Design

Physically the NX10 - much like Panasonic's first Micro Four Thirds camera (the DMC-G1) - has a surprisingly conventional design, looking for all the world like a shrunk-down SLR. That much is easy to see from the pictures here, but what it's hard to appreciate until you have it in your hand is just how small the body is - compared to any APS-C SLR or even it's nearest direct competitor (on features that would be the Panasonic GH1). With the pancake lens attached it doesn't feel significantly larger than the Olympus E-P1 or Panasonic GF1 (though of course the inclusion of a viewfinder and grip mean it is).

From a construction point of view it's hard to find fault: this is a solid, well built camera with a pleasing 'density' that gives it the same impression of sturdy quality you get from the E-P1 and GF1, with the added benefit of a proper handgrip for more stable handling. The grip itself has a non-slip rubber coating meaning that you can shoot with one hand without worrying about dropping it. There's a good supply of external buttons and a well-placed control dial so you don't need to use the menus very much in everyday shooting.

In your hand / grip

We were slightly disappointed that Samsung chose such a conservative design for the NX10, but whilst it might lack the slightly retro styling and ultra compact dimensions of the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF1 it does offer noticeably better handling, with small but effective front and rear grips and non-slip body texturing. I have to say that everyone who handled the NX10 was very impressed with how well it sits in your hand.

Side by side

Below you can see the NX10's weight and dimensions compared to the smallest of its Micro Four Thirds competitors and the Olympus E-420, currently the smallest DSLR on the market (you can see pictures of the NX10 next to the E-420 and Panasonic G1 on the previous page). The NX10 is roughly the same size as the Panasonic G1, but looking at the body itself (ignoring the viewfinder eyepiece and hand grip) it's amazing how slender the NX10 is (around 40mm deep) - especially when you consider that the APS-C sensor inside is more than 1.5x bigger. If nothing else, this shows that Samsung could easily make a more Pen-like version by stripping away the bulky bits.

Three new lenses

At launch we're told there will be three lens options for the NX10 (we've seen all three but only had two for the purpose of this preview). Below you'll find basic specifications for the three lenses - all branded SAMSUNG (not Schneider) that have been announced:

Color options

The NX10 will be available in black (as shown in this preview) and silver variations (image to follow).