Samsung NX500 firmware upgrade improves autofocus and enhances video features

Too little, too late. Unfortunately SAMSUNG had somehow "forgotten" to add interfaces to this camera. For instance, there are absolutely no audio interfaces. Not for mic, not for headset, not for anything. Ayyay, Samsung.

Jun 27, 2015permalink

dennis tennis

There's an app for that. The apps will connect you the various retailers, from whom you can order an NX1.

Jun 28, 2015permalink

Wow, I had though that the Samsung NX500 and Samsung NX1 were two entirely different and separate digital cameras. But apparently, they are no fully interchangeable using the fabulous "dennistennis app." So cool!

Jun 28, 2015permalink

Vanitas Photo

You are complaining because you want an NX1 at the price of the NX500???

#lostfateinhumanity

Jun 29, 2015permalink

"You are complaining because you want an NX1 at the price of the NX500???"

You must have swallowed the wrong pill, dude! You must also think that the NX1 and the NX500 are one and the same, eh?

Must be the summer flu or something.

Jun 29, 2015permalink

Vanitas Photo

Hahaha Francis Carver aww look at the silly troll, all green and angry and mushy... Dumby MF

Jul 1, 2015permalink

doodlesacker

I have successfully updated my NX500 to the new firmware (1.10) via WiFi. However, when I select Brightness Adjustment Guide in the Shooting Menu to On, the center marker appears! When I select Off, the center marker disappears!
If I select Center Marker in the User menu, nothing happens and the center marker does not appear. Am I missing something, or is this a bug?

Jun 27, 2015permalink

iAPX

This camera have an incredible value/money ratio, with Sony 6000 it's one rare mirrorless camera that makes me think about using one as my everyday camera (with a wide angle fast prime lens).

Jun 27, 2015permalink

Vignes

This body sells more than the NX1. Nice pricing. I don't mind spending on this vs. NX1 just to experience Samsung ILC.

Jun 27, 2015permalink

MocoMan

NX500 is a perfect camera for drones. But 4k monitoring is locked via HDMI. This is really frustrating. Come on Samsung !!! Unlock HDMI output!!! I will get Panasonic G7 with clean hdmi output now.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

DarnGoodPhotos

The G7 weighs a third more, something to consider when strapped to a drone.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

http://store.sony.com/interchangeable-lens-style-camera-zid27-ILCEQX1/B/cat-27-catid-All-Cyber-shot-Q-Series-Cameras

370gr vs 410 gr body only......
yeah that's 1/3rd more right geez.
more like an third of an third.

this is the future for drones i think. But it's not 4k and streaming of footage is still a bitch

Jun 27, 2015*permalink

iAPX

Where is the point to have an unlocked HDMI port, on a dorne mounted camera?
Do you want to add the weight of a 4K recorder and it's batteries on the drone? or a device to send back 4K images to you while flying?
Won't fly, you'd better choose an helicopter!!!

Jun 27, 2015permalink

@ MocoMan: "I will get Panasonic G7 with clean hdmi output now."

Okay, is the HDMI OUT w. the G7 a 10-bit color depth quality signal (as with GH4), or only an 8-bit color depth quality signal?

I assume it is 4:2:2 for the chroma, correct?

Thanks!

Jun 27, 2015permalink

Shellblower

Can anybody provide some ooc FullHD 30p material recorded with the new firmware and the PRO bitrate setting?

With the old firmware FullHD 30p looked really bad, probably due to the low bitrate: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vdv9ys6gltuviy4/SAM_0067.MP4?dl=0

Jun 26, 2015permalink

otto k

Not my video
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56051886

Jun 26, 2015permalink

MocoMan

#BarnET
I mean 4k mode overall disappears when you plug HDMI for video preview. You can record only HD or FHD :( Internal 4K video with preview via HDMI is disabled. This sucks!!!

Jun 28, 2015*permalink

MocoMan

What about video monitoring during 4K recording via HDMI? In 1.0 firmware I can't record 4K with HD monitor like Small HD.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

teddoman

"larger sensor read out data size" is tantalizingly vague.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

fatdeeman

Makes you wonder how much more your old outdated cameras are potentially capable of....

Most electronics have components inside that are overdeveloped or if you prefer underutilized. It's a good way of ensuring you have the necessary technology for a generation or two of follow up products if for some reason you have a delay in developing new technology.

Most devices have components inside that never fulfill their true potential before being superseded but the Canon 7d is a perfect example of just how much is deliberately held back. If the 7d II hadn't been delayed the hardware inside the 7d would have never realized it's true potential but because of the delay and the need for the 7d to remain competitive it received a huge firmware upgrade.

The magic lantern project also highlights how much is held back.

At the moment Canon and Nikon only seem to release decent firmware upgrades when it benefits themselves whereas other companies and doing it because it benefits their customers.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

snapa

If only a FW update could add an EVF and built-in flash, the NX500 would be a great little camera.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Get a a6000 and live with no 4k, no touchscreen, fewer megapixels, worse ISO, and way overpriced lenses and inferior autofocus.
This camera is suposed to compete with the a5100.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Or Panasonic G7 and get 4k with a real good viewfinder

Jun 25, 2015permalink

There's a $400 difference between the G7 & kit lens and NX500 w/kit lens. That almost buys 2 Fast Prime lenses like the excellent $200 30mm f/2 plus the $250 45mm f/1.8.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

It's 799 for the g7 kit and 699 for the nx500 kit.
Not too much for a viewfinder I would say.

Where the hell that you get that Inflated number?

Jun 25, 2015permalink

It's the first thing that shows up when you google Panasonic G7. The 14-140 lens is $1100. Yes, the 14-42 kit is only $799 so I stand corrected....

That said, what $$ value do you put on a larger sensor, better ISO performance, AMOLED display, 200+ AF points ? One of the best features when recording video with any Samsung camera is the ability to pause. With any other camera I've used, it creates new files everytime you stop recording. With the Sammy, you can record and pause so at the end of the moment, you have just one file to share rather than have to post process and stitch multiple files together... I think that's a great feature all cameras should offer

Jun 25, 2015*permalink

loph

I agree. I have a G7 and I like the NX500 more.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

Genza

@bmwzimmer
I still prefer the built in flash, fully articulated screen, better grip for better handling, Excellent external controls, and the most important Large number of high quality lenses available over the larger sensor, amoled and 200+ AF points on Samsung NX500.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

True, but there's no perfect camera. I rather have a touch screen than a view finder in my opinion. The flash that come separate is pretty compact enough that can stay there all there time.m Wish iit can bounce though.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

Genza

@mugupo
I'm sure most of us is mature enough to find out there's no so-called perfect camera.
But when i'm looking for new camera i always look at pros and cons, for me the Panasonic G7 has more pros than NX500.
And i think your argument about touch screen vs EVF is not valid because i can't find any logical reason why touch screen is better than EVF.
Let me explain why i know with touch screen you can operate the camera much more easier but you can still operate the camera even without the touch screen.
On the other hand no Screen can compete with EVF in terms of visibility/ image quality in reall bright environments you also can't get 3 point contact if there is no EVF/VF.
You can keep the flash attach on the top of the camera but it will make the 180° flip screen on NX500 pretty much useless for selfie shooter/ Vloger.

Panasonic G7 also has a touch screen and it will not be blocked when you using accessories on the hot shoe because it is fully articulated to the side of the camera.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

racin06

The NX500 is an awesome camera without an EVF and intregated flash. The rear AMOLED display on the NX500 is wonderful and stands up to even the brightest sunlight. I also own the NX1 which has an excellent EVF and I still find myself using the rear display 99% of the time. These Samsung AMOLED displays are that good!

Jun 27, 2015permalink

I was getting irritated at the Autofocus of the NX500 when there is a strong back light or flat pattern. Had to increase the focus square size to get more focus points working together to obtain focus. With any DSLR, all you needed was one good point and it would lock into almost anything.
Hopefully this will fix the problem.
I bought the Sammy solely because their excellent Pancake kit lens and their inexpensive but excellent 30mm f/2 and 10mm fisheye (possibly smaller and lighter than M43 offerings)

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Great news, can't wait to updated this for my nx500. The AF was terrible in low light, hoped the filmware increase drasmatic. I looking forward for the image capture for 4k video. This is what almost make me switch to Lumix G7. Perhaps is time to sell my 2 years old EOS M.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Randy Veeman

What didn't you like?
"The AF was terrible in low light..."
So what cameras do you use?
"2 years old EOS M"

LOL!

Jun 25, 2015permalink

justmeMN

Yesterday, I saw another television ad for Samsung washing machines. When people think of Samsung brand, that's the kind of thing they think of, not cameras.

Samsung lacks brand identity in the camera sector. The notion that Samsung is going to somehow overtake Canon/Nikon is hysterical.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

I agree that Samsung or even Sony has a long way to go before they could get the same brand recognition as Canon / Nikon. I also think that every time I use a Canon or Nikon DSLR it seems like a mature product which works as you expect whereas Samsung / Sony etc are still not as mature. However, Samsung / Sony / Fuji / Olymus / Panasonic are going in a much better direction for me than Canikon. I don't care how much commercial penetration a brand if it offers a product that I like.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

MacroBokeh

Troll alert!!!

Jun 25, 2015permalink

mxx

Yesterday I saw a television ad for Canon copiers, and realized I could not take them seriously as a camera manufacturer.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

MacroBokeh

isn't it very comfortable and happy to think that someday our Samsung cameras will soon be able to remote control Samsung Washing Machines, TV and Airconditioners. Well we know they already have a camera that is also a mobile phone....running Android.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

these days Canon makes better printers then camera's...........

Jun 26, 2015permalink

Vanitas Photo

Pretty weird I had a Canon calculator... GASP and it played Tetris!!! And no to mention the Canon Fax and photocopier... double gasp! Nikon made a Smartphone too Triple GASP!!! Lets pile up Canon, Nikon, Sony, Oly, Panasonic, etc. And burn them!!!!

We are going back to daguerrotypes that is true pure photography :)

#burnyourgearNOW

Jun 26, 2015permalink

tecnoworld

Now, samsung, please add cropped 4k and lossy raw as alternative options to nx1 as well! It's ridicolous they are present in the cheap nx500 and not in the flagship!

Also, please have a look at the many users' request in the eoshd forum.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Zeisschen

I don't own one but, great update! Samsung, Panasonic and Sony are truly leaving Canikon in the dust for video features!

I wished Sony would also offer WIFI firmware updates in the future. You can already download and install apps and their updates via WIFI, so why not the camera firmware? Given the problems that many have doing it via computer download and USB, this seems like a easier option...

Jun 25, 2015permalink

http://www.samsungimaging.com/file/download?XmlIdx=265&file=NX500_FW_v1.10.zip

Yeah, the wifi filmware update was a brilliant move by Samsung. Easy and simple to do. Canikon still has edge in better lens and image quality and focus speed. But mirrorless has come a long way and are neck to neck to caniikon no doubt.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

Zeisschen

Canon has edge in better lens and image quality?

Neither are their lenses better throughout the range nor is the image quality (sensors) state of the art. Focus speed? Think that's a par between Nikon and Canon.
What Canon has is a big lens "selection", that had absolutely nothing to do with quality! Lots of their lenses are so old they can't hold up with the modern high resolution cameras. Canon is selling more cameras because it's recognized as the biggest camera brand. Canon is the Toyota or Volkswagon of the camera industry. Not the best, not the cheapest, but middle class, which sells a lot!

Jun 26, 2015*permalink

Hagen Hirche

Anybody successful in updating the firmware? I tried several ways - via wifi and via their support website but can´t find the update.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Hagen Hirche

iLauncher also does not find an update. 1.00 still seems to be the newest version available. Is dpreview reporting news faster than Samsung delivering the update?

Jun 25, 2015permalink

vatazhka

It's available now, check again.
https://samsungnx.herokuapp.com/check?product=SAMSUNG+NX500

Jun 25, 2015*permalink

Hagen Hirche

Update: I gave it another (5th?) try via WIFI ( I guess I´m kind of stubborn). Now it found a new version 1.10. It´s downloading (337MB). It seems they delivered it that minute. Wow - am I the first using H.265 video with 70MBit/s on a NX500 in the world? Goosebumps, hahaha.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

zenfr2009

File to download :

"Manual upgrade is very easy to perform! First, download this file. If it's a .zip file, unzip it. Then, place the resulting .bin file in the topmost folder of your memory card. Next, ensure that your camera has been fully charged, then choose relevant option from the menu to update your camera/lens firmware."

Jun 25, 2015permalink

otto k

This seems to bring most of the NX1 v1.31 improvements to NX500. Good work samsung, kinda was afraid you were only updating the flagship. I'm inching closer to buying this camera, just add permanent focus peaking...

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Michael Ma

Wow....by far the best 4K ILC camera for the buck.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

that would be the Panasonic G7

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Zdman

Samsung is cheaper and does no line skipping although I'll admit the G7 has more video friendly features.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

abortabort

Panasonic doesn't do line skipping either.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Both crop in
The G7 has a 2.3x crop in 4k
The Samsung a 2.7x crop.

The problem is that M43 lenses are made with a 2x crop in mind. So the minor additional crop is nothing more then a small inconvenience.

The Samsung lenses are made for a 1.5x crop. which comes down to not having acces to wide-angle FOV at all in 4k mode.

Add that the NX500 does not have a mic jack and you see where this is going.

4k on the NX500 is pretty much a worthless gimmick. But it still is a great well constructed mirrorless with an awesome sensor and AF system.

good option for stills if you don't mind the lack of viewfinder.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

CameraLabTester

The nice thing about these camera brands (Samsung, Sony, etc), that are definitely NOT Canon and Nikon protocol, is that outstanding improvements come via FREE upgrades through software.

The big C and N will deliberately throttle the improvements on the next model down the line...

Good onya Samsung! and the other brands too!

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Impulses

Impossible, a TV/toaster brand can't possibly be doing anything better than Canikon.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Lassoni

Well, sadly NX500 doesn't have built-in EVF like rx100m4 or lx100 does.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

joyclick

The big N and C think they are the smartest a...ss...s around,they will eventually come down to earth...the fire hasn't yet reached their butts

Jun 25, 2015permalink

George1958

No disrespect but in my neck of the woods, no one has heard of Samsung as a credible camera brand, not because its a bad product, far from it. Pick the largest retailer in my area and the once large display of Samsung Cameras is empty, most were sold as clearance at huge reductions. Some may consider they have got a bargain, but if this is reliable indication of the likely future success of Samsung, they are not going to be in the camera business down the line, or at least not in the North of England. What ever the short comings of canon or Nikon, they do sell, and are generally well regarded for their products and also the services they provide to customer. Actual owners tend to see them as "nice products" PS I have no axe to grind about Samsung . I don't own any Samsung, Sony, Nikon or Canon gear so I don't have a stake in brand bashing.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Lassoni

Samsung (and even sony) have been fairly new to camera business, and there's still many ppl spreading the saying "you can't go wrong with either canon or nikon", when the only advantage of the two is at extreme telephoto end (and not everybody needs the extreme telephoto end, third party zooms like tamron 150-600 are eventually landing for every mount).

Things are much different now than they have been past 10 years.

Jun 25, 2015*permalink

George1958

I agree not every one needs a telephoto lens, I am not sure that this is the only difference between systems if you take into account lens range and professional services etc.
I don't think any one can take anything away from Samsung or Sony for their achievements and tremendous innovation, but in fairness I don't think it reasonable to Nikon or Canon should be negatively compared with either Samsung or Sony either. They have after all help develop a market place for both consumer and professional users and with some excellent products. They continue to make both make cameras that people want to buy even in the face of some very keen competition. I don't think Canon or Nikon will disappear because of either Sony or Samsung, IMHO I think Sony is likely to pull ahead with sales over Samsung, not because of the product but because of its low visibility in retail stores.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Caniikon is like brother, they release product very similar to each and boring. No major innovation till is like 3 or 4 years like you do in most car company. But Sony, Panasonic and now Samsung change the game by release much needed innovation. We had phone that advance by double speed in every year so why can't camera.

Jun 26, 2015permalink

Looks like NX1 got a firmware update as well. No news on that?

Jun 25, 2015permalink

HowaboutRAW

What's the number?

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Looks like NX1 firmware 1.3 was released within last day or two as well.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

otto k

Nope, even 1.31 exists for some time.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

http://www.slashgear.com/samsung-nx1-firmware-1-3-tackles-video-recording-quality-24390452/

Looks like I was misled by the articles such as the following:

The article was published yesterday and says that firmware 1.3 for NX1 has just been announced. And it is appearing in google as the latest headline news.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

appleRX100

Cool!

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Random Photographer

In the future, fanboys will wonder what this "Canikon" was as they partake in the Samsony wars.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Lassoni

Sam's Sony wars

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Impulses

You think the way it'll shake out is Samsung/Sony over Fuji/Pana/Oly? Or just going for comedic effect? Personally I think it's too early to call, but there'll definitely be a shake out on the long run. Then again, none of those brands are solely dependent on their camera business so who knows... With the entire industry becoming more of a niche there might indeed be room for more players, ironically.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

legokangpalla

Samsony sounds like Samsonite for some reason...

Jun 25, 2015permalink

Nick Swe

Yep, the firmware worked via wifi. Good Samsung. You are serious in this.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

by WiFi?!

Samsung sure is ahead of all other brands in this aspect.
for all other camera's i first had to format a SD card. put only the firmware update on it. boot the camera with the SD-card. make sure the battery is topped off. And then let it do it's thing.

In short a pain in the butt in comparison.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

falconeyes

Canikon isn't at risk. The challengers (as Sony calls itself) would have had to agree on a single mirrorless full frame capable mount standard. They didn't, battle lost already ...

Jun 25, 2015permalink

parakalien

The moment Canon/Nikon start seeing their sales drop an appreciable amount they will magically introduce features comparable or better than Sony/Pano/Samsung and jump back in the lead again. They just have too much money/marketshare/engineers.
I own an nx500 and love it. I couldn't touch it's features or quality in any canon or Nikon camera under $5k. But in the future? That will change.
Just because right now canon and Nikon are sitting on their fame doesn't mean they won't innovate when they need to.

Jun 25, 2015permalink

apphole

@parakelian

Be careful with that line of thought. Yes, some do, yet some don't. Playing the nap some, sprint some game in the race hasnt proved fruitful for all. If history is any indication, sitting on ones laurels for even a minute too long can spell disaster for the mightiest of Goliaths. Just ask Kodak, or RIM if you need examples.

Jun 26, 2015permalink