting a camera like this to use something as large as CF?

0 upvotes

I doubt any new devices will be introduced that will not use SD or micro SD, or in the future whatever their even-smaller successors will be.

0 upvotes

Any reason to reject it would have been good enough for you, apparently.

2 upvotes

I'm been an enthusiastic owner of the original Galaxy camera since it was launched. The integration with Android is very well done and the huge touch screen is quite amazing. The only thing it doesn't do is produce great images due to the small sensor and compromised optics.

Although I've been a user of the Fuji X system cameras (with great sensors and optics) I'll be taking a good look at the new Samsung when it is released.

3 upvotes

I think that with wifi and such - many cameras will be used as devices controlled from their smart phones - why duplicate the phone. I think this would be better to be coupled with a smartphone as an outboard device - have an s4 smartphone clip to it, but be removed so you have all the smartphone versatility, but the great optics, CCD, exposure, flash and processing that ONLY a dedicated camera can really give you. I applaud Samsung for this, but I think integrating something smaller to work with their existing phones would be better for the future.

3 upvotes

I think they already do with the Galaxy S4 Zoom, if that's what you meant

0 upvotes

@Lars: did you ever use the FN mode on the UI as that normally gets you the complete setting that you have on any NX as today to change all params like AF, Drive mode, flash etc via the top plate menue push/rotate dial.

The same concept btw as on the NX2000 that as well shares the similar camera UI although Tizen based.

My understanding so far is different to your preview that the FN parameter (not the lens iFN) are on the EVF and allow to manipulate all DRIM setting.

The Android bits should not appear on the EVF but the LCD only while all CameraOS elements shall come up on the EVF.

Comment edited 30 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

Is HowaboutRAW a Samsung viral marketing person? Feel like half the comments are his “opinion”. Yesterday he went on a rant about how Samsung 20mp sensor have better DR than Nikon & Canon FF and if you shoot RAW, you will see NX lenses being sharper than pro lenses.

1 upvote

First I wasn't talking about the 20MP Samsung sensor, I was writing about the 14MP Samsung sensor, which with good lenses certainly produces sharp images.

Second, much more importantly and what you completely missed, I was writing about image quality. Nikon makes plenty sharp lenses, however the image quality is not good even from the Nikon's best lenses. Nikon can't come close to Leica or Zeiss image quality, but a couple Samsung NX lenses can. (I'm only skipping Canon lenses, because I'm not familiar with them, but no one says that Canon SLR lenses are astoundingly optically better than Nikon lenses., whereas Leica, Zeiss, Samsung+ some others are. )

Since you confused my previous post, I am not commenting on zoom or tele range (here's where the optically superior Olympus lenses beat Nikon).

Nor am I commenting on build quality, or speed of auto focus.

Repeating myself in different terms: Optically good Samsung lenses are easily better than the best Nikon can come up with.

1 upvote

I'm sorry but no matter how many times you repeat it, Samsung lenses do not compare with any of the other brands you mentioned. Just mentioning them in the same group is itself misleading. According to DxO Mark the highest ranking Samsung lens of any type is number 417, yes 417. Virtually, all the lenses in the top 400 come from Nikon, Canon, Zeiss and some others that aren't even considered top tier brands. Sorry about that but that's the way it goes.

0 upvotes

I think the concept of being able to control a camera via an operating system as Android is fantastic. Third party apps could make the camera a flexible as high-end DLSR's.

From a marketing point of view that might actually limit peoples desire to upgrade. If they can just buy an app to add functionality why buy a new camera?

The biggest drawback I can see in this camera is the fact the EVF is a bit of an afterthought.

I use a Sony A77 and the fact the EVF displays the same as the LCD means I can change settings without moving the camera from my eye and it also allows me to do so in bright sunlight when the LCD is hard to see.

I virtually only ever use the LCD for reviewing and for taking shots at odd angles with it articulated (another omission from the NX).

Ergonomically the A77 is bang on. I don't think the Samsung is as regard the EVF. Maybe they could not replicate the LCD view in the EVF sensibly but if so then the UI design is wrong.

Proper VF's are not outmoded!

2 upvotes

Therein lies the beauty of open source Android OS... programmers can develop apps that make the VF display anything you want. You could watch "True Blood" on HBO through the VF if you want to program it that way. No limits.

1 upvote

Can it run a full RAW converter and editing tools in-camera and even may be quick batch job processing functions? Sounds interesting, but that humongous screen may need more than just getting used to for a traditional photographer. Does it also prevent accidental setting changes as it looks like you will be gripping the screen for normal shooting purposes?

0 upvotes

It is bundled with Adobe Lightroom. My guess is you could edit anything as if using a tablet. And talking about accidental touch, I guess my nose would make a mess on the touch screen when viewing the EVF.

0 upvotes

Maybe HTC could make a good camera with android but Samsung?? forget it... they just know how to destroy an android image, make the system slow, unreliable and in general terrible, this is a failure...

0 upvotes

Wow, exaggerate much?

1 upvote

Last paragraph typo: 'deserves' not 'diserves'.

0 upvotes

I am very skeptical: the price of a 4G/LTE contract for this camera will cost more than the camera itself, in few years, while limiting the number of photos you could really upload through the air (especially if you shoot RAW!).

Logically users will transfer photos using their smartphone as a wifi router, thus they don't need Android (or any OS or application) on the camera itself, but a wifi-enabled camera, and a smartphone with applications.

0 upvotes

I agree. Cell phone cameras are size limited. Anything beyond a few ounces of extra weight is better off on a wifi (or better yet bluetooth data transfer) connection to your ubiquitous smartphone.

But the target is not regular people, it's android developers. There's an entire hacker community that salivates on playing with things like this. They spend money. Also, they generate apps that maybe a more "normal" shaped camera that just happens to be android based in the future could leverage. Samsung would probably eat some money on this thing if it meant generating android apps they could leverage in other future cameras.

0 upvotes

Size is not that bad, similar to GH-3 (with smaller sensor) ,bigger than canon SL-1 (with almost no grip at all)

http://camerasize.com/compact/#465,381,448,hd,t

0 upvotes

AT first I was really skeptical about this camera, but hey we are all are when a new tech cames.
1)When I think more about it I starting to like the idea.(esp. 3rd party apps idea)
also combination of i-Fn button and the wheel on the top can work very well for a breed of photographers who are not changing setting frequently.

2)I think Samsung can make this phone, sorry ....camera quite cheaply (no buttons,easy design,stock of touchscreens) and can surprise us with a very good price and this cane be an success for them on the end!

0 upvotes

This is truly a game changer. Journalists are discovering the use of things like Snapseed for rapid, appealing images outside of our "photographic" bubble - I introduced Snapseed's tilt effect and processing to a motoring journalist by demonstrating how to give an iPhone shot of a car engine a bit of apparent depth of field and bite, and he instantly started using it - and his social media images look damn good for it, just the right balance of drama.

The Galaxy Camera is good. In context, it's something quite remarkable if you need that sharing ability. This is something else, this is something that can be taken seriously by the majority of users not obsessing over things like optical finders (of which I tend to be one, this isn't blind enthusiasm - I'd much prefer a true SLR).

1 upvote

Total comments: 183

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