The Samsung scenario - ponderings and/or recommendations

I'm just getting back into photography again and I decided to just now pickup an NX1 despite all the doom and gloom forecasts. I don't really see the issue with it one way or the other. I was able to get a NX1 with the 16-50 F2-2.8 S lens pro kit (plus a bunch of other freebies from Amazon vendor). What other camera has all the features and IQ of this one at this price, especially with 4K video? I also bought a 30mm pancake prime for portability. The only other lens I want is the 50-150 S lens, but that's another $1600. I'm going to wait and see if there will be any deals on them. With these 3 lenses, I feel like I'll have pretty much everything I'll ever need (for me) with this system. If they're out of the business, I'll get several years of great photos and fun out of this camera, then I'll move on to something else.

As someone in the tech sector, I think photography is finally starting to feel what every other market has felt already, that upgrade cycles are shorter and shorter, and technology changes faster and faster. Phones don't even get updates past 2 years now, and that's important from a security and functionality standpoint. Go try and install an app from the appstore on an iPad 2, and that came out in 2011! Even mountain bike standards are changing every year or 2, but it doesn't make my current mountain bike obsolete. It's still rideable and parts for it are still readily available. I know it makes sense to buy into a system, but buy the camera that works for you, and enjoy it. For me the NX1 fits the bill. I couldn't find another that had the features I wanted at the price I wanted to pay, and I loved all the new tech they crammed into it. I'll be sad if new development for it is abandoned, but I'll still have a usable camera and plan to take lots of great shots with it. So long as I get the 50-150 before I can't anymore, I'll be happy and covered. Plus there's always eBay. I'm sure someone will be looking to get rid of lenses/parts if I can't find it at retail.

BaeckerX1 wrote:

I'm just getting back into photography again and I decided to just now pickup an NX1 despite all the doom and gloom forecasts. I don't really see the issue with it one way or the other. I was able to get a NX1 with the 16-50 F2-2.8 S lens pro kit (plus a bunch of other freebies from Amazon vendor). What other camera has all the features and IQ of this one at this price, especially with 4K video? I also bought a 30mm pancake prime for portability. The only other lens I want is the 50-150 S lens, but that's another $1600. I'm going to wait and see if there will be any deals on them. With these 3 lenses, I feel like I'll have pretty much everything I'll ever need (for me) with this system. If they're out of the business, I'll get several years of great photos and fun out of this camera, then I'll move on to something else.

As someone in the tech sector, I think photography is finally starting to feel what every other market has felt already, that upgrade cycles are shorter and shorter, and technology changes faster and faster. Phones don't even get updates past 2 years now, and that's important from a security and functionality standpoint. Go try and install an app from the appstore on an iPad 2, and that came out in 2011! Even mountain bike standards are changing every year or 2, but it doesn't make my current mountain bike obsolete. It's still rideable and parts for it are still readily available. I know it makes sense to buy into a system, but buy the camera that works for you, and enjoy it. For me the NX1 fits the bill. I couldn't find another that had the features I wanted at the price I wanted to pay, and I loved all the new tech they crammed into it. I'll be sad if new development for it is abandoned, but I'll still have a usable camera and plan to take lots of great shots with it. So long as I get the 50-150 before I can't anymore, I'll be happy and covered. Plus there's always eBay. I'm sure someone will be looking to get rid of lenses/parts if I can't find it at retail.

That's pretty much exactly I feel about my NX1. I looked around but there's currently really no substitute for the all-in-one package that NX1 is. For me the big thing with NX1 is the killer 4K quality. It makes the camera quite future proof. I couldn't consider any camera without 4K at this point and that eliminates all but a few Panasonic M4/3 cams and the Sony A7 series. But those come with either IQ or price trade-offs that I felt NX1 balances quite nicely for me.

Good to see I'm not the only one who decided to go that way despite all the doom and gloom and outbreak of communal depression here, understandable as it is.

So, after some serious pondering I unexpectedly decided to disregard my own advice and bought the NX1 and the 50-150S this weekend. I needed the first as I really wanted the latter for action shots, mostly because my 50-200 is slow (although not AF wise) and really not so super in terms of IQ, and because the alternative, the new Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VRII for my Nikons would have been much bigger and heavier (over 1.5 kg, and the lens itself is also much more expensive). And the other reason is that I like my brilliant little NX500 and the many lenses for it I already own so much that I decided to keep the system. And although Samsung could have, should have produced more lenses etc., I disagree with categorical statements that it is not a workable system for the NX1/500, as it is in fact quite good unless someone wants some fast specialty glass beyond the 60 macro, 85 1.4 and the 10 fisheye or the S lenses.

So far I've only had a bit of time to play with and test the NX1 and the 50-150S (I noticed some difference in AF speed and accuracy before and after I updated the FW), and all I can say is: wow, what a polished, fast, quiet and smooth lens that is, with lovely colours, contrast, sharpness and bokeh, and the NX1 handles absolutely great, no probs whatsoever coming from the NX500. Despite some button/wheel layout differences, they are clearly siblings. The image stabilization is a true miracle on this lens, sharp images at 1/30s at 150 mm. I haven't tried out video yet, but will do so soon.

The NX1 and 50-150S have been evaporating from the shelves in town since the news broke, so I just went for them.

Andrea

Congrats on your new purchase! Enjoy! Meanwhile I'm definitely adding a NX500 for more portability (and also dual cam video shooting occasion) and eyeing on the 85mm and the S lenses, especially the 50-150mm to complete my setup.

You did the right move. Congrats.

50-150 is the best lens I ever used.

I'll have a xmas concert in 2 weeks and I'm undecided. 50-150 or 85mm? Both gorgeous.

Because what they have now is better than what competitors will have in two years from now?

MikeDPR wrote:

BaeckerX1 wrote:

I'm just getting back into photography again and I decided to just now pickup an NX1 despite all the doom and gloom forecasts. I don't really see the issue with it one way or the other. I was able to get a NX1 with the 16-50 F2-2.8 S lens pro kit (plus a bunch of other freebies from Amazon vendor). What other camera has all the features and IQ of this one at this price, especially with 4K video? I also bought a 30mm pancake prime for portability. The only other lens I want is the 50-150 S lens, but that's another $1600. I'm going to wait and see if there will be any deals on them. With these 3 lenses, I feel like I'll have pretty much everything I'll ever need (for me) with this system. If they're out of the business, I'll get several years of great photos and fun out of this camera, then I'll move on to something else.

As someone in the tech sector, I think photography is finally starting to feel what every other market has felt already, that upgrade cycles are shorter and shorter, and technology changes faster and faster. Phones don't even get updates past 2 years now, and that's important from a security and functionality standpoint. Go try and install an app from the appstore on an iPad 2, and that came out in 2011! Even mountain bike standards are changing every year or 2, but it doesn't make my current mountain bike obsolete. It's still rideable and parts for it are still readily available. I know it makes sense to buy into a system, but buy the camera that works for you, and enjoy it. For me the NX1 fits the bill. I couldn't find another that had the features I wanted at the price I wanted to pay, and I loved all the new tech they crammed into it. I'll be sad if new development for it is abandoned, but I'll still have a usable camera and plan to take lots of great shots with it. So long as I get the 50-150 before I can't anymore, I'll be happy and covered. Plus there's always eBay. I'm sure someone will be looking to get rid of lenses/parts if I can't find it at retail.

That's pretty much exactly I feel about my NX1. I looked around but there's currently really no substitute for the all-in-one package that NX1 is. For me the big thing with NX1 is the killer 4K quality. It makes the camera quite future proof. I couldn't consider any camera without 4K at this point and that eliminates all but a few Panasonic M4/3 cams and the Sony A7 series. But those come with either IQ or price trade-offs that I felt NX1 balances quite nicely for me.

This is exactly how I feel about my NX1 too.  I only recently started seriously looking for an upgrade to my NX300 (which I adore, especially in white!  I love the looks and form factor so much that I'm thinking of getting a NX500 too) and weighed up a lot of options from other systems.

In the end, I decided that every other system has their pros and cons but the Samsung NX1 had the least compromises and the best combination of video/stills quality, price, features, performance, handling and build quality imo.  It actually represents good value for money too, although I can't believe I'm saying that about a camera at this price range, it's almost like saying a BMW is good bang for buck.....

This was well after the rumours surfaced and even *IF* it turns out to be true, my opinion would be exactly the same.

Thanks, Mike. I'm really happy with the new cam and lens.

The 85 is a marvelous cream machine, and pretty hefty, although not as hefty as the 50-150S (which in turn is much lighter than the Nikor FF equiv). The 50-150 will be more versatile than 85 though, and my imppression so far is that it also has very nice bokeh.

You'll like the NX500, I'm still amazed at the technology they packed into this small cam. And it handles so well. Plus, you can take selfies with it as the screen flips up all the way which doesn't with the NX1 - my only complaint so far, lol, and I barely take selfies, but my son and his friends love that function. Because of tis small size and the 180 degree flip screen, the NX500 is probably better for social and casual photography. I love it.

Andrea

Thanks, tecno! Yep, both are great lenses. The 50-150S is probably more versatile though, even if it's a slower lens. I think it may have a bit faster AF than the 85, but then again I haven't compared them directly yet. If you feel strong enough, take both along for the concert, and perhaps a fast and small WA, too, the 16 mm or so. Then you can see what works best for you. It'll also depend on the distance to the stage.

Andrea

I'll be at about 15 meters. Anyway the 50-150 would probably be the best choice for making some portraits...

I think so, too. Enjoy the concert!

Andrea

The 50-150S is absolutely the best lens I've ever owned. It even outmatched my legacy Rokkor 100 3.5 macro  I tested during a portrait shoot.

Some video tests I did with the above S lens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgCjLx4o__w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrrglSkNPD0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADgk2-fSAg

I realized I didn't need the 85 1.4 or the 45 1.8 as the S lens covered these focal lengths.

Dug up an achromatic +3 Marumi close up lens that fit the 50-150S lens and the first test is very encouraging!  Autofocus works fine and I can now do (almost) macros.

Now I may not need to purchase  the 60mm 2.8 macro any more.

Saving for the S 16-50mm.  Once I have that one, I am covered.