The world's thinnest and lightest interchangeable lens camera (in the compact system camera category as of April 2014). The NX mini's durable magnesium body with a leather-textured finish is sure to impress. This is the very epitome of elegance.
The NX mini makes taking self-portraits easy and fun. Just wink at the camera and get a finished photo in two seconds. No need to press the shutter button. But you must smile.
With the NX mini's wide-angle lenses (9mm and 9-27mm), you can take stunning photos, whether you're self-portrait or photographing anything else in your life.
The NX mini's large 1-inch, 20.5-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor delivers exceptionally high resolution, capturing every detail in natural-looking colors.
Samsung Photo Beam lets you share photos with a simple tap on another device. Just touch your Smart Camera to any smartphone with NFC function, and the image will be automatically transferred to the smartphone. It is so simple!
NX mini shoots Full HD video in 1080/30p H.264 format at 30 frames per second and elaboration of the smallest image details. H.264 allows you to record more video than MPEG4, so you can capture more interesting scenes.
The Samsung NX mini camera allows you to take pictures at sensitivity values up to ISO 25600, i.e. almost in the dark. This means that when you shoot without a flash in a dimly lit room or outdoors in the evening, you will get bright, contrasty and clear images, virtually undamaged by noise and image blur.
The NX M mount gives you the freedom to choose high-quality lenses from Samsung's wide range of NX lenses. Improve your craft with the stunning NX Series lenses.
The NX mini's battery lasts up to 650 photos or 190 minutes of video on a single charge (9mm lens, CIPA standard)*. Conventional batteries simply can't compare. Stop worrying and keep shooting.
Monitor your baby from another room using the Home Monitor app installed on your smartphone. If your baby suddenly wakes up or cries, the NX mini camera will send a notification to your smartphone.
The NX mini comes with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5, a photo editor that lets you edit your photos and videos and add special effects to them. Edit, crop, enhance quality and add special effects.
Test the smallest and thinnest mirrorless camera available today. In this review, we will touch on some questions asked by our readers: let's talk about light sensitivity, Wi-Fi functionality and accessories.
Accessories for Samsung NX Mini
Three lenses have been released for the NX Mini: NX-M 9 mm F/3.5 ED, NX-M 9–27 mm F/3.5-5.6 ED OIS and NX-M 17 mm F/1.8 OIS. In addition, using the adapter you can use standard NX optics. It should be taken into account that this will increase the weight of the camera.
The camera comes with a standard charger, USB cable, hand strap, flash and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.
About Wi-Fi functionality
Since we have received many questions related to the Wi-Fi function, we will tell you in detail how to use it. Samsung NX Mini's Wi-Fi feature is designed to be incredibly powerful. So powerful that, admittedly, it took me some time to figure out all the modes. So, we find all the wealth of functionality in the menu, which we get by pressing the MODE button. Naturally, we select Wi-Fi mode.
Here's how many modes the Samsung NX Mini includes:
Let's talk about the most interesting ones.
DIRECT LINK
So, to begin with: the DIRECT LINK button is located on the top of the case and provides instant access to the Wi-Fi function. It is noteworthy that, at his discretion, the user can set any of the modes here : Mobile Link, RemoteViewfinder, AutoShare, etc.
As a rule, users are very interested in the process of direct posting to social networks. Let's see how it looks in our case.
In order to send photos directly to social networks or cloud storage (Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, YouTube, Dropbox), you need to click on DIRECT LINK button, select the desired network, log in and upload the desired picture. This will require local Wi-Fi connection.
In the menu you can make the necessary settings, for example, create download folders and determine the size of the downloaded image for social networks. Note that if the resolution of the selected image exceeds 2 megapixels, it is automatically reduced. The maximum duration of video recording for sending is 30 seconds at a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels.
This function will be appreciated by all those who like to share the latest impressions with friends. You don't have to worry about running out of free space on your memory card quickly. By sharing photos and videos, you can immediately make room for new experiences!
So, let's try to post a photo on the VKontakte network. So, select the desired photo and the network itself:
And wait for the photo to load:
That's all! After uploading, the photo goes into the automatically created Samsung Smart Camera album:
INTERACTION WITH A SMARTPHONE: MOBILE LINK, REMOTE VIEWFINDER, AUTOSHARE
To implement numerous modes of Wi-Fi functionality and interaction between the camera and smartphone, you need to install the Samsung SMART CAMERA App. This application is developed for mobile devices running Android OS and iOS controls any interaction of the camera with a smartphone: Mobile Link, Remote Viewfinder, and Autoshare. We will talk about each mode separately.
NFC: activate two devices with one touch
Samsung NX Mini also boasts the most advanced communication function - NFC support, or, as it is otherwise called, the proximity function, which allows the exchange of information between the smartphone and other NFC devices. It is currently available for smartphones running Android OS. To read an NFC tag, simply place the device's NFC antenna next to the camera's NFC tag for a couple of seconds.
With just one touch, the camera will automatically prompt you to select the appropriate options from the SMART Camera App: Mobile Link, Remote Viewfinder and Autoshare.
Mobile Link
We activate Wi-Fi in the smartphone, connect to the camera and launch the Samsung SMART CAMERA App.
The file is sent in just a few moments.
You can do anything your smartphone can do with the resulting image.
MobileLink allows you to view up to 1,000 recently used files andsend up to 1,000 files at a time. It is worth noting that images can only be sent in jpeg format.
Our readers had a question: is it possible to send a photo from a camera directly to Instagram? There is no Instagram app in the camera itself. And, to be honest, working on Instagram in a camera would be inconvenient. It’s much easier and more common to process a photo on a smartphone. Transferring photos to your smartphone occurs instantly. So you can share photos on social networks almost instantly, and, just as importantly, send photos to friends right away. You won’t have to deal with the sending process at home on your computer, and your friends will no longer torment you with the question “Where are the photos?”
Remote Viewfinder
Finally, the camera supports Remote Viewfinder(“Remote Shutter Release”), which allows you to control the camera remotely using your smartphone display as a viewfinder. To use the Remote Viewfinder function, you must use the same application Samsung SMART CAMERA App, connect, and, in fact, control the shooting process.
You can configure parameters such as flash mode, self-timer, image size, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. The resulting image instantly appears on the display
smartphone (photos and videos taken in continuous shooting mode are not displayed on the smartphone screen). Again, this control makes the shooting process convenient, because you can control the camera even from a distance!
It should be noted that when using f functions The optimal distance between the camera and smartphone depends on the surrounding conditions. The smartphone must be no further than 7 meters from the camera. The photo will be taken some time after you touch the camera icon (shutter button) on your smartphone.
Please note that Remote Viewfinder will not work when there is an incoming call and a weak Wi-Fi connection.
AutoShare: Automatically save files to your smartphone
Another useful feature in the camera is the automatic saving of images from the camera to the phone, as they say, live: you shoot, and the photos are automatically sent to the smartphone. To start the function, just press the MENU button and activate AutoShare:
You need to launch the Samsung SMART CAMERA App on your smartphone. After this, the “broadcast” will begin, which will certainly allow you to save energy and time, and generally make the shooting process an exciting process! This function will save you if you do not use a very large memory camera: the pictures taken can be immediately deleted, and then calmly viewed on your smartphone. The AutoShare feature will also be useful when photographing friends: you no longer need to choose the time to send photos. Everything will immediately go into the memory of your friend’s smartphone!
BABY MONITOR
Another interesting feature in the Samsung NX Mini is the Baby Monitor mode, created specifically to “monitor” a small child. A camera installed in the right place will “watch” the selected area and send a signal to your smartphone or TV if you are in another room. This function is a real salvation for parents who, for example, put the baby to bed, but themselves, without losing their vigilance, want to relax in another room. Having detected a certain level of sound in a room (the user sets the noise level at which alerts will be triggered in sound tracking mode), the camera will immediately send you a signal!
To use this feature, you must have the Samsung Home Monitor app installed on your smartphone. You will be able to watch what is happening “live” on the screen of your smartphone. This function can be used even in a dark place by simply turning on the AF illuminator. Never before have cameras been so caring.
By the way, since we mentioned the TV, it’s worth saying that the Samsung NX Mini supports the ability to connect to Samsung SMART TV. This means that you can view photos in absolute comfort: to connect to your TV, you no longer need wires, a router, or even a computer!
GROUP SHARE: SIMULTANEOUSLY SENDING PHOTOS AND VIDEOS TO SEVERAL SMARTPHONES
Send just-taken pictures and videos to all your friends at once... Isn't this what we all dream about when having fun in a big company? With Samsung NX Mini this will be possible: the Group Share function allows you to send pictures and videos to several smartphones (up to 4 pieces). Sending will begin immediately after selecting images or videos in the camera.
Group Share mode is supported by smartphones and tablets running Android OS or iOS, and, as in all other cases, we again note that for the mode to work, you must install the Samsung SMART CAMERA App.
PC AUTO BACKUP: TRANSFER CONTENT TO YOUR COMPUTER
Of course, the PC Auto Backup program will be useful for all photographers, allowing you to transfer images and videos to a computer (Windows, Mac) over a wireless connection.
Let’s finish the conversation about Wi-Fi functionality and move on to other issues.
Maximum ISO
Samsung NX Mini is in many ways positioned as a camera for young people: stylish, small, you can take it with you to every event in life. We have already seen how a camera works on the street in the example. Today we'll see how it behaves in conditions of artificial and insufficient lighting.
Let us remind you that the camera supports photosensitivity up to 12,800. Since we received several questions on this topic, we present a standard series of identical frames with different ISO values.
Luckily, summer brings many different inspirations.
Give free rein to your imagination, be patient, and the results will definitely please you!
That's all for now. Next time we will talk about the video function, the most interesting camera modes and show examples of street photography. Do not miss!
Video shooting with a camera
Of course, it’s a pity that Samsung has stopped developing new models of video cameras, focusing entirely on the camera market and the smartphone sector. Previous Samsung video cameras differed from products from other brands primarily in their low cost. But not only. If you think back carefully, you can note several truly unique models that used innovations like back-illuminated matrices, had a progressive method of recording at high frame rates, amazingly combined the functions of video and photo cameras, or used an unusual design with left-handers in mind.
After all these successes, limiting ourselves only to cameras is a shame, really. Developments that were used in video cameras often cannot be used in a camera; the formatter will not allow it. And the tasks that a camera faces are fundamentally different from the tasks of a video camera. As a result, we have an unfortunate situation where video shooting is only one of the functions of the camera, and far from the main one.
Design, technical characteristics
The miniature body of the camera in question is made of rough plastic; we received a white copy. The thickness of the body would make it possible to fit the device in the breast pocket of a summer shirt, but this is unlikely to be possible - the removable lens included in the kit triples this size of the camera.
The camera's flip-out display rotates 180 degrees, allowing you to shoot in self-portrait mode, where the camera takes a photo automatically when it detects a smile or wink. Such cute amateur photographic things that relate only to the photographic mode and work only in it. For video recording, such a screen can be useful simply because it greatly simplifies the installation of a device for stationary video recording (for example, in the corner of a room). However, the existing limitation on the duration of continuous video recording puts an end to such use of the camera.
The length of the existing lens, after being brought into working condition, doubles; this lens does not have a zoom drive - the focal length is changed manually by rotating the ring.
The shooting and its parameters are controlled using microscopic, or there is no other way to say it, mechanical buttons located on the panel to the right of the display. The fact that the existing display is touch-sensitive makes the task much easier. Thanks to this, many functions have been transferred to virtual icon buttons located around the perimeter of the display.
All camera interfaces are combined under one hinged cover - the battery socket, which is locked with a sliding plastic latch, a micro USB port, a micro HDMI port, and a slot for a micro SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card.
It is not possible to measure the life of the supplied battery, since the camera has a familiar limitation on the duration of continuous video recording, which is 29 minutes 59 seconds.
The main technical characteristics of the camera are given in the following table:
| Lens Samsung NX-M 9 - 27 mm F3.5 - 5.6 ED OIS (Samsung NX-M mount) | |
| focal length | |
| aperture range | |
zoom ratio | |
| optical stabilizer | Yes, two modes |
| Camera Samsung NX mini | |
image sensor | BSI CMOS 1″ (13.2x8.8 mm), 20.9 MP (eff. 20.5 MP) |
| Dimensions, weight |
|
| Time continuous recordings from the included battery | N/A (recording duration limit 29 min. 59 sec.) |
| Carrier | micro SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card |
| Video formats | in the text of the article |
| Interfaces |
|
| Other characteristics |
|
| average price according to Yandex.Market | T-10753024 |
| Offers according to Yandex.Market | L-10753024-10 |
Video/photography
You can clearly imagine the difference in detail and character of the picture that different recording modes provide using the following still frames and original videos. The camera saves video in an MP4 container, and the codec is regular AVC with AAC audio.
|
|
| 1920x1080 25p 16 Mbit/s | 1280×720 25p 11 Mbit/s |
|
|
| Download video | Download video |
| 640×480 25p 5 Mbit/s | 320×240 25p 1 Mbit/s |
|
|
| Download video | Download video |
At first glance at the still frames, and even more so at the videos, it seems that they were shot with the camera we recently reviewed. Indeed, these test shots of both cameras were made simultaneously, but we didn’t mess anything up - these videos were shot with a Samsung NX mini camera. You can even make a preliminary conclusion: the video processing algorithm in both cameras is the same. There are common signs, and the main ones are a kind of downscaling of the image obtained from a multi-megapixel matrix, together with the characteristic skipping of lines, which leads to the loss of sections in inclined lines.
It is not difficult to understand the resolution of the device; during visual testing it reaches 900 conventional TV lines horizontally.
When measuring using non-visual methods based on mathematical calculations, the result depends on how to interpret them, what amount of sharpness is considered ideal, standard.
This graph is plotted using the brightness component (Y-axis). It is believed that a curve showing resolution above the Nyquist frequency (X-axis) actually represents a useless signal that has no relation to resolution.
The lens equipped with the camera in question is equipped with a dual-mode optical image stabilizer. Almost all of our attempts to find a stabilizer in cameras that would be suitable for reportage video shooting (shooting handheld, in motion, in cramped conditions, in the absence of the possibility of staging, etc.) failed. It seems that this time will be no exception. At least, there are no prerequisites that would hint at a different outcome.
So it is - again, a typical camera stabilizer, distinguished by its good ability to hold the frame without shaking and “sticking” only in the absence of global movement. Simply put, such a stabilizer dampens only the slight tremors of the photographer’s hands to create a clear photograph. This can be seen more clearly when using the small zoom that the lens provides.
To view in a larger size, click the Original size button
The mentioned camera, the video of which is extremely reminiscent of the video of the camera in question, suffered from one serious ailment: its autofocus is too nervous (perhaps this behavior is due to a larger matrix than in the camera in question). Fortunately, the NX mini has much more adequate autofocus. Which, although it “jumps” without any particular need, does it to a much lesser extent. Rather, it doesn’t “jump,” but seems to “breathe,” every few seconds as if checking to see if another object has appeared in the frame that can be focused on.
To view in a larger size, click the Original size button
Another feature of camera autofocus is that it is not as willing to focus on close objects, unlike infinity. Of course, it’s also a matter of the camera’s rather narrow depth of field.
To view in a larger size, click the Original size button
Another important difference from the recently reviewed NX3300 camera is the sound that the autofocus mechanism makes. If the NX 3300 model sang its electronic songs loudly, then the NX mini in question allows for a barely audible chirping, which actually merges with silence.
Rolling shutter level (for more details, see the material ) that the device in question allows is average, and corresponds to the matrix used in the camera. This matrix, although multi-megapixel, turns out to be fast enough to prevent the annoying jelly effect. But, of course, the tilt of the verticals when shooting the corresponding scenes will be guaranteed:
To view in a larger size, click the Original size button
The next point is always pleasant to state: the software of almost all modern video cameras and cameras allows the amateur not to think about the correct exposure and white balance values. Whether it's automatic settings or a preset selected for the occasion, you can't see the difference no matter how hard you try. In good natural light conditions, shooting with fully automatic settings is a much more reliable way to get good quality than painstaking adjustments with a high risk of making mistakes.
To view in a larger size, click the Original size button
In most cases, the same can be said for shooting in low light levels. Even if there are several light sources with different temperatures and brightness in the frame, the camera’s automation selects such exposure values so as not to brighten the picture beyond a reasonable limit, to prevent the appearance of annoying noise, and not to reduce the shutter speed to those photographic values that are incompatible with video shooting.
|
|
||
| Automatic settings | Scene mode "Indoor Party" | Scene mode "Night" |
|
|
|
|
|
| ISO 400 | ISO 800 | ||
|
|
|
|
| ISO 1600 | ISO 3200 | ||
|
|
|
|
The size of photographs taken by the camera can reach 5472x3648 pixels. Their quality can be judged by the following pictures:
And just like the NX-3300, there is no endless continuous shooting capability. The only difference is that the NX-3300 does not allow you to shoot longer than 20 minutes, while our camera allows you to shoot for 30 minutes.
Another feature reminiscent of the NX-3300: truncated HDMI. Which does not allow you to receive a direct video signal, but is intended only for viewing material previously recorded on a memory card.
Due to HDMI not working, we are not able to capture the camera display, so we have to photograph it. It is noteworthy that the video settings section is limited to only five items. This, of course, is not enough for shooting - you have to use the settings found in the photo settings section. Unfortunately, most of these photo settings do not work when shooting video, which the user is not always aware of.
The wireless adapter in the camera is used in six application modes:
- MobileLink is a tool for exchanging files between a camera and a smartphone; for it to work you will need to install
- Remote Viewfinder - viewing live video from the camera, controlling the camera and some of its parameters
- AutoShare - receiving pictures directly on your smartphone when taking photos
- Group Share is a type of AutoShare with the ability to simultaneously connect up to four smartphones to the camera
- Baby Monitor - the name reveals the essence of the function. The application is required to work. The camera is connected directly to the router, and the smartphone is also connected to it, after which video surveillance is carried out in real time. After three minutes of broadcasting, the video stream is interrupted and the camera switches to audio capture mode. When the silence is broken, the camera will immediately notify the smartphone or tablet and resume broadcasting the video signal.
When you connect the camera to a PC via USB, a virtual startup disk will appear among the devices, which contains a link to the i-Launcher application. The latest version of the application is downloaded and installed on the PC.
This application allows you to update the firmware and also activates automatic copying of content from the camera to a specified folder.
A separate section implements Samsung Link technology, consisting of the “Web storage” and “Nearby devices” functions. The first function allows you to save content from the camera directly to the Samsung Link online storage, the second provides the ability to search and view pictures and videos on DLNA-enabled devices located on a given local network (for example, a TV). The camera also has an advanced ability to automatically send pictures taken via E-mail and some social networks.
This shooting showed good sensitivity of the device in illumination of 20 lux (artificial lighting with incandescent lamps of 300 W in a room of 25 sq.m.), however, the frame is noticeably noisy. To avoid this noise, it is advisable to switch from automatic to manual settings and lower the ISO to 800, as a result of which the noise will disappear, but the frame will also become much darker. We have already studied the resolution of the camera; it amounts to 900 conventional TV lines horizontally, which is quite good for a camera.Video , Video
Contents of delivery:
- Camera
- Battery
- Charger with USB cable
- Lens 9mm (or 9-27mm)
- External flash
- Instructions
- Adobe LightRoom version 5
Positioning
Samsung believes that the company must conquer the camera market; it was under these slogans that the expansion of its model range began several years ago. It was not possible to achieve any sense in this; the company followed the same course as in other segments, gradually increasing the functionality of the cameras, offering good lenses with the NX mount for little money - they are the best in terms of price/quality ratio. But at the same time, Samsung greatly underestimated the influence of the brand on the perception of cameras - it is extremely difficult to convince Canon or Nikon fans to try something different. When you have been using equipment of a certain brand for years and have acquired lenses, then switching to another photographic equipment is almost impossible; it must be an obviously emotional decision. And given that it was not possible to make the picture quality better than the giants of the photo industry, in general there was no active development of this direction within Samsung. Perhaps the second problem is the cost of such devices from Samsung - they are very, very expensive compared to their competitors. That is, there is no discount for the fact that Samsung is little known in the segment of semi-professional equipment; the company considered that the popularity of its other products would speak for itself. And I was wrong.
In general, good cameras, for example, the NX30 or last year's NX300, are quite good for filming and cover the needs of many amateur photographers, including advanced ones. But at the start, these cameras are obscenely expensive, which scares off potential buyers.
In the past, Samsung stormed the camera market with digital point-and-shoot cameras at minimal cost; in 2014, it decided to repeat this trick at a new technological stage. In particular, by creating the new NX Mini line, as well as the NX-M mount. This is a reimagining of what amateur cameras can be like in the coming years - predominantly point-and-shoot shooting, minimal size, long battery life. The ideas are right, but they didn't work in other models, so it's even more surprising to see what happened with the NX Mini. I had a prejudice against this device, I used it immediately after the NX30 and expected that in terms of price/quality ratio it would be far from optimal. Moreover, it will lose to many analogues with the same matrix. How it turned out in reality, read below, I will not reveal the secret.
Who is NX Mini for? Definitely not for those who know how to take photographs and do it all the time; it requires the maximum number of settings from the camera. Such people will not like the ergonomics of this solution. It’s quite suitable as a second camera – here its compactness comes to the fore. What more can be said? For amateurs who don't want to think too much about how to get a good photo, this camera allows you to achieve good quality with minimal effort and without taking up much space in your pocket or bag. Compactness comes to the fore.
Let the marketing story about how you can install lenses from the NX mount with adapters remain a beautiful fairy tale. There is no point in this - the crop factor in this case will be three times, and on a 1-inch matrix this will lead to very strange results, they will definitely not suit you. Moreover, I think that you should be guided by the fact that this camera is purchased with one lens and you will not be purchasing new ones. The target audience will definitely not need this. This is such a contradictory decision, which, nevertheless, has the right to life. Let's see why this is so.
Design, sizes, controls
Everything is in the classic style of the latest generation of devices - leather-like plastic, different body colors to suit every taste.
In my opinion, the plastic here is made very inexpensively, the impression intensifies when you pick up the camera. But you quickly get used to it. What's more frustrating is that the plug covering the connectors constantly comes off, leaving a visible gap. This is perhaps the most serious flaw in the design, the sloppiness that catches the eye.
One of the minuses worth noting is that the flash must be screwed into the connector at the top end at the moment when you are going to use it. In most cases, it won’t come to this, and wearing a flash on the device all the time, frankly speaking, is inconvenient. Hence the conclusion - it’s good that it is included in the kit. You'll have to be content with the built-in flash, which is quite weak, but quite suitable for everyday purposes.
The camera weighs 196 grams, which is not much, you won’t feel it in your pocket. Size – 110.4x61.9x22.5 mm – a very small camera. But small size always results in inconvenience to operate; for example, one of the best compact cameras, the Sony RX100, in all three versions, is extremely inconvenient and takes some getting used to. The NX Mini will also take some getting used to - the buttons are small and the elements are crowded.
With a standard 9-27mm lens, the weight will increase by 73 grams, the size will increase slightly. By the way, the size of regular NX lenses is also a disadvantage for the camera; it will look awkward with them, not to mention the fact that they are almost completely useless here. Marketing, I won’t tire of repeating this.
On the right side, behind a folding curtain, there are connectors: microUSB (USB version 2), HDMI, as well as a slot for microSD cards (this is another proof that the camera is positioned for the mass market). On the top edge you will find the shutter button, Wi-Fi shortcut key, and the power key.
You can use the device with a tripod; the connector is, you guessed it, on the bottom end.
The display in this device is three-inch, it tilts 180 degrees, so you can take photos of your loved one. The screen resolution is small - 320x480 pixels, it becomes very blind in the sun, but you can still see the picture. The touch screen allows you to quickly change settings and shooting modes, which is a plus. But the display is a very weak point of the device, so if you are used to seeing what you are photographing, then this model will not suit you - I repeat, perhaps it will only be useful as a second device.
The lens does not have a motor, so it must be brought into working condition by hand (for a 9 mm prime lens this is irrelevant). Sometimes the electronics do not understand that the lens is in the working position, then you have to turn the device off and on again, after first turning the lens all the way.
Technical characteristics and ergonomics of the camera
Matrix resolution is 20.5 megapixels, size is 1 inch (CMOS, BSI), there is no ultrasonic cleaning of the matrix. ISO value in automatic mode is up to 3200, in manual mode – from 160 to 12800 (can be expanded from 100 to 25600). The working ISO value can be considered 1600, after which the matrix begins to make noise.
During continuous shooting, the camera can take up to 6 frames per second, the stated 30 frames are possible with a resolution of 5 megapixels.
The obvious disadvantages are adjusting white balance, exposure compensation, and changing ISO. In all cases, you have to go deep into the menu, which is inconvenient when shooting. You will have to suffer with this camera. Autofocus works averagely; in macro mode (the Camera detects it automatically), focusing often occurs on the background, and not on what you are shooting. In static scenes, autofocus can also miss; it is contrasty and not always correct.
The logic of the camera is not always clear, for example, why is it not possible to select the RAW format for saving your pictures in Auto mode? Only JPEG and no other options.
Of the three lenses presented for the NX-M, only one has a built-in stabilizer - 9-27 mm. In my opinion, it is worth focusing your attention on this delivery option. It is the most versatile.
Without getting into details, I’ll repeat my thought - this camera is not bad for the option when you take it out and take pictures without bothering with additional settings. That is, it can be a second camera or the main point-and-shoot camera for those who do not experiment with photographic equipment and shoot with one click.
It has everything you'd expect in a camera from Samsung, and even a little more. The device is equipped with built-in NFC, as well as Wi-Fi. With one touch you can transfer pictures from the camera to a smartphone or tablet, it’s convenient. On the other hand, this won’t surprise anyone today – but still, it’s implemented conveniently and well in the NX Mini. For example, you can immediately send your photos to Dropbox, or you can also set up photos to be sent there when connected to your home Wi-Fi network. There is support for other services as well.
The built-in photo editor is of little use, as is sending photos to social networks, such as Facebook. Still, you are more likely to do this from a smartphone/tablet, where such programs are more convenient. But the possibility itself is provided.
Battery
I complained a lot about how many photos cameras like the NX30/NX300 produced per charge - they were clearly inferior to all competitors. In the NX Mini, everything is exactly the opposite, the Li-Ion battery is 2330 mAh, the stated number of shots is 530 (CIPA method). In my case, in a week it was about 300 photos and about half the battery charge. The time to fully charge the battery is about 2 hours.
Image quality - video examples
Below I will give pictures that were taken on the NX Mini, since the camera acts as an amateur point-and-shoot camera, I didn’t see any point in trying it in different modes. Look at the photos, as well as the video - it, by the way, can be recorded in FullHD, with a frequency of up to 30 frames per second.
Brief impressions
Let's start with the strengths - compact camera, excellent implementation of NFC/Wi-Fi, pleasant photo quality (average, but this will be enough for many), excellent operating time on a single charge. Among the serious disadvantages, I would like to note the small display, which does not give a very beautiful picture; it becomes very blind in the sun. The presence of interchangeable lenses is not a necessity, but rather a thing that potential buyers of such a camera will not be interested in. This is a completely different target audience, and there was no need to be clever here.
Considering the competition that has unfolded in the market, it is extremely difficult to imagine that someone will choose the NX Mini over competing solutions. Let's look at the Sony RX100M2, this camera has a similar matrix, but is much more convenient to operate due to its greater similarity with digital cameras, and produces a much better picture. But it costs about 27,000 rubles and does not have interchangeable lenses (26-100 mm is quite sufficient).
You can remember a camera like Nikon 1 J3, it looks comparable to the NX Mini - not as compact, but with the same matrix, and the quality of the pictures is slightly higher.
You can give many other examples, the same Sony cameras. But this is unnecessary, since the NX Mini loses to all of them basically - Samsung cameras are unknown to the market and the mass consumer, all other things being equal, buyers will still choose devices from other companies, and this is impossible to change. At a cost of 14,990 rubles (NX Mini with a 9 mm lens, f3.5) this is not a very good buy for most, with a 9-26 mm lens priced at 17,990 rubles - exactly the same situation. This device is suitable only in one case - you need a minimum body size, you don’t need above-average image quality and manual settings. For those who want a point-and-shoot camera, this solution is noticeably more expensive than conventional cameras. Perhaps if Samsung puts in more effort, the NX Mini line will be at least somewhat popular in the future. In the distant future. But so far the prerequisites are only for this product to remain a niche product, greatly overpriced by the manufacturer. Having received such a camera as a gift, you will be pleased, especially if you do not compare it with others. But if you buy with your own money, you will definitely lose a lot - it is better to look for products from other manufacturers that will more fully meet your needs.
Samsung has released another camera for socially active citizens with very impressive characteristics: 20 megapixels, 6 fps, ISO 160-12800, shutter speed up to 1/6000s, interchangeable lenses - and all this in a miniature body, closer in size to a smartphone, rather than to the camera.
In reality, everything turned out to be not as optimistic as on the manufacturer’s website. However, it is worth noting that autofocus is relatively fast by the standards of mirrorless cameras. Featuring a touchscreen, the camera also allows you to point at an area in the image to focus, which is great when there's a lot on the screen. This is definitely better than the focus area selection found on larger cameras. On the other hand, the screen is the only viewfinder; there is no eyepiece in the NX mini. So, in bright sunshine, you have to guess what is in the frame and what is not. The display can also tilt vertically 180 degrees for self-portraits, while the camera turns on and goes into “portrait retouching” mode, which automatically improves the skin, as in numerous filters for Photoshop. Compared to other cameras, the Samsung NX mini does this very well.
The kit includes either a 9mm prime or a 9-27mm zoom (analogous to 18-55mm on 35mm cameras). Considering the size of the sensor, which is small - 7 times smaller than the FX sensor on Nikon, one of the problems is noise at high ISOs. A high ISO here can be considered any value above 160. It is curious that at ISO 160 the noise reduction is not yet noticeable, but at ISO 200 it is already rampant, so much so that 20 megapixels are down the drain, every single one of them. Unfortunately, the noise reduction does not turn off and significantly reduces the detail of the picture. Almost all your photos will be affected by this effect, since according to statistics, most photos are taken in low light. The noise reduction work is clearly visible at 100% crop, this is an example at ISO 1600:
Honestly, with good optics, even on a 12-megapixel camera, the detail will be higher. But the noise was overcome.
The standard zoom lens looks stylish, but is inconvenient to use. Firstly, to start working, you need to put it into working condition by turning it from the locking position to the 9mm mark or further. Secondly, the surface of the lens is absolutely smooth and there is nothing for your fingers to catch on, so turning it is inconvenient. In addition, it is not always possible to understand by touch whether you have turned the lens or not. Needless to say, with such a system you will not be able to take the camera out of your bag with one hand and quickly take a picture. Almost any operation requires manipulation with both hands, so in an emergency you will not be able to quickly take a photo. In this regard, I recommend taking lenses in which you don’t need to turn anything.
There is one more note regarding ergonomics - the power button is indistinguishable from the Wi-Fi button to the touch, you always have to watch where you are pressing. Sometimes I even manage to press the camera shutter button instead of the shutter button; although the shutter release is larger, the button itself is just as inexpressive and hard to see.
Wi-Fi is a different story. The idea itself is very good, and I have been waiting for this on cameras for a long time.
But specifically on the Samsung NX mini this is done in such a way that it is completely impossible to use. To upload a photo via Wi-Fi somewhere, you first need to complete the quest from the menu and settings. Initially, integration with social networks was supposed, but my attempts ended after an unsuccessful connection to Dropbox. I was never able to download photos from the camera, and the application interface itself looked like a WAP page from 2002:
Although the Samsung NX mini does not have a standard flash shoe, it does have a built-in flash, which is only suitable as a fill flash when you are shooting against the light. Unfortunately, I was unable to use the built-in flash as a signal for the large Yongnuo YN-560III. Yongnuo only worked when the built-in Samsung flash was in second-curtain sync mode, and for some reason not always. That is, sometimes it worked, but most often it didn’t.
You can even get a rainbow bunny like the one at the bottom of the frame:
This will be enough for an inexperienced client, but for my taste the color rendition in the NX mini is not very good. In standard settings, the picture is too faded and lacks contrast for my taste. And if you turn on bright colors, the photo begins to give off an acidic feel. This is easy to see if you compare it with the colors produced by the Nikon D7100, with which I photographed approximately the same thing under the same conditions.
In addition to photos, the NX mini can shoot FullHD video, but keep in mind that autofocus will wander around as helplessly as on DSLRs, and in manual focus mode you will have nothing to turn on the lens - the focus is adjusted using the buttons on the back of the camera very slowly and with large jerks. Therefore, I would immediately forget about the video.
Another myth about the rate of fire. 6 frames per second is a really serious request. But keep in mind that like any other mirrorless camera, the NX mini will not be able to adjust the focus between frames, so you won’t be able to shoot anything fast-moving and in focus in this mode. The question arises why such a rate of fire is needed at all, even if you don’t really photograph the child. Any, even the simplest SLR camera will cope with this task much better, without having such impressive characteristics.
It is worth noting that the Samsung NX mini supports microSD memory cards and is charged via micro USB, which is a big plus, saving you from the need to carry additional chargers with you. The built-in battery is enough for a whole day, unlike.
It is surprising that Samsung itself has much better color rendition of the Galaxy S4 smartphone camera than the NX mini camera. They say the camera on the Galaxy S5 is even better, but I haven't had a chance to test it yet.
