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Samsung GX-20 review

Started Jun 22, 2008 | User reviews thread
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Dave Deacon Senior Member • Posts: 2,179
Samsung GX-20 review

Basically it is the Pentax K20D in other clothes. I like the look of these clothes :). The camera is fast to operate and focus (SDM lenses improve focus speed even further). It offers excellent functions [water resistant (shoot in the rain), pixel remap, lens adjust, ISO exposure modes, Image Stabiliser (OIS), Sensor Clean etc] all of which are genuinely useful. Menus are intuitively easy to use.

Image Quality is excellent through the ISO range: detail is superb as is colour and noise is very well controlled. They've done a great job squeezing 15MP onto an APSC sensor giving 14.6MP good quality pixels.

It takes all Pentax, Samsung lenses and many third party makes (Sigma, Tamron and Tokina) offer lots of lenses in the Pentax mount. You also have access to all those old but good Pentax lenses. So, no shortage of glass.

Flashguns and other add-ons are available. Those for Pentax work too.

Samsung says it is in the DSLR business for the long haul wanting to offer top pro DSLRs. They have shown that commitment by producing this excellent CMOS sensor. But even if they stopped, the lens investment in Pentax would be safe via Pentax bodies. Really, you've got more chance of innovation and durability with two companies than with one...

Problems:

The Samsung I have does NOT have the 2sec delay hot pixel issue of the Pentax K20D. However, the firmware offered to K20Ds will soon be offered for the GX20 via Samsung's site - where you can download the manual.

 Dave Deacon's gear list:Dave Deacon's gear list
Nikon D7100 Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4D ED-IF Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm F2.8G ED Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E II +14 more
Samsung GX-20
15 megapixels • 2.7 screen • APS-C sensor
Announced: Jan 24, 2008
Dave Deacon's score
5.0
Average community score
4.8
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