50-150mm S lens

I wish I had bought this lens sooner. I can't seem to find any for sale now less that $1599 in the US. Was this the original retail price for the lens?  Does everyone think that because of the limited inventory that the price seems to be going up rather than down?

SewSimple wrote:

I wish I had bought this lens sooner. I can't seem to find any for sale now less that $1599 in the US. Was this the original retail price for the lens? Does everyone think that because of the limited inventory that the price seems to be going up rather than down?

Yes, $1599 is the original price. It was on sale for $1399 recently but is back to the original price at places that still have it. I don't think you'll find a new one for much less now since most places no longer have it and won't be getting it.

Its a great lens and well worth the money. I got to play with the NX1 once again today and just recently bought into the system late Dec 2015 after the official exit from Samsung for a reasonable price; I hope the system will operate well for a few years.

Some pictures from today attached. All conversions with the newly free Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 SW.

Guess the town...

Old Church

Clock

Clean Lines

Krazyheaven wrote:

Thanks for sharing. The nx line is awesome for what it has. I just wanted to make one small correction. You brought into the system after samsung unofficially exited the camera market.

Correct. However, since I'm in Europe, and Samsung officially made a statement in late Nov '15 in Germany and other countries to exit the local market, and being a high-tech veteran, the writing was on the wall. It's unsustainable to maintain a high cost, high performance R&D team and limit the market to "only" a few countries, even for such huge markets like the US.

It so happened that I ran into a dealership in Switzerland late Dec and was able to negotiate a good price for a complete system (NX1 Body, Battery Grip, both F2.8 Zoom "Pro" lenses). No complaints, it was an "informed" decision. I'm using a variety of systems, DSLR and Mirroless, and the NX1 system has some advantages. However, the AF is still not one of them, even in V1.4, at least not for "Sports".

BostonBoy wrote:

Krazyheaven wrote:

Thanks for sharing. The nx line is awesome for what it has. I just wanted to make one small correction. You brought into the system after samsung unofficially exited the camera market.

Correct. However, since I'm in Europe, and Samsung officially made a statement in late Nov '15 in Germany and other countries to exit the local market, and being a high-tech veteran, the writing was on the wall. It's unsustainable to maintain a high cost, high performance R&D team and limit the market to "only" a few countries, even for such huge markets like the US.

I think it would be fine long term, just not one Samsung wanted to spend money in when they are having issues with smartphone sales.  Still, their profit is incredibly high, so I wish they would have sank a little money into it, but I imagine they saw it as a market they could never make large profits in.

It so happened that I ran into a dealership in Switzerland late Dec and was able to negotiate a good price for a complete system (NX1 Body, Battery Grip, both F2.8 Zoom "Pro" lenses). No complaints, it was an "informed" decision. I'm using a variety of systems, DSLR and Mirroless, and the NX1 system has some advantages. However, the AF is still not one of them, even in V1.4, at least not for "Sports".

The AF is still plenty good and incredibly fast for a mirrorless system.  I can't imagine how good a 2nd or 3rd generation would be.

I would hope that even if Samsung doesn't continue in the camera business, that someone would invest in the NX technology (and maybe they have) as it doesn't make sense to just kill it.

Eric

viking79 wrote:

BostonBoy wrote:

Krazyheaven wrote:

Thanks for sharing. The nx line is awesome for what it has. I just wanted to make one small correction. You brought into the system after samsung unofficially exited the camera market.

Correct. However, since I'm in Europe, and Samsung officially made a statement in late Nov '15 in Germany and other countries to exit the local market, and being a high-tech veteran, the writing was on the wall. It's unsustainable to maintain a high cost, high performance R&D team and limit the market to "only" a few countries, even for such huge markets like the US.

I think it would be fine long term, just not one Samsung wanted to spend money in when they are having issues with smartphone sales. Still, their profit is incredibly high, so I wish they would have sank a little money into it, but I imagine they saw it as a market they could never make large profits in.

It so happened that I ran into a dealership in Switzerland late Dec and was able to negotiate a good price for a complete system (NX1 Body, Battery Grip, both F2.8 Zoom "Pro" lenses). No complaints, it was an "informed" decision. I'm using a variety of systems, DSLR and Mirroless, and the NX1 system has some advantages. However, the AF is still not one of them, even in V1.4, at least not for "Sports".

The AF is still plenty good and incredibly fast for a mirrorless system. I can't imagine how good a 2nd or 3rd generation would be.

I would hope that even if Samsung doesn't continue in the camera business, that someone would invest in the NX technology (and maybe they have) as it doesn't make sense to just kill it.

Eric

Eric - I  agree. I would like to see them to continue to invest and improve on an overall capable system. However, the Korean Mgmt Team took the US business rules ("don't throw good business money after bad business money") to heart and stopped the bleeding. Only Samsung knows how much bleeding that was, as I've never seen public numbers specifically for the Imaging Business Unit.

That being said: In 2014 it was a stellar camera, but not enough to convince the masses to switch to a new system / mount. In the meantime they have been overtaken by others (Sony and Fuji comes to mind) and I think they stopped competing altogether. Only a matter of time then until already non-stellar sales numbers dropped further. They have given up, sad to say, since I do believe they have the core technology and engineering prowess in house. It's just not part of their strategy any more.

In regards to the AF: Capable, yes, but even with the Pro-Glass I experience the occasional hunting, and the keeper rate with fast burst is less then optimal, even with not-so-fast moving subjects. I'd say my new Fuji XPro2 blows it out of the water, and so does a few other mirrorless systems I regularly shoot with. I'm not even talking about the latest DSLR Canikon offerings here, such as D1X II or D5/D500. Plus, the sensor is definitely noisier in low light than the latest offerings out there (Fuji XPro2 Night Shoot @ ISO 6400 with the wonderful ACross Film Simulation attached, FYI).

Just to be clear, I'm not a brand-fanboy, I'm a results-fanboy, and I use whatever the best offering for me is. The Samsung NX1 stays in the Arsenal for now, as it is still very good for the next 1-2 years to come. And who knows? Maybe Samsung or a successor for their Imaging Business might have gotten their act together by then. There is always hope. In the meantime, the camera won't stop working, so I will continue to use it.

Enjoy,

- R

Lisa Ann II, Newburyport, MA

I agree on every single word.

The big disappointment is that samsung won't be developing lenses anymore, since nx1 could very well lead the apsc category for years.

A premium (s) fast prime like 23/1.4 and 35/1.4.

arbux wrote:

BostonBoy wrote:

That being said: In 2014 it was a stellar camera, but not enough to convince the masses to switch to a new system / mount.

"Masses" were not convinced by Samsung logo, not by the camera itself. It was getting stellar reviews, but it was Samsung. Photo community is a very strange one and Samsung was definitely more succesful among video enthusiasts.

In the meantime they have been overtaken by others (Sony and Fuji comes to mind)

This is a false statement. How exactly these 2 companies have overtaken Samsung?

Fuji released x-pro2 just in recent month, not only after Samsung made its decision, but also x-pro2 is hardly batter camera. If anything, it's clearly worse - smaller EVF, no 4k, less focusing points with not confirmed focusing advantage, no touch screen or even articulated screen, with 2.8 zooms that are both worse (16-55 is costant 2.8 and has no OIS, while 50-140 is shorter and there are numerous complaints of it being noisy)... The only fuji advantage is the logo.

With Sony, it depends - A7R2 is most likely better camera (except for frame rate and operational speed) but is also twice as expensive as nx1 was at its introduction. A6300 was again introduced good few months after samsung decided to exit camera business and again it's advantage ofer NX1 is disputable, not to mentiomn lack of APS-C lenses and unavailability of FF lenses (and their prices).

and I think they stopped competing altogether. Only a matter of time then until already non-stellar sales numbers dropped further. They have given up, sad to say, since I do believe they have the core technology and engineering prowess in house. It's just not part of their strategy any more.

In regards to the AF: Capable, yes, but even with the Pro-Glass I experience the occasional hunting, and the keeper rate with fast burst is less then optimal, even with not-so-fast moving subjects. I'd say my new Fuji XPro2 blows it out of the water, and so does a few other mirrorless systems I regularly shoot with.

This statement is false again. Xpro-2 doesn't "blow out of water" anything, it's just catching up with A6000 and m43 (X-T1 flagship was very bad and full of restrictions in continous AF what is confirmed by numerous tests and by Tony Horthrup on youtube - after FW 4.0), not to mention that by saying "few other mirrorless systems", when the only other remaining is m43, nikon 1 and canon M, you discredit yourself completely, as you imply Samsung was the worst.

I'm not even talking about the latest DSLR Canikon offerings here, such as D1X II or D5/D500.

Good, because you don't know what you're talking about anyway and in this case could only see pictures of those cameras.

Plus, the sensor is definitely noisier in low light than the latest offerings out there (Fuji XPro2 Night Shoot @ ISO 6400 with the wonderful ACross Film Simulation attached, FYI).

Fuji X with their traditionally inflated ISO rating that doesn't stand validation in any professional review. Plus black and white conversion always hides noise.

Just to be clear, I'm not a brand-fanboy,

Yes you're.

I'm a results-fanboy, and I use whatever the best offering for me is. The Samsung NX1 stays in the Arsenal for now,

If you have it.

as it is still very good for the next 1-2 years to come. And who knows? Maybe Samsung or a successor for their Imaging Business might have gotten their act together by then. There is always hope. In the meantime, the camera won't stop working, so I will continue to use it.

Why would you when fuji x-pro2 "blows it out of water"? You come on this forum, write some strange and funny statements and then contradict yourself in every other sentence.

Enjoy,

- R

Lisa Ann II, Newburyport, MA

Wow. Angry much?

Your answer reminds me again why I typically don't engage in these forums, since folks take things way to personal. As I said, the NX1 is a very capable system, and it's sad that Samsung does not keep pushing the limits further. The 28MPixel APS-C sensor is good, detailed. In particular I like the 2 Pro Lenses, but also the 85mm F1.4 which I own as well. Other companies do push the envelope further, simple as that. I don't have personal experience with the Canon D1X MK II, but I do already with the Nikon D5. I expect the AF performance of these two models to be similar. The D5 in a different league in regards to AF, maybe not compared to base ISO dynamic range performance actually if you trust the initial internet reports. So much so that I'm considering trading some bodies and get on a wait list for a D5.

And yes, after shooting > 1500 pics with the Fuji XPro2 in the last few weeks I have to say the latest Fuji offering has a better AF as well (compared to my NX1), at least when it comes to my personal shooting style. I let others shoot the test charts etc. etc. and do the detailed analysis. C-AF is still an issue for me, even with the latest Fuji offering BTW, so it's a nuanced picture.

As to your fanboy comment: Yesterday night I picked up a NX500 which I found on display in a local electronic store, much to my surprise as I thought they were all but gone. Last Samsung model they had on the shelve. That will most likely be my last investment into Samsung Camera, unless we see a strong reversal of strategy and a major commitment going forward. Just because Samsung Exits the market doesn't make the system less capable BTW, although I expect support, firmware updates etc. to seize over time. Hence the alternative body. However, I'm running eyes wide open into it.

Enough said. Good luck to you.

You totally lost credibility by saying that xpro2 has better af.

I understand "different opinions", but...how can you say that AF from X-PRO2 is better than that of NX1? I can understand if you mention A6300, which in some specific situations seems to have slightly more efficient AF algorithms (while in others does not) but...X-PRO2 simply isn't there. Any review mentions the average AF of this (otherwise pretty good) camera.

Anyway I think it's already outstanding - per se - that so many ppl feel the need to come here and "try to bash" an almost 2 years old camera, belonging to an apparently dead system, by comparing it to just released (or twice as expensive) ones. Apparently the NX1 is still too good to be left alone

tecnoworld wrote:

I understand "different opinions", but...how can you say that AF from X-PRO2 is better than that of NX1?

X-Pro2 is junk. I can tell you that.

So finally we have something in agreement

I can understand if you mention A6300, which in some specific situations seems to have slightly more efficient AF algorithms (while in others does not) but...X-PRO2 simply isn't there. Any review mentions the average AF of this (otherwise pretty good) camera.

I have shot extensively with Fuji and the whole system is pretty rubbish and overpriced.

It's sad that Samsung doesn't hang around, so imo the only system that might have a future is Sony.

You know, there are a few members of this forum who are helpful, positive, and in general make the forum a good place to ask and answer questions about our Samsung cameras.

What a shame I can't ask a specific question regarding my camera without starting an argument.

You sound like little boys who are fighting over toys, instead of grown men able to discuss the merits of a particular camera, or who has the best kit. Do you even take pictures with all your gear?

I'm a member of a very popular women's photography forum, and not once in 3 years have I seen posts that even come close to the nasty tone I see here almost every time I read this forum. (Any other women members here-contact me and I'll show you a place where you can chat about photography in a pleasant environment).

I'm taking my ball and going home. If I need anything else, I'll private message the one or two lead members who can discuss issues without bashing other's opinions.

Go ahead...... have at it..... prove me correct.....

Oh and BTW I found the 50-150 S lens that I asked about in this thread originally well below retail price.

you know what? It's quite sad to see how ppl attack NX system simply because an outsider (Samsung) dared to challenge more established brands. Up until NX1 was not out, these ppl didn't care, since previous NX models didn't gain popularity and, above all, didn't score very high in reviews.

When NX1 proved to be the highest ranked apsc camera on DPR and other major sites, those ppl were upset and came in force to try to prove their points, spreading false information. This attitude is of course very negative for the system and the brand in general.

Luckily, there are some experienced and knowleadgeable NX users that try to "defend" the truth and helping those asking for info.

Think about this: you are a newby, that, after reading the NX1 review, decided to come here and ask users how good the camera really is. Well, you get several false comments, bashing the camera and reporting that other systems are superior. How can you know that these comments are indeed false? You can't. And you finish going with another system.

So, luckily, there are ppl reporting facts.