After the small, light interchangeable lens mirrorless camera NX10 and NX5, the NX100 got an attention with the very interesting i-Function.
When using a DSLR camera, there are a lot of things to be done by a right hand, but a left hand is used to keep the camera from shaking.
Therefore, the right hand needs to do a lot of things including the operations for menu, shutter, and stable grip.
That’s why the i-Function lens allows the right hand to just hold the camera and push the shutter by making some functions through the lens, I think.
As the 18-55mm standard zoom lens user, the 20mm single lens with a new function made me want to use it.
However, I was worried that the i-Function lens released with the NX100 which is the next model of the NX10 can be used with the NX10. Samsung has released new firmware to address this. Of course, their purpose is to sell the new lenses, but I’m actually happy that Samsung allows the user of the previous model to use the new lenses. You can understand that easily if you compare this to other Japanese camera makers.
Before looking at the 20mm single lens, let’s take a look at the new firmware.
Compared with the previous firmware, 2 menus have been added in the new version 1.20.
One is for the external GPS function in No.4 menu, and the other is for i-Function in No.5 menu. When looking at the space below in No.4 and 5 menus, it makes me hope there will be more functions later.
<Lens i-Function> includes WB and ISO On/Off menu and <Distortion Correct> includes On/Off menu in a standard lens, but when it comes to a single lens, it’s set to On.
For your information, if you use the Ver. 1.05 or lower, you’d better update it to the Ver. 1.15, and then upgrade it again to the Ver. 1.20 firmware for more stable i-Function.
This time, 2 i-Function lenses such as the 20-50mm F3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens and 20mm F2.8 single lens have been released together with the NX10, and the diameter and length are a little different from the previous 30mm F2 single lens, but the filter size is the same with 43mm and it has a little unique focal length.
At the front of the 20mm F2.8 single lens, red colored text “i-Function” is on it, and the rectangular button to use the i-Function is located on the mounting part. Adjusting ring to adjust values is like a trademark of Samsung in a blue colored ring with projections for easier adjustment.
The 20mm i-Function single lens is mounted on the Samsung NX10 and compared with the 30mm single lens, the size is not that different.
On a small camera, a small single lens fits well, and compared with the image that the 18-55mm standard zoom lens is mounted on the NX10, it looks sharper and easier to carry around.
1. Push~ 2. Rotate~ 3. Shoot~ and Enjoy~~
No more left hand to hold the camera!!
A left hand was only used to hold the camera. Now, the left hand holds the camera, push the o-Function button, and rotate the focus ring in front of the lens. The right hand holds the camera more tightly and push the shutter with the index finger. Then, you will get the results you want in Aperture / EV / WB / ISO.
According to the shooting mode, the detailed menu composition of the i-Function is changed, and the test was made in A mode.
The new function consisting of 4 actions such as pushing, rotating, shooting, enjoying opened a new way of lenses, I think.
When holding the lens with the left hand, my thumb was naturally located around the i-Function button, but due to the size of the 20mm single lens, it wasn’t that convenient to push the button, and due to my previous habit, I tried to touch the buttons or dial located on the back and the top, but I think it’s getting more convenient.
Every time pushing the i-Function, Aperture/EV/WB/ISO menu (In A mode) are selected orderly, and in the menu, users can adjust the value by rotating the ring. Once pushing the i-Function button, it can be also selected by the dial located on the right top of the NX10, so users don’t need to take unnecessary actions for more convenience. Now, we don’ t need to move the right finger quickly to maintain the composition any more.
Resolution by aperture values
Because I used the partly printed chart, the quality wasn’t that great, comparing the resolution of the lenses by the aperture value, it’s like the above image and it shows the highest resolution from F7.1 to F13. Since I didn’t need to show them all, I just jumped a level between levels, but actually, the aperture consists of 19 levels from F2.8 to F22.
White balance
ISO
They are the images of White balance and ISO to find out the performance of the 20mm single lens except the resolution.
The white balance consists of auto / daylight / cloudy / fluorescent_White / fluorescent_NW / fluorescenet_daylight / tungsten / flash WB and custom modes (tested the white balance by myself) and K mode which adjust the color temperature is provided.
These white balances are used to express subjects more accurately, but when using it outdoors, you can get the unique effects, so using it for various ways will give another fun.
They are 100% cropped images after upgrading the firmware, high ISO (Including the resolution chart) noise has been reduced. From ISO 800, noise was started to be shown, but in high ISO, it reduced the noise quite well, so you can appropriately use the high ISO under low light condition.
For your referent, the NX10 supports ISO and noise reduction for long time and high ISO, and noise reduction function has been applied in the test images.
So far, we’ve tested the 20mm F2.8 lens by updating the firmware and found out the performance of the lens.
By adopting various functions on the lens which was only used to rotate the zoom ring, your right hand doesn’t have a lot of things to do, so it helps take fast shots with the left hand. This makes the i-Function lens more special.
Since I have already been used to DSLR buttons, I still need to check the composition and functions, after seeing people using it and having interests, I think it’s very new and useful trial.
Going out earlier on a sunny day, but I just got some sample images due to the capricious sky.
The NX10 was the strong impact on the digital camera market in Korea. (It got an attention from a lot of people with the great quality of DSLRs and mobility of compact digital cameras and has still been sold a lot. Different from hybrid cameras, it has the APS-C sensor as a mirrorless camera and high quality lenses, so it’s popular not only in Korea, but also other countries.)
The NX100 I’m reviewing is an ambitious model from Samsung which will follow the NX10. It has improved the mobility which was the weakness of the NX10, so it has a lot of great things such as better quality and fast AF speed. (You’d better understand this as a mode in a new lineup, not just the following model of the NX10. It has accented the compactness and design different from the traditional NX10.)
I’m also expecting the result of the test. Let’s take a closer look at the design, functions, performance, and quality through the review.
It’s the full kit (20-5mm lens KIT) including the body, 20-50mm i-Function lens (20mm 2.8 lens will be released), charger, USB cable, neck strap, battery, S/W CD, and manual. (Memory, case, GPS, EVF, and Flash are not included.)
It has the 120.5 x 71 x 34.5mm of size and 282g of weight which is quite compact. (When it comes to the NX10, it was a little heavier and larger than other hybrid cameras, although it was lighter than previous DSLRs. The NX100 has the great mobility as much as hybrid cameras even with the APS-C sensor.)
The design is not classical like the NX10, but simple like compact digital cameras. It’s neat and the shutter design reminds a leaf. (Curved line on the back allows good grip.) @ Including the black tested, it also comes with white and brown, and black and white will be released in Korea first.
It’s the front of the camera and has the same mount as the NX10, so users don’t need to worry about the compatibility. Different from Micro Four thirds hybrid cameras, it has adopted the APS-S sensor as a mirrorless camera, so it has better quality and minimizes the quality degradation of corners. (The APS-C sensor in the NX100 has been improved much, even though it’s the same standard.) It also has the much faster AF speed. (It was like using the AF-S lens after using the AF lens. The AF speed was great enough to satisfy me.) @ The NX10 had 200ms, but the NX100 has 170ms.
The i-Function has been added. It’s an innovative function which controls main functions through the i-Function button and focus ring on the lens, so it’s a really great function to those who want to change the setting more quickly. @ I don’t think it’s easy to understand by the images or review. Please refer to the movie clip later.
It’s the top of the product and supports Smart Shoe compatible with other products. (It fits various accessories and remote synchronizer in a studio can be attached.) It also has a microphone, speaker, jog dial (Adjusting the shutter speed and zooming in/out in play mode), shutter button, and mode dial.
@ In Mode dial, Lens priority mode has been added. Pushing the i-Function button on the i-Function lens, only the scenes supported in the lens are displayed. Of course, a separate scene mode is supported, but it was difficutl forbeginners to select a proper scene, but the lens priroity mode allows users to choose it more conveniently.
It’s the right side of the product and there’s a strap ring to use a neck strap and on the center, a depth preview button is located. On the lower side, as a high level product, it has the HDMI, USB/AV, and shutter release port, and power ports.
It’s the bottom of the product and there’s a mount hole for a tripod, and battery and SD memory slot are also installed. (It supports up to 32GB of SDHD. It can easily take RAW and HD movies without worrying about the storage.)
It’s the back of the product, and it has the 3” AMOLED. (Like the picture, there’s no inconvenience by a narrow vieiwng angle, and it can easily see the images under a daylight. It’s totally different from normal cameras.) In the center, there’s a port fro the EVF.
Various setting buttons are supported. Especially, it has Smart Dial (Smart Dial which didn’t exist in the NX10 allows users to set manual function and select the menu more conveniently) and jog dial on the top allows to adjust aperture and shutter speed in Manual mode like a DSLR. @ The green button on the right bottom is impressive. It can initilize Picture wizard, WB, color temperature, screen color, and self timer, and in play mode, it can delete files.
I was worried about the grip, because of the compac design, but actually it was very satisfactory. The leaf designed grip allows users to hold the body without slippery and the thumb fit comfortably in the hole on the back. (It can be held with one hand for a man. However, it’s more comfortable to hold it with two hands for woman users.)
It’s the size comparison and differentiated from a normal DSLR. (It’s much thicker, but the size is similar to Galaxy S. Given that it’s a mirrorless camera, the mobility is great enough.)
Compared with the NX10, it becomes smaller and lighter and functions in compact cameras have been added. (Such as Smart Filter and others) The innovative i-Function has also been added, and GPS, external flash, and external EVF can be used. @ It’s much different in the design and mobility. According to your life style, you can choose one between the NX10 and NX100.
Neck strap, charger, battery, USB cable, manual, and S/W CD are included.
