Video nasty
As for video, it shoots in H.264 but only does 640 x 480 at 30fps. I think you may as well have left that off guys. Missing the HD boat is like saying, it's only for purists, who are stills through and through. It’s an excuse that doesn’t wash these days.
Performs well if you're prepared to take it out of auto mode
If you're keen to take a trip back in time, it also does 320 x 240 and can go as low quality as 15fps – it's like the 90's in here. Even so, it is really easy to switch to capture footage, as there’s a dedicated button on the back. I also like the fact that it charges with the lithium-ion battery on-board. For me it’s a good thing, as it is one less figure of eight cable and little black box to recognise amongst all the others. Samsung claims a battery life of around 120mins or 240 shots which is about right if you're not glued to LCD panel spending ages poring over each shot.
Verdict
Built like you remember the most expensive rangefinder cameras of old, the EX1 is a heavy, armoured beauty in gun metal grey and is the most rugged camera I have picked up. What must have started out as an enthusiast’s retro styled project, must quickly have become something that Samsung said, “OK, better include these functions as well…”
Indeed, the EX1 allows creative control with respectable noise levels, given its smallish sensor. It manages to take SLR, wide open aperture type images that look great, but only if you choose to override everything and get the most from the bright end of the camera’s excellent lens. If you’re happy to keep it out of auto, then the only real shortcomings are it is a little slow in operation and can't do 720p video. Maybe next time. ®
James Cumpsty is a professional photographer and videographer working in the music industry.
More Camera Reviews… |
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Samsung EX1 compact camera
COMMENTS
Vignetting ....
...can actually get worse the faster a lens is.
I have the Canon 85mm F1.2 II. It is great at F1.2, but the edges of photos are quite dark (when used on a full -frame body). Stop it down to F3 and the vignetting is totally gone.
The size of the objective is one of the critical factors affecting vignetting. It's like having an inappropriately sized lens hood, but very out of focus (as you might imagine for a fast lens).
Fast lenses generally are sharper where telescopic resolving power is needed (which does not apply to this camera). The effects of diffraction (blurring) at the telephoto end for compact hyperzoom (> x20) cameras are testament to that.
For this camera, the limited wideangle/telephoto range and small imager may render vignetting insignificant.
However, vignetting can actually be beneficial...
further to what Ball Boy wrote...
the 'faster' the lens the larger the aperture, i.e. more light getting in, hence faster AF (if it goes through the lens) and shorter shutter times. a larger aperture also means a narrower depth of field, which makes everything that is not focused blurred ('background defocus' as the TV ads say). A smaller aperture means a larger depth of field, which makes everything in the frame sharper. Neither of these is better than the other. It's up to the photographer which he wants to use. Though a narrow depth of field is generally harder to work with.
Hence to get a sharper image on a wider aperture, you're actually relying on the quality of the optics.
Bring back the blue door! And I miss the cathedral.
"24mm f1.8"
That's 5.2mm f/1.8 actually. The equivalent aperture on 35mm full frame is f/8.2, and f/5.5 on APS-C. There really is no getting around the laws of physics.
F1.8? So 10 years ago!
10 years ago my Olympus Camedia 3040Z 3.3MP compact had (well, still has) a 1.8 lens so Samsung's claim for fastest lens on a compact is false. I'm not bashing the Samsung cam but apart from the pixel count and better shutter delays today's cameras are offering nothing new it seems.
Olympus XZ-1
The Olympus XZ-1 will be the serious compact yardstick when it's released, I reckon. Seems to take the best aspects of all its compact peers, and roll them into something pretty darned hard to resist.
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/olympusXZ1/
Olympus are in general rather an unsung hero in the digital photography world, but now they've got a bit more attention with the Pen range, there's hope this might enjoy the success it should deserve.
