Samsung NX200 Review

Review Date: November 28, 2011

Category: Beginner to Serious Amateur

Samsung NX200

Samsung NX200

Photoxels Gold Award - Interchangeable Lens Camera
Photoxels Gold Award – Interchangeable Lens Camera

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Samsung NX200 Review is based on a production model. All sample images are unretouched, except where specified.

The Samsung NX200 makes a strong showing in the compact mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera category with a camera that is intuitive and captures great images.

The NX200 is a well-built camera and now sports a handgrip for better handling. There is a Mode Dial, a Jog Dial, a Smart Dial and an iFn-enabled focus ring that all conspire together to make the important functions easily and quickly accessible for both beginners and advanced users alike. I found the NX200 to be one of the most intuitive camera to use and with one of the most pleasant display info screen ever.

The screen display is a beautiful real [4:3] 3.0-in. AMOLED with 614k-dot resolution. It is clear and detailed enough that Manual Focus is possible with the enlarged image. You can display various grid lines and a live histogram. I only wished that it were tiltable. Note that there is no built-in viewfinder, and the NX200 loses the capability to use an external one.

The Samsung NX200 is a very capable low light shooter with both fast and precise AF and accurate metering. RAW and a whole range of semi-auto and full manual shooting modes are available for the advanced photographer. Advanced photographers will be happy to know that, unlike on many cameras, the full range of shutter speeds is available in all of the PASM shooting modes. The NX200 shoots Full HD 1080p movie with stereo sound. Geotagging is possible with the optional GPS Module.

The NX200 does not have a built-in flash but a small external flash unit which you can attach onto the hot shoe comes standard.

Samsung is quietly making a name for itself with digital cameras for the serious users and the NX200 is more than a match for existing compact mirrorless DSLRs, with excellent image quality and very good low noise capability.

The Samsung NX200 is intuitive, delivers great results and easily meets the challenges a serious photographer might throw its way. It’s that rare compact mirrorless DSLR that you pick up and enjoy using right away. Read the whole review to discover all its strengths and weaknesses. Highly recommended.

Next: Samsung NX200 Image Quality