EX2F is currently more expensive than NX1000. Smaller sensor, non interchangeagle lens. Why?

...and other than no manual controls in video and one or two oddities, it is excellent. I have owned all manner of compact and pro sumer digital cameras, and I get more keepers with the EX2F than any of them, including the also excellent Panasonic GH2, Pentax K10D etc.

The key Samsung's mix of a superb fast lens, accurate colours and rendition, outstanding 1080P video (the sound recording is very good too - has to be heard!), build quality (have dropped mine so many times), tactile controls (self timer etc on a dial not a menu), articulating display, USB charging etc.

No other compact, Samsung included, has bested it. If the EX2F was a Panasonic, Sony, Olympus etc, it would have been a best seller, it is purely Samsung's lack of brand recognition that hurts it.

The high price - to answer your question - is probably due to lack of high street availability. Here in the UK, it was hardly ever sold in the high street, except by Jessops, but they never had a demo model out, refusing to open the box. Which may be why they went out of business!

I'm holding onto mine until something better comes out, IE, EX3F.

As others have said, the Pentax MX-1 is good for similar reasons, although the lack of a wide angle lens is a killer for me because I do landscape and interior shooting.

BTW, if you zoom in slightly to avoid fish eye distortion, the EX2F is also great for portraits. I get clean high contrast shots that people love.

If there is no EX3D at Photokina, get an EX2F and you'll never look back.