Very capable NX500

Here is my opinion after few days with NX500 + NX 30mm f/2 Pancake, 45mm f/1.8 [T6] 2D/3D, 60mm f/2.8 Macro ED OIS SSA and 85mm f/1.4 ED SSA.

I have NX300 and initial comparison differences for NX500 are:

- Lighter body

- 2 dials

- Rounded top panel

- Screen tilting to 180°

- Better protection from accidental move for P, A, S, M dial

My initial idea was to test continuous focusing during marathon run.

With 45 1.8 and 85 1.4 focusing was clearly faster than NX300. 85 1.4 is not the fastest lens, so there were more misses while trying to get fast series of shots with continuous focusing. Here are some results:

96 pics in the gallery here - http://www.nonchoiliev.com/maraton-sofia-2015

I have also checked the performance in artificial light concert of Joe Satriani.

The continuous focusing was pretty well here again with 85 1.4, here are examples:

Pics published from the concert and marathon were from JPEG and the results were good enough for reportage photography.

Another check with 85 1.4 - portrait. No problems here.

High ISO was very good from RAW, even at 6400 ISO the picture was usable.

Here is the difference between JPEG and RAW @6400 ISO (100% crop):

And a picture with 60 2.8 Macro OIS. This lens was not focusing noticeably faster with NX500 like the other lenses.

Overall it's very good camera for the price at the moment, maybe the only missing thing for some people is EVF. The differences with NX300 were not that small as I thought before the test.

Here is my complete review (in Bulgarian) - http://www.nonchoiliev.com/blog/3189

Great piece! If nx500 had an evf, it would destroy competition.

So cool, Satriani with his new guitar

I'm a huge fan of him (and Samsung cameras), been to at least 5 gigs so far.

Very nice photos showing what the NX and lenses can do! I am loving my NX500 too, very quick AF and excellent photos/video. I too wish it had EVF, but can get fully by with just the LCD. Did you use try Action AF?

bancika wrote:

So cool, Satriani with his new guitar

I'm a huge fan of him (and Samsung cameras), been to at least 5 gigs so far.

Yep, was a great concert. I was shooting only first 2 songs and then just an ordinary audience Here you can find a blog with more pics -http://www.nonchoiliev.com/blog/3153

VisualFX wrote:

Very nice photos showing what the NX and lenses can do! I am loving my NX500 too, very quick AF and excellent photos/video. I too wish it had EVF, but can get fully by with just the LCD. Did you use try Action AF?

Actually I have tried Action AF for a while during the marathon, but that's not enough to say for sure if it was good. Maybe when I own the camera I will know better

Well, no if that made it bulkier. Dis is great for video (talking of nx1) and ois in lenses is very good for shots. Of course ibis would be great for pancakes, but...only if it didn't add bulk/weight. Imo.

Jude 101 wrote:

Are you having any problems with the 60mm Macro autofocus in low light? I seem to be having some issues.

If you mean macro shots in low light - usually use MF. For other sometimes if miss the focus can hunt, which is slow. I'm using focus limiter to reduce hunting all way from macto to infinity. It's a pity that the limiter is only 2 instead of 3 optional.

Did you try using 30mm for tracking it continuous af? If yes, what are your impressions about it?

otto k wrote:

Did you try using 30mm for tracking it continuous af? If yes, what are your impressions about it?

No, only with 45 and 85, because it's easier to see if the focus is fine with longer lenses.

After those few days with NX500 it was a matter of time to get one for me. It's here in white, and now I can take the rumors easy