New Firmware 1.3!

Trenman said:

Does this work in video mode too?

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I don't shoot video so I can't really answer. I'm sure someone more experienced in video can help you.

Ralph McIntosh said:

Thank you very much for your explanation, now I understand your problems with the BB.

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In some of the examples in the second article, I would have used manual focus but can see the benefit for those who prefer AF.

Jan Behrens said:

Jan Behrens said:

[...] As you can see, Samsung didn't fix issues that should have been known to them for months.

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... furthermore, the update to v1.30 seems to introduce a new bug.

Jan Behrens said:

Stopping recording and returning to movie standby mode (instead of capture mode) still re-enables the autofocus.

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Testing this a bit more thoroughly revealed that the camera won't autofocus when switching back from movie recording to movie standby mode (even if the autofocus is re-enabled or was previously enabled). Autofocus is enabled, but the camera won't focus anymore automatically (after re-entering movie standby mode). In that case, the focus ring on the "16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS" lens will also no longer allow you to zoom but changes the focus when turned. Pressing the record button, however, activates autofocus again.

To reproduce this behavior, do the following:

• Enter movie standby mode (usually by pressing RIGHT). "MF OFF" will be shown in the display, i.e. autofocus is on.
• Turn the focus ring of the "16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS" lens. The lens will zoom in or out, depending on the direction.
• Press the record button. The camera starts recording (with autofocus on).
• Press the record button again. The camera will return to movie standby mode. "MF OFF" is still shown in the display, i.e. autofocus is supposed to be on.
• Turn the focus ring of the "16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS" lens. The lens will no longer zoom but instead change the focus according to the movement of the focus ring (like in manual focus mode) even while autofocus is supposed to be on.

While this is certainly a bug, there is also an upside of this behavior. It allows you to make multiple recordings without losing your focus:

1. Enter movie standby mode
2. Enable manual focus
3. Record a movie
4. Stop recording (camera will return to movie standby mode and will NOT start re-focussing because of this bug)
5. Re-enable manual focus
6. Record a second movie with the same focus

Anyway, it's still a bug. I also don't understand why the autofocus is enabled in the first place at all. If it's disabled in capture mode, I certainly don't want it enabled in video mode either.

I contacted Samsung Germany some months ago and sent them a whole list of bugs (see also this post), and all I got was some friendly answers with no real information. Samsung had plenty of time to fix a lot of bugs that should have been known to them for months (assuming that Samsung Germany didn't lie to me). I also don't understand why they still have no proper AFL/AEL support (or back-button focussing) yet. The hardware is nice, but the firmware issues regarding handling seem to be ignored! :-(

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Pressing the "right" button twice in rapid succession should fix that.

Btw, activating the manual focus switch on the lens will put the camera into manual focus all the time.

wpstl said:

Kaziklu said:

wpstl said:

Kaziklu said:

But having post after post whining about it is getting old.

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There's an easy solution to that...stop reading. Being an ass must not be getting old.

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I'm not being an ass. I'm just tired of the whole unconstructive comments. I've listened to Samsung Reps in the past speak about this forum as nothing but whiners that don't know what they are talking about. I'm just saying what I'm sure others are thinking.

Why not say hey this is working well but it would be nice if they improved it in the following ways.

Instead of saying... this sucks they screwed this up so badly.. they need to fix this right away... I can't believe they haven't fixed this.

I haven't been an ass in any major way... I have just stated flat out it is time to grow up and stop whining in every thread and when that gets too much starting new ones to whine some more... this board is full of people running around like Chicken Little.

There is nothing wrong with the way the AF-ON works. It works exactly as it is written to. It is true back button AF. A few improvements can still be made... and if that was the tone of these comments it would be a totally different story.

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I was a bit harsh with my "ass" comment. Sorry about that. And I agree with your statements about the forum. But there's nothing wrong with discussing issues and weaknesses. But you are wrong about one thing: there is something wrong with the way AF-On works and it's not really a minor issue. It's not a fatal flaw either but it does force advanced users into no longer using a proven technique we've been using for years. I don't know who Tony Northrip is, but do a web search on the AF-On technique and you'll find a large number of people explaining the benefits. If you don't see the problem then you haven't used it enough. I'll explain one more time and then be done with it:

The shutter release button should never be used for focusing. Never. The shutter release should be used to activate OIS and to take the shot, nothing more. In other words, I want focus completely removed from the shutter release. I've been in photography both professionally and as an advanced amateur for a long time and I haven't pressed the shutter release button to focus in years. Until I started using Samsung cameras. Even the lowest Nikon bodies (D3200 etc.) allow you to map a button for correct BBAF. I can understand not having the button on the NX3000, even the NX30, but to have it on a camera as nice (and expensive) as the NX1 and then not do it correctly is frustrating. In another post, you made this comment:

"if the object is moving than why would you want to lock the focus?"

The object in photography is to actually take a photo and (in most cases) have it in focus. With CAF you track the subject but at some point you want to take an image when the action reaches the point you feel captures the moment. And you want it in focus. With BBAF, you can have the CAF on, track the subject, release the button locking focus at the decisive moment, and take the shot with the shutter release. There's zero chance of refocus. Then when the action starts again, use the back button to start tracking again. You get both SAF and CAF in one. Once you use it this way for a week, you'll never go back.

If Samsung wants to convince "pros" and advanced users to switch from DSLRs they need to make the transition easy. And this takes away from it. I've kept a couple of Nikon bodies and lenses because I'm not ready to make the switch entirely. Having the BAF work as it should, more fast lenses, etc. would probably do the trick. I do think it's an easy fix and I hope to see it in a future firmware update. Samsung has been great with the firmware updates-much better than Nikon-which is one of the many reasons I want to make the switch. Anyway...Enough about this.

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Just because other cameras do it differently doesn't mean that is the proper way to do it.

I can just picture you standing there for hours mashing a button and muttering "why doesn't this work the way it should" instead of learning your equipment and using it the way it was designed.

Samsung do it differently, and if you have a Samsung camera do it the Samsung way instead of crying about not being able to do it the Nikon (or whoever) way.

Tugela said:

Just because other cameras do it differently doesn't mean that is the proper way to do it.

I can just picture you standing there for hours mashing a button and muttering "why doesn't this work the way it should" instead of learning your equipment and using it the way it was designed.

Samsung do it differently, and if you have a Samsung camera do it the Samsung way instead of crying about not being able to do it the Nikon (or whoever) way.

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Let me get this straight...every camera manufacturer who ever put an AF-ON button on a camera does it the same way except for Samsung and Samsung is the one that got it right? What are the odds of that?

I take back what I said about you not being an ass; you are. Your comments are idiotic.

I know the NX1 and other cameras better than you; I can guarantee that. I'm sorry to disappoint you but the NX1 isn't perfect and it's perfectly acceptable to point out its deficiencies. It's doesn't make us Samsung bashers. I like the camera very much and, have no plans to sell it, but if Samsung wants it to compete against serious cameras then it needs to function like one. If you can't understand that then you have a problem. It's obvious your photography education is limited and, I suspect you photograph mostly cats for Facebook and Instagram, so your opinion doesn't matter much. There are people who want to make this camera even better and understand the need for this feature and we'd like to discuss it so please leave the discussion to the adults. Maybe we can start a new thread about it and you can go live in your world where Samsung is the all knowing powerful photography God who does everything right and all the other makers suck. Maybe you can start a thread about that.

Tugela said:

Jan Behrens said:

[...] the update to v1.30 seems to introduce a new bug.

[...]

[...] the camera won't autofocus when switching back from movie recording to movie standby mode (even if the autofocus is re-enabled or was previously enabled). Autofocus is enabled, but the camera won't focus anymore automatically (after re-entering movie standby mode). In that case, the focus ring on the "16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS" lens will also no longer allow you to zoom but changes the focus when turned. Pressing the record button, however, activates autofocus again.

[...]

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Pressing the "right" button twice in rapid succession should fix that.

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Yes, (if you wait long enough between each press) it circumvents the issue. As does pressing the "AF ON" button twice. But that means you have to press a button twice before you are able to zoom again (in standby mode). I don't believe this behavior is intended.

The bigger problem is that the autofocus mode is (re-)enabled in the first place (see below).

Tugela said:

Btw, activating the manual focus switch on the lens will put the camera into manual focus all the time.

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Not everyone owns a lens with a manual focus switch. For example, the "16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS" lens doesn't have an auto/manual focus switch. Neither does the "Samsung NX 30mm F2 Pancake". I plan to use the latter lens on a (light) Glidecam for movie recording because it has only little weight and only little change of the center of mass when changing the focus.

If Samsung fixes this bug without allowing to disable autofocus completely (when using a lens without AF/MF switch), then I will run into the same problems I previously had: it's not easily possible to record several movies with the same focus because the autofocus gets (re-)enabled when (re-)entering movie mode or movie standby mode.

Kind Regards,
Jan Behrens

I agree with wpstl. Samsung does not have the history or pedigree with photography that Canikon do, so if you want to pull users into your system, make the handling familiar, especially BBF which is a pretty major feature serious/professional/advanced users use. Fuji is an example of this. When they came out with the Xsystem they decided to do things film photographers were used to and liked. It got them almost a cult following because those photographers were able to jump right in and the cameras worked like they were used to them working. They make digital cameras with manual aperture rings on the lenses for a reason, and you can still change the aperture without using the ring if you want. That's big in pulling away the competitions buyers, give them the new and the old OPTION.

Being "new to the game" as Samsung is means they are more likely to think outside of the box and do things differently, which is very good...BUT, something like BBF can be implemented in FW as a set up choice. It is just like the aperture rings. Set it up so that users have a choice in how it behaves. You can win over more users to your system!

Put the option in to set up your camera up for BBF the way Canikon users are used to and what you'll have are Canikon users telling others "hey, you can set up your NX1 like your Nikon does and not miss a beat" which is a better than "it doesn't really do BBF, it does a form of it". Lets be honest, Samsung borrowed from other manufacturers when making the NX1 and have steadily increased the customization ability which is why people from different systems CAN jump in and set it up to behave like they are used to. Why do you think they added the ability to change the dial direction! It is just smart business as a manufacturer trying to gain a bigger slice of the market to make your system customizable so that you can not only do things in a new way, but also be SET UP to work in the way a user is used to. I am positive BBF is waaay more tried and used in Canikons than Samsung

Saying "stop complaining about how it works and just use it the way we made it even though it isn't the way everyone is used to and liked already" reminds me of the former CEO of Microsoft getting on a stage and telling users to stop complaining about windows 8 and the removal of a true Start button and just use it even though it is different from what has been proven to work and liked." We see how that worked out...

Jeff Style said:

Saying "stop complaining about how it works and just use it the way we made it even though it isn't the way everyone is used to and liked already" reminds me of the former CEO of Microsoft getting on a stage and telling users to stop complaining about windows 8 and the removal of a true Start button and just use it even though it is different from what has been proven to work and liked." We see how that worked out...

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I didn't say stop complaining... I said stop whining incessantly. Every thread, for half dozen or more posts... this doesn't work the way I like it, or want it to work... samsung is bad how dare they... I want it to work my way.. this is stupid...


This is what I've read almost since before the NX1 came out... every little thing if it isn't one thing it is something else.


On this manner all you needed to say... is "it is a shame that the back button AF doesn't work in the same way as it does on a Canikon. I'd really love to seem them change this so that it does X. This is a feature that is very handy is as people are switching over this would make the change much easier. Particularly as this is supposed to be a pro level camera and that is a feature the is beloved by people who shoot things like sports and wildlife. "


That is a clear statement, it shows your thoughts, it isn't insulting, or belittling of Samsung. It can be said once.. and no one is really going to argue with it.


Instead all the discussions about BBAF has used words like Real BBAF, Proper BB-AF.
I've been using Samsung since May of 2011, I'm in complaint fatigue. I actually walk away from these boards for stretches because there is nothing constructive just constant complaints. This is the one that finally had me say I've had enough.


this is about 1.3 I come in looking for info on 1.3 that I may not know yet. Yet I have to filter through posts of people (and yes some not all of the people in here are just whining) about things they feel entitled to. The problem is in the Back Button case I had to go look it up to understand what the hell people were talking about it because no one took the time to actually constructively say something.

Samsung has a poor track record, you are absolutely right. I have no disagreement about it. I damn near switched system on at least 2 occasions. If the NX1 wasn't want I needed in a camera I was ready to pull the trigger on either a Nikon D610, D750 or a Fuji XT-1. Samsung really does have poor marketing, poor communication with it's customers. I have a list of things I'd like to see Samsung do.

But Samsung has the right to do what it wants, when there was talk that the NX1 was going to be a rangefinder style, I thought that was silly with all their other camera's being DSLR style. I said they have the right to do it, but that will tell me they are going in a direction I don't like and it'll be time for me to change systems. Of course at that point it had been a year of "why isn't there a range finder style camera like the Sony... blah blah blah."

Take a step back and really read the post on these boards... if you were a Samsung rep how long would you read a thread... before you just said.. screw it... who do we know in Romania that we can hand the camera to and get feed back.

I have literally been told by a Samsung Rep, don't believe anything on this forum they don't know what they are talking about. That is Samsung opinion of this place. I'd like to see that change. In order to do that, we need to dial back the rhetoric and start communicating properly... and not fill threads with needless posts... like this one I'm writing now.

If there is an issue just say... He is my issue, this is how I'd like to see it change, thank you very much, pass the tea. Let me know if it does or if there is a work around. It is much easier to read and it is much harder to argue. Also say it in one thread.. not over and over again.

Id love to see Taffy put a sticky post at the top with current bugs and requests... where people can post and once it is tested a little verified and properly explained it can be written up concisely and diplomatically, and all other post pertaining to it deleted. It would solve a lot of this.

If a work around is found or people want to discuss it they can then start a thread related to it and have just the one thread.. link to in the sticky post.

it would solve a ton of this and keep things much more civil I think...
Ok that was a lot of ramble.. my apology's

I am not having any problems using the BB-AF on the NX1. When in CAF just keep your finger on the AF-ON button and when you are ready for the shot press the shutter. It will NOT refocus (unless you take your finger off the AF-ON). I am not an experienced user and I have never owned a Canon or Nikon but I don't understand how it can be that difficult to hold your finger on the AF-ON, it is very conveniently located and you will get used to it very quickly.

Please correct me if I am wrong on this.....maybe I am missing something. (No insults intended but just can't figure out what all the fuss is about)

Harleysoftail said:

I am not having any problems using the BB-AF on the NX1. When in CAF just keep your finger on the AF-ON button and when you are ready for the shot press the shutter. It will NOT refocus (unless you take your finger off the AF-ON).

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I can not confirm what you are saying.

If I set the "AF ON" button to "AF Start" or "Metering & AF Start", then pressing and holding the "AF ON" button (in "Continuous AF" or "Active AF" mode) will make the camera re-focus while I hold the button.

Harleysoftail said:

I am not an experienced user and I have never owned a Canon or Nikon but I don't understand how it can be that difficult to hold your finger on the AF-ON, it is very conveniently located and you will get used to it very quickly.

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I would like to be able to shoot a series of pictures with the same focus setting (while still being able to auto-focus once by pressing a button). I personally don't want to keep my finger on the camera all the time.

Harleysoftail said:

Please correct me if I am wrong on this.....maybe I am missing something. (No insults intended but just can't figure out what all the fuss is about)

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See above.

Furthermore, the command wheels are blocked whenever the "AF ON" button is used to hold the focus.

Kind Regards,
Jan Behrens