Samsung have launched a new mirrorless camera called the NX10 and three NX-mount lenses to match; a 30mm f2 pancake, 18-55mm OIS (Optical Image Stabiliser) & 50-200mm OIS zoom lens. The fundamental features of the NX system are similar to the Micro Four Thirds system: Offering the flexibility of interchangeable lenses, compact dimensions due to the absence of an optical viewfinder and superior image quality thanks to a large sensor (relative to compact digital cameras).
The Samsung NX10 has two notable differences to the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF1. First, the 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor - It’s APS-C sized like most digital SLRs. This could offer a substantial advantage in low-light performance at high ISOs. The NX10’s sensor is 23.4x15.6mm with a pixel density of 4MP/cm2, whereas the sensor in the E-P1 & GF1 measures 18x13.5mm with a 5MP/cm2 pixel density. The second difference is the built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is useful when conditions are too bright to compose images with the screen.
What else is different between the NX10, E-P1 and GF1?
Quick NX10 vs E-P1 vs GF1 Comparison
| Samsung NX10 | Olympus E-P1 | Panasonic GF1 | |
| Megapixels | 14.6 | 12.3 | 12.1 |
| ISO Range | 100-3200 | 100-6400 | 100-3200 |
| Viewfinder | Screen or 921k EVF | Screen only | Screen or optional EVF |
| Screen (pixels) | 3.0" OLED (614k) | 3.0" LCD (230k) | 3.0" LCD (460k) |
| Flash | Pop-up & Hotshoe | Hotshoe | Pop-up & Hotshoe |
| Image Stabilisation | In-lens | Sensor based | In-lens |
| Weight | 353g | 335g | 285g |
| Dimensions | 123 x 87 x 39.8mm | 121 x 70 x 36mm | 119 x 71 x 36.3mm |
The 3.0” screen uses AMOLED technology (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) which provides a response rate 10,000 times faster than conventional LCD displays, requires less power and offers an excellent 10,000:1 contrast ratio. The NX10 also features 720p HD video capture, contrast-detect AF and a sensor cleaning unit. The frame rate is respectable, managing 3 fps (for 10 JPEGs or 3 RAW files).
So, what’s the verdict – would the Samsung NX10 be on your comparison list while shopping for a take-me-everywhere camera?
