High-end compact system cams are to this
season what retro styling was to the last one – and Samsung’s latest supermodel
snapper may just have enough strut to succeed.
The NX20’s 3in Amoled rear screen is decent
enough, but the 800 x 600 electronic viewfinder is truly impressive, making it
easy to focus manually with good accuracy. It’s a shame that the proximity
sensor which detects your eye is sluggish at times.
Samsung’s lens range is small but varied.
The kit lens is a bijou 18-55mm f/3.5 – 5.6 with the barrel-mounted i-Function,
which allows you to alter settings such as ISO or aperture by just turning the
focus ring. It’s a snip to play with shooting setting on the fly
This is by no means the most compact of
CSCs, but the flip of that is that the grip is chunky enough to be comfortable.
The control layout is sensible and the on-screen display is clear and
comprehensive – all it really lacks is a virtual spirit level
The NX20 is stuffed with Wi-Fi smarts.
Share photos straight to Facebook, connect it to your smartphone to use it as a
remote viewfinder, or back up shots to the cloud. Inputting Wi-Fi passwords
without a touchscreen is an old-school chore, though
Tech
specs
|
Details
|
|
Price
|
$1449 (w/ 18 – 55mm lens)
|
|
Website
|
Samsung.com
|
|
Tech specs
|
|
Sensor
|
20.3MP APS-C
|
|
Screen
|
3 in Amoled flip-out, 640 x 480, 614 dots
|
|
EVF
|
800 x 600, 1440k dots
|
|
Burst shooting
|
8fps
|
|
Video
|
1080p@30fps
|
|
ISO range
|
100 – 12,800
|
|
Kit lens
|
18 – 55mm f/3.5 – 5.6 iFn (27 – 83mm
equivalent)
|
|
Connectivity Wi-Fi, microUSB, mini HDMI
|
|
|
|
|
Stuff
says 4/5 stars
Lags just behind the very best, but the
NX20 is another top contender in the system-cam arena
[Vs] Olympus OM-D E-M5
This is the CSC to beat. The 5-axis image
stabilizer is phenomenal, its autofocus speed is outstanding and it produces
excellent photos. It also has a huge range of killer lenses at its disposal.
The lack of a flash (it comes with a clip-on) is its only weakness
|
Details
|
|
Price
|
$1851.9 (12 – 50mm)
|
|
Website
|
olympus.co.uk
|
|
Ratings
|
5/5
|
NX20, Framing Up
Locking
in
If the Olympus E-M5’s autofocus is Mark
Cavendish in the sprint, the NX20 hasn’t been left behind in the peloton. It
compares well for speed with the nippy Sony NEX-7, although it tends to hunt
for subjects more often
Shooting
up
Through most of the 100 – 12,800 ISO range
the images are superb, if a little cold in color – nothing that can’t be
corrected later. There’s tons of detail, but watch out at high ISOs, where
oversharpening makes pics paint-daubish
Stabilizers
on
The image stabilizer is very effective, and
it helps when holding steady with big lenses or in low light – but it can’t
compete with the Olympus E-M5 on this front. The built-in flash is very good,
though, and it takes some of the pressure off.
Moving
pictures
Video capture is activated with a dedicated
record button that’s set in a thumb-friendly position. Footage is relatively
smooth 1080p with only Ok-ish stereo sound. Shame there’s no socket for adding
an external mic.
