Navigation aids
Alternatively, you can tweak from the Menu button on the back panel that activates the camera’s main functions: a well-organised, user friendly and clear system. The top plate has also seen a change from the NX100 with a more ergonomically placed mode dial and the power switch now surrounding the shutter release.
Samsung's days of tacky tech snappers seem to be behind it
Another nice touch is the provision of an optical preview to check depth of field as an alter ego of the delete button. My only design complaint is that the operation of the scrolling wheel and the four-way navpad – which rest just underneath the base of your thumb when holding the camera – is not firm enough, making it very easy to inadvertently reset the parameters available on the pad.
Like its predecessor, the NX200 relies on a very bright and clear 3in, 614k-dot screen. There’s no viewfinder but the hotshoe could accommodate one, however, Samsung hasn't such an accessory yet. Like many CSCs, there’s no built-in flash either but at least a small external flash is included in the kit box that makes use of the hotshoe and does a decent job for its size.
Beside flash, the hotshoe accommodates a GPS module, but no viewfinder, as yet
While the use of APS-C CMOS sensors is widespread sensor, the NX200’s 20.3Mp score ranks it among the highest resolution models on the CSC market. Interestingly though, despite the massive megapixel count, Samsung has customised the sensor with a new conversion, colour filtering and more light-efficient microlenses to help minimise the impact of noise in a bid to deliver image quality in the DSLR league.
The outcome is surprisingly detailed and sharp images throughout the conventional ISO range, with only the highest settings (ISO 6400 and 12800) being adversely affected by noise. Colour reproduction is also consistent and images have a pleasant neutral tone that is a breath of fresh air in a market dominated by over-saturation and over-vividness of colours. A by-product of the improved light capturing technology of this sensor is the brilliant low-light and night time performance of the camera.
Modes aplenty
Aside from the traditional choice of PASM modes, the NX200 also offers more consumer-friendly selections, such as a comprehensive Scene Mode; a point-and-shoot equivalent Smart Auto; a lens-specific iScene mode that helps you select the most appropriate scene for each lens; two Panorama modes that are so easy and smooth to work that even my two-year-old son could use and a Magic mode, which comprises of 12 fun frames and 10 reasonably well-designed creative filters. The NX200 also has a good range of useful in-camera editing tools including resizing, face retouch, rotating, red-eye fix and the application of smart filters post shooting.
Next page: Sample Shots
COMMENTS
Drop the gimmicks, add useful features
If I want to make my pictures look like drawings, or oil paintings, or acid-induced fever dreams, I can do that on my computer, thankyouverymuch. Drop that crap, and put useful features in the camera, like high dynamic range capture, panoramic assist (you don't even have to do the stitching in the camera - just help me do the pointing to acquire the pictures), and GPS/magnetometer geotagging. Better still - give me the ability to quickly annotate the picture - maybe a simple voice recorder function?
Much to like
The NX200 does look like an interesting choice, with a nice selection of compact primes (Sony take note!) making for a compact and portable kit.
The only downside I can see is the loss of the accessory port that the NX100 had and therefor no way to use the EVF that was available for that camera which does look like a retrograde step.
Samsung NX200 20mp - good results, especially in low light.
The low light handling for a 20mp sensor is pretty good. Noise in the ISO 6400 is quite noticeable and there's some colour bleeding, but still it's not bad for that speed. Also, noise is well weighted, for example in low light grays at the pixel level there's not noticeable numbers black pixels (as with cheap sensors).
Samsung has the makings of product that will shake up Canon and Nikon methinks.
Yup, that's an EVF alright. It fits nicely into the accessory port on the NX100 - the same port that Samsung have decided to leave off of the NX200. If there ever is an EVF for the 200, it will have to be a new design.
My sydlexia must be on tonight.
I managed to read APS-C as 'arse'
