There’s a very good reason that Samsung NX1 garnered 5 stars when we reviewed it: it’s the best camera Samsung has ever produced, complete with features evened seasoned photographers cannot ignore.
It’s with much excitement then, that Samsung has decided to port its class-leading APC-S 28MP sensor into a superb-looking compact system camera – the Samsung NX500.
TechRadar managed to get hands on with the NX500 at the company’s European forum in Monaco this week and while we couldn’t test the camera to the best of its abilities, first impressions are very good.
As you would imagine, the NX500 is much smaller than its NX1 bedfellow. It weighs just 287g, which means it feels solid in the hand but isn’t going to give you arm ache if you use it for long periods of time. Samsung has also improved the grip on the NX500, so you never feel like the camera is going slip from your hands.
Samsung has looked at the features of the NX1 and has been clever in the way its carried them over into the NX500, managing to squeeze them into a much smaller space.
For a start, nothing has been taken from the 28MP APS-C sensor. It’s still backlit, so as much light as possible can hit it. When it comes to outright resolution, it outclasses any APS-C sensor Sony, Fuji and Olympus has created.
It’s this sensor that has pushed Samsung into the camera big league and I am glad it decided not to mess with it. It also means that, for once, the high ISO range that the NX500 offers up is warranted. The NX500 can manage a sensitivity range from ISO 100-25600 – this is expandable to 51200.
The camera felt good in the hand when I tried it out. The smaller frame will definitely suit those new to photography, both in the ease of how you can handle it and that it’s simply not as daunting to try out as the NX1 was.
Samsung is hoping that the NX500 will bring in the burgeoning photographer crowd and has simplified the controls, so that if you just want to point and shoot you can and the results will impress.
To help with this, the Samsung Auto Shot (SAS) autofocus mode that was first seen on the NX1 has made it to the NX500, alongside a 4K option, all of which can be found on the jog wheel on the right of the NX500. Also situated on the chassis is a covered USB 2.0 and mini HDMI slot on the left-hand side of the camera. The SD card and battery can be found underneath the NX500 and on the top neat the jog wheel is a WiFi button and hotshoe.
There are a number of other buttons situated on the back of the NX500. This is where you will find the photo playback, ISO options and a way into the camera’s myriad menus. If physical buttons aren’t your thing then you can use the 3-inch AMOLED touchscreen. I found this the best way to navigate through the camera’s options.
It’s also the only way to view what you are actually taking a picture of. This is because Samsung hasn’t seen the need to add an electric viewfinder to the NX500 – as this is a slimmed down camera, that would have added unnecessary bulk.
The screen also flips out to 180 degrees which makes it a lot easier when you want to take a selfie. Yes, Samsung has decided to embrace the selfie generation and has made it as easy as possible to take pictures of yourself. While most will baulk at this idea, it will definitely pique the interest of younger photographers.
While the NX500 can hold its own in the imaging stakes against the NX1, there are a few things that have been omitted. The biggest is the 15fps continuous shooting option. This has been trimmed down to a less impressive 9fps. Given this easily beats all but the most serious pro DSLRs on the market at the moment, however, it’s a small quibble.
The NX1’s patterned AF illuminator also didn’t make the cut, instead you get an AF assist light to help you with your low-light shooting.
But it does have the addition of one-touch WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, which means Samsung has made it really simple to send your pictures to a smartphone so they can be uploaded to a social network of your choice.
Early Verdict
The Samsung NX500 packs a lot of features into a diminutive frame. It’s light and adaptable – everything a CSC should be – but has a class-leading sensor that puts it head and shoulders above many of the other cameras in its range.
While we will have to try it out under full test conditions, Samsung looks to have successfully created another fantastic camera that won’t be beaten on specs, especially at its mid-range price point.
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