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Samsung NX1 Comparison Review

The Samsung NX1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was revealed to the public in September 2014 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 28 megapixel.

camera

Is the Samsung NX1 a good camera? The NX1 has a Camera Elo of 2446. This rating puts the NX1 among the top 50 percent of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the NX1 ranks among the top 30 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3.5-star performance rating.

Headline Specifications
Samsung NX1
Mirrorless system camera
Samsung NX mount lenses
28 MP, APS-C Sensor
4K/30p Video
ISO 100 - 25 600 (100 - 51 200)
Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1036k dots
Tilting touchscreen
15 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body
500 shots per battery charge
139 x 102 x 66 mm, 550 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size of the Samsung NX1 vis-à-vis a credit card. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Samsung NX1 vs credit card front
NX1 versus credit card top view
NX1 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Samsung NX1 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
    Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Samsung NX1 139 mm 102 mm 66 mm 550 g 500 Y Sep 2014 US$ 1 499ebay.com
2.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2 141 mm 83 mm 46 mm 495 g 350 Y Jan 2016 US$ 1 699ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T2 133 mm 92 mm 49 mm 507 g 340 Y Jul 2016 US$ 1 599ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D5300 125 mm 98 mm 76 mm 480 g 600 n Oct 2013 US$ 799ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D7100 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 950 Y Feb 2013 US$ 1 199ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D7200 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 1110 Y Mar 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GH4 133 mm 93 mm 84 mm 560 g 500 Y Feb 2014 US$ 1 499ebay.com
8.
 
Pentax K-3 131 mm 100 mm 77 mm 800 g 560 Y Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
9.
 
Samsung NX500 120 mm 64 mm 43 mm 287 g 370 n Feb 2015 US$ 799ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A7 127 mm 94 mm 48 mm 474 g 340 Y Oct 2013 US$ 1 699ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A6500 120 mm 67 mm 53 mm 453 g 350 Y Oct 2016 US$ 1 399ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Samsung NX1 was launched in the US market at a price of $1,499. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Samsung NX1 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Samsung NX1 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

Samsung NX1 sensor measures

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
    Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Samsung NX1 APS-C 28.0 6480 43204K/30p24.213.2136383
2.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.713.0160880
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T2 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p23.813.1165381
4.
 
Nikon D5300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.013.9133883
5.
 
Nikon D7100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.213.7125683
6.
 
Nikon D7200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.514.6133387
7.
 
Panasonic GH4 Four Thirds 15.9 4608 34564K/30p23.212.879174
8.
 
Pentax K-3 APS-C 24.1 6016 40001080/60i23.713.4121680
9.
 
Samsung NX500 APS-C 28.0 6480 43204K/30p24.813.9137987
10.
 
Sony A7 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.814.2224890
11.
 
Sony A6500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.513.7140585
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The NX1 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the NX1 can use is 4K/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the NX1 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 2360k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.69x. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Samsung NX1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
    Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Samsung NX12360 Y3.0 / 1036 tilting Y 1/8000s 15.0/s Y n
2.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro22360 n3.0 / 1620 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s n n
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T22360 n3.0 / 1040 full-flex n 1/8000s 8.0/s n n
4.
 
Nikon D5300optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Nikon D7100optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D7200optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
7.
 
Panasonic GH42359 n3.0 / 1036 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s Y n
8.
 
Pentax K-3optical Y3.2 / 1037 fixed n 1/8000s 8.3/s Y Y
9.
 
Samsung NX500none n3.0 / 1036 tilting Y 1/6000s 9.0/s Y n
10.
 
Sony A72400 n3.0 / 1230 tilting n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
11.
 
Sony A65002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The LCD screen on the Samsung NX1 is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.

articulated screen
Flexible screen on the NX1

One convenient feature of the NX1 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Samsung NX1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
    Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Samsung NX1Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.0YYY
2.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y--
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T2Ystereo / monoY-micro3.0Y--
4.
 
Nikon D5300Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
5.
 
Nikon D7100Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D7200Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
7.
 
Panasonic GH4Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
8.
 
Pentax K-3Ymono / monoYYmini3.0---
9.
 
Samsung NX500Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
10.
 
Sony A7Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0YY-
11.
 
Sony A6500Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-

It is notable that the NX1 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Further information on the features and operation of the NX1 can be found in the free online Samsung NX1 Manual or on the Samsung support site.

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Expert reviews

While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the NX1 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why expert reviews are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
     Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Samsung NX15/5....87/1005/55/5 Sep 2014 US$ 1 499ebay.com
2.
 
Fujifilm X-Pro2..+..83/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2016 US$ 1 699ebay.com
3.
 
Fujifilm X-T25/5+ +..86/1004.5/55/5 Jul 2016 US$ 1 599ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D53004/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 US$ 799ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D71005/5+ +..85/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 US$ 1 199ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D72004/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2015 US$ 1 199ebay.com
7.
 
Panasonic GH45/5+ +..85/1005/55/5 Feb 2014 US$ 1 499ebay.com
8.
 
Pentax K-34/5....83/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 299ebay.com
9.
 
Samsung NX5004.5/5....81/1005/54.5/5 Feb 2015 US$ 799ebay.com
10.
 
Sony A75/5+ +..80/1005/55/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 699ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A65005/5+ +3.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2016 US$ 1 399ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Samsung NX1 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the NX1.

What type of imaging sensor is used in the Samsung NX1?

The camera has a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.

Which image processing chip is used in the Samsung NX1 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Samsung equipped the NX1 with the DRIMe 5 image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Samsung NX1?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Samsung NX1?

Samsung mentions a shutter rating of 150 000 actuations for the NX1. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the NX1 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 150 pictures each and every day.

Is completely silent shooting possible with the Samsung NX1?

The camera has an electronic shutter option, so that it is indeed feasible to capture images without any shutter noise.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Samsung NX1?

No, the Samsung NX1 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Samsung NX1?

The NX1 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.

Does the Samsung NX1 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Samsung NX1 for flash photography?

The NX1's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.

Does the Samsung NX1 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?

Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards (data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s) in its first slot, and UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s) in its second slot.

Which battery does the Samsung NX1 use?

The camera gets its power from the Samsung BP1900, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Samsung NX1?

Yes, Samsung offers the ED-VGNX01 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Samsung NX1
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Samsung NX mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2014
    Launch Price USD 1 499
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.7 mm
    Sensor Area 369 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 28 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6 480 x 4 320 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 3.63 μm
    Pixel Density 7.59 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 25 600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 51 200 ISO
    Image Processor DRIMe 5
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 83
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.2
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 13.2
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1363
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.69x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 1036k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen
    V-logging Friendliness No front-flip
    Touch Input Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect
    Manual Focusing AidFocus Peaking
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 15 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy150 000 actuations
    Silent ShootingElectronic Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support Single UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 3.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Samsung BP1900 power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 139 x 102 x 66 mm
    (5.5 x 4.0 x 2.6 in)
    Camera Weight 550 g (19.4 oz)

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