Ben Herrmann
Forum Pro
Hello all…
A little bit of background info. As a matter of background information, some of the most pleasant surprises that I’ve experienced with regards to evaluating cameras, have involved discovering models that have long since out of circulation. And this brings me to the NX Mini.
My entry into the Samsung camp has been when I picked up the NX300 kit at a great price some years back. Since that time I’ve acquired the NX30 and NX500, and I even picked up the smallish EX2F, which is a remarkable little enthusiast camera in its own rite. It was just recently - within the past several months, that I became intrigued with a small camera that seemingly didn’t make many waves, and that model is the NX Mini.
So why am I putting up a personal review of the NX Mini? Because enough of them are still available (new) on various markets, and with the proliferation of various 1“ sensor enthusiast cameras now-a-days, I felt it prudent to revisit the NX Mini. Additionally, we need to keep this forum strong in terms of participation, so here goes…
And why even consider the NX Mini in 2019? This NX Mini was introduced during the Spring of 2014. To be honest, I never gave it much attention back then. At the time, I thought it looked strange and it didn’t tick all the boxes that I had at the time. I guess it took 5 years later for me to do a complete reevaluation of this “sleeper” camera. What was unique about the NX Mini was the fact that it had a very sleek shape - perhaps not the best ergonomically - but if you remove the lens, it looks just like a small cell phone, even using a Samsung mobile phone battery. But more importantly, it has a 1” sensor, which is a huge step up from the smallish 1/1.7” smaller CCD sensors used in various enthusiast cameras up to that point.
Now enter 2019. With all the raving about various contemporary 1” sensor camera models from Sony, Panasonic, and Canon, I found myself drawn to the NX Mini. I read what I could about that model, and reviewed countless You Tube reviews. Initially, I got the impression that this was not a serious camera, but I keep on reading and watching.
And like I always do in the end, I took a chance. While looking on eBay (and Amazon), I noticed that quite a few of them were still available new, no less. In fact, here is the link to the new ones on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fs...g+NX+Mini&_sacat=625&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=3
And the new ones available on Amazon (US):
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Samsung+...nid=6461714011&ref=sr_nr_p_n_condition-type_1
So I purchased one from an eBay vendor that I trust very much in Taiwan. I ordered the light green version - my wife thought it looked cool - and it arrived just a week later. It came with the 9-27 F3.5-5.6 IS kit lens. After looking at the NX Mini, I realized (subective) it needed an addition or two, and I found myself adding the following accessory items (not worrying about keeping it compact):
1. Because the shutter release button is so small, it would be easy to initially miss touching it to grab a shot, so I added the stick-on soft shutter release buttons, which can be found on eBay for a pittance.
2. I always add lens hoods to any camera I own, and if no lens hoods are available for a given model, I then experiment. So I screwed on a 39 MM UV filter, and to that I added a 39 - 52 MM step-up ring. I then attached a 52 MM silver wide angle lens hood (again, on eBay). I tried various step-up ring and lens hood combinations, but most of them introduced vignetting, so the 39-52 MM worked superbly, thus my adding the 52 MM wide angle (silver) lens hood (Leica style).
3. I also replaced the little wrist strap that came with the camera, and added a longer version - one that you can hang around your neck.
4. I also added matching camera cases (I just keep the bottom half on the cameras), which protects the finish.
Try to find the camera with the corresponding 9-27 MM kit lens (which has IS). If you cannot find any kits including this lens, you can also find the lens sold separately. Here are some of the ones (new) on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...9-27+lens&_sacat=625&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=3
Since that time, despite some annoyances (which can occur with any given camera model), I found myself purchasing another NX Mini - this one being a brown version. My wife grabbed the light green one I had (she likes it), thus I picked up a brown and silver version. Here is a photo below showing what I’m talking about, along with the add-ons mentioned. I was fortunate in that both 9-27 kit lenses seem like very good copies. I don’t typically shoot with primes, but after hearing about the 17 MM F1.8, I may be looking to get that one next.
Pleasant Surprises. Keep in mind, I can overlook many things in a camera. After all, I’m a general photography shooter, meaning I shoot scenics, architectural, portraits, and some special events. With that in mind, my end goal is to achieve superb IQ levels with any given cameras, and there several areas that I immediately focused on it with the NX Mini, and they were:
1. Dynamic Range (DR). Having a 1” sensor, this is the first area I focused on with the Mini. And to much my amazement, I found that the Mini has a superb DR capability. Now keep mind that I shoot with RAW with all of my cameras. I’m not a JPG shooter and I enjoy the dynamic headroom I get in RAW files. What I discovered with the Mini is enormous amount of headroom I have with those RAW files. In files that were completely blown out (highlights), I was able to recover detail that were heretofore impossible to recover with numerous other cameras - yes, even with some bigger sensor models like some Micro 4/3 models, and even more so, with some older DSL’s - now go figure?
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Whenever I get a new camera, the first thing I do to test the DR is to go into my back yard area (which is surrounded by woods) and I walk down to the woods, and focus the camera on the back of our small home. Because I am standing in a heavily shaded area, it's a tremendous test for a camera's DR capabilities as it tries to balance the brightness in the skies with the rest of the sky. At around 3 PM, the hot Carolina sun is so intense, that it completely burns out many an image. With many cameras, I am unable to adjust and recover - yet with the NX Mini, I was able to recover the details and colors perfectly, restoring blue skies that were completely burned out - as shown below with these two image samples:
Here is the untouched RAW (well, I imported it without any adjustments) and created a JPG. As you can see, the skies and part of the roof area and back of the home are completely burned out, or so it appears.
Now here is the adjusted RAW file - all of the details and colors have been recovered - and this was a huge surprise. It showed me the great DR capabilities of the NX Mini.
2. Higher ISO noise levels. Another area that surprised me is in the area of high ISO noise levels. Now I keep the auto ISO set to no higher than ISO 1600 with this camera, and as you probably realize, regardless of the camera you own (whether 1”, M/43, APS-C, or FF), RAW files will tend to show a lot more noise (obviously) than the corresponding JPG versions. And that’s because nothing has been done to the RAW file.
What was most interesting was that even at ISO 1600, I was getting clean images - looking like they were shot at ISO 200 - 400. Very surprising indeed. On some of the image examples on the next posting, you’ll see what I’m talking about with some ISO 1600 shots. I didn’t go higher - probably will in the future.
3. IQ and color qualities. Let’s face it, we love (loved) our Samsung cameras for their way of rendering colors (color tonality). Some of the nicest scenic shots I’ve taken in the past have been with various NX cameras, not to mention the superb little EX2F. There is just something about those Samsung NX colors that stand out of the crowd. Well, the NX Mini does not disappoint here - to be sure. That same gorgeous color tonality is here. Add in the expanded headroom capabilities of the RAW files, and you have the ingredients for capturing some superb images. I’ll be posting IQ samples on the next post (reply) to this OP - so stay tuned.
OK - So what do I like and what don’t I like?
Obviously, our preferences are all subjective, so I don’t like to make blanket statements. As I’ve said in my opener, I can often overlook operational issues as long as the end result - IQ levels - are superb. And such is the case for the NX Mini. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule with any camera, in particular when operational quirks are severe enough to prevent you from getting the shot.
What I personally like about the NX Mini:
1. The Size. Look, I’m not one of those “got to have a pocket sized camera” persons. Sure, I like smaller, but I don’t put cameras in my pockets - never have. As I mentioned, the NX Mini is small enough, and without a lens attached, looks like a small mobile phone. With the add-on camera case, the camera is easy to hold.
2. Exceptional Dynamic Range Capabilities - alluded to above.
3. Fast AF in most scenarios.
4. Familiar NX menu system.
5. Excellent touch screen capabilities.
6. Actually very long battery life, considering you’re using a Samsung cell phone battery in the Mini. On a recently trip, I got around 540 photos before showing one bar left on the battery level indicator on the screen.
7. Superb IQ results.
What I’m not crazy about with the NX Mini, but I can live with them:
1. Just 3 lenses available at launch and then nothing else. And although I found the lenses to be quite good, they all have a silver shiny metal finish. I personally would have loved to see some rubber on the lenses - subjective, I know. But I get what Samsung was trying to do with the Mini - their attempt to make the Mini appear a bit Avant-garde-like with regards to style. So when you’re zooming with the 8-27, you are turning an all metal lens.
2. A lower rez LCD with only 461K dots of resolution. Like many LCD’s (even though with a much higher resolution), viewing the screen in bright conditions is almost impossible. I’ve learned to use it in such situations, and I’ve managed to compose and get the shots I needed. But yes, it could have been much better at the time. Other than that, I found the LCD screen to be no different than others.
3. A very small shutter release button. At first, I had a frustrating time to depress the shutter release button, so I added an add-on stick-on after-market soft shutter release button to take care of this issue.
4. No dials to be able to adjust aperture or shutter speeds like many cameras do now-a-days. But using the touch screen, you touch the area showing the aperture (or shutter speed), and it brings up a menu item, allowing you to change your menu using the arrow keys on the right side of the camera.
So, would I recommend the NX Mini in 2019?
By all means, YES - because you can get some great deals. Whenever I factor in a camera/lens performance vs cost ratio, I determine if a given camera is worth it or not. Looking at current prices, and considering the strong IQ capabilities, getting the NX Mini in 2019 is a no-brainer really, unless some of the issues I mentioned are strong factors against it (again, all are subjective). If you want the kit 9-27 lens, you have to find a package that includes both the body or lens. If not, there are also plenty of 9-27 kit lenses for sale separately for very good prices. As for IQ capabilities, the NX Mini still keeps up with the best of them, and in some cases, even beats out some larger sensor cameras on the market.
I give it 4 stars out of 5, only as a result of the LCD and the issues I mentioned. These are “keeper” cameras for me - thus I purchased two of them.
Image samples on the next posting.
--
Have a great day...
Bernd ("Ben") Herrmann
Fuquay Varina, North Carolina USA
A little bit of background info. As a matter of background information, some of the most pleasant surprises that I’ve experienced with regards to evaluating cameras, have involved discovering models that have long since out of circulation. And this brings me to the NX Mini.
My entry into the Samsung camp has been when I picked up the NX300 kit at a great price some years back. Since that time I’ve acquired the NX30 and NX500, and I even picked up the smallish EX2F, which is a remarkable little enthusiast camera in its own rite. It was just recently - within the past several months, that I became intrigued with a small camera that seemingly didn’t make many waves, and that model is the NX Mini.
So why am I putting up a personal review of the NX Mini? Because enough of them are still available (new) on various markets, and with the proliferation of various 1“ sensor enthusiast cameras now-a-days, I felt it prudent to revisit the NX Mini. Additionally, we need to keep this forum strong in terms of participation, so here goes…
And why even consider the NX Mini in 2019? This NX Mini was introduced during the Spring of 2014. To be honest, I never gave it much attention back then. At the time, I thought it looked strange and it didn’t tick all the boxes that I had at the time. I guess it took 5 years later for me to do a complete reevaluation of this “sleeper” camera. What was unique about the NX Mini was the fact that it had a very sleek shape - perhaps not the best ergonomically - but if you remove the lens, it looks just like a small cell phone, even using a Samsung mobile phone battery. But more importantly, it has a 1” sensor, which is a huge step up from the smallish 1/1.7” smaller CCD sensors used in various enthusiast cameras up to that point.
Now enter 2019. With all the raving about various contemporary 1” sensor camera models from Sony, Panasonic, and Canon, I found myself drawn to the NX Mini. I read what I could about that model, and reviewed countless You Tube reviews. Initially, I got the impression that this was not a serious camera, but I keep on reading and watching.
And like I always do in the end, I took a chance. While looking on eBay (and Amazon), I noticed that quite a few of them were still available new, no less. In fact, here is the link to the new ones on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fs...g+NX+Mini&_sacat=625&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=3
And the new ones available on Amazon (US):
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Samsung+...nid=6461714011&ref=sr_nr_p_n_condition-type_1
So I purchased one from an eBay vendor that I trust very much in Taiwan. I ordered the light green version - my wife thought it looked cool - and it arrived just a week later. It came with the 9-27 F3.5-5.6 IS kit lens. After looking at the NX Mini, I realized (subective) it needed an addition or two, and I found myself adding the following accessory items (not worrying about keeping it compact):
1. Because the shutter release button is so small, it would be easy to initially miss touching it to grab a shot, so I added the stick-on soft shutter release buttons, which can be found on eBay for a pittance.
2. I always add lens hoods to any camera I own, and if no lens hoods are available for a given model, I then experiment. So I screwed on a 39 MM UV filter, and to that I added a 39 - 52 MM step-up ring. I then attached a 52 MM silver wide angle lens hood (again, on eBay). I tried various step-up ring and lens hood combinations, but most of them introduced vignetting, so the 39-52 MM worked superbly, thus my adding the 52 MM wide angle (silver) lens hood (Leica style).
3. I also replaced the little wrist strap that came with the camera, and added a longer version - one that you can hang around your neck.
4. I also added matching camera cases (I just keep the bottom half on the cameras), which protects the finish.
Try to find the camera with the corresponding 9-27 MM kit lens (which has IS). If you cannot find any kits including this lens, you can also find the lens sold separately. Here are some of the ones (new) on eBay:
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...9-27+lens&_sacat=625&rt=nc&LH_ItemCondition=3
Since that time, despite some annoyances (which can occur with any given camera model), I found myself purchasing another NX Mini - this one being a brown version. My wife grabbed the light green one I had (she likes it), thus I picked up a brown and silver version. Here is a photo below showing what I’m talking about, along with the add-ons mentioned. I was fortunate in that both 9-27 kit lenses seem like very good copies. I don’t typically shoot with primes, but after hearing about the 17 MM F1.8, I may be looking to get that one next.
Pleasant Surprises. Keep in mind, I can overlook many things in a camera. After all, I’m a general photography shooter, meaning I shoot scenics, architectural, portraits, and some special events. With that in mind, my end goal is to achieve superb IQ levels with any given cameras, and there several areas that I immediately focused on it with the NX Mini, and they were:
1. Dynamic Range (DR). Having a 1” sensor, this is the first area I focused on with the Mini. And to much my amazement, I found that the Mini has a superb DR capability. Now keep mind that I shoot with RAW with all of my cameras. I’m not a JPG shooter and I enjoy the dynamic headroom I get in RAW files. What I discovered with the Mini is enormous amount of headroom I have with those RAW files. In files that were completely blown out (highlights), I was able to recover detail that were heretofore impossible to recover with numerous other cameras - yes, even with some bigger sensor models like some Micro 4/3 models, and even more so, with some older DSL’s - now go figure?
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Whenever I get a new camera, the first thing I do to test the DR is to go into my back yard area (which is surrounded by woods) and I walk down to the woods, and focus the camera on the back of our small home. Because I am standing in a heavily shaded area, it's a tremendous test for a camera's DR capabilities as it tries to balance the brightness in the skies with the rest of the sky. At around 3 PM, the hot Carolina sun is so intense, that it completely burns out many an image. With many cameras, I am unable to adjust and recover - yet with the NX Mini, I was able to recover the details and colors perfectly, restoring blue skies that were completely burned out - as shown below with these two image samples:
Here is the untouched RAW (well, I imported it without any adjustments) and created a JPG. As you can see, the skies and part of the roof area and back of the home are completely burned out, or so it appears.
Now here is the adjusted RAW file - all of the details and colors have been recovered - and this was a huge surprise. It showed me the great DR capabilities of the NX Mini.
2. Higher ISO noise levels. Another area that surprised me is in the area of high ISO noise levels. Now I keep the auto ISO set to no higher than ISO 1600 with this camera, and as you probably realize, regardless of the camera you own (whether 1”, M/43, APS-C, or FF), RAW files will tend to show a lot more noise (obviously) than the corresponding JPG versions. And that’s because nothing has been done to the RAW file.
What was most interesting was that even at ISO 1600, I was getting clean images - looking like they were shot at ISO 200 - 400. Very surprising indeed. On some of the image examples on the next posting, you’ll see what I’m talking about with some ISO 1600 shots. I didn’t go higher - probably will in the future.
3. IQ and color qualities. Let’s face it, we love (loved) our Samsung cameras for their way of rendering colors (color tonality). Some of the nicest scenic shots I’ve taken in the past have been with various NX cameras, not to mention the superb little EX2F. There is just something about those Samsung NX colors that stand out of the crowd. Well, the NX Mini does not disappoint here - to be sure. That same gorgeous color tonality is here. Add in the expanded headroom capabilities of the RAW files, and you have the ingredients for capturing some superb images. I’ll be posting IQ samples on the next post (reply) to this OP - so stay tuned.
OK - So what do I like and what don’t I like?
Obviously, our preferences are all subjective, so I don’t like to make blanket statements. As I’ve said in my opener, I can often overlook operational issues as long as the end result - IQ levels - are superb. And such is the case for the NX Mini. Of course, there are exceptions to that rule with any camera, in particular when operational quirks are severe enough to prevent you from getting the shot.
What I personally like about the NX Mini:
1. The Size. Look, I’m not one of those “got to have a pocket sized camera” persons. Sure, I like smaller, but I don’t put cameras in my pockets - never have. As I mentioned, the NX Mini is small enough, and without a lens attached, looks like a small mobile phone. With the add-on camera case, the camera is easy to hold.
2. Exceptional Dynamic Range Capabilities - alluded to above.
3. Fast AF in most scenarios.
4. Familiar NX menu system.
5. Excellent touch screen capabilities.
6. Actually very long battery life, considering you’re using a Samsung cell phone battery in the Mini. On a recently trip, I got around 540 photos before showing one bar left on the battery level indicator on the screen.
7. Superb IQ results.
What I’m not crazy about with the NX Mini, but I can live with them:
1. Just 3 lenses available at launch and then nothing else. And although I found the lenses to be quite good, they all have a silver shiny metal finish. I personally would have loved to see some rubber on the lenses - subjective, I know. But I get what Samsung was trying to do with the Mini - their attempt to make the Mini appear a bit Avant-garde-like with regards to style. So when you’re zooming with the 8-27, you are turning an all metal lens.
2. A lower rez LCD with only 461K dots of resolution. Like many LCD’s (even though with a much higher resolution), viewing the screen in bright conditions is almost impossible. I’ve learned to use it in such situations, and I’ve managed to compose and get the shots I needed. But yes, it could have been much better at the time. Other than that, I found the LCD screen to be no different than others.
3. A very small shutter release button. At first, I had a frustrating time to depress the shutter release button, so I added an add-on stick-on after-market soft shutter release button to take care of this issue.
4. No dials to be able to adjust aperture or shutter speeds like many cameras do now-a-days. But using the touch screen, you touch the area showing the aperture (or shutter speed), and it brings up a menu item, allowing you to change your menu using the arrow keys on the right side of the camera.
So, would I recommend the NX Mini in 2019?
By all means, YES - because you can get some great deals. Whenever I factor in a camera/lens performance vs cost ratio, I determine if a given camera is worth it or not. Looking at current prices, and considering the strong IQ capabilities, getting the NX Mini in 2019 is a no-brainer really, unless some of the issues I mentioned are strong factors against it (again, all are subjective). If you want the kit 9-27 lens, you have to find a package that includes both the body or lens. If not, there are also plenty of 9-27 kit lenses for sale separately for very good prices. As for IQ capabilities, the NX Mini still keeps up with the best of them, and in some cases, even beats out some larger sensor cameras on the market.
I give it 4 stars out of 5, only as a result of the LCD and the issues I mentioned. These are “keeper” cameras for me - thus I purchased two of them.
Image samples on the next posting.
--
Have a great day...
Bernd ("Ben") Herrmann
Fuquay Varina, North Carolina USA
