NX500 still worth it in 2020?

kewals wrote:

Hi mate, I was buying and selling NX500 four times because wanted to try a camera that I thought would be better but eventually always came back to nx500 due to its amazing image quality, pancake lenses and small size. My favourite lenses are 45mm f1.8, 20mm f2.8 and Samyang 8mm f2.8 fisheye. I have tried NX1 with expensive lenses (loved it but too large), Now I own also Sony a7R3 with amazing image quality but again unlike NX500 I can't keep it with me all the time. NX500 has an amazing sensor and I believe that as far as detail is concerned it can be surpassed only by high-resolution ff cameras like a7r3 etc but the difference is not that big anyway. I thought about 12-14 as it has v good reviews but a bit too large while Samyang 8mm is small and great fun. I wouldn't buy 20-40 nor 16-50 kit lenses as although they are not bad the combination of 20mm and 45mm gives much better results and they are very sharp. 45mm is one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used (including wide open) and both are cheap. I also like 20mm because with nx550 it is pocketable :-). I've had about 20 different cameras and many good lenses.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

Within my short period of NX500 ownership I could not agree more regarding the 45mm performance. Super sharp, even wide open.

I am somewhat disappointed with the performance of the 16-50mm PZ. Corner performance with my copy seems sub-par. It made make look after a 16-50mm f2-2.8. Despite the fact it is pretty big and heavy, the optical performance seems to be great. For the moments I need a compact kit I can always use the 45mm and/or the 30mm.

The 12-24mm is a great performer. Really sharp corner to corner.

I considered the a7rIII also, but the price performance relationship for what I need favored the NX500 instead. Good to hear that I am not missing that much!