Quick review of NX3000 (very early in ownership)

I'm in the UK and have just picked up an NX3000 (black grip areas) with the 16-50 PZ lens.  Just thought I'd post my initial thoughts here in case it was of any use to anyone.  It's only 6 hours since I picked it up, so these are pretty superficial observations.

The camera actually looks quite attractive (as long as you like retro styling).  As I suspected would be the case, the body is actually just as plastic in construction as the NX1000/1100 and NX2000 - it just doesn't look as though it is - till you handle it.  The top and baseplates are silver painted polycarbonate, but as I said, they look convincingly metallic.  The main body is moulded in quite a convincing-looking leather grain, but again it is purely hard polycarbonate - not even a layer of "soft touch" paint over it.  There are a few metal components here and there.

I'll check the box more thoroughly later, but it doesn't appear that a hot shoe cover is supplied any more.

The 16-50 PZ lens has a metal mount and OIS.  The zoom motor is quite quiet and smooth, with a choice of speeds.  The focus ring also operates as a (faster) zoom ring when focusing is set to AF.  AF is quiet.  I've yet to scrutinise results to see how the lens performs.

The 3 inch screen has no antireflective coating (I notice this also vanished between the NX1000 and NX1100) and a simple upwards-only hinge which also flips fully forwards.  Considering that the resolution has taken a nosedive to 460k, it actually seems quite good but I'll be surer of this when I check it at home without my contact lenses in - I can focus closer on it then!.  Actually, I've always been surprised that the NX1000/1100 has a 900k-plus screen because it looks coarser than that to me - I've always been aware of lines in the pixels (vertical ones, from memory).  I don't think I see those here.  Viewing angles seem good and wide.  The menus are restyled and look quite nice, with vertical tabs.

I see Samsung has "done a Sony" and removed the dust removal vibration system (Sony did this to their cheaper NEX models some time ago).  In some ways the overall design of the NX3000 seems a bit reminiscent of the Sony NEX-3n actually (which may or may not be a good thing, depending on your point of view) but it's better-looking and the screen seems of better quality.

I see the battery is the same one as used in the NX Mini - quite a high mAH rating but a lower voltage system than usually seen in mirrorless cameras at 3.4 V.  The USB charging lead on the UK model at least is pretty short - about 30 cm or so.

That's all I have noticed so far.  I guess it's a fairly unexciting model but it seems decent enough and I was interested to see the new power zoom lens.

Raw Jaw wrote:

IMO you were too quick to post your 'incomplete' observations salted with many negative vibes.

I look forward to your comments once you know your camera a bit better.

The quick review was useful. Since this camera is basically the NX300 with bits removed, having a review state these is good. If you don't like it perhaps you could place the same comment on all of DPReview's 'First Impressions Reviews'.

I appreciate reading your first and subsequent impressions. Thanks for taking the time.

So the NX3000 doesn't have the Ultrasonic Wave Sensor Cleaning, like my NX1000 does have? I know the Display Resolution is cutted to half, 460k instead of 920k Pixels, too.

Helen wrote:

marc petzold wrote:

So the NX3000 doesn't have the Ultrasonic Wave Sensor Cleaning, like my NX1000 does have? I know the Display Resolution is cutted to half, 460k instead of 920k Pixels, too.

That's correct. Samsung have left off some features whilst introducing others, perhaps to clarify its position in the range. Also gone is that vertical peaking bar for manual focus - the NX3000 doesn't have the more recent type of peaking either, just magnification in MF. Though the screen has 460k dots instead of 920k, I don't find that too disturbing a difference as (to me) it seems a better-quality panel that they've used, with less obvious lines on it - I always had trouble believing my NX1000 really had a 920k screen (I still have that camera).

Considering its quite low price, I think the NX3000 is worth having, if only to get the 16-50 PZ lens at a bargain price.

The really-low resolution playback issue I mentioned in my original post has been largely solved by a firmware upgrade (it's still a bit softer than the real image, but on the initial firmware it was a really serious problem, for me at least).

Thanks for info, Helen. That's...uhum...way bad, but considering the price point alone, very understandable from samsung's front. For instance, here into germany within the big "MediaMarkt" Stores - you can get the NX3000 together with the new all new 16-50 Powerzoom, and the usually Lightroom 5 Fullversion, which is upgradeable to currently the latest 5.6 - all for as low as just 249 EUR! The 16-50 PZ alone costs 329 EUR, retail.

For instance, my old Lumix G1 Panasonic does also only have a 460k LCD Display and a 1.44MP EVF, but i consider both good enough - as long as you don't use it indoors...you can easily get color smearing...especially from the EVF...but not outside. I do mostly landscape, nature, seasons, objects, sometimes a bit architecture, and documentary photography - only shoot indoors my stuff with cheap, old cams for selling stuff at ebay, so that EVF issue is not a problem for me. I still like the optical performance, the 14-45 Lumix G Vario lens gives, especially at the wide end. For sure, a newer G5 or G6 would perform well over ISO 800, as my old G1...but what gives? i don't need it, and for these things i do have my D7000. Btw, do you know there's the v1.01 Firmware Update avialable for your NX3000?

marc

Helen wrote:

marc petzold wrote:

Helen wrote:

marc petzold wrote:

So the NX3000 doesn't have the Ultrasonic Wave Sensor Cleaning, like my NX1000 does have? I know the Display Resolution is cutted to half, 460k instead of 920k Pixels, too.

That's correct. Samsung have left off some features whilst introducing others, perhaps to clarify its position in the range. Also gone is that vertical peaking bar for manual focus - the NX3000 doesn't have the more recent type of peaking either, just magnification in MF. Though the screen has 460k dots instead of 920k, I don't find that too disturbing a difference as (to me) it seems a better-quality panel that they've used, with less obvious lines on it - I always had trouble believing my NX1000 really had a 920k screen (I still have that camera).

Considering its quite low price, I think the NX3000 is worth having, if only to get the 16-50 PZ lens at a bargain price.

The really-low resolution playback issue I mentioned in my original post has been largely solved by a firmware upgrade (it's still a bit softer than the real image, but on the initial firmware it was a really serious problem, for me at least).

Thanks for info, Helen. That's...uhum...way bad, but considering the price point alone, very understandable from samsung's front. For instance, here into germany within the big "MediaMarkt" Stores - you can get the NX3000 together with the new all new 16-50 Powerzoom, and the usually Lightroom 5 Fullversion, which is upgradeable to currently the latest 5.6 - all for as low as just 249 EUR! The 16-50 PZ alone costs 329 EUR, retail.

Yes, the same situation applies here in the UK, or has done recently. I got my NX3000 when it had just been released (and the price was somewhat higher), but even then it made a great value package with the 16-50 PZ (and LR5).

For instance, my old Lumix G1 Panasonic does also only have a 460k LCD Display and a 1.44MP EVF, but i consider both good enough - as long as you don't use it indoors...you can easily get color smearing...especially from the EVF...but not outside. I do mostly landscape, nature, seasons, objects, sometimes a bit architecture, and documentary photography - only shoot indoors my stuff with cheap, old cams for selling stuff at ebay, so that EVF issue is not a problem for me. I still like the optical performance, the 14-45 Lumix G Vario lens gives, especially at the wide end. For sure, a newer G5 or G6 would perform well over ISO 800, as my old G1...but what gives? i don't need it, and for these things i do have my D7000. Btw, do you know there's the v1.01 Firmware Update avialable for your NX3000?

I think the precise technology used in LCD screens can make just as much difference to the quality of the image shown on them as the resolution does - the 460k screen of the NX3000 is a pretty decent one and thus manages to look better to me than the higher-resolution one on the NX1000, for example.

Yes, the v1.01 firmware update is the one that largely (but not completely) solved the low-res image review problem of the NX3000 that drove me nuts initially. Clearly it uses a smaller jpg for image review (probably to speed up its responses in playback - it feels like it is a bit slow at processing playback, like the NX1000 was) but initially it was a joke - the non-zoomable instant review could be seen to deteriorate, even at its fixed, unzoomable full screen size, as it was replaced with the playback image when you hit the playback button, and once you zoomed in, it was so low-res it was impossible to check focus (or anything else much). Now it is possible, though it still tends to look less sharp than the image actually turns out to be.

The camera is nice and light, and looks attractive, though it feels overtly plastic (nothing like the NX300). The battery seems to last well (it's a large capacity, flat one as used in some Samsung phones) and course it uses MicroSD cards again, like the NX2000 did (I'd prefer full size, but it's not a terrible situation). Weirdly, like the phones, progression through taken shots feels as though it goes backwards - not like the other NX cameras I've used.

Thanks for that Info, Helen, appreciated. OMG, i didn't know that the NX3000 uses only MicroSD Cards? That's a real deal breaker for myself - these little things could get so easily lost...

I was hoping that the NX3000 does have a all-metal body, but not for that price point, just right...even it looks stylish retro, but i haven't had one NX3000 yet into my hands to play around.

Hmm, i did find my NX1000 display not bad, it's the same resolution as my D90, D7000 Nikons...but perhaps the viewing angles are not that good onto the Samsung...btw, my old trusty G1 does also only have a 460k LCD Display, but i can really life with that, it's good - and that was back into 2008/9. I never shoot JPEG, being all into RAW since 2002, but the only exception was my Sony V1, which can't do RAW, only JPG & TIF, and TIF(F) format took ages on that little thing, about 10y ago... So basically i think, the NX3000 would produce the same DxOMark (when tested) close to my Sony Alpha 3000 - DxO already said, that the sensor is the same like into the NX30, which scored a bit lower than my A3000. Perhaps firmware tweaks could push it a bit further, but that is all theoretical stuff. My A3000 doesn't have had yet dust spots onto the sensor even i do exchange adapters and lenses often. The Point for buying a basically NEX-3N into a DSLR-Style body (A3000) was apart from the great sensor inside (also 20MP like your NX3000) the only reason to go with the Alpha 3000...the handgrip is way decent, deep grip...for supporting longer lenses - but the Display (230k only, 16:9 format) and the horrible EVF quality are the main drawbacks, but i've had known this all before buying it, these compromises have been worth it, for my taste. I only wish that Sony would have integrated at least a 460k display & the EVF from the Alpha 58 inside the A3000, but maybe into a possible Alpha 4000 into 2015...who knows... there is always room for improvement, a higher resolution would have helped much with the focus peaking feature, but sure not for that price point, the A3000 Kit is selling. Is it true, that the NX3000 doesn't have the Zoom feature when using manual mode like my NX1000/1100?

Personally, i do feel onto the safe side when having a sensor cleaning feature inside the DSLM or DSLR. Time will tell, if it works without it...and/or collecting dust.

Helen wrote:

marc petzold wrote:

Helen wrote:

marc petzold wrote:

Helen wrote:

marc petzold wrote:

So the NX3000 doesn't have the Ultrasonic Wave Sensor Cleaning, like my NX1000 does have? I know the Display Resolution is cutted to half, 460k instead of 920k Pixels, too.

That's correct. Samsung have left off some features whilst introducing others, perhaps to clarify its position in the range. Also gone is that vertical peaking bar for manual focus - the NX3000 doesn't have the more recent type of peaking either, just magnification in MF. Though the screen has 460k dots instead of 920k, I don't find that too disturbing a difference as (to me) it seems a better-quality panel that they've used, with less obvious lines on it - I always had trouble believing my NX1000 really had a 920k screen (I still have that camera).

Considering its quite low price, I think the NX3000 is worth having, if only to get the 16-50 PZ lens at a bargain price.

The really-low resolution playback issue I mentioned in my original post has been largely solved by a firmware upgrade (it's still a bit softer than the real image, but on the initial firmware it was a really serious problem, for me at least).

Thanks for info, Helen. That's...uhum...way bad, but considering the price point alone, very understandable from samsung's front. For instance, here into germany within the big "MediaMarkt" Stores - you can get the NX3000 together with the new all new 16-50 Powerzoom, and the usually Lightroom 5 Fullversion, which is upgradeable to currently the latest 5.6 - all for as low as just 249 EUR! The 16-50 PZ alone costs 329 EUR, retail.

Yes, the same situation applies here in the UK, or has done recently. I got my NX3000 when it had just been released (and the price was somewhat higher), but even then it made a great value package with the 16-50 PZ (and LR5).

For instance, my old Lumix G1 Panasonic does also only have a 460k LCD Display and a 1.44MP EVF, but i consider both good enough - as long as you don't use it indoors...you can easily get color smearing...especially from the EVF...but not outside. I do mostly landscape, nature, seasons, objects, sometimes a bit architecture, and documentary photography - only shoot indoors my stuff with cheap, old cams for selling stuff at ebay, so that EVF issue is not a problem for me. I still like the optical performance, the 14-45 Lumix G Vario lens gives, especially at the wide end. For sure, a newer G5 or G6 would perform well over ISO 800, as my old G1...but what gives? i don't need it, and for these things i do have my D7000. Btw, do you know there's the v1.01 Firmware Update avialable for your NX3000?

I think the precise technology used in LCD screens can make just as much difference to the quality of the image shown on them as the resolution does - the 460k screen of the NX3000 is a pretty decent one and thus manages to look better to me than the higher-resolution one on the NX1000, for example.

Yes, the v1.01 firmware update is the one that largely (but not completely) solved the low-res image review problem of the NX3000 that drove me nuts initially. Clearly it uses a smaller jpg for image review (probably to speed up its responses in playback - it feels like it is a bit slow at processing playback, like the NX1000 was) but initially it was a joke - the non-zoomable instant review could be seen to deteriorate, even at its fixed, unzoomable full screen size, as it was replaced with the playback image when you hit the playback button, and once you zoomed in, it was so low-res it was impossible to check focus (or anything else much). Now it is possible, though it still tends to look less sharp than the image actually turns out to be.

The camera is nice and light, and looks attractive, though it feels overtly plastic (nothing like the NX300). The battery seems to last well (it's a large capacity, flat one as used in some Samsung phones) and course it uses MicroSD cards again, like the NX2000 did (I'd prefer full size, but it's not a terrible situation). Weirdly, like the phones, progression through taken shots feels as though it goes backwards - not like the other NX cameras I've used.

Thanks for that Info, Helen, appreciated. OMG, i didn't know that the NX3000 uses only MicroSD Cards? That's a real deal breaker for myself - these little things could get so easily lost...

Yes, MicroSD only. This "interesting" design choice first appeared on the NX2000.

I have missed that, because when i've bought the NX1000, no sucessor had been avialable, the NX1100 is 99% the same, even the Firmware binary is the same for both NX1000&NX1100.

I was hoping that the NX3000 does have a all-metal body, but not for that price point, just right...even it looks stylish retro, but i haven't had one NX3000 yet into my hands to play around.

No, it really doesn't. It feels just as obviously plastic as the NX1000 does. The top and base are silver painted and then gloss varnished, which looks quite nice and fairly convincingly metallic, but it is definitely plastic. The main body is the most disappointing to the touch, because it is hard black plastic just moulded with leather-pattern wrinkles - there is no leatherette material glued to it, and in fact not even soft-touch paint on it (as for example on the Panasonic Lumix G1).

Thanks for that Info, Helen. I've thought from the Net pictures, it looked like Plastic Body with some kind of wrapped faux leather structure around the NX3000 - so it's really just plastic, the same goes for the A3000 thumb rest onto the backside, it's just a textured plastic part, to look like it could be some faux leather being that part of the A3000 backside.

Hmm, i did find my NX1000 display not bad, it's the same resolution as my D90, D7000 Nikons...but perhaps the viewing angles are not that good onto the Samsung...btw, my old trusty G1 does also only have a 460k LCD Display, but i can really life with that, it's good - and that was back into 2008/9. I never shoot JPEG, being all into RAW since 2002, but the only exception was my Sony V1, which can't do RAW, only JPG & TIF, and TIF(F) format took ages on that little thing, about 10y ago... So basically i think, the NX3000 would produce the same DxOMark (when tested) close to my Sony Alpha 3000 - DxO already said, that the sensor is the same like into the NX30, which scored a bit lower than my A3000. Perhaps firmware tweaks could push it a bit further, but that is all theoretical stuff. My A3000 doesn't have had yet dust spots onto the sensor even i do exchange adapters and lenses often. The Point for buying a basically NEX-3N into a DSLR-Style body (A3000) was apart from the great sensor inside (also 20MP like your NX3000) the only reason to go with the Alpha 3000...the handgrip is way decent, deep grip...for supporting longer lenses - but the Display (230k only, 16:9 format) and the horrible EVF quality are the main drawbacks, but i've had known this all before buying it, these compromises have been worth it, for my taste. I only wish that Sony would have integrated at least a 460k display & the EVF from the Alpha 58 inside the A3000, but maybe into a possible Alpha 4000 into 2015...who knows... there is always room for improvement, a higher resolution would have helped much with the focus peaking feature, but sure not for that price point, the A3000 Kit is selling. Is it true, that the NX3000 doesn't have the Zoom feature when using manual mode like my NX1000/1100?

It does magnify if desired for manual focusing, if that's what you mean. No other manual focusing aids though. I agree with all you say about the Sony a3000 (I have one too - and similarly, bought it knowing the shortcomings, but do wish they'd been a bit more realistic about the quality of the EVF and the LCD, since the former is particularly limited in its usefulness).

So no focus peaking, like the A3000...i see. yes, the rainbow effect EVF sometimes give me headaches to frame a composition properly when shooting landscapes, objects, etc...but the LCD is a bit better..i've learned to live with that, but i must say both the EVF & Display onto my (t)rusty G1 is worlds better than that onto the A3000...but not that small m43 sensor...do you use your A3000 simply with the Kitlens 18-55 OSS (SEL1855) or with for instance also a Lens Turbo II and old manual primes & zoom lenses?

Personally, i do feel onto the safe side when having a sensor cleaning feature inside the DSLM or DSLR. Time will tell, if it works without it...and/or collecting dust.

Yes, I prefer there to be some kind of sensor cleaning built-in, though usually when something is needed, I find my rocket blower is usually sufficient.

Indeed, i do like my Giottos Rocket blower, i even got rid of the dust inside my Nikon D60 OVF, which Nikon told me by phone, would set me back around 129 EUR to fix that issue - and absolutely no guarantee that the dust spots inside the OVF wouldn't come back....so i said thanks, and tried my Rocket blower...with success.