Samsung 16-50mm f/2-2.8 S Reviewed

Raw Jaw wrote:

Thank you Eric for your very informative review.

I love using my recent aquisition, the 16-50PZ, and have used it on my NX30 as my main event lens,

with very satisfactory results, based on my client's responses.

Adding on top of this your comment:

"So far this lens is 100 times better in the 30-50mm range of my 16-50mm power zoom. At 16mm the difference isn’t as much.",

I can only surmise that I will not miss anything by trading in my Nikon Pro glass for the two NX S pieces of glass.

,I would like to read your comments on ergonomics during a full wedding day.

Thanks for your review.

I might need to update that comment since my 16-50mm appears to be a dud at the 30mm to 50mm range. I get a lot of halos and other issues, overall softness. I should probably take that out until I know if my copy is bad or not.

I think the NX 16-50mm f/2.8 S lens is pretty comparable to the Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 or something, but I get more reliable focus (D7000 didn't like using the off center points much, it would often confirm focus but be out of focus, it helped once I realized those points were not cross type).

Ergonomics of the 16-50mm? It is heavy, but feels like any other 16-50mm f/2.8 for a DSLR. Zoom ring is a little close to grip on NX30, I see NX1 is wider. This might require adjusting how you hold the lens. You really do give up any size and most of the weight advantage vs a DSLR, but I like the more consistent focus, ability to rapidly check focus with DMF or peaking. I think focus might not be fastest of Samsung lenses, but is quick. I will add to that and say I think it focuses better than some other Samsung lenses. Only out of focus shots are typical focus on high contrast hair highlights or something. I wish Samsung would add eye detect to its face detect focus.

Of the NX30, I found it fine for a full day, one thing that makes it more comfortable for me is to extend the viewfinder straight backwards, or wear my contact lenses since the eye point isn't very compatible with eye glasses.

I think image quality though is definitely at least as good as equivalent lenses from Canon/Nikon and I hope for the same from the 50-150mm. You would at least want to try it before totally jumping over though, a weak point with NX30 is definitely processional if the lighting is bad (as it often is). The guy a shoot with shoots a 5dIII and he was surprised I was able to focus during reception dancing, but I did have to use my bright green AF light, which is a little irritating to people :).

By no means perfect, but works well for what I do (realize I don't shoot a lot of weddings, maybe 4 a summer or something). I have shot 3 with the NX30 with 16-50mm and 85mm now. I think for those 3 the 16-50 gets between 50 and 70% of the shots, but would have to double check. Just depends on how much I can use the 85mm, tighter indoor event not as much, outside wedding like the last one I think I used it for half the shots. The 85 does have a tendancy to focus on hair highlights if not careful (more noticeable at least than 16-50mm f/2.8, likely due to depth of field), so I like to use that one in DMF and tweak it a bit. This is most noticeable when I am doing head shots.

Since I shoot as second shooter I watch what the main shooter is using and use something different.  For example if he is using the 24-70mm, I tend to grab the 85mm.  If I see him using the 70-200mm I tend to grab the 16-50mm.  I figure less shot duplication this way.  I shoot main shooter sometimes, but hate formal shots and am not the type to like to plan with the clients or anything so I prefer second shooter

Eric