Incredible sharpness

This is a very sharp lens and balances the camera body very well.  I have been using it on an NX1 for the past couple of weeks and I am getting incredibly sharp photos. The NX1 and this lens seem to be a perfect match in terms of sharpness, portability and comfort. I wish I knew this years ago before I spent thousands on lenses and bodies.

It`s quite a decent lens but IMO the 20-50 range isn't really optimal with regards to being wide enough , and it also lacks OIS. I think it was the original NX kit lens.
NX bodies with this lens on Ebay are always are a harder sell and bring much less than the same body selling with the much better 16-50 OIS kit lens.
Unfortunately most earlier bodies came with the non stabilized 20-50 lens.

The 18-55 OIS was a much better option.

That all said , any of those  NX bodies that came with that bottom feeder 20-50 lens lens can be had now for less than $200 and can produce rather good images that hold up well even against newer equipment of most any brand.

My NX300 came with the very good 18-55 OIS lens but I sold off that lens too in favor of  the wider 16-50 OIS lens.

...for many of the various "kit" lenses on the market from different brands.  I've used (still use) zoom kit lenses that give the big boys a run for their money, and short of having a constant F2 or F2.8, they hold up quite well in the optical clarity department.

Another excellent kit lens (for Samsung) is their 16-50 F3.5-5.6 IS Power Zoom lens.  One variable that typically plagues kit lenses are the copy-to-copy variations that occur in optical qualities.  If you get a good copy (which you apparently did with your 20-50), then you'll be smiling from ear to ear.  Of course, if you get a bad copy, then you'll be cursing it on the forums - it's a given.

I've never tried the 20-50 (felt it just wasn't wide enough for my tastes).  I have a copy of the 18-55 F3.5-5.6 III IS - but it is not a good copy at all (lot's of fuzziness in the edges).  But I have 3 copies of the 16-50 PZ lens - and all of them (miraculously) are superb copies and they've netted me outstanding results.

...if you have a good, or just so-so, or horrible lens copy is to blow up the photo to 100% on your screen.  Now move to the left of the screen (preferably in an area that is supposed to have detail like trees, foliage, grass, etc - in the case of scenics).  Now cursor from left to right in the frame and look for the detail.

All lenses just about have excellent center portions of the screen and reality dictates that most lenses will have a little sharpness drop off at the edges (not all though).  You know you have a good copy if the sharpness pretty much holds up across the frame.

Unfortunately, many folks tend to evaluate a lens by initially just looking at a photo as a whole.  If it looks nice - well, then they assume it's a good lens - and who am I to argue with that.  But as time goes on and your sense of critical evaluation advances, you then notice sharpness (or lack thereof) in different parts of the frame.

But there are other variables involved that could fool someone into thinking that their lens may not be a good copy.  For example if you are shooting on a windy day and the branches, bushes, and grass are moving somewhat - the end result may appear as if things are soft, which they obviously are not.

I've had no luck at all with the 16-50mm "S" lens regardless of which body I put it on.. NX30, NX1000, NX1.   It also throws the balance of the camera off with its massive weight. It fails most times to focus accurately and I find the resolution low quaility. I was disappointed and considered selling off all of my samsung equipment.

I am not going to sony yet. I own a sony and it is a fine camera.. it really is.  But my love of photography is enhanced by the samsung gear and its unique personality.  I think samsung was way ahead of the mainstream manufacturers back in 15 when they gave up.  I would try FUJI, and when I shot film, it was the best film to shoot with.

I agree with you on the 20- 50 sharpness, all my Samsung lenses are very sharp, I did a job yesterday taking images of a friends art work, NX2000 using the 20 - 50, I have other cameras but decided to use the Samsung, small and light, would focus well, I used the wired remote, I knew the results would be good and show the colours in the paintings accurately.

YipMich wrote:

This is a very sharp lens and balances the camera body very well. I have been using it on an NX1 for the past couple of weeks and I am getting incredibly sharp photos. The NX1 and this lens seem to be a perfect match in terms of sharpness, portability and comfort. I wish I knew this years ago before I spent thousands on lenses and bodies.

This is my own experience with this lens on my NX 500.

I keep it very carefully protected (Due to the fact Samsung shamefully abandoned us :-()in my studio solely for my art work at about 30mm f8 - which looks the sharpest results.

Haim

http://lorberboim.com

http://artnot4sale.com

I have two NX1000's arranged for synchronized stereophotography.  Both came with this kit lens.  I was impressed with both lenses IQ from the get-go.  Quite an accomplishment for a "kit lens" IMO.

wired remote eh??   tell me more please