Body & Design
The NX200 offers a conventional control layout with two control dials, some external buttons, an exposure dial and an 'Fn-menu' that gives quick access to a number of frequently used parameters such as white balance, image quality and focus mode. There's no built-in flash but the NX200 comes with a small external unit that slots into the hotshoe. Unlike some other models in its class, such as the Sony Alpha NEX-5N or Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, the NX200 lacks a touchscreen.
Samsung says it has used a special forging process to give crisp, right-angled edges to the NX200's body. The result looks great but we found the bottom edge of the grip was a little sharp to wrap your fingers around. This may not affect everybody (and is only likely to be noticeable after long periods of shooting or use with heavy lenses), but is noticeable enough to be worth mentioning. On the plus side the grip is comfortable and coated with a rubber material that has a pleasant feel to it.
Compared to the Samsung NX100
The NX200's control system has been revised since the NX100 and most notably a movie record button has taken the place of the AEL button. The NX200 also loses its predecessor's side-mounted 'C' custom button. The three functions it could perform can now be assigned to the NX200's Delete/Custom button.
Beyond these minor button re-arrangements, the NX200 isn't the radical departure from the NX100 that the different body style might suggest. The NX200 is a classy and good-looking camera (arguably not something that could be said about its predecessor). The thin rubber coating on the grip does a good job of making the comfortable to grip, despite the minimalist metal body construction.
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| From the front, you can see how much smaller the NX200 is compared to its predecessor the NX100. |
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| A number of buttons on the back have changed functions. The upshot is that the NX200 no longer has buttons for AEL or white balance, but gains a direct movie record button in place of the former. |
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| The major changes on the top plate are the addition of a stereo microphone, and the new (and we think improved) power switch around the shutter release. The mode dial has moved from the center to the far right of the top plate. The additional contacts on the NX200's hot shoe provide power to the included miniature flash unit. |
