The Samsung dilemma

Samsung NX200 18-55mm kit zoom lens

Today I'll be posting off my Samsung NX200 as I've sold it on ebay. This is a shame because it takes fine pictures. I gave it one last try to see if I could work with it, and because of no viewfinder, it was a complete pain to use. Being short sighted, I have to take off my glasses to see the screen clearly, as they are adjusted for distance. I then have to put them back on for everything else. Since in bright sunlight I wear polarised sunglasses, this is a problem. 

Perversely, I think it would work very well as a tripod mounted landscape camera, the controls are well laid out and it has an excellent viewfinder, however for hand holding it doesn't work for me at all. However as I continually write the sensor is excellent and the 18-55mm is a (very) decent lens.

I was also somewhat disconcerted by an interview Amateur Photographer, the UK magazine, conducted with the new head of the camera division at Samsung. He comes from the companies mobile phone division, which is not encouraging, and some of his comments reported in the article were "odd" to say the least.

(He) "stressed that the firm must first 'democratise CSC's' by establishing a wider range of CSC models aimed at both consumers and enthusiasts and making them 'more affordable".

So more cheap and cheerful then.

"Once we have a full range, the volume and scale will allow us to communicate (the brand) to the consumer." He also indicated that the firm needs to build brand awareness for its csc cameras before releasing a high-end model.

???

What Samsung need surely is an attention grabbing, headline generating camera that moves them into Fuji territory, who from nowhere have become one of the most talked about camera companies, by combining style, quality and an awareness of the popularity of retro. It seems to me that Samsung just keep releasing copies of other manufacturers designs. What they need is something that attracts us as photographers. I will bet anything that this post gets far less hits than my posts on Sony NEX, m4/3 and anything about Fuji. Samsung need to get some buzz going, which they significantly fail to do, with their generally excellent but flawed, in terms of design and styling, cameras and lenses.

Apparently they are bringing out cameras with Wi-Fi. So more gadgetry, more mobile phone styling and feature sets. Giving the photographers with the cash what they want, seems to be low down on their list of priorities. Its a simple thing, surely, to look at what are the "headline grabbers" and the success stories of the past year. The Fuji X100, the Sony NEX-7 and the soon to be announced Olympus OM-D. These companies seem to read what people write, listen to what photographers want. Unlike Samsung they seem to have realised that point and shooters, snapshooters and facebook teenagers aren't particularly interested in what advantages CSC's have to offer, and they are going to carry on buying compact cameras on criteria such as price, colour and whether they have the name Canon or Nikon on them, or just buy the latest mobile phone with a camera.

Some of Panasonic's pronouncements follow the same line, whereas Fuji, Sony and Olympus seem to be targeting people who would describe themselves as photographers in some way shape or form. With I would suggest, significantly more success than Samsung.

The crazy thing is that Samsung have got the important stuff right. Great sensor and an excellent range of lenses. Use a Samsung CSC and you won't be struggling to get top notch image quality. They also have a no nonsense approach to menus and layout. As far as I'm concerned the NX200 is (with the exception of the "missing" viewfinder) a much better laid out and easier to navigate camera than the Fuji X100. But whereas that Fuji sold 70,000 units last year, Samsung apparently only sold just over 100,000 of its entire CSC range. 

The new imaging "supremo" says he wants Samsung to be "No.1 in every camera segment" but it doesn't sound that convincing to me. Personally I think that Samsung should close down their CSC camera division and somebody should head hunt their R & D and technical team, who obviously know what they are doing. 

This is a shame, since the more companies we have in this sector, the more choice we have and the more they will push each other to come up with something better. Its a shame that Samsung, after a really promising start, can't come up with something more exciting than they have. They may surprise me and next week will announce a really exciting camera that is just what we all want. Unfortunately I think we will just get a succession of boring minor upgrades that while providing top class image quality, will ultimately offer nothing special to make people think about switching brands. Because thats what Samsung now have to do, get people to switch to them. m4/3 and NEX are so well established, and are pushing out new models on a regular basis, that they have swallowed up a good portion of the market. 

There is this myth that all the compact camera buyers can somehow be convinced to buy a CSC. My feeling is that what most of that market really wants is a better camera phone. Serious photographers spend serious money on cameras and lenses, and many change them on a regular basis. Not quite as much as myself or Kirk Tuck, but much more often than your average family snapshooter. I believe that Fuji and Sony in particular have got it right in that they have now targetted this market for their CSC's and will continue to produce point and shoot compact cameras for the rest. Where Samsung fit in to this long term, who knows, but it would be a real shame if that NX200 sensor (which to my eyes produces results almost indistinguishable from the NEX-7) is used by very few photographers. I believe that in order to avoid that, Samsung have to produce at least one "photographers camera" with it in. I seriously doubt whether they will do that, and I fear they are destined to become just another photographic "also ran", which is, as I indicated at the top of this piece, a shame.

Samsung NX200 review - Part 16 - 20mm f/2.8 Pancake lens

All images - Samsung NX200 20mm f/2.8 pancake lens

Due to the arrival of the Zeiss 24mm and the Sony NEX-7, I never got round to finishing this review by using the 20mm f/2.8 pancake lens on the camera.

I remedied this yesterday, and my feelings are much the same as with the majority of the other Samsung lenses I've used. Its a good solid performer, sharp with good control over CA and fringing. It seems fine regarding distortion and I didn't notice any problems on these images.

Its very small and very light, and though I have this focal length on the 18-55mm zoom, its marginally faster and also has the benefit that it works with my viewfinder workaround, the Voigtlander zoomfinder. So I can compose and take images in my preferred way.

I've already posted my comments on the NX200 in the previous post in this series, and I have no reason to change my mind. I stll feel the NX200 is a "lost opportunity" to produce a camera that could have enhanced Samsungs reputation. A viewfinder doesn't seem that much of a big deal to me, though thats obviously the case for Samsung, and considering they already came up with one for the NX100, I'm really at a loss to understand why they haven't produced one for this, an obviously superior camera.

I will be hanging on to the NX200 for a while, as a backup camera, but once NEX-7's become more available I suspect it will be on its way to ebay to make way for a second NEX-7. A shame since its a decent camera with a great sensor, ultimately let down. I feel, by a lack of vision, commitment and awareness of who might buy it, from Samsung.

Samsung 20mm pancake lens

I found a Samsung 20mm f/2.8 pancake lens on ebay for a good price, and while I still haven't decided whether or not to keep the NX200, I thought I would give it a try.

A few test shots indicated that it was a decent lens. I'll try it out properly soon. It is however very small and I imagine if I wanted, I could put it in my pocket!!

Looking at the camera pictures I think I need to get the duster out!

Samsung NX200 review - Part 15 - Conclusion

This has been the longest review / user experience that I've ever done. Partly because its a camera thats been far from over-reviewed and partly because its an interesting development from a company that was relatively early into the CSC / Mirrorless marketplace, but since then seems to have been "treading water" somewhat.

I left writing this conclusion for a few days, because I wanted to be sure of how I felt about the camera and to try and balance my usual "new toy" enthusiasm with a more objective assessment.

To that end, I must say that I'm beginning to drift back to using my Sony NEX-5n's again. Not because I have any doubts about the image quality that the NX200 produces, but as you will be aware from my previous posts, the issue of the absent viewfinder does significantly affect my views on this camera.

But lets start with the good stuff!

THE SENSOR

Very impressive indeed. In terms of comparing it with everything else I'm familiar with using, for me it doesn't come out as the best I've used in any particular catergory, but is pretty much the best I've used overall. 

Its not as "clean" and noise free as the Sony NEX-5n, but it seems to have a weaker anti- aliasing / low pass filter which allows for sharper results plus it has those extra 4MP's. 

It doesn't have the glossy colour of m4/3 that I like so much, and the potential to use a wide range of lenses, but it has better low light performance, slightly better dynamic range and again those extra pixels.

It is "pixel-challenged" compared to the a77, but because of the weaker AA filter it produces sharper, punchier images.

It doesn't have the wonderful sharpness and colour depth of a Leica M9 sensor, but it doesn't show any evidence of moire and of course doesn't drag in dust all the time. Plus again those few extra MP's do help.

So on the sensor front, a great success I think. 

THE BODY

Its also pretty well made, handles well and has a common sense menu system. All the Samsung cameras I've used have been straightforward and relatively "gimmick free". Certainly I've had no problems navigating around it. The new firmware has added AE lock which was sorely needed and overall I've found it comfortable to use.

The 18-55mm kit lens also works very well with the sensor, giving really well detailed images for a kit lens.

THE PROBLEM

I looked around on various forums and websites to see what others were feeling about the camera. The majority of what I read agreed with me that the sensor is something special and the IQ of the camera is right up there with the very best that an APS-C sensor can offer. But time and time again there were negative comments about the lack of a viewfinder and the fact that one cannot be added. 

Using my partial solution of the Voigtlander optical viewfinder for the wide angle section of the zoom improved the camera so much for me. For example, using the 20mm pancake plus the OVF would make it a really nice (if somewhat restricted) camera. I was interested in the 16mm, but reading some of the results of that lenses distortion problems, I've ruled that out.

This is basically the dilemma. Do I want to use it as a 20mm single lens camera, or as a camera with an (admittedly good) kit zoom with the option to use it with a viewfinder at certain focal lengths, but be forced to use it as a point and shoot compact for everything else?

With a viewfinder I would have seriously contemplated buying more Samsung lenses. But there's no way I'd even consider a telephoto lens without a viewfinder. Yes I'm aware that there is probably going to be an NX20 with a built in EVF, but if its the same miniaturised DSLR / Bridge Camera type design of the NX10/11, then I'm not interested. Call me a camera snob if you like, but that style of body is my least favourite by some distance, and as far as I'm concerned if its going to be small, then it has to have "rangefinder" styling. Just my personal preference, but thats the way it is.

I still feel this camera is a missed opportunity and that Samsung have misread the market for this camera. I'm convinced that all camera manufacturers are mistaken in putting all their energies into marketing these CSC's at point and shoot upgraders almost exclusively. Much as I dislike the NIkon 1 system, I do think that they have got more of an idea of what this market will go for. Superb 20MP sensor quality available via expensive and complicated extra software packages, doesn't strike me as a great selling point for family snapshooters and teenage facebook enthusiasts.

I really do feel that this camera could have been great. A real competitor to the NEX-7, which I suspect it may better for image quality, if my results from the a77 are anything to go by. I imagine it with a viewfinder similar to the NEX-5n or Olympus Pens and that would be a camera I would use a lot. As it is currently I have doubts whether I will actually even keep it for any length of time. Yesterday I was out shooting with a NEX-5n and I went back to multi-image shooting and stitching them together into high-res files, thus eliminating the need for those extra MP's. But there are situations where I want to take single shots and I want them to be the highest quality I can get. The NX200, with a viewfinder would have been great for that, but currently unless its at 18mm or 24mm, forget it.

So for me its 9/10 for the sensor and 5/10 for the body, which despite its other virtues has something really rather important to me missing. 

However if no viewfinder isn't an issue for you and you want a high quality, light, small camera capable of sensational IQ at low ISO's then do check out the NX200. For that, its just about the best on the market, as far as I'm concerned. 

But Oh! What it could have been!!


UPDATE.

Just a brief update to say that Photoshop and Lightroom now support the NX200 raw files. I've processed a few and everything seems fine. Its not that different to the results from Capture One and I see no reason to change any of my comments. Perhaps there is a slightly better colour balance and certainly everything is quicker and I can import the files into Photoshop without having to save tiff files all the time. All I would say is that this confirms what I have believed from my review, that this is indeed a fine sensor.

Samsung NX200 review - Part 14 - Comparison between NX200 and G3

The last test I'm doing before finishing this very long review is between the NX200 fitted with the 18-55mm kit zoom lens and a Panasonic G3 fitted with the Leica branded 25mm f/1.4 m4/3 lens.

Firstly I thought it would be useful to see the difference in size between the images that these cameras produce. 

Please note:- This is not sensor size, but the actual image size. As you can see much of the 4MP difference between the two is taken up by the 3:2 as opposed to 4:3 ratio of the Samsung.

For the test I used what I consider to be just about the best m4/3 lens available currently, the 25mm f/1.4. As before the tests were carried out with the cameras mounted on a tripod, and all files were processed identically in Capture One software from raw files, using that softwares default settings. I picked 4 ISO values. The first one is at the lowest possible setting for each camera, which is ISO 100 for the Samsung and ISO 160 for the Panasonic. I do think its important to test at the best possible quality setting for each cameras sensor, which is the reason I didn't adjust the NX200 to match the G3.

These are full-size files and as usual are available at their highest resolution by clicking on them > flickr > Actions > View all sizes > Original.

ISO 100 / 160

ISO 400

ISO 1600

ISO 6400

The Samsung APS-C sized sensor advantage is visible at the two higher ISO settings. Both sensors are pretty bad at ISO 6400, but the G3 breaks up slightly more. In terms of colour balance, as is usually the case with AWB in mixed lighting, neither are correct. 

What I wasn't expecting was that the Samsung 18-55mm kit lens is slightly sharper throughout all the images. I can't really imagine that it is a better lens, so maybe this gives further credence to my theory that the NX200 has a pretty weak anti-aliasing filter. That would also explain the fact that the NX200 has slightly more luminance noise on the lower ISO pictures. This does tend to get "smoothed out" with stronger AA filters.

Again, its a real "you pays your money, you makes your choice" scenario here. If you want slightly better high ISO performance, then the Samsung has better results, but I'd never use either of these cameras anyway if I was doing a lot of low light work. The Sony NEX-5n is a much better camera for that.

Both camera / sensor / lens combinations turn in excellent performances at the lower ISO settings and both produce files capable of very large high quality reproduction. In my line of work every pixel I can get my hands on helps the commercial potential of my pictures, but if thats not a concern for you then either system is capable of top quality results. It is of course worth noting that you have a greatly expanded lens choice with m4/3, though I must say that to my eyes, neither Panasonic or Olympus have come up with a kit lens / sensor combination that produces such good results as the 18-55mm does with the NX200.

Samsung NX200 review - Part 13 - Comparison between a77, NEX-5n and NX200

Some interesting results here.

I firstly compared the Sony a77, Sony NEX-5n and the Samsung NX200 using the same lens. My Sony a-mount 30mm f/2.8 macro lens, which via adapters I can use on all three cameras. I used an aperture of f/8, and three different ISO settings 100, 800 and 3200. All were processed identically in Capture One from raw. In the first version of each test the files are kept at their relative sizes, in the second version I downsized both the a77 and NX200 files to the same size as the NEX-5n files.

As usual for a large high-res version, click on the image > flickr > Actions > View all sizes > Original.

ISO 100

ISO 800

ISO 3200

Since the tests were carried out using the translucent mirror technology in the a77 and the 5n adapter, the Samsung has faster shutter speeds for all images. 

The second test was carried out using the kit lenses for each system. I used ISO 100. f/8 and a 35mm focal length.

Again the first is with the files at their relative sizes and the second with the a77 and NX200 files being downsized to the same size as the NEX-5n.

I will let you you decide for yourselves what the results indicate, but one thing struck me straightaway. That is just how much impact the Samsung kit lens is having on the impressive files I'm seeing from the NX200. I noticed yesterday when I was looking at the results from the Sony lenses I was using that they didn't have the same crispness that I was getting off the Samsung 18-55mm kit lens. That seems to be case here also.

In terms of any kind of conclusions, it does seem that the NEX-5n sensor lives up to its reputation as being very impressive indeed. It was interesting that the NX200 files seem to be better at higher ISO's than the a77 files. Indeed the a77 files seem to be pretty much the worst overall. What this means for the NEX-7 which uses the same unit is open to question. Obviously no SLT means that all shutter speeds will be "shifted down" about 1/2 stop, which will improve the low light performance and it remains to be seen as to whether the 24MP sensor will be exactly the same as the one in the a77, or whether it has been "tweaked" in the cameras software. 

To be honest at low ISO's all of these results from the three cameras are spectacularly good, and all are capable of huge reproductions. However since this is a Samsung NX200 review, it does show once again just how good this sensor is. It also indicates that Samsung know how how to design and build a kit lens as well.

Samsung NX200 review - Part 12 - Update 2 - Magnification for manual focus lenses

I amended an earlier post to say that you CAN get the magnification screen for manually focused lenses with an adapter. Its the OK button, which I discovered by hitting it by accident. I really should read the manual!!

I therefore decided that I would go out and try my Sigma Sony a-mount 8-16mm lens on the NX200, using it hand held.

Well thats the first and last time!! Its a real fiddly process with an ultra-wide angle lens. They are difficult to manually focus anyway, but having to open up the aperture, focus holding the camera in front of me, and then stop the lens down was difficult to say the least. As you can see below I did succeed, but mainly as the result of determination and cursing Samsung constantly. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH EASIER WITH A VIEWFINDER!!!!!

This is without doubt the most frustrating camera I have ever owned. Such wonderful images but such a pain to work with. This dumbed down point and shoot body just doesn't do the sensor justice and perhaps one day Samsung may realise just why they are in the position they are in the photographic market.

I got so fed up with this fiddling about, (and of course I should mention Samsung haven't even made an NX wide-angle lens, so if thats what I want to use I have to do things like this) that when I went out later this afternoon I left the NX200 and used a NEX-5n + 18-200mm zoom instead.

All images - Samsung NX200 Sigma 8-12mm Novoflex Sony a-mount Samsung NX adapter

And yes, the images were really sharp and the usual great colour. However I must admit that my patience is wearing thin with the NX200. I'll say it again, serious photographers use viewfinders! They are VERY useful. They are not some anachronism from the 1950's. Just ask Sony. 

To be honest it is all this camera is really lacking. But its a huge lack (???) I am personally bewildered as to who Samsung think this is for. Point and shoot upgraders? Teenage Facebook girl? If so whats the point of the superb 20MP sensor? Since you need decent software, (so not Samsungs appalling effort then), to get the full majesty of what this thing can do, are all these self photographing teens, and happy family snappers going to bother with that? And if its for downsizing DSLR owners who want quality in a small light package, then aren't they going to experience the same frustrations that I do? 

I described it in a previous post as a Nissan Micra with a Formula One engine, and I feel that more and more. Personally I'm beginning to think that its destined for ebay as soon as my NEX-7 arrives. That has absolutely nothing to with the pictures it produces, since they are superb. I'm going to test it against the a77 and NEX-5n in the next couple of days, and my expectation, from what I've seen so far, is that it will probably be better in terms of image quality. Indeed, I'm beginning to think this might be the best APS-C sensor so far. But why has getting these images got to be such hard work? 

I HATE holding cameras out in front of me. Its not stable enough, its prone to stray sunlight, its distracting and its just not enjoyable. To claim that people like it, when they aren't given a choice is downright dishonest. Message to Samsung - If you can't be bothered to give me the means that let me photograph in the way that I want, then despite all the advantages of your obvious talent for designing and making sensors, I may not be bothered about buying any more of your cameras in the future.

You can probably tell just how frustrating and difficult I found my wide-angle excursion today! So having let off my steam, there might be a solution. Plan B involves getting a 16mm pancake, setting my Voigtlander viewfinder for that and using the NX200 as a moderate wide-angle lens with a camera attached. That way I still have the benefit of this amazing image quality without the constant frustration of trying to use this thing as an all round camera, which its pretty obviously not designed for.

Samsung NX200 review - Part 11 Update 1 - AE Lock

My thanks to tjobbe for letting me know about the firmware update vers 1.02 for the NX200 which allows an AE lock to be allocated to the custom button. I used it to make this short video and it makes a real difference.

Samsung NX200 review - Part 10 Using Sony a-mount lens with an adapter

I got hold of a Novoflex Sony a-mount > Samsung NX adapter to use my lenses on the NX200. This isn't easy. The magnification focus aid doesn't work with it so its focusing using the screen at full size only. (UPDATE - you can tell this is a rolling review! The magnification for MF lenses DOES work, by pressing the OK button on the back of the camera) Sony a-mount lenses also don't have aperture rings so its guesswork as far as thats concerned. The Novoflex adapter does have an aperture changer, (the blue ring in the pictures) but as usual there are no markings. However having said all that the results are great.

This is the Sigma 8-16mm (Sony a-mount)

N.B. All of these images taken with the NX200 + adapter are available at full-size if you click on them through to flickr > Actions > View all sizes > Original.

This is the Sony a-mount 30mm f/2.8 macro lens.

This is the Sony a-mount 85mm f/2.8 SAM lens.

Using this adapter works OK on a tripod with some time to focus properly and use small apertures, so consequently would actually be very useful for serious landscape work. However walking around trying to use these lenses hand held was a total PITA and is not something I'm planning on doing much of. (If at all!) (UPDATE 2 - having found the way to get the MF magnification (see above) I'm going to give this a try)

However this does show once again what this camera is capable of if you are prepared to put in some work. Unfortunately it also highlights the lack of lenses for the system. Particularly the absence of a decent wide-angle. One of the advantages of m4/3 is that Panasonic got the 7-14mm zoom out relatively quickly, which is something neither Sony or Samsung have managed for their mirrorless CSC's. The Sigma 8-16mm produced amazing results which you will see if you look at the full size images. However, a Samsung version of something this wide doesn't seem to be on the horizon.

These results have made me decide on a three-way comparison between my Sony a77, NEX-5n and the NX200, since I can now use the same lens on all three cameras. I'll do this relatively soon. Should be interesting!

Samsung NX200 review - Part 9 High res. samples

I've put some high-res. full size jpg samples on flickr. These are created from raw files processed in Capture One and edited in Photoshop.

Please note:- Though these are far from masterpieces, they are copyright images and I expect them to be treated as such.

As usual click on the image > flickr > Actions > View all sizes > Original