NX30 or DSLR?

So a year ago I bought the NX300 and I found myself rediscovering my passion for photography again. It was affordable and the lenses were way cheaper than competition here in Brazil, so it was a no brainer.

I still love my little beast of a camera, but I found myself wanting a viewfinder more and more, especially in bright daylight. On top of that, my hands are not steady at all, so a third point of stabilization would be nice.

So, what are the pros and cons of remaining with Samsung system? What are the pluses and drawbacks of going full DSLR? My choices for my budget are NX30, T5i or D5200/5300.

I know DSLRs have better AF and longer battery life, right? But they are bigger and heavier. The used market here is pretty great here. Third party lenses and accessories are everywhere. Prices are not that good, though. But resales should be fairly easy.

On the other hand, I already have 3 lenses for my NX system, so it's a good start. And I don't plan on going fullframe, so I can stick with Samsung's APS-C, which I very much like. The lenses are cheaper than US in sales and in the grey market, but I noticed some time now that a lot of stores are running of stock on these, and Samsung BR is still to bring the premium lenses, the NX1 and NX500, and flashes. Also, resales are a dead end, if I want to upgrade in the future.

Can I trust Samsung will invest more (and more globally) in the NX system in the short future? The NX30 is up to the task of my professional aspirations? Or should I go the safer route and invest in the traditional DSLR companies? Any help will be very much appreciated.

(sorry about my terrible English)

After buying NX30 I wont go back to DSLR anymore

1. I almost dont use viewfinder. NX30's screen is great even in bright sunlight and there's no problem using it in such conditions. The only exclusion I can imagine is that you will need to manual focus. Then you will have to use EVF, which I, to be honest, dont like. But it only matters for really harsh light. In any other situations I dont need and dont use EVF at all. The main screen is that great. NX30's strong side (as for me) is its grip. It was one of the main reasons for me to buy this camera.

2. I've noticed difference with battery life only using 60 macro, which has OIS that drains po. With the rest of my lenses it goes up to 800 shots or so, so not a problem at all. But I still have bought a spare original battery, it's cheap anyway.

3. You already have a nice set of lenses that covers main purposes. No need to say that Samsung's lenses are great and really better than other manufacturer's of same price. One thing I like about Samsung most is that I can use any lens wide open without having to push it down for few clicks cause its "soft". All lenses that I own are sharp wide open. As for empty stocks - here in Ukraine we have the same situation: no cameras and only few lenses in shops. No NX500, NX1 or S lenses yet. Same story in Russia. So I guess it's just logistics or some changes in Samsung's supply structure. I really dont think that they will abandon half of the world But there's a bright side du to that. I can sell my gear very fast There are not many items on used market and all my stuff that I've sold went away very quick.

As a result, I'm not afraid to invest in NX system, mainly because I really like it. NX30 has all that I need for now (although it has some flaws obviously), but I hope I will get NX1 when it will be available in my country. Or NX500. I like every lens that I own and going to buy few more. I like our local Samsung service and NX engineers have become my friends already Of course, there's lack of info about future releases or lens roadmap, but I really dint think that Samsung will leave camera market after releasing such a great products.

I think that the key Here is the AF System. If you are ok with the nx300 AF (it is on you, the way you use your cam and the subjects you shot....) then go for the nx30 and take advantage of the good lenses you already have. If you need better AF and nx1 is not an option, then take in consideration the dsrl option. With all the pro and cons weighted.
--
http://samsungnxtips.blogspot.com

mordor_74 wrote:

I think that the key Here is the AF System. If you are ok with the nx300 AF (it is on you, the way you use your cam and the subjects you shot....) then go for the nx30 and take advantage of the good lenses you already have. If you need better AF and nx1 is not an option, then take in consideration the dsrl option. With all the pro and cons weighted.

You know, even if NX has slower overall AF speed I'm happy that its always focuses where I want to. I've used to have 10 or more DSLR and SLT cameras last few years and every of it suffered from some kind of AF problems. Only Pentax K-3 was good and snap-on. So I'm happy that I must not have deal with PDAF anymore

Hi,

I own both the NX30 and NX300. I personally would just stick with the NX300 unless you miss the EVF. (I barely use it). The screen on the NX30 is nicer, and the grip is better. But it's also quite bigger than the nx300, which is why I often go out with the nx300. The image quality is the same.

If you can trade your nx300 body for a nx30 body with not too much price difference, you could give it a try. You already have the lenses anyway.

I don't plan to trade or sale my NX300. That size with 30mm is a killer to-go camera.

After buying NX30 I wont go back to DSLR anymore

1. I almost dont use viewfinder. NX30's screen is great even in bright sunlight and there's no problem using it in such conditions. The only exclusion I can imagine is that you will need to manual focus. Then you will have to use EVF, which I, to be honest, dont like. But it only matters for really harsh light. In any other situations I dont need and dont use EVF at all. The main screen is that great. NX30's strong side (as for me) is its grip. It was one of the main reasons for me to buy this camera.

2. I've noticed difference with battery life only using 60 macro, which has OIS that drains po. With the rest of my lenses it goes up to 800 shots or so, so not a problem at all. But I still have bought a spare original battery, it's cheap anyway.

3. You already have a nice set of lenses that covers main purposes. No need to say that Samsung's lenses are great and really better than other manufacturer's of same price. One thing I like about Samsung most is that I can use any lens wide open without having to push it down for few clicks cause its "soft". All lenses that I own are sharp wide open. As for empty stocks - here in Ukraine we have the same situation: no cameras and only few lenses in shops. No NX500, NX1 or S lenses yet. Same story in Russia. So I guess it's just logistics or some changes in Samsung's supply structure. I really dont think that they will abandon half of the world But there's a bright side du to that. I can sell my gear very fast There are not many items on used market and all my stuff that I've sold went away very quick.

As a result, I'm not afraid to invest in NX system, mainly because I really like it. NX30 has all that I need for now (although it has some flaws obviously), but I hope I will get NX1 when it will be available in my country. Or NX500. I like every lens that I own and going to buy few more. I like our local Samsung service and NX engineers have become my friends already Of course, there's lack of info about future releases or lens roadmap, but I really dint think that Samsung will leave camera market after releasing such a great products.

I don't know, even with a glossy screen protection + framing mode + brightness set to maximum, I couldn't barely see the image on the screen the other day. It was extremely difficult to frame, I was guessing most of the time. It was nerve wrecking in some way, not knowing if I was ended up with a usable photo (I know most of this is to blame for my lack of experience).

But why exactly you do not like the viewfinder? Is specifically the EVF on the NX30 or vf in general?

I really like the screen on the NX300, is pretty accurate with the final JPEG. But having a evf would give me more confidence in those moments I think.

About Samsung, what comforts me is to know that they make tons of money everyday, so they won't go enywhere anytime soon. But it seems they don't take the photo business much too serious, so if for some reason they had to close a branch, the photography would one of the firsts to go down. But maybe I'm being to pessimistic.

mordor_74 wrote:

I think that the key Here is the AF System. If you are ok with the nx300 AF (it is on you, the way you use your cam and the subjects you shot....) then go for the nx30 and take advantage of the good lenses you already have. If you need better AF and nx1 is not an option, then take in consideration the dsrl option. With all the pro and cons weighted.
--
http://samsungnxtips.blogspot.com

I was thinking about this. I do mainly portraits and landscapes, so no lightning fast AF required. The only ones that take the AF to test are my dog and my baby cousins. But the challenge is part of the fun. xD

Caio Everton wrote:

But why exactly you do not like the viewfinder? Is specifically the EVF on the NX30 or vf in general?

There are 2 reasons:

1. NX30 screen is that good to not use EVF.

2. NX30 EVF is that bad to not use it

Now for real. Its EVF is somewhat blurry or something like this. I cant get crisp and clear image in it, its either letters and symbols or picture in focus, but not everything at the same time. Its also pretty small and not really comfort to shot with. So I concern it as a nice bonus for very, very rare situations. I'm happy with NX30 screen (though it shows images a little oversaturated, in superamoled style, but who cares).

But it seems they don't take the photo business much too serious, so if for some reason they had to close a branch, the photography would one of the firsts to go down. But maybe I'm being to pessimistic.

If they not, why would they create NX1 and "S" lenses? ) Its just about worldwide logistics, I think.

Hi Caio,

The big difference of mirrorless like samsung for DSLR and the live preview, where you see how the picture will look before taking it, which does not happen in DSLR.

Great advantage of Samsung is the price of it's lens as well.

Comparable DSLR lenses are much more expensive.

Samsung's sensor uses a much more current technology than all other Canon Nikon Sony etc.

Sony has just released a full frame with 40 mega pixels, but if you analyze the density of pixels of the sensor, it is much lower than the 28 mega pixels of NX1 or NX500.

Not to mention that all comparable lens from Sony are more expensive.

I decided by Samsung for these reasons and knowing that Samsung and more than ten times larger than the Canon is the Nikon, and these two are in bad shape as the main business of these cameras and I do not doubt that in another 5 or 10 years Samsung buy one of them is adapted every lens for NX mount.

My opinion.

Cheers

It might be worth waiting for the nx50 next year, depending on how badly you need the EVF, and what the prices are like locally.

The nx30 is an excellent camera, but the next iteration will have the 28mp sensor, focus improvements, and probably a better EVF too.
--
http://www.jonathan-jones.com/photography
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_jones_photography/
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C&C always welcome on any photos I post!

jonathanj wrote:

It might be worth waiting for the nx50 next year, depending on how badly you need the EVF, and what the prices are like locally.

The nx30 is an excellent camera, but the next iteration will have the 28mp sensor, focus improvements, and probably a better EVF too.
--
http://www.jonathan-jones.com/photography
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_jones_photography/
(note: if you are not a paid flickr member you may see adverts in my flickr photostream. These have nothing to do with me and I cannot control them. Visit my website for an ad-free experience.)

C&C always welcome on any photos I post!

I was searching about the quality of the EVF after what @SpacemanUSA told me, and this might be the best option: waiting until next year for NX50 or NX1 (I don't have the money to buy either this year).

But I just shoot some friends this afternoon and man, the viewfinder is missed! I don't know if I have the willpower to wait so long.

This is so hard. :/

Another alternative would be if you could find a cheap NX20 for now, then wait for the price to drop on the NX1 or the NX50 to be released. I'm not sure what the second hand market is like there, but the NX20 should already have lost most of its value, you might even be able to buy it now and re-sell it later without losing much money.

(The sensor and general IQ are the same as the NX30, but the buffer and general performance is worse. The EVF is also worse and doesn't tilt.)

Personally I really like the NX30, and I don't think I could go a year without an EVF. I don't much care about the quality of the EVF (I was fine with the one from the NX10!), I just need it for framing properly in strong sun. The NX30 EVF is more than adequate for my needs.

But then is it worth waiting for the new sensor? Decisions decisions!

Get an anti reflective coating for the screen.

Those are quite cheap and help a lot outdoors.

jonathanj wrote:

Another alternative would be if you could find a cheap NX20 for now, then wait for the price to drop on the NX1 or the NX50 to be released. I'm not sure what the second hand market is like there, but the NX20 should already have lost most of its value, you might even be able to buy it now and re-sell it later without losing much money.

And I was such way and I was looking an offer for NX20 but surprisingly I found offers for NX30 even cheaper and Lightroom in set so I've decided to buy NX30.

No other camera now giving such good parameters/price ratio!

Caio Everton wrote:

I know DSLRs have better AF and longer battery life, right?

It is not clear Last  DSLR I had was terrible - I only did tests for ff/bf issue.

The worst problem was with zoom lens - wide and - back focus, tele end front focus, every attached lens required correction.

In 2010 I bought N10 and ff/bf problem vanished.

The NX10 AF problem could be continous mode but I never used it even for action shots.

Now having NX30 I can say it ismauch faster (hybrid contrast and phase detection together).

So if you are going to buy DSLR make sure if the model you like has ff/bf correction option and also for zoom lens!

If not - forget about DSLR because you can get blurred pictures and even static scenes particulary using wide open fast lens!.

AF exactitude is the most important thing.

Battery life true - simply DSLR have larger accu and if you use optical VF no so much drain accu.

But if somebody uses live view because he likes, watch pictures in play mode a lot than energy runs away....

Using CSC is important to use LV when it is necessary (EVF drains less power) shot preview should be switched off, and no paly mode to much.

IMO the only DX - DSLR camear worth to buy at this moment is Nikon D7200.

But it is matter your needs and your  budget.

I bought NX30 week ago I am recognising its possibilities. I think it is good enough camera.

Not the top but good in every aspect and the price is big PROS.

But for me small size and light body is important. (VF for me also must have)

NX30 VF could be better of course (there are better for sure) but after some trials I can say I can live with it.

Its optics are not well designed - picture is blurr on the sides -so I must keep my eye closer to "glass" - simply the eye point in wrong place.

I just happened to be on this forum and might have a very inexpensive answer to your question.  I am a m43 user and the first camera I bought was the Panasonic GF1 which had no viewfinder.  I read about the Clearviewer which fits into the tripod socket and acts as a eyelevel viewfinder in  bright light and also gives you the third point of contact with your camera it costs about 60 USD.  Check their website www.Clearviewer.com. or google clearviewer.  It is small and very useful.  I think that you will be happier sticking with mirrorless.

Good Luck,

Hal

Dr Hal wrote:

I just happened to be on this forum and might have a very inexpensive answer to your question. I am a m43 user and the first camera I bought was the Panasonic GF1 which had no viewfinder. I read about the Clearviewer which fits into the tripod socket and acts as a eyelevel viewfinder in bright light and also gives you the third point of contact with your camera it costs about 60 USD. Check their website www.Clearviewer.com. or google clearviewer. It is small and very useful. I think that you will be happier sticking with mirrorless.

Good Luck,

Hal

And it can damage you screen if sun will be behind you. No, thanks.

Can't speak for NX 30 prices in Brazil, but in US it is the best camera for the least dollars of all the NX system. Ultimatly image quality is the sme as my NX 300, but the control and additional ability to have an EVF when you need it and the fully articulating screen produces far more keepers. It is very light and small. You will be very happy with the NX30