Very good pancake.

I can say it is wonderful lens.

As everybody knows it is pancake it means it is compromise between size and optical quality.

Really? Mostly yes but not in this case.

The lens is sharp and  aberrations and flares free.

The focal lenght is standard (46 mm eqv) so it can be used for many purposes.

The closest distance to get sharp image is about 20 cm!

Having this lens we can use our NX camera as a compact camera with DX sensor!

The quality also good any issues for 4 yeras of using.

The price is also acceptable.

Are there any disadvantages?

In some scenes the bokeh could be nicer, but once again it is compromise.

For NX system user I think it is must have lens.

It would be interesting to do a comparison test with another renowned pancake lens, the M43 Panasonic 20mm f1.7. They actually cover the very same viewing angle and the 35mm equivalent is 40mm for both.

I agree, great lens! I would add focusing speed to disadvantages, but apparently it's a common issue for small pancake lenses.  The tiny size of this lens is wonderful.

OrdinarilyInordinate wrote:

I agree, great lens! I would add focusing speed to disadvantages, but apparently it's a common issue for small pancake lenses. The tiny size of this lens is wonderful.

I agree focusing speed could be better but the question is if it is lens or camera issue?

I use it in NX10(11) and of course contrast AF is slow as it is from that time but I  require precise AF system.

Setting focus area to small size allows to get very sharp pictures on point we want  ff/bf issues free this is the most important.

In the past I've experienced ff/bf issues from DSLR. Speed is nothing without exactitude!

Let's hope NX1 will be a camera we are dreaming about.

Chris62 wrote:

captura wrote:

It would be interesting to do a comparison test with another renowned pancake lens, the M43 Panasonic 20mm f1.7. They actually cover the very same viewing angle and the 35mm equivalent is 40mm for both.

Comparisons results are available or you can compare dpreview tests results for all tested lens.

Our opinions are subjective simply impression after making of many pictures.

If we say about comparison we can see that NX30/F2 is not worse than optically corrected much larger Nikon DX 35/F1,8 despite center sharpness.

It is very very good result for pancake.

Panasonic offers wider angle of view but it is not optically corrected so requires software correction of distortion if needed..

Are you saying that the P. 20/1.7 requires in-camera optical correction via software, but the NX30/F2 does not?

Chris62 wrote:

OrdinarilyInordinate wrote:

I agree, great lens! I would add focusing speed to disadvantages, but apparently it's a common issue for small pancake lenses. The tiny size of this lens is wonderful.

I agree focusing speed could be better but the question is if it is lens or camera issue?

I use it in NX10(11) and of course contrast AF is slow as it is from that time but I require precise AF system.

Setting focus area to small size allows to get very sharp pictures on point we want ff/bf issues free this is the most important.

In the past I've experienced ff/bf issues from DSLR. Speed is nothing without exactitude!

Let's hope NX1 will be a camera we are dreaming about.

Still slow with NX300M, which has more focus points and phase detection, so it's the lens.

My 30/2 was useless when I tried to take photos of mountains. Strange because everything else usually was in focus (portrait, cityimages etc.). I tried many times but it seems impossible.
After that I sold it and have never experience that problem again with other lenses.

creosl2 wrote:

My 30/2 was useless when I tried to take photos of mountains. Strange because everything else usually was in focus (portrait, cityimages etc.). I tried many times but it seems impossible.
After that I sold it and have never experience that problem again with other lenses.

Hmm really strange. I've  never experienced such issue.

What mountains and what camera it was?

Did you try other lens on the same camera or this lens on another camera to be sure if it was right copy?

creosl2 wrote:

My 30/2 was useless when I tried to take photos of mountains. Strange because everything else usually was in focus (portrait, cityimages etc.). I tried many times but it seems impossible.
After that I sold it and have never experience that problem again with other lenses.

Perhaps it was faulty and not focusing to infinity?  Did you test with manual focus?

I only used a NX1000 with a kit lens and this 30/2 on my travels across scandinavia and europa in 2013. The kit lens worked flawless and so this 30mm except when I tried to take som mountain pictures in P modes with autofocus (I don't remember if I tried other modes or manual focus). And this was in both excellent lighting conditions during day and nightshoots from a steady/fix point with a timer. Range on these "test" shoots varied from 2-3 km to maybe 10 km.

It looked like a "hole" in the software or something. I have used many cameras and lenses since and before without any issues like this.

Otherways my 30/2 was excellent and very sharp..

Impossible with NX1000 and 30/2 (my old olympus e-420)

Impossible with NX1000 and 30/2 (my old olympus e-420)

Possible with NX1000 and 30/2 handheld

Possible with NX1000 and 30/2 handheld

creosl2 wrote:

I only used a NX1000 with a kit lens and this 30/2 on my travels across scandinavia and europa in 2013. The kit lens worked flawless and so this 30mm except when I tried to take som mountain pictures in P modes with autofocus (I don't remember if I tried other modes or manual focus). And this was in both excellent lighting conditions during day and nightshoots from a steady/fix point with a timer. Range on these "test" shoots varied from 2-3 km to maybe 10 km.

It looked like a "hole" in the software or something. I have used many cameras and lenses since and before without any issues like this.

Otherways my 30/2 was excellent and very sharp..

Maybe your camera had an issue with AF system?

I used this lens in different situation always perfect.

Poor lighting on performance wide open

an architecture in mountains.

and a plain in mountains

You know I live in the mountains every day.

Maybe you have  a 'mountain camera,' ( just kidding. ) I'm a newbie to Samsung but am very pleasantly surprised by how well my new NX1000 works with it's 20-50 lens.

I see that you have a NEX-3N and I'd be interested in how you find it comparing to your NX1000? I own some NEX models, too.

WRT the issue of OOF mountains/infinity at P setting, etc., is there a fine adjustment setting in the menu for AF-infinity, in NX cameras?

Thanks.

creosl2 wrote:

captura wrote:

Maybe you have a 'mountain camera,' ( just kidding. ) I'm a newbie to Samsung but am very pleasantly surprised by how well my new NX1000 works with it's 20-50 lens.

I see that you have a NEX-3N and I'd be interested in how you find it comparing to your NX1000? I own some NEX models, too.

WRT the issue of OOF mountains/infinity at P setting, etc., is there a fine adjustment setting in the menu for AF-infinity, in NX cameras?

Thanks.

I bought the 3N after the NX1000 because I wanted a built-in- flash and tilted lcd. I don't know if NEX is better in image quality and I miss the top dial to change modes.

Now I'm planning to either by the NX30 or the A5100. It's a tough decision

I'd be willing to bet that your NX1000 has much better image quality than the NEX-3N. And I would suggest getting the A6000 instead of the A5100. It is a much faster (11fps) camera with more features, and only $100 more.

Unless- you are a video shooter..the A5100 has a newer video feature set.

Really like my NX30/2!

Thank you for posting the review.  That one will be going in my bag soon.

Hm, I wouldn't call mine loose but it turns very easily, I think because it's so thin.  It's not dampened like a zoom ring, if that's what you were expecting.

OrdinarilyInordinate wrote:

Hm, I wouldn't call mine loose but it turns very easily, I think because it's so thin. It's not dampened like a zoom ring, if that's what you were expecting.

Is it "focus by wire"?