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NX500 First Impressions

Started Oct 2, 2015 | Discussions
Jude 101 Contributing Member • Posts: 523
NX500 First Impressions
9

Late last year, I bought an a6000 "assuming" it would be an upgrade to my NX20. I was so disappointed with the a6000 (and its kit lens) IQ that I returned it for a NX300.

Honestly, I was waiting for the oft rumored "a7000" but two weeks ago I purchased a NX500.

My first impressions of the NX500:

1) Compared to the a6000, both with kit lenses, the NX500 produces noticeable sharper and more pleasing images. NX500 IQ is closer to an a7R then an a6000.

2) While high ISO noise tests yield nearly equal results, so far my experience is that the NX500 is at least a half stop better than the a6000.

3) The NX500 build quality is better than the a6000; even the NX500 packaging is better.

4) The NX500 screen is far superior to that on the a6000. I do, however, miss the EVF.

5) I also purchased the 60mm Macro. Combined IQ is superb, although the lens is a bit large.

Overall, I am very, very pleased with the NX500.

Samsung NX20 Samsung NX300M Samsung NX500 Sony a6000 Sony a7R
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Sports Dad Regular Member • Posts: 320
Congratulations
1

For the price nothing competes with the nx500.

Glad to see you are enjoying yours.

 Sports Dad's gear list:Sports Dad's gear list
Samsung NX1 Samsung NX 45mm F1.8 Samsung 16-50mm F2.0-2.8 Samsung 50-150mm F2.8 S +1 more
Martin Maier Contributing Member • Posts: 696
Re: Congratulations
2

So its is! I've a lot of cameras ... Canon, Lumix, Sony, Samsung .... but NX500 I like most.

Excellent photos and (4K) videos!

With 16-50PZ available for € 500 or less! I use lenses from 8mm up to 500mm ... and a display viewer (€45), which makes a 9" display (even usable with glasses). Fine in bright sunshine!

 Martin Maier's gear list:Martin Maier's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Samsung NX500
OP Jude 101 Contributing Member • Posts: 523
Re: Congratulations

Sports Dad wrote:

For the price nothing competes with the nx500.

Glad to see you are enjoying yours.

Absolutely.   Only FF camera can compete with the NX500 (and NX1) IQ.

I simply do not understand why Samsung does not offer an optional EVF.  To me, that is no-brainer revenue source.

Andrea Georgia Contributing Member • Posts: 962
Re: NX500 First Impressions
1

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your NX500. I also wanted a second lighter system to complement my heavy DSLR kit and tried out the Sony a6000 several times over the winter before the NX500 was released. I could never warm up to the Sony for exactly the reasons you state, plus its incomplete and partially very overpriced or underperforming selection of lenses. So I didn't buy it. Among other cameras I tested I liked Fuji's mirrorless cams a lot save for the awfully slow and hunting AF and perhaps the slightly ageing X-Trans sensor which is also not ideal for landscapes and small greenery. When the NX500 was released and I read about it, I knew it was what I wanted. I bought it and have loved it ever since. It is an amazingly capable little camera. I agree with Jude though that for shooting in extremely bright light an optional EVF to pop on would be nice.

Enjoy!

Andrea

 Andrea Georgia's gear list:Andrea Georgia's gear list
Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Nikon D200 Samsung NX1 Samsung NX500 +19 more
Andrea Georgia Contributing Member • Posts: 962
Re: Congratulations

Hi Martin,

Which display viewer are you using?

Andrea

 Andrea Georgia's gear list:Andrea Georgia's gear list
Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Nikon D200 Samsung NX1 Samsung NX500 +19 more
Martin Maier Contributing Member • Posts: 696
Re: Congratulations

I'm using KAMERAR QV-1 (€45) ... movable x/y/z direction .. magnet for fast docking/removing

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kamerar+qv-1

 Martin Maier's gear list:Martin Maier's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Samsung NX500
Jeff Style Contributing Member • Posts: 953
Re: Congratulations

Martin Maier wrote:

I'm using KAMERAR QV-1 (€45) ... movable x/y/z direction .. magnet for fast docking/removing

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kamerar+qv-1

Holy what?!?! WOW!

 Jeff Style's gear list:Jeff Style's gear list
Samsung NX300 Sony a7 III Sony a6400 Sony a7 IV Samsung NX 30mm F2 Pancake +7 more
Martin Maier Contributing Member • Posts: 696
Re: Congratulations

Only for photos ... for 4K video I use Beholder MS1 gimbal.

 Martin Maier's gear list:Martin Maier's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Samsung NX500
Andrea Georgia Contributing Member • Posts: 962
Re: Congratulations

Holy cow, Martin. Wahnsinn. That's for really desparately bright lighting conditions, I suppose. The whole concoction more than triples the size of the cam, though ...

I see you have a white one, too!

Andrea

 Andrea Georgia's gear list:Andrea Georgia's gear list
Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Nikon D200 Samsung NX1 Samsung NX500 +19 more
Andrea Georgia Contributing Member • Posts: 962
Re: Congratulations
1

Wow again. Doesn't this make the camera a bit "sperrig" or big'n clumsy?

-- hide signature --

Andrea

 Andrea Georgia's gear list:Andrea Georgia's gear list
Olympus Tough TG-4 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX80 Nikon D200 Samsung NX1 Samsung NX500 +19 more
Martin Maier Contributing Member • Posts: 696
Re: Congratulations

No, it fits even in my photo bag + GH4 + NX500 + lenses ... tripod

 Martin Maier's gear list:Martin Maier's gear list
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS60 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Samsung NX500
renttoown Contributing Member • Posts: 561
Re: NX500 First Impressions

Martin can make room in his bag by leaving the GH4 at home now,

Martin

psychiatric Nurse & Street Photographer

-- hide signature --

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.

 renttoown's gear list:renttoown's gear list
Fujifilm X100S Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 Olympus OM-D E-M5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Panasonic Leica D Summilux Asph 25mm F1.4 +4 more
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