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  • Our First Take

  • Design & Usability

  • Features

  • Conclusion

  • Our First Take
  • Design & Usability
  • Features
  • Conclusion

Our First Take

Editor's Note:

Since its inception, Samsung's mirrorless lineup has been something of a curiosity. Though models like the NX20, NX300, and this year's NX30 have offered excellent image quality, they felt more like Samsung flirting with the camera market rather than diving in head first. But Samsung's new NX1 (MSRP $1,499.99 body-only), easily the company's highest-end camera to date, feels like something different.

It's durable, it's weather-sealed, it has ample physical controls, and it feels expertly tuned. On the inside is a 28.2-megapixel APS-C sensor loaded with promise, backed up by an autofocus system that should be able to keep up with the demands of pros in any discipline. From the moment you pick up the NX1 to the moment you put it down, it feels like a professional's tool.

Finally, Samsung's NX lineup means business.

{{brightcove '3785471383001'}}

Design & Usability

Like any good student, Samsung has been taking notes.

When you pick up the NX1, it's immediately apparent that it's built to a slightly higher standard than previous NX-series cameras. Though the NX20 and NX30 felt durable, they still felt like they were primarily made of plastic. The NX300's metal and rubber were a step up, but it was definitely an enthusiast's camera—not a pro's.

The NX1 is the first DSLR-style Samsung camera to offer a full magnesium alloy body. As a result, it feels both durable and lightweight. The entire setup is complemented by rubber seals to keep the body both water- and dust-resistant.

The NX1 is Samsung's premier mirrorless camera and it's armed to the teeth with high-end hardware and features.

The NX1 is Samsung's premier mirrorless camera and it's armed to the teeth with high-end hardware and features.

The NX1 has a large, accommodating grip that should work nicely with virtually anyone's hands. The shutter button has a pleasing tactility, and it's easy to find a half-press to grab focus on your subject. The NX1 feels just slightly heavier than previous NX bodies—especially when using the new, heavier S-series lenses—but it's still considerably lighter than most pro DSLRs.

When it comes to controls, the NX1 gives you plenty of options. Though the dials are a little smaller and looser than those on top-end Canon and Nikon bodies, they're in line with what we've seen from similar mirrorless cameras. There are three control dials in total (one behind the shutter button and two on the back), along with a dedicated physical button for just about every major feature you could want. On top, you'll also find a secondary status LCD, which lets you easily keep tabs on all the primary shooting settings.

The NX1 includes the standard mode dials as well as some more creative settings and two user-savable custom modes.

The NX1 includes the standard mode dials as well as some more creative settings and two user-savable custom modes.

Of course, like all Samsung cameras, the NX1 is chock-full of extra hardware and features. Some of the highlights include a large XGA OLED viewfinder and an articulating rear 3-inch AMOLED touchscreen that can angle 90 degrees up or 45 degrees down. The latter is a nice addition, especially given the NX1's ample video chops.

For such a powerful camera the NX1 is still quite lightweight and compact.

For such a powerful camera the NX1 is still quite lightweight and compact.

If you want expand your framing options even further, there's an optional vertical battery grip. We got to use it on the Photokina show floor and came away satisfied. It's exactly what you'd expect in terms of fit and finish, and it extends your battery life while tacking on secondary controls and a second shutter button.

What's most notable about this grip is how light the entire apparatus remains when it's attached. Where a camera like a Canon 5D Mark III or a Nikon D800 feels enormously heavy with a battery grip installed, the NX1 still feels like a camera you could carry around all day without killing your back.

The NX1 will be compatible with a new vertical battery grip that allows you to shoot in portrait mode while carrying over a number of physical controls.

The NX1 will be compatible with a new vertical battery grip that allows you to shoot in portrait mode while carrying over a number of physical controls.

From a usability perspective, the NX1's highlight isn't the physical design, but the snappiness of the entire operation. The DRIMe V processor used here is clearly paying dividends. It made the trauma of the NX20 locking up every time I took a RAW photo feel like a distant memory. That responsiveness also carries through to the autofocus system, which is simply on another level from previous Samsung efforts.

Features

Samsung focuses on what pros really want.

When it comes to wooing professional photographers, there's one area that always takes precedence over gimmicky extras and sky-high megapixel counts: autofocus. It's the main reason why working pros continue to gravitate towards Canon and Nikon; when you've only got one chance to get the shot you need, you need a camera that you can rely on.

With the NX1, Samsung is planting its flag in the ground, aiming to produce the best autofocus system in a mirrorless camera thus far.

It all starts with the APS-C image sensor, which includes 205 (count 'em!) phase-detect AF points right on the chip itself. Stunningly, 153 of those points are cross-type sensitive, covering 70% of the frame. That means they can hone in on your subject without getting confused by his striped shirt.

Compare that to something like the new Nikon D750, which has a 51-point autofocus system with just 15 cross-type points and you get an idea of how advanced this system could really be. What's more, because the NX1 is mirrorless and has the AF system baked into the sensor, you can even use those AF points during live view and video capture.

The NX1 should work well in limited light, but it has a built-in flash as well.

The NX1 should work well in limited light, but it has a built-in flash as well.

It could be a game-changer. Samsung spent almost the entirety of its press conference here at Photokina discussing the AF performance, which is a clear statement of intent to work with pros. In our limited time with the camera, we found it to be snappy, with excellent coverage across the frame. It also worked well in dim show floor lighting, thanks in large part to a line pattern AF assist lamp. Still, as usual we found that aiming at high-contrast subjects made the camera's job much easier.

Samsung's only given the NX1 a single card slot, likely due to the camera's compact body.

Samsung's only given the NX1 a single card slot, likely due to the camera's compact body.

In addition to its AF chops, the NX1's 15 fps full-resolution burst mode could be a real draw for sports photogs. It's worth noting that while the NX1 can shoot 14-bit RAW, it only works in single shot mode; burst shooters will have to make do with 12-bit RAW files. The burst shooting was remarkably fast in practice, with the camera easily capturing 30+ shots continuously with no hangups or delays.

The NX1 is durable and weather-sealed but it also includes a tilting LCD—a combination not many cameras offer.

The NX1 is durable and weather-sealed but it also includes a tilting LCD—a combination not many cameras offer.

In terms of software features, Samsung is putting the new DRIMe V processing engine to good use. Company reps were quick to point out that it's nearly 3x faster than the previous DRIMe IV, and it shows. The camera has a number of new processing features, such as an "auto shot mode" that can track numerous subjects around the frame. The use case Samsung highlighted was capturing a batter trying to hit a baseball, with the camera able to track the ball as it entered the frame and snap a shot as soon as the bat and ball make contact.

It's gimmicky, sure, but with that kind of horsepower under the hood we're eager to see what the NX1 can do once we can push it to its limits.

The NX1 may also end up being an attractive option for multimedia journalists. It shoots UHD/30p and 4K/24p video, in addition to the now-standard 1080/60p. Best of all, it can record that footage to standard Class 10 SDHC cards via h.265 compression. Though the NX1 only includes a single SD card slot, it does have 3.5mm mic and headphone jacks. It also has uncompressed video output via HDMI 1.4 to external recorders, where you can save footage in whatever codec you prefer.

Conclusion

The NX1 is ready for its next assignment, but can the lenses catch up?

Samsung cameras have been improving by leaps and bounds over the last two years. The company clearly has the vision and ambition to produce a high-end camera lineup, and with the addition of the NX1, it's beginning to take shape.

The NX1 feels like a camera that was built for demanding professionals. Shooting with it doesn't feel exactly like shooting with a top-tier Canon or Nikon—it lacks the heft of those cameras, and it'll take time to build up the muscle memory that makes every Canon and Nikon familiar from the moment you pick it up—but it's a signal of intent.

Starting with APS-C is an interesting choice. Pros who need wide-angle options will surely stick to full-frame and larger sensors, but this autofocus system is sure to attract the attention of sports shooters who either don't want to shell out for a flagship full-frame camera or don't want the back-breaking weight.

For those customers, the NX1 may feel like an ideal option. It's relatively small, fast, and lightweight. It has nice extras like a tilting AMOLED screen and WiFi, and it's still a durable body that should survive daily wear and tear.

Samsung clearly has the vision and ambition to produce a high-end camera lineup, and with the addition of the NX1, it's beginning to take shape.

That pro-oriented look and feel is only enhanced by the powerful hardware under the hood. Though Samsung hasn't managed to top the camera market quite like it has in televisions and mobile phones, it helps to remember that this is a company with its fingers in dozens of disciplines. The NX1 reflects that far-reaching expertise, combining a brand-new image sensor, a robust focusing system, and an excellent EVF and rear LCD. That's all backed up by a processor that can do truly ridiculous things like capture 28-megapixel shots at 15 frames per second and compress 4K video on the fly to everyday Class 10 SDHC cards.

But attracting professionals is about more than just producing the best spec sheet. Assuming the NX1 can live up to its own hype, Samsung's most pressing concern going forward will be producing the ecosystem to support pros. It'll begin with lens selection, where well-regarded lenses like the 60mm f/2.8 Macro, 85mm f/1.4, and weather-sealed 16-50mm f/2.8 S are soon to be joined by a new 50-150mm f/2.8 S.

These are lenses that have been crying out for a suitable body for some time, and now that the NX1 is here, Samsung's intent to produce a credible pro-ready kit is clear. The real question is: What will the company do next?

Meet the tester

TJ Donegan

TJ Donegan

Former Director, Content Development

@TJDonegan

TJ is the former Director of Content Development at Reviewed. He is a Massachusetts native and has covered electronics, cameras, TVs, smartphones, parenting, and more for Reviewed. He is from the self-styled "Cranberry Capitol of the World," which is, in fact, a real thing.

See all of TJ Donegan's reviews

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