NX100 in 2021?

Would you?

I'm intrigued. They seem dirt cheap used. Like £30 cheap. For an APS-C interchangeable lens body, that as good as free. I could add the 30mm f/2 pancake and have an ideal adventure travel camera, for going places where a camera might get scuffed or bashed or even go missing (though hopefully it wouldn't, because the lens would have some value and I might go on to also get a nicer NX body later..).

I'm not an NX series user already and know very little about the range, other than I think this was the first rangefinder style - which I'd want over a larger body - and has the lowest resolution sensor - which doesn't bother me. I shoot raw, so the NX200 buffer time I'm reading about puts me off spending more on one of those. I regard an articulating screen as something that adds bulk and is more likely to get broken, so I attach little value spending even more and going up the NX300. And the NX500 is still far too expensive used to even consider, at least in my book. Plus I read there was an accessory EVF for the NX100 - if I can track one down - and there wasn't for the 2 or 300.

It'd be a third camera. I still use my Pentax DSLRs when I'm out for the purpose of taking photos, and recently picked up an XF10 for when I'm just wandering around town or travelling in a more conventional style and better able to take care of my equipment. At £300 it cost me too much to take risks with though, so I also just snagged myself a very cheap used MFT Panasonic GX1 with the 20mm f/1.7 pancake for the rougher travelling. But it's occured to me that an NX100 with the 30mm pancake might cost about the same as the Panny combo whilst giving me the larger APS-C sensor, with its 3:2 native aspect ratio that I prefer, yet looks like it'd be no larger to carry.

I'm struggling to see a downside. What have I missed? Would you talk me out of an NX100? (I'm asking in the Samsung forum in the hope that you don't )

I don't think you can go far wrong to be honest, although it may not cost that much more for an NX camera with a larger megapixel sensor, like the nx1000. It's true that you could add an EVF for the nx100, but I think those are like hen's teeth unfortunately.

thank you, I'll look into the NX1000.  Just looking at it I prefer the appearance of that model, and with the grip it looks easier to hold.  If it's not much more to snag one of those then that sounds a very good suggestion.

elfer wrote:

thank you, I'll look into the NX1000. Just looking at it I prefer the appearance of that model, and with the grip it looks easier to hold. If it's not much more to snag one of those then that sounds a very good suggestion.

Interestingly there is an NX100 for sale on eBay with the EVF;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334072979152?epid=101899640&hash=item4dc84d1ed0:g:2T4AAOSwk11g6uVt

already bookmarked

I use an NX5 as an "alternative system" camera to my Pentax system, coincidently, and assuming the 14.6M.Pixel sensor in the NX5 is the same as the NX100 it'll produce nice pictures provided you don't over estimate the low light capability and keep the ISO down to a reasonable level. With this in mind, one of the image stabilised lenses might be recommended.

I'll admit I do look out for one of the Samsung 30mm lenses, seems like it'd be a good match to the little body, but as yet prices remain stubbornly high

thank you kypfer. It does indeed seem the (early) bodies are cheap now but the prime lenses remain pricey. Much the same as any other system, I suppose!

I really am quite sold on the idea of an NX-something now. Not only for the benefits already discussed but also because the NX series seems to have fallen off a lot of peoples' radar. As evidenced by being a Pentaxian, I do seem to favour left-field choices over mainstream

Thank you Hike, I hadn't thought about adapters!  That opens up a whole new avenue of opportunity if I can mount my PK and PK(A) pancakes primes.  They wouldn't be so pancakey with the adapter added, I know, but it'd be a good way of trying out and getting used to an NX body without immediately having to buy a new lens collection.  Hmmmm...

elfer wrote:

Thank you Hike, I hadn't thought about adapters! That opens up a whole new avenue of opportunity if I can mount my PK and PK(A) pancakes primes. They wouldn't be so pancakey with the adapter added, I know, but it'd be a good way of trying out and getting used to an NX body without immediately having to buy a new lens collection. Hmmmm...

Lenses from Leica screw, Fed, Zorki and other rangefinder cameras are smaller, variously descibed as LTM, L39 or M39, as are the adapters... Standard lenses such as the Jupiter 8 50mm f/2 are also inexpensive. The industar-69 28mm f/2.8 half frame lens needs a simple tweak but should work, and is very compact.

Heritage Cameras wrote:

elfer wrote:

Thank you Hike, I hadn't thought about adapters! That opens up a whole new avenue of opportunity if I can mount my PK and PK(A) pancakes primes. They wouldn't be so pancakey with the adapter added, I know, but it'd be a good way of trying out and getting used to an NX body without immediately having to buy a new lens collection. Hmmmm...

Lenses from Leica screw, Fed, Zorki and other rangefinder cameras are smaller, variously descibed as LTM, L39 or M39, as are the adapters... Standard lenses such as the Jupiter 8 50mm f/2 are also inexpensive. The industar-69 28mm f/2.8 half frame lens needs a simple tweak but should work, and is very compact.

Exactly the reason I bought my NX5 … my "retired" range of Russian r/f lenses have a new lease of life. The 85mm f/2 Jupiter-9 continues to deliver and the Industar-69 makes the camera quite pocketable, though it does benefit from a lens hood Pity the 35mm Jupiter-12 and the 20mm Russar MP-2 wouldn't fit (rear element too large) … can't have everything!

Thanks HC. I've a few M42 lenses for my old Spotmatic but hadn't ever investigated M39. That Industar-69 28mm f/2.8 looks very interesting.  Would give a roughty 42mm effective focal length too on APS-C, which would be ideal for one lens travelling.   I think I need to add an M39 to NX adaptor to my shopping list

elfer wrote:

Thanks HC. I've a few M42 lenses for my old Spotmatic but hadn't ever investigated M39. That Industar-69 28mm f/2.8 looks very interesting. Would give a roughty 42mm effective focal length too on APS-C, which would be ideal for one lens travelling. I think I need to add an M39 to NX adaptor to my shopping list

Looking forward to seeing some pictures...

Just to update, I haven't been able to snag myself the 30mm lens yet - been second highest bidder a couple of times - but have picked up an NX body in the meantime.   Saw an NX3000 with the 16-50 OIS for £100 and thought that was a good deal.  Hoping I'll yet find a 30mm at a reasonable price and plan to sell the zoom when I do.

The 3000 seems alright, nice and small ands light, though I'd prefer a control wheel (ideally two) to the circular dial round the OK button.  Just preference, as that's what I'm used to on my other cameras.  If an NX300 comes along at the right price I might pick it  up to compare handling.  Pleased with the test images I'm getting.  But I like a bit of creamy bokeh every now and then so waiting on the f/2.0 really.

Thanks to all who replied and gave advice.  I bought the kit on 14 days' approval but it's not going back

elfer wrote:

Just to update, I haven't been able to snag myself the 30mm lens yet - been second highest bidder a couple of times - but have picked up an NX body in the meantime. Saw an NX3000 with the 16-50 OIS for £100 and thought that was a good deal. Hoping I'll yet find a 30mm at a reasonable price and plan to sell the zoom when I do.

The 3000 seems alright, nice and small ands light, though I'd prefer a control wheel (ideally two) to the circular dial round the OK button. Just preference, as that's what I'm used to on my other cameras. If an NX300 comes along at the right price I might pick it up to compare handling. Pleased with the test images I'm getting. But I like a bit of creamy bokeh every now and then so waiting on the f/2.0 really.

Thanks to all who replied and gave advice. I bought the kit on 14 days' approval but it's not going back

Very nice! I've also got the NX3000, it's a very nice camera, unusual that it takes micro SD cards, but you can get spare batteries easily as I believe it takes the same battery as one of the old Samsung phones. Also, the video codec is better than in the nx300.

Hopefully you won't have issues with the mode dial, but this issue seems to occur in a lot of NX cameras, although not in every case.

markyboy81 wrote:

Hopefully you won't have issues with the mode dial, but this issue seems to occur in a lot of NX cameras, although not in every case.

Funnily enough I have noticed some unusual behaviour, with the LCD displaying that I've briefly changed to another mode and back again when I haven't touched the PASM dial.  I do have a 24 month warranty on it but that's scant comfort if it stops working in the middle of a trip.  Thanks for the heads up.  I've found a thread on here that talks about the problem and will have a good read...

markyboy81 wrote:

I don't think you can go far wrong to be honest, although it may not cost that much more for an NX camera with a larger megapixel sensor, like the nx1000. It's true that you could add an EVF for the nx100, but I think those are like hen's teeth unfortunately.

Just got NX1000 for $25. Did not need it, got NX210. Which may be better to use in sunshine? But see NX1000 is far better in low light. So which one to keep. To get a small NX with tilting screen, 3000 is the one? Got room for one more...

I loved that camera. I passed it on to a relative when I upgraded to the NX300, a d always rather regretted it. The files were so lovely. Hope you picked it up.