Samsung has announced its new NX mini mirrorless camera, which uses a smaller sensor and lens mount than its existing NX system. Sporting a new 20.5MP 1"-type BSI-CMOS sensor, the NX mini is the slimmest mirrorless camera on the market. It uses a new NX-M lens mount (with a 2.7x crop factor), with two lenses available at launch: a 9-27mm zoom F3.5-5.6 OIS zoom (equivalent to 24-73mm) and 9mm F3.5 pancake (equivalent to 24mm). A third lens, 17mm F1.8 OIS lens (equivalent to 45mm) is coming this summer, along with an adapter for NX lenses. Other features include an LCD that flips up 180 degrees, Wi-Fi with NFC, 1080/30p video, and Samsung's usual assortment of bells and whistles.
The camera is priced at $449 / €399 with the 9mm lens, or $549 / €499 with the 9-27mm lens and external flash. The lenses will also be available separately for $179 and $279, respectively. As yet we have no details on UK pricing.
Read our First Impressions Review for more details
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Press Release:
‘Carry the Style, Capture the Best’ with the new Samsung NX mini SMART Camera
Leading a new ‘Selfie’ trend, shoot outstanding images in style with the world's slimmest interchangeable-lens camera
RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. - March 18, 2014 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. announced today the launch of the NX mini, the world's slimmest and lightest interchangeable-lens camera. The portable and stylish design of the SMART Camera NX mini, along with its stunning image quality makes it the “go-to” device for great photography, allowing users to capture special moments in stunning detail. With NFC and Wi-Fi capabilities, it allows users to take impressive shots that can then be shared quickly and easily, for friends to enjoy in real time.
"The NX mini has both style and substance, perfect for trendsetters looking for a fun way to capture their life in outstanding photo quality,” said Myoung Sup Han, Executive Vice President and Head of the Imaging Business Team at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung introduced the first flip up touch display camera in 2011 as a leader of the selfie trend, and has designed the device in response to evolving consumer demands. This approach is exemplified by the NX mini, with features such as a 3.0-inch Flip up Display and wide angle lens exclusively designed to address the global passion for selfies. Its lightweight design also means that it can slip in a pocket, for photography anywhere and everywhere.”
As the slimmest and lightest interchangeable-lens camera on the market, the NX mini is the ultimate way to capture life on the go without any hassle. Weighing only 158g (body only) and sporting an ultra slim (22.5mm) design, the NX mini can easily slip into almost any pocket or bag, yet still delivers the powerful results passionate photographers demand. The camera features a solid premium metal body with a luxurious leatherette finish, making the camera the natural choice for style-conscious shooters looking to make a statement. Available in five different colors (white, pink, mint green, brown and black) users can choose the color that best suits their style.
The 'selfie' has found a permanent place in vocabularies across the world in recent years and its popularity shows no sign of stopping. Reflecting this recent consumer trend, the NX mini has a range of exclusive features which allow photographers to effortlessly indulge in the global trend of self-shooting. With a 75.2mm (3.0-inch)Flip up and Touch Display that flips 180-degrees, users can frame images of themselves perfectly. The NX mini’s powerful optical performance provides crisp and clear, high quality images ensuring that the subjects in the photos are always looking their best. With the ultra-slim 9mm wide angle lens, the NX mini can capture group shots from an arm’s length away, so users can easily frame themselves and be part of group memories.
Maintaining a flattering pose while also attempting to press the shutter release button when self-shooting can be tricky, but the NX mini's new Wink shot feature makes it the perfect hands-free way to capture the real you. Users simply need to set up their shot and wink at the camera to capture an image. Once a wink is detected, the NX mini takes a shot automatically after two seconds, without having to press any buttons.
Despite its slim appearance, the NX mini packs a big performance in to its small body. Its large 1-inch type 20.5MP BSI CMOS Sensor enables users to capture high quality images, ensuring no details are missed. With the highest resolution in its class, pictures captured with the NX mini burst with vivid color.
The NX mini's impressively fast 6fps Continuous Shot mode allows photographers to take continuous shots, so every detail can be captured and no moments are missed. The fast 1/16000 sec Shutter Speed freezes fast moving scenes, allowing for the dramatic capture of motion in crisp detail, without blurring.
Tag & Go, Simply Tap to Share Memories
As with all of Samsung’s 2014 SMART cameras, the NX mini features advanced Wi-Fi and NFC integration that makes it seamless to share images. Exclusive to Samsung, Tag & Go connectivity allows the NX mini to pair with NFC-enabled devices, such as smartphones or tablets, simply by touching the two together. Once paired, users can:
- Select and transfer multiple images to the paired mobile devices through Mobile Link;
- Send images to up to four devices with Group Share, eliminating the time-consuming and repetitive process of sending pictures to multiple friends;
- Control the NX mini via a smartphone with Remote View Finder Pro;
- Use the camera as a Baby Monitor. When noise is detected, the paired smartphone is activated via an app, allowing parents to see if they need to attend to their child.
Additionally, extensive storage options are integrated into the NX mini and images can be uploaded directly from the camera to the cloud for an easy storage solution. Users can upload their pictures directly from the NX mini to both Dropbox and Flickr, the popular photo sharing site. Dropbox provides 2GB of free storage to new users, accessible from just about any device and with Flickr users can upload up to a terabyte of images. With all the storage and sharing technology built into the NX mini, it’s easier than ever to share and store beautiful images.
Specialized NX-M Lenses for NX mini
Samsung has introduced three NX mini lenses (NX-M) which are optimized for use with the NX mini body, providing a variety of options to meet individual shooting preferences.
- The NX-M 9mm F3.5 ED lens has an ultra-slim design and its wide angle makes it the ideal choice for those capturing landscapes and self-portraits. This lens also provides the optimum angle for taking selfies, ensuring the camera becomes the go-to choice for those looking to share the best of themselves.
- The NX-M 9-27mm F3.5-5.6 ED OIS lens is a micro-compact zoom lens with a stylish design and is small enough to comfortably fit in pockets and bags. This compact-sized standard zoom lens offers a variety of shooting options from wide-angle to telephoto shots, with optical image stabilization for sharp results.
- With the NX-M 17mm F1.8 OIS lens, photographers can enjoy a beautiful bokeh effect which makes the highly detailed subject stand out from the surroundings.
NX mini owners will also be able to use fifteen NX lenses with the device by using a specialized NX-M Mount Adapter (ED-MA4NXM). These lenses are sold separately.
Pricing and Availability
The NX Mini will be available in early April in a variety of configurations. It will retail for $449, paired with the new 9mm NX-M lens, or $549 when paired with the 9-27mm lens and SEF-7A flash. NX-M lenses will also be available separately. The 9mm and 9-27mm NX-M lenses will retail for $179 and $279, respectively. The 17mm NX-M lens will be available at a later date.
*The world’s slimmest & lightest interchangeable lens camera (March 19, 2014, Result of Samsung internal research)
Samsung NX Mini specifications
Price | |
---|---|
MSRP | $449 / €399 (with 9mm lens), $549 / €499 (with 9-27mm lens, external flash) |
Body type | |
Body type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor | |
Max resolution | 5472 x 3648 |
Other resolutions | 5472 x 3080, 3648 x 3648, 3888 x 2592, 3712 x 2088, 2640 x 2640, 2976 x 1984, 2944 x 1656, 2000 x 2000, 1728 x 1152, 1920 x 1080, 1024 x 1024 |
Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 3:2, 16:9 |
Effective pixels | 21 megapixels |
Sensor photo detectors | 21 megapixels |
Sensor size | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS |
Color space | Primary color filter |
Color filter array | Primary color filter |
Image | |
ISO | Auto, 160 - 12800 (extends to 100-25600) |
Boosted ISO (minimum) | 100 |
Boosted ISO (maximum) | 25600 |
White balance presets | 7 |
Custom white balance | Yes |
Image stabilization | No |
Uncompressed format | RAW |
JPEG quality levels | Super fine, fine, normal |
File format |
|
Image parameters |
|
Optics & Focus | |
Autofocus |
|
Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
Manual focus | Yes |
Number of focus points | 21 |
Lens mount | Samsung NX-M |
Focal length multiplier | 2.7× |
Screen / viewfinder | |
Articulated LCD | Tilting |
Screen size | 3″ |
Screen dots | 460,800 |
Touch screen | Yes (Capacitive touchscreen) |
Screen type | TFT-LCD (180 degree tilt) |
Live view | Yes |
Viewfinder type | None |
Photography features | |
Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
Maximum shutter speed (electronic) | 1/16000 sec |
Exposure modes |
|
Scene modes |
|
Built-in flash | Yes |
External flash | Yes (via proprietary hotshoe) |
Flash modes | Smart Flash, auto, auto + redeye reduction, fill-in, fill-in + redeye reduction, 1st curtain, 2nd curtain |
Flash X sync speed | 1/200 sec |
Drive modes |
|
Continuous drive | 6.0 fps |
Self-timer | Yes (2-30 sec) |
Metering modes |
|
Exposure compensation | ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
AE Bracketing | ±3 |
WB Bracketing | Yes |
Videography features | |
Resolutions | 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all 30 fps) |
Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
Microphone | Mono |
Speaker | Mono |
Storage | |
Storage types | microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC |
Connectivity | |
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
HDMI | Yes |
Microphone port | No |
Headphone port | No |
Wireless | Built-In |
Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n with Smart Camera 3.0 features |
Remote control | Yes (wired) |
Physical | |
Environmentally sealed | No |
Battery | Battery Pack |
Battery description | B740 lithium-ion battery and USB charger |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 650 |
Weight (inc. batteries) | 196 g (0.43 lb / 6.91 oz) |
Dimensions | 110 x 62 x 23 mm (4.33 x 2.44 x 0.91″) |
Other features | |
Orientation sensor | Yes |
Timelapse recording | No |
GPS | None |
Lens specifications
Samsung NX-M 9-27mm F3.5-5.6 ED OIS | Samsung NX-M 9mm F3.5 ED | |
---|---|---|
Principal specifications | ||
Lens type | Zoom lens | Prime lens |
Max Format size | 1″ | |
Focal length | 9–27 mm | 9 mm |
Image stabilization | Yes | No |
Lens mount | Samsung NX-M | |
Aperture | ||
Maximum aperture | F3.5–5.6 | F3.5 |
Minimum aperture | F11 | F13 |
Number of diaphragm blades | 7 | 5 |
Aperture notes | Circular Aperture Diaphragm | |
Optics | ||
Elements | 9 | 6 |
Groups | 8 | 5 |
Special elements / coatings | 2 Aspherical elements, 1 Extra-low Dispersion element | 1 Aspherical element, 1 Extra-low Dispersion element, 1 Xtreme High Refractive element |
Focus | ||
Minimum focus | 0.14 m (5.51″) | 0.11 m (4.33″) |
Maximum magnification | 0.18× | 0.11× |
Autofocus | Yes | |
Motor type | Stepper motor | |
Full time manual | Unknown | |
Physical | ||
Weight | 73 g (0.16 lb) | 31 g (0.07 lb) |
Diameter | 50 mm (1.97″) | |
Length | 30 mm (1.16″) | 13 mm (0.49″) |
Filter thread | 39 mm | |
Filter notes | No filter thread | |
Hood supplied | No |
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