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Samsung NX1 Audible Noise and OIS Questions

Started Dec 22, 2014 | Discussions thread
jkoch2
jkoch2 Senior Member • Posts: 1,198
Answer: Samsung 18-200 f/3.5-6.5 Movie Pro Lens with Silent AF

STexan wrote:

I'm running the Samsung 16-50 "S" lens on NX1 with updated firmware (body and lens)

Why does the camera (or lens?) make a "humming/whirring" sound at all times when it's on?

Probably the AF, although possibly the OIS too.

I don't think Samsung promises that either the 16-50 or 55-200 fast lenses, although fast and expensive, have silent AF.   This is a pitty, since buyers may wish to shoot video and be unable to afford other lenses or rig-up external mics, which I don't think the NX1 allows one to control very well.  Camera reviewers usually ignore on-board audio capture altogether, although they should not.  True, the earliest DSLR cameras that captured good video had such bad on-board mics, and some remain very bad, but most people need to know if there is some way to get half-good sound without need for a studio-type set-up or an awkward add-on apparatus.

The Samsung Movie Pro lens uses a silent voice coil motor that is supposed to spare audio capture of any lens noises.

Anyone considering use of the NX1 for lots of video should probably consider that lens.  It is not as fast as the two expensive, recent lenses, but is pretty versatile and apparently optimized for video.

Oh, did I repeat myself saying that the two fast lenses are expensive?  Well, repeat I shall again.  Of course fast lenses are expensive, but (expensive or not) they weren't billed as ideal for video, unless one dumps or smothers the native audio or shoots only in loud settings.

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