Overview
Although Samsung was one of the first manufacturers to launch a compact system camera to the market, back in 2010 with the NX10, it’s fair to say that the NX range has failed to capture the same amount of attention as CSCs from Panasonic, Olympus and Sony.
Samsung’s compact system cameras, like Sony’s, feature an APS-C sensor, and unlike some of the other manufacturers mentioned. All of the cameras in the current Samsung line-up share the same sensor, a 20.3 million-pixel device.
Alongside that sensor, which we have found to be a good performer before, are a number of features which are likely to grab the attentions of serious enthusiasts. For starters, there’s a fast, 1/8000 second shutter speed and a nine frames per second (fps) continuous shooting function.
For the first time in a Samsung CSC, there’s also a tiltable electronic viewfinder, which boasts an impressive 2,359k dot resolution. It is joined by a three inch, 1037k dot, fully articulated touch-sensitive screen.
The camera features a hybrid AF (autofocus) system, with the sensor featuring 247 contrast detect AF points and 105 phase detection points.
Both raw format shooting and full manual control is available, along with semi-automatic modes such as aperture priority and shutter priority. There’s also a host of creative extras, such as digital filters, which can only be shot in JPEG, or Picture Wizard, which can be shot in both raw format and JPEG.
Samsung is a key advocate of Wi-Fi technology, so it’s no surprise to see it featured here on the NX30. As with other SMART (Samsung’s term for Wi-Fi connected) cameras, there is a variety of useful functions that make use of this. For instance, you can upload images directly to Facebook as well as using your phone or tablet to control the camera. There’s also a baby monitor setting which means you can set up the camera in the room of a child and use your phone to keep tabs on your infant.
Samsung announced a new ‘premium’ lens, the first of its kind in the Samsung range, at the same time as the NX30 was. The 16-50mm f/2.0-f/2.8 offers the brightest maximum aperture for a 3x zoom lens, and indicates that Samsung is trying to attract a more serious kind of photographer than ever before. The company has indicated that more premium lenses will be coming soon too.
The NX30 comes packed with an 18-55mm iFunction lens as standard. iFunction lenses, unique to Samsung, allow you to control some aspects of the camera’s functionality via a button on the lens itself. At present, there are 13 lenses available for the NX range, all of which are iFunction optics. Although the range isn’t as large as those available for Micro Four Thirds, there are some interesting primes and zooms available.
Unlike the Samsung Galaxy NX, the user interface of the NX30 is not an Android operating system, but the same menu system as used on other NX cameras. Whereas some Sony cameras allow you to download additional apps from the company’s PlayMemories store, there’s no such additional functionality than can be added with the NX30.
Other interesting features of the NX30 include a DRIMeIV image processing engine and full HD video recording.
As it sits at the top of Samsung’s line up, the NX30 goes head to head with the likes of the just recently announced Sony a6000, Sony’s most advanced APS-C compact system camera, the Panasonic GH4, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 and arguably even the Fuji X-T1, with which it shares a relatively similar shape, if not the retro styling.
Build quality and handling
Samsung compact system cameras are generally divided into two camps. There’s the flatter, more compact-camera-like style, and then there’s the thicker, DSLR-like devices, and that’s the category the NX30 falls into.
There’s a chunky grip, which is textured and feels very nice to hold. There’s a ridge on the grip for your middle finger to sit on and feel extra comfortable, and also a raised thumbrest on the back of the camera, so the camera sits very nicely in the hand. It’s probably not a camera you’ll use one handed all that often, but if you did want to, it feels secure.
Although the NX30 has a touchscreen, unlike the Samsung Galaxy NX, there are lots of physical buttons too, which will likely be appreciated by more traditional users. It’s nice to be able to use a combination of the touchscreen and real buttons to quickly change settings, too.
On top of the camera are quite a few dials and buttons. There’s a mode dial for switching between the various exposure options, including fully automatic and semi-automatic modes such as shutter priority and aperture priority. Wi-Fi has its own slot on the mode dial since you can do quite a few different things with the Wi-Fi options – I’ll come onto that later. There are also two slots for groups of custom settings – useful if you often find yourself shooting a particular type of scenario (such as low light).
To the right of the mode dial is a smaller dial for changing the drive mode, a simple flick can move you from single shooting to burst mode, time or bracket mode. It’s a nice addition which saves diving into the menu to change the setting, and the dial is stiff enough to not accidentally be knocked out of the position you desire.
Around the shutter release button is the on/off switch, while just behind it is a scrolling dial used for altering aperture or shutter speed, depending on the mode you’re shooting in. If you prefer, you can also use the dial on the back of the camera to make this change, and if you’re shooting in fully manual mode, you use one for shutter speed, and the other for aperture.
To the right of the shutter release is a small button for changing the metering mode and another for accessing the Wi-Fi functions of the camera.
There are also quite a few buttons on the rear of the camera, and they’re all grouped on the right-hand side of the body for easy access from the thumb. There’s a traditional four-way navigational pad, with each direction of the pad serving a specific purpose – right changes the AF mode, up changes the display, down changes the ISO (sensitivity) and left changes the white balance. Unlike with Sony cameras, there’s no way to change the purpose of the buttons on the back of the camera, but it’s a sensible choice of options nonetheless. There is one custom button, which doubles up as the delete button, which can be set to one of three settings – Drive Settings, AF Area or Reset. It would have been nice if you could have set a wider variety of settings here.
The Fn (function) button gives access to the most commonly used settings. Pressing this button brings up a display which you can navigate around using the directional keys, or you can touch the screen itself. You’ll find options including AF area mode, aperture and sensitivity.
Other buttons on the rear of the camera are an exposure compensation button, AEL lock button and a playback button. Exposure compensation is altered by holding down the dedicated button and then using the dial on the top of the camera to add or reduce compensation.
To change the autofocus point, you have a couple of options. You can press the central button on the navigation pad and then use the navigational keys to move around to the point you require, or you can use the touchscreen to quickly tap the point you require. One problem here comes when you’re using the EVF as it can be quite easy for your nose to change the AF point, presumably in the brief pause between the EVF switching on and the LCD switching off. Eventually, you learn to approach the EVF in a different way (forehead first), but it takes a bit of getting used to. If you’re finding it particularly problematic, you could switch touch AF off, or fold the screen inwards towards the body of the camera.
Another useful feature here is that you can set the autofocus point, then drag across the screen the corner of the box to another point to set exposure lock to a different point on the screen. When you’re done, you simply drag the second box back into the AF point box to rejoin them.
The fully articulating screen sits flush against the camera body, thanks to a recess into which the screen can be folded to protect it when not in use. The screen’s hinge feels very secure and like it could withstand a fair amount. An articulating screen is the most useful in terms of shooting both landscape and portrait images, along with self-portraits.
Another clever piece of design is the viewfinder. Not only is there a sensor for automatically detecting when it’s lifted to the eye for an almost seamless transition between using the LCD and the EVF, but it also pops out to tilt through various degrees to all the way upwards. Thanks to the clever, sleek, construction, you might never realise it did this, but it does and it’s very useful if you’re shooting something from a slightly awkward angle.
Samsung’s Wi-Fi functionality is excellent, allowing you to instantly upload images to Facebook and the like, as well as take remote control of the camera. It’s a lot more flexible than some of the other manufacturer’s options, and we often wish that other companies would adopt the same approach to Wi-Fi integration as Samsung.
Performance
This is not the first time we have seen this sensor in a Samsung camera, so we were pretty confident that the NX30 would produce excellent images, similar to those we have seen before. Happily, I was pleased to find that once again, images produced are excellent.
That 20.3 million-pixel sensor is capable of resolving a lot of detail, while colours are bright and punchy without being overly saturated. Skin tones are also recreated well, being accurate and pleasing.
This is a camera which Samsung intends and expects to be used with other lenses aside from the kit lens, and it is when used with some of the excellent options available from Samsung that the camera really comes into its own.
That’s not to say that the kit lens is a bad performer. It’s a decent all-rounder, and would make a good first lens while you save up for another optic. Samsung has introduced a new 16-50mm f/2.0-f/2.8 which seems like the perfect partner for this camera. I haven’t been able to get hold of one of these lenses to date, but when I do I will be keen to see how well it performs.
For now, the 18-55mm zoom range is decent for most every day shooting scenarios, and although it only opens up to f/3.5 at its widest, you can still get some pleasing shallow depth of field effects.
Out of focus areas are rendered beautifully, while beautiful bokeh is evident, especially when using one of Samsung’s excellent prime lenses with a wider aperture, such as f/2.8.
All-purpose metering is generally good, but I found that it has a tendency to underexpose on occasion, meaning that I had to dial in some positive compensation to get a correctly exposed image. Automatic white balance is particularly impressive though, coping well under artificial lighting to produce very accurate colours the majority of the time.
Examining images at 100% reveals some degree of image smoothing throughout the sensitivity range. I’ve found that, at ISO 800 and above, there are some areas of the image in which detail is lost and a painterly effect can be seen, but it’s only really noticeable if you’re pixel peeping – viewing the image at normal printing or web sizes is more than acceptable.
ISO noise
Shooting at higher sensitivities in lower light conditions, such as ISO 1600 or ISO 3200, reveals that noise is kept to a minimum, which accounts for some of the image smoothing. Generally though, detail is kept very well in most areas of the image, and I would happily use the camera at ISO 3200 if I was printing at A4 or smaller, or sharing images online.
Samsung doesn’t make any claims about having the world’s fastest autofocus, unlike Sony or Fuji, but, never the less, focusing is very swift. The camera is capable of locking on almost instantly in very good light. When levels begin to drop, focusing speed does too, occasionally hunting around to acquire focus – depending on the lens used. It’s only when light levels drop very low that the camera has problems focusing at all though.
There are a number of digital filter and colour options that you can use with the NX30, as with other Samsung NX cameras. Unlike the Galaxy NX, you can’t add additional apps to give you more flexibility, but those that are already built-in to the camera are worth investigating. I would argue that the range available on Micro Four Thirds cameras from Panasonic and Olympus are more interesting, but there are still some here which I liked.
You can use Picture Wizard while shooting in raw format, but not when using Smart Filters, which is a shame as it means that whatever you shoot, you’re stuck with if you change your mind down the line – but at least the different Picture Wizard options are available. You may need to spend some time exploring the different options as some of them have unusual names, which don’t necessarily immediately signify the effect – for instance, monochrome is titled ‘Classic’.
Both the screen and electronic viewfinder are excellent performers. The screen offers a clear and bright view of the screen, not suffering particularly badly from glare or reflection, while the EVF is also similarly useful in terms of viewing the scene in sharp detail.
Image quality and resolution
As part of our image quality testing for the Samsung NX30, we’ve shot our resolution chart.
For a full explanation of what our resolution charts mean, and how to read them, check out our full explanation of our camera testing resolution charts.
Examining images of the chart taken at each sensitivity setting reveals the following resolution scores in line widths per picture height x100:
JPEG
ISO 100. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 200. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 400. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 800. Score: 22 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 1600. Score: 20 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 3200. Score: 18 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 6400. Score: 16 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 12800. Score: 14 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 25600. 10 Click here to see the full resolution image
RAW
ISO 100. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 200. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 400. Score: 24 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 800. Score: 22 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 1600. Score: 20 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 3200. Score: 18 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 6400. Score: 14 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 12800. Score: 12 Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 25600. Score: 12 Click here to see the full resolution image
Noise and dynamic range
We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.
A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.
For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.
These charts compare the results of the Samsung NX30 with the Sony NEX-6, Panasonic G6 and Olympus OM-D E-M10.
JPEG signal to noise ratio
Here we can see that the Samsung’s signal to noise ratio performance is very good, being at the top of the pile for almost every sensitivity, in the lower end of the scale (ISO 100-800). At ISO 1600, it slightly dips below the Sony NEX-6, but jumps back to the top again for ISO 3200. For very high sensitivities (ISO 6400 – 12800) it is beaten by the other cameras on test.
Raw signal to noise ratio
It’s a slightly different story for the raw files (after conversion to TIFF), which appear to put in a much poorer performance. Here it is very closely matched with the Panasonic G6. It’s likely that these results reflect how much detail is kept in raw format files allowing you to apply your own noise reduction, rather than letting the camera do it for you.
JPEG dynamic range
For dynamic range, the JPEG files from the NX30 put in a consistent performance, being closely matched with the Panasonic G6 and the Sony NEX-6. It is clearly beaten here by the Olympus OM-D E-M10 though.
Raw dynamic range
Here again we can see a consistent performance, being most closely tied, but beating, the Panasonic G6. The Sony NEX-6 and the Olympus OM-D put in a much stronger performance here. The fairly flat shape of the graph reflects the warm saturated tones of the NX30, which is pleasing to the eye though.
Sample images
Click here to see full-resolution image.
You can achieve pleasing shallow depth of field images, even while using the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
Colours straight from the NX30 are pleasingly vibrant.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
At high sensitivities, the NX30 does a good job of maintaining lots of detail, while keeping noise levels to a minimum. If you zoom into 100% there is some evidence of image smoothing, but it’s certainly not something that should bother the average printing or web size image.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
Automatic white balance does a great job of producing accurate colours, even in mixed lighting conditions.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
Whites are vibrant and crisp, straight from the camera.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
There are a number of prime lenses available for the NX system. This was taken with the 20mm f/2.8 lens, which is small and makes for a great walkaround lens, offering an equivalent of 30mm in 35mm terms.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
On occasions, the NX30 has the tendency to underexpose, so you’ll need to dial in some extra compensation to get a well balanced exposure.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
The NX30’s 20 million pixel sensor is great at resolving plenty of detail.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
Shooting from awkward angles is no problem with the NX30, as both the screen articulates and the EVF tilts to help you get the shot you want.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
There is a 60mm f/2.8 macro lens available for the NX range, which is useful for capturing lots of detail.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
Another example of how well colours are represented by the NX30.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
The NX30 is well suited to a wide variety of different shooting subjects, including portraits. This was shot with the 60mm f/2.8 macro, which offers a nice focal length (92mm equivalent) for classic portrait work.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
The camera’s ability to quickly focus on the subject makes it ideally suited to lots of different scenarios.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
Another example where positive exposure compensation needed to be dialled in to get the best from this shot.
Click here to see full-resolution image.
Colours directly from the camera are vivid, while the camera’s metering system hasn’t coped too badly with the very bright light in the corner of this scene.
Sensitivity and noise images
JPEG
ISO 100. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 200. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 400. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 800. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 1600. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 3200. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 6400. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 12800. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 25600. Click here to see the full resolution image
RAW
ISO 100. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 200. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 400. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 800. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 1600. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 3200. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 6400. Click here to see the full resolution image
ISO 12800. Click here to see the full resolution image
Verdict
Samsung has struggled to capture the attention of the interchangeable lens camera-buying public in the past few years, despite the fact that many of its cameras produce excellent images. However, the NX30 could possibly the camera to change that.
I was expecting images to be good, as that sensor is now extremely proven, but I have been less impressed with the handling of other Samsung cameras. This time however, I really enjoyed using the NX30, and I found it to be highly intuitive, with the sturdy, textured grip and weighty build giving it a more professional feel than others in its range.
It’s great to have a fully articulating touchscreen, and the bright display is wonderful for displaying images crisply. One small criticism here is that I found that my nose was accidentally setting the autofocus point on occasion, but after a while I learned to approach the camera in a different way so as to avoid this problem.
There’s a lot of debate about electronic viewfinders, but the 2.36 million dot device here is one of the best currently available on the market, and I didn’t notice any significant lag. As we have mentioned in other reviews, there are several advantages to using an EVF over an optical device, such as the ability to see the image you’ve just taken without having to take the camera away from your eye – that’s something which really speeds up the shooting process, and is especially useful when you don’t want to waste time. The fact that the viewfinder also tilts upwards is extremely handy when shooting from an awkward angle.
Going back to image quality, as mentioned I have been extremely impressed by what the camera is capable of. The kit lens is a decent all-round performer, but it’s nice to see that Samsung is producing some excellent additional optics now. Although it’s still true that its lens range is more limited than its Micro Four Thirds and Sony cohorts, many of the most common, or commonly requested focal lengths, are available, so there should be something to cater for most needs. During this test I used the 16mm f/2.4 lens, 60mm f/2.8 macro lens and 85mm f/1.4 lens. I am keen to get my hands on the new 16-50mm f/2.0-f/2.8 optic, which I think will probably make the ideal companion to the NX30 for enthusiast users looking for something versatile and high quality.
We liked
Happily, there are lots of things to like about this camera. Handling feels very intuitive and the textured, chunky grip make it a real pleasure to hold. Having a touchscreen and EVF which are both great make it a joy to compose and play back images. Inbuilt Wi-Fi is a nice touch, which although becoming an almost-standard feature nowadays is particularly well implemented in Samsung cameras, including the NX30.
We disliked
It can be a little bit too easy to accidentally set the autofocus point using the touchscreen when you don’t want to. After a while you get used to it, but it seems that the EVF sensor could do with being a tiny bit quicker so as to avoid this problem altogether. I’d also like to see some more customisation options available for the buttons on the back of the camera.
Final verdict
It seems like Samsung has finally made a camera which enthusiasts can aspire to own. It’s a great camera to use, and crucially, images are fantastic. The NX system is starting to become a more complete package, with a decent, if limited, range of optics currently available. The addition of new premium lenses suggests that Samsung is now actively chasing the higher end of the market, which should make things interesting for every other manufacturer – it will be intriguing to see what kind of impact it has.
     |
Powered by WPeMatico