Samsung image quality

Peadingle wrote:

Joe Melillo wrote:

I have a Nikon D800 but I still use the ex1/tl 500when I want to travel light.-

Joe Melillo
WSSA member# 86
http://www.pbase.com/jmelillo/root

That's the issue Joe - I don't have a DSLR when I need better image quality than my EX1 can give me (mainly low light pictures).

So, I took the plunge yesterday and bought a (used) Canon G1 X that should give me near DSLR quality but still be small enough to carry around with the EX1 in the other pocket.

And that purchase has nothing to do with brand names! It's to do with the G1 X being the only compact camera with a large sensor and fully articulating screen that I can afford - at least that I know of.

I'm sure that the Canon takes good photos, but I'm generally not a fan of  cropped sensor compacts with slow fixed zooms. The G1X  probably takes good shots up to ISO 1600, but I've found that the EX1 does about the same up to 400. The EX1 zoom is about 2 stops faster so it's a wash.  Take a look at the last posted sample, of Epcot Morocco.  That was shot at ISO 400 and f1.8 and probably cleaned up a bit in post processing. One of the beauties of a small sensor camera is great depth of field wide open. I doubt whether the Canon would have produced a better final image.

I do like crop sensor cameras like the Samsung NX 20 (which I also own) because you can use fast primes for low light work.   Of course the NX 20 also has a significant resolution advantage over both the compact EX 1 and the Canon. However, it's not pocketable and I still prefer the little EX1 for some uses.

A used Samsung NX1000 might have been worth your consideration, outfitted with the kit 20-50 zoom and a 30 mm prime.  The camera has always been a bargain. However it lacks an articulating screen.

The low light ability of a full frame camera like the D800 is on a entirely different plane. I would consider a full frame compact with a slowish but high quality zoom.

Of course everyone has different needs and preferences, so enjoy your camera! In the end it's your vision and imagination, not the camera, that counts the most.