EX2F vs. NX300+30mm

Some of you all have seen my recent posts/laments/rants about wanting a compact zoom. On holidays, I have both my EX2F and NX300 with 30mm with me. My idea was that I would only take out the NX300 when the situation called for it and use EX2F for most shots. Thought the flexibility of the zoom would help.

Nothing but disappointment with the EX2F. It was not fun to shoot with compared to NX and the IQ was always a letdown. I know it's not a fair comparison, but given a choice between the two, I think I'd give up the flexibility and creativity of the zoom.

Here's a couple of NX300+30mm shots.

family shot

the kid

... and waterfall mode.  ND filter...  what ND filter?

Really lovely shots, beautiful kid.

The tiny 30 mm is a very nice lens.

...that the EX2F performs admirably, and in some cases, I find that with certain scenes, it actually keeps up with the NX300.  I've been nothing but smitten with this EX2F, and I would say that IMO, it is one of the best of the bunch of the 1/1.7" CCD enthusiast models.

For example while visiting one of our favorite wineries in North Carolina - the Jones von Drehle vineyards in Thurmond, NC last November, along with the town of Mt. Airy (Mayberry) scenes.  I took along the NX300 and the EX2F and used them on all scenes.  Now granted, there's a good difference in definition between the 12 MP smaller sensor, and the APS-C 20 MP version.  But I wasn't disappointed.

Here are a few for comparison.  Now, the lighting constantly was changing with huge shadows moving in and out due to the winds and the clouds.

The first shot in each scene was with the EX2F, while the 2nd shot in each sequence was with the NX300:

Those are great shots!  I guess I should clarify that by IQ, I am usually talking about people shots where subject isolation is important.  And otherwise, AF speed, burst rate, buffer depth,  overall responsiveness, etc. is really important when shooting people interacting.  This is where EX2F lets me down.  Sure, if I never saw an NX (or DSLR or mirrorless ILC) EX2F would be great.  But at the end of the day, it is what it is: no RAW during burst shooting, (I couldn't even figure out why the camera wasn't letting me put it into RAW mode today... I know user error, RTFM, but still, it should be more intuitive).

I am wondering if LX100 would be in a different class.

Ben Herrmann wrote:

...that the EX2F performs admirably, and in some cases, I find that with certain scenes, it actually keeps up with the NX300. I've been nothing but smitten with this EX2F, and I would say that IMO, it is one of the best of the bunch of the 1/1.7" CCD enthusiast models.

For example while visiting one of our favorite wineries in North Carolina - the Jones von Drehle vineyards in Thurmond, NC last November, along with the town of Mt. Airy (Mayberry) scenes. I took along the NX300 and the EX2F and used them on all scenes. Now granted, there's a good difference in definition between the 12 MP smaller sensor, and the APS-C 20 MP version. But I wasn't disappointed.

Here are a few for comparison. Now, the lighting constantly was changing with huge shadows moving in and out due to the winds and the clouds.

The first shot in each scene was with the EX2F, while the 2nd shot in each sequence was with the NX300:

although my favorite is EX2f, these shots are impressive with fixed lens....

Greynerd wrote:

Pushing big sensors again!

IQ comparisons between large and small sensor cameras are a waste of time and just an unnecessary statement of the obvious. They just put pressure on people who want to follow the compact route for whatever reasons and make this an NX only forum.

Ignoring the small sensored Samsungs in this mostly NX forum isn`t unique and as we all realize, this forum does not generate enough interest or participation to warrant splitting it into an additional one.

I could say that this same thing occurs with the seemingly lowly NX3000 . There`s very little talk of it or anything else outside of the high end offerings.

Personally I think my $319 NX3000 with the kit lens can produce images as good as anything Samsung makes and is the best bang for the buck for 95% of Samsung amateurs but obviously I`m in a minority if you count the number of NX3000 threads. Evidently I`m wrong and obviously folks want more , and for many different reasons.

All that said, it really doesn`t bother me since much of what is written in the majority of NX threads can apply to my NX3000.

I don`t need a multitude of threads re-confirming my choice of equipment either. I know full well what I have and what it can do.

To those still shooting small sensored compacts I say keep shooting and and stop comparing.

Greynerd, why always so negative? The OP posted a thread with his views on two very different cameras and took his pick with just fine reasoning.

But why deduct from that that compact cam threads and images would be bashed here? As you can see, others here like their EXF2, even if they think that the NX line has better IQ. The EXF2 images I've seen on this thread look very nice. Someone else even posted a thread with an image from the Galaxy S6.

Whatever Samsung's own sales numbers are, compacts are giving way to mobile phone cams, so camera makers are under pressure to differentiate the compact lines they want to keep by adding nice features like longer faster zooms, and/or bigger sensors, i.e. they want to close the gap to ILCs. There is nothng bad about improving IQ and features of compacts through this pressure from the bottom and the top, even if some compacts fall away in this process. I also don't think that any online photo forum has a significant effect on sales numbers or mirrors the reality of interest in and sales of cameras. The few people you see on these forums tend to be exceptionally interested in photography and they like to discuss things, and I'd say that chances are that this means that most of them, even if not all of them, als own ILCs. If many prefer those for taking pics and discussion, there is nothing bad about it. But this does not mean at all that you can't discuss compacts here.

I don't own a Samsung compact, Canons only, so I can't post compact images here, but I suggest you start a thread and invite people to show off their Samsung compact images. The images taken with the EXF2 I've seen here look lovely indeed.

So go ahead!

Cheers,
Andrea

Greynerd wrote:

I think the sniping that goes on against the IQ of small sensor compacts is the negative aspect of photography. I notice you only mention the EX2f and presumably the thousands of smaller sensor compact users out there who presumably need not apply here.

As I said, I don't own Samsung compacts, and I don't know them at all, so I can't talk about them. I just took the Samsung EXF2 as an example as it was featured here with image samples that look very nice. It's as simple as that. I can tell you something about the many Canon compacts I own, and also the Sonys and Fujis I've tried out, but that's not the topic here. Again, I think there is no reason to take people's responses in such a negative manner.

I just find it rather sad that photography is such an intense big gear competition. Just look at any bridge camera review or even the recent Panasonic 25mm f1.7 review where m43 is not big enough and see just how relentlessly negative this format bashing is. I have seen in the past very direct attacks on small compact users and it is not a case of ignoring the small formats but of their being driven out.

I suppose DPR is at heart an IQ competition so not really worth saying any more.

It is a gear forum after all, especially the camera brand forums, and thus tech specs, performance and image quality are important subjects of discussion to people who frequent this place. But over the years DPR has also evolved into featuring and discussing the more creative sides of photography, and there are forums on landscape, wildlife, macro, portrait, and travel etc. where you can show off your images and invite feedback. They will take you up big time on composition and light and be less interested in your camera's brand and sensor size.

However, I was serious when I said you should go ahead and start a thread on compact cameras and images to add to this forum what you think is missing. Take action! I bet we'd see some nice pics.

Cheers,

Andrea

Andrea Georgia wrote:

Greynerd, why always so negative? The OP posted a thread with his views on two very different cameras and took his pick with just fine reasoning.

But why deduct from that that compact cam threads and images would be bashed here? As you can see, others here like their EXF2, even if they think that the NX line has better IQ. The EXF2 images I've seen on this thread look very nice. Someone else even posted a thread with an image from the Galaxy S6.

Whatever Samsung's own sales numbers are, compacts are giving way to mobile phone cams, so camera makers are under pressure to differentiate the compact lines they want to keep by adding nice features like longer faster zooms, and/or bigger sensors, i.e. they want to close the gap to ILCs. There is nothng bad about improving IQ and features of compacts through this pressure from the bottom and the top, even if some compacts fall away in this process. I also don't think that any online photo forum has a significant effect on sales numbers or mirrors the reality of interest in and sales of cameras. The few people you see on these forums tend to be exceptionally interested in photography and they like to discuss things, and I'd say that chances are that this means that most of them, even if not all of them, als own ILCs. If many prefer those for taking pics and discussion, there is nothing bad about it. But this does not mean at all that you can't discuss compacts here.

I don't own a Samsung compact, Canons only, so I can't post compact images here, but I suggest you start a thread and invite people to show off their Samsung compact images. The images taken with the EXF2 I've seen here look lovely indeed.

So go ahead!

Cheers,
Andrea

Greynerd wrote:

Pushing big sensors again!

Pushing cameras I enjoy.

Ysarex wrote:

shademaster wrote:

Nothing but disappointment with the EX2F. It was not fun to shoot with compared to NX and the IQ was always a letdown.

The EX2F IQ is excellent and best-in-class for a compact with a 1/1.7 sensor. Certainly competitive with the IQ in the images posted here.

I use my EX2F more than any other camera for the simple reason that's it's compact enough to go with me anywhere.

Again:  I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A BAD CAMERA!  Let's not turn this into a war.

I'm saying that 1) EX2F doesn't give good enough background separation for my tastes (and probably most) for shooting people or groups of people and 2) EX2F is not responsive enough to comfortably shoot interacting groups of people (kids) moving around.

Your shots are great.  Mine are OOC JPEG and I haven't had time to futz with Lightroom to get things how I want yet.  I'm sure there is a lot of room in the highlights and shadows to play with.  And I couldn't even figure out how to put the EX2F in a mode where I could shoot RAW.  (It was always greyed-out, even in single-shot Manual mode.)  Probably user error, but still...

Also, I had EX2 in one pocket and NX300+30mm in the other.  There's not really a noticeable difference.  Neither is going to fit in pants.  Either will fit easily in a coat.  I presume the NX300+16-50PZ would have been the same.

shademaster wrote:

Ysarex wrote:

shademaster wrote:

Nothing but disappointment with the EX2F. It was not fun to shoot with compared to NX and the IQ was always a letdown.

The EX2F IQ is excellent and best-in-class for a compact with a 1/1.7 sensor. Certainly competitive with the IQ in the images posted here.

I use my EX2F more than any other camera for the simple reason that's it's compact enough to go with me anywhere.

And also, now that Panasonic put a μ4/3 sensor in a not-much-bigger-than-1/1.7 size body with very bright lens...  there is no argument other than price to stick with 1/1.7.

But price IS a valid argument (Panasonic is still making LX7's AFAIK), unless you have unlimited budget.

Andrea Georgia wrote:

Greynerd wrote:

I suppose DPR is at heart an IQ competition so not really worth saying any more.

It is a gear forum after all,

Exactly.  I actually put my money where my mouth was and posted some photos, unlike other people who can go on and on about gear.  I like this stuff specifically because it's a nice hybrid of artistic and technical.  I imaging most people on here do to.

Let's try to get along.

Ysarex wrote:

shademaster wrote:

Ysarex wrote:

Unfortunate thread title then, eh? Your thread sets it up as a comparison and it's not really an appropriate comparison.

I had them both in my pocket at the same time and I had to choose which one to use.  So that's where the thread comes from.  I admitted that the comparison is a bit unfair.

For example should we compare your NX300 with my 5DmkII?

I certainly couldn't fit your 5dmkII in my pocket, so "no".

I will say this: If I had the opportunity right now to trade my EX2F for an NX300 + 30mm lens I'd keep my EX2F

and I'm saying *I* would keep my NX300+30mm.  Even if I could never shoot a wide angle shot for the rest of my life.

(zoom lens plus fully articulated screen), and the extra DOF is great for group shots like the first photo you posted where the NX300 didn't get anyone in focus

They look fine to me. Post some photos. Everyone on this GEAR SITE is all like "just go shoot some pictures." So post your photos with your 5DmkII where you nailed focus on a group of people in not terribly bright light.

Group shots are always a compromise between nice background separation and deep field, and I thought I was pretty reserved in my choice of aperture here at f/3.2. I like it, and I think the focus is fine which is why I posted it. It was at S=1/60 which was a compromise to keep ISO down so I can bring the highlights back when I get a chance. Sounds like you don't shoot people much, otherwise, you'd realize the challenge.  They move, you know.

Enlighten us: What would you have done with your 5DmkII?  Or your EX2F for that matter?

Really nice shots of your trip! I used to fret about always having my focal lengths covered, but realized I mostly used the 30mm anyway. I just got back from a trip where I only took a pancake lensed camera and was able to carry it in the pocket of my shorts without any trouble at all. Never felt like I was at a disadvantage with the fixed focal length...

BTW, the compact camera photos in this thread looked great too!

sixfootzero wrote:

Really nice shots of your trip!

Thanks!

I used to fret about always having my focal lengths covered, but realized I mostly used the 30mm anyway. I just got back from a trip where I only took a pancake lensed camera and was able to carry it in the pocket of my shorts without any trouble at all. Never felt like I was at a disadvantage with the fixed focal length...

I've been on trips where I bring the 16, 30 and 45.  Then I use the 30 90% of the time.  I would miss one or two nice wide angle shots like these

Flume gorge trail in Franconia notch.

Flume gorge trail in Franconia notch.

But the landscapes never resonate with me like the people shots.  If it was an either-or proposition, I'd give up the wide to get the bright standard.  OTOH...  I HAD BOTH OF THEM IN MY POCKETS so I was able to take these landscapes AND the other people shots.  So greynerd and company, please don't misread my message.  EX2F is good for what it is.  But it's not good for what it's not.

BTW, the compact camera photos in this thread looked great too!

I agree!