How slow is NX20? It sells for $200

As you can see from the title I can buy it for $200. I had used it for 10 minutes in a store when it was launched a few years ago and it was painfully slow. It was probably on the first firmware. Did it get better with an update? I'm planning to use it with my 8mm fisheye lens. I won't be taking images in continuous mode. I am ready to buy the fastest sd card on the planet if it makes a difference.

VYC Majoris wrote:

As you can see from the title I can buy it for $200. I had used it for 10 minutes in a store when it was launched a few years ago and it was painfully slow. It was probably on the first firmware. Did it get better with an update? I'm planning to use it with my 8mm fisheye lens. I won't be taking images in continuous mode. I am ready to buy the fastest sd card on the planet if it makes a difference.

If that includes the kit lens it's a very good deal. And, if it's only to be used with the fisheye, focus isn't an issue. I never found it particularly slow. I have one I converted to IR so CF is not a need and writing to the card isn't a big deal. I never really found that particularly slow either.

VYC Majoris wrote:

Yes it includes the kit lens. Thank you.

It will take about 7-9 shots in a fast burst. But will cause a 15-30 second delay while it writes. Which is much better then it was at launch. No point in having a card faster than about 40mb/s which is about as fast as it can write.

Sadly the NX20 was never updated to write to the card while shooting. It will fill the buffer up and then write, it starts writing after a short delay between shots (which is long enough that I can fill the buffer just shooting normally)

I love the NX20. It frustrates me at times but that is more because I out grew it.

the Focus system is Contrast Detect and is a few years old. As long as you aren't expecting more than the system can offer (at fish eye likely you won't have an issue) you should be fine.

I'd say it's worth it for $200, but it doesn't get much faster with firmware updates. The problem I found is that I'd take a shot, realize I have the settings wrong, then have to wait for the file to save before I can change them. If you have the (good) habit of always checking your settings *before* shooting, you'll be much less affected by this.

Oddly enough, while commands in the body are locked while writing file to card, iFn functions much better. It's not always available but it regains function much faster (especially while you are waiting for a single raw + jpeg to be saved, fn button just says Processing but iFn and focus ring work). Makes you wonder why they locked other controls.

See my dirty test under

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3907726

Cheers,

Faith

I'd like to suggest you to shot in RAW only and use Instant Jpeg from RAW later. You will get the same result and wirte less bytes on the SD.

VYC Majoris wrote:

Thank you. I bought it and it's much faster than that actually. I can view the photo after 2.5-3 seconds. I shoot raw+jpeg(normal quality).

Glad you bought it, I used it right up to the point I got the NX1, It is still there as my second body, but I haven't needed it since.. February. It is a good little camera though.

I'd you need a viewfinder then the NX30 is your camera, its a much better choice. I'd you don't need a viewfinder then the nx300 would be a nice choice is you are budget conscious.

Bryan M wrote:

I'd you need a viewfinder then the NX30 is your camera, its a much better choice. I'd you don't need a viewfinder then the nx300 would be a nice choice is you are budget conscious.

How is the writing speed of NX30? I always shoot RAW.

Faith Yeung wrote:

Bryan M wrote:

I'd you need a viewfinder then the NX30 is your camera, its a much better choice. I'd you don't need a viewfinder then the nx300 would be a nice choice is you are budget conscious.

How is the writing speed of NX30? I always shoot RAW.

I used a fairly fast card and never had issues with it.