Samsung NX cameras and audio/Mic Input - The reason for the flop in sales of the NX cameras...

Happy Daze wrote:

For instance let’s take the NX500, the first question is would I buy one? Amongst others I have NX300 so it would seem like a natural progression, but I was offended by the typical marketing strategy that once affected another camera I bought the Canon EOS 300D. That strategy is FIRMWARE CRIPPLING, I loath it.

Take a great camera like the NX1 and then using the same sensor and works put it into a different body. Save costs by making the body and mount less robust, take away the EVF remove the mic input, make it obvious that the NX1 is a much better camera hence a higher price. BUT, we really don’t want people buying this camera over the NX1 so now we will f*** it up by reducing the capabilities in firmware, we’ll have to give them 4K but let’s not do the full frame sampling let’s instead introduce a ridiculous crop factor which means that nobody can use it seriously, then they will have to buy the NX1 instead, simples!

There is no doubt in my mind that the NX500 could produce video every bit as good as the NX1 with a simple firmware change, They made some rubbish excuse about a “different engine” which angers me that they expect us to believe that they are going to spend the money on developing a different chip-set from one that already works and probably costs nothing to manufacture after the initial R&D. This made me lose respect for Samsung which is sad because I would have bought one or two NX500’s to back up my NX1, so they lost two sales from me alone.

Personally I don’t care about the audio I would always capture sound separately anyway because then you can source sound from different places and mix it afterwards for much superior results.

Firmware crippling is a terrible waste but an all too common practice by manufacturers and I’m not just talking cameras.

I have a NX300 and a NX500 and the 500 is a much better camera in every sense. The 500 is a perfect B-cam for a set with the NX1. and the crop is an advantage, as you can have a wide shot with the NX1 (in an interview for example) and a close up with the 500, and you can use the 500 as an everyday camera and give the 300 to your kids/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/friends/niece/cousins/relatives/whatever, or keep it as a camera that you are not afraid to, even, destroy, if you want.

One has to be deranged to expect a camera that costs 400-500$ kit to have everything one needs in a camera. The NX500 video is already very good, I do not understand why it has to be NX1 equiv. as the NX1 video is better than GH4/70D/A6000 cameras, why don't you go complain to their forums, that they do not produce a 500$ camera that does everything perfect.

For the price, the NX500 is the best camera right now, and you should get one until it's too late.

With the 12-24 the crop factor is 28,8, which is not that bad for my use, or else you can do PRO full HD or you can go buy the A7Sii or A7Rii.

Don't take me wrong, I agree with you, but the whole world works in specific ways and utopias are non existent.