Samsung NX11 First Impressions Review

Design & Appearance

The NX11 looks nearly identical to its predecessor, the Samsung NX10. It supports the same mirrorless SLR design that makes for a compact shooting experience (compared to a traditional DSLR, that is). It also has the same 3-inch LCD on the back, but it features an improved rounded grip on the front. Like the NX10, the NX11 is a good mid-range size that is small enough to carry with you to most events without much complaint, but large enough to retain the aura of professionalism that only a DSLR can provide.

Tour

The NX11 uses Samsung's NX lens mount for its interchangeable lens system.

The camera has a 3-inch LCD and a viewfinder.

The left side houses some ports and terminals.

The right has a good, rounded grip that works quite well.

You can get a good idea of the camera's thickness with this top image.

The bottom has the battery compartment and tripod mount.

Viewfinder

The NX11 has a well-sized electronic viewfinder that sits just above the LCD on the back of the camera. The viewfinder has a 640 × 480 (VGA) resolution and is surrounded by a small eyepiece that isn’t especially comfortable. A sensor below the viewfinder can be turned on to automatically detect whether the viewfinder or LCD should be active. For example, when you put your eye up to the viewfinder, the LCD will shut off automatically if the sensor is turned on. This feature can be annoying, however, particularly if you are constantly moving your hands in front of the sensor (you can turn the sensor off to avoid this problem).

Many users may prefer the LCD, but the viewfinder is great for old-school photographers.

LCD

The LCD on the NX11 appears to be the same screen that Samsung employed on the NX10. It is 3-inches diagonally and has a 614,000- pixel resolution. It also has an AMOLED design (active matrix OLED) that is said to reduce glare under sunny conditions.

While this LCD is good for basic shooting, we wish Samsung would include a tiltable element to the screen on the NX11. It would certainly be a tremendous boost for video recording, which is a key feature of the NX11.

The 3-inch LCD is a good size, but we wish it could rotate or tilt.

Flash

A pop-up flash is located on the top of the NX11, just like we saw on the NX10 (but something that was absent on the NX100). We couldn’t test the flash very efficiently, but we weren’t very impressed with its intensity. We saw the same problem with the flash on the NX10.

The pop-up flash makes an appearance when you press the flash button on the top of the camera.

Lens Mount & Sensor

The NX lens mount is fairly new for Samsung, as it was introduced last year on the Samsung NX10. Over time, more lenses have become available that fit the NX mount, which makes owning an NX camera more versatile than ever before. Like the NX100, the NX11 is compatible with i-Function lenses that allow you to control things like shutter speed and aperture using the camera’s lens ring. With a firmware upgrade on the NX100, i-Function capability can also be available on that model. Currently, there are two i-Function lenses available in addition to the 18 – 55mm lens that comes with the NX11. They new lenses are a 20mm f/2.8 pancake style lens and a 20 – 55mm f/3.5 zoom lens.

The sensor on the NX11 is unchanged from what Samsung used on its NX10 last year. This means its the same 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor with dimensions of 23.4 × 15.6mm. Identical sensors usually mean similar image performance, so if you’re expecting better picture quality from the NX11 (compared to the NX10), you’re likely to be disappointed.

Jacks, Ports & Plugs

All the ports on the NX11 are located on the left side of the camera behind a flip-open door. There’s also an accessory shoe on the top of the camera for attaching an external flash, light, etc. The USB port on the camera is proprietary and it doubles as an AV-out port, which is fairly annoying. The NX11 should ship with a USB cable, but we don’t know if the camera comes with a proprietary AV cable (the NX10 didn’t and it bothered us greatly).

The ports on the left side (from top to bottom): DC-input, HDMI, remote, USB.

Battery

The battery on the NX11 has a normal, rectangular shape and it fits into a compartment on the bottom of the camera. The compartment is protected well and the battery stays put thanks to a little locking mechanism that holds it in place.

The battery compartment is on the bottom of the camera.

Memory

The NX11 works with SD/SDHC memory cards via a card slot on the right side of the camera. There’s no internal memory on the model, so make sure you purchase a memory card before taking the NX11 out for a night on the town.

The SD memory card slot is on the right side of the camera

Size & Handling

The NX11 has identical dimensions and weight as the Samsung NX10 (its predecessor). If you don’t have these dimensions memorized, here they are again: 123 × 87 × 40mm and a weight of 353g without the battery. This is a generous size for a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, but it is certainly a whole lot lighter and more compact than a traditional DSLR. Basically, you wouldn’t want to get the NX11 if you’re looking for the smallest camera that will allow you to switch lenses. But, if you don’t mind a slight amount of bulk and professionalism, the NX11 should be the perfect size for your needs.

The right side grip is accommodating for both large and small hands.

The NX11 isn't quite small enough to hold comfortably with one hand.

Ease of Use

Since the NX11 is essentially a “bridge” camera between point-and-shoots and high-end DSLRs, it fits into an interesting niche as far as ease of use is concerned. You can definitely work with the camera in auto mode using Samsung’s Smart Auto controls, but how much fun would this really be? Isn’t the point of getting a powerful camera like the NX11 so you can play with all its nifty manual controls and features?

The NX11 makes doing this even easier with its i-Function lens that puts manual adjustments at your fingertips. Rotating the lens ring allows you to adjust aperture, shutter speed and ISO without having to move your hand from the base of the lens. It works extremely well and it makes you feel like a top-notch professional. Adjusting controls on the fly couldn’t be much easier than with Samsung’s i-Function lens system.

The camera does, however, have a long and somewhat confusing menu, although we do like its layout and easy-to-read setup. We complained about the instruction manual for the NX10, as it was often poorly worded and badly translated. Hopefully, Samsung did some better proofreading with the NX11.

The main menu is organized in many parts

Auto Mode

The NX11 does a decent job in auto mode, but we weren’t always impressed with the camera’s autofocus mechanism. It simply didn’t work a few times when we tried it out at CES, but, we must admit, this was in low light situations where cameras often have trouble with focus. The Smart Auto was occasionally spot-on with selecting the correct scene mode for our shooting situation, but it also missed the mark a number of times as well. Our recommendation: use Smart Auto sparingly, like when you don’t have time to set controls manually.

The Smart Auto mode is an option on the camera's mode dial.

Movie Mode

You can shoot 720p HD video with the NX11 and the camera has the same video mode options that are present on the NX10. That being said, we haven’t been very impressed with Samsung’s video performance from its set of video-capable DSLRs. Since the NX11 has the same sensor as the NX10, it is likely that we’ll be similarly disappointed.

One advantage, though, is Samsung’s new video-specific NX lens that will work with the NX11. This lens allows for better autofocus performance when recording video. We’ve even tried it out and it works surprisingly well—nearly as good as the autofocus on regular consumer camcorders.

Drive/Burst Mode

The burst mode on the NX11 worked decently when we fooled around with it at CES, but this opinion is not based on any kind of official test. In our testing of the NX10, we were unimpressed by the camera’s burst mode (it came it at around 3 photos/sec). It should be safe to say the NX11 will obtain similar results when we bring it into our labs.

Playback Mode

The NX11 has a basic playback mode that involves selecting thumbnails on the LCD. For video playback, the camera has a mini-HDMI output, which is great for watching clips on an HDTV. Unfortunately, the AV-out port is proprietary (and the camera may or may not come with a compatible cable). So, if you want to watch your videos or photos on a regular TV, you may have to contact Samsung and buy an AV cable first.

Other Modes

Panorama

One of the new features on the NX11 is a panorama mode that utilizes a “press-and-sweep” function to allow you to capture large panoramic shots. The function appeared to work quite well when we tried it out on the floor at CES, but panorama modes certainly aren’t for everybody.

Manual Controls

The NX11 has a full set of manual controls and the big new feature on the camera is its i-Function lens compatibility. This feature is also available on the NX10 (with a firmware upgrade) and the NX100 from Samsung. So, what is i-Function? It is the ability for you to control shutter speed, aperture, exposure, white balance, and ISO by using the lens ring on the camera’s lens. You do, of course, need a compatible i-Function lens attached to do this, but the NX11 does come with one as its kit lens.

Focus

Focus can always be set manually using the lens ring on any lens attached to the NX11—even lenses without i-Function capability. The camera has a focus zoom assist that we weren’t too crazy about, but it does help you see whether you’re actually bringing your image into focus. We found the lens ring on the NX11’s kit lens to be a bit too loose for proper focus adjustment overall. We’d like to see a ring with a bit more friction, as that would allow for a more precise focus adjustment.

ISO

ISO is one of the controls that can be set using the i-Function feature. The camera can also be set to automatic ISO adjustment at any point.

White Balance

Get ready for a boatload of white balance presets on the NX11. The camera offers the following options: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent White, Fluorescent Daylight, Tungsten, Flash, Custom, and Kelvin Color Temp. We weren’t always confident in the camera’s auto white balance system, as it occasionally produced bad results. Most of the time it worked adequately if you gave it time, though.

Exposure & Metering

Exposure is another control that can be adjusted with the i-Function lens feature. The exposure range is -3 to +3 in 1/3 or 1/2 EV increments. The camera also has an auto exposure bracketing feature that takes a 3-shot sequence with a +/-3 EV range.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed can be set with the i-Function feature and it can be controlled manually in Shutter Priority or Manual mode. The shutter speed range goes from 1/4000 of a second to 30 seconds, as well as a bulb option that can leave the shutter open for as long as 8 minutes.

Aperture

Aperture has the same level of manual control as shutter speed on the NX11. You can set it in Aperture Priority mode or Manual mode. The aperture values available on the camera are entirely dependent on what kind of lens is attached.

Image Stabilization

Stabilization is available on the NX11, but it whether or not it is available depends on what lens you have attached to the camera.

Picture Quality & Size Options

The largest photo size option on the NX11 is a 14-megapixel setting that takes photos at a resolution of 4592 × 3056. The camera also has 12-megapixel, 10-megapixel, 8-megapixel, 6-megapixel, 5-megapixel, and 2-megapixel photo size options. There are options for both 3:2 and 16:9 aspect ratios as well.

Picture Effects

The camera has picture effects called Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, and Classic.

Conclusion

The Samsung NX11 may very well be an excellent camera, but the fact that it lacks any impressive updates or exciting new features leaves us a bit disappointed. The camera offers very little to set it apart from last year’s NX10, as the only new features implemented by Samsung are the panorama photo option and the i-Function lens compatibility. The thing is, i-Function compatibility is also available on the NX10 via a firmware upgrade, so if you have the NX10 there’s no compelling reason to upgrade to the NX11.

Despite all this, we do like many aspects of the NX11. The i-Function lens feature is excellent for people who love to adjust manual controls on the fly, and the camera’s compact design is neither too big nor too small. The video mode probably won’t blow anyone away, but with an asking price of around $650, the Samsung NX11 won’t hit you incredibly hard in the wallet. It may be a decent choice for someone who is looking to experiment with a video mode on an interchangeable lens camera. It certainly fits the niche for someone looking to upgrade over their point-and-shoot device onto a more powerful camera.

Photo Gallery

The left side houses some ports and terminals.

The right has a good, rounded grip that works quite well.

Samsung: the future of the NX system

With Compact System Cameras set to out-sell DSLRs by 2015, Samsung is setting its sights high for NX to be the number one seller in the CSC sector

Although the Samsung NX11, announced at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011, showed some progression in the NX-series' release schedule, it would appear that there's plenty more to come in the very near future.

What Digital Camera was lucky enough to visit Samsung HQ in Seoul, South Korea, and even got an insight into the factory production line in Busan, to the southern side of the country. As well as proving what an impressive and staggering job it is to make any one camera or lens from start to finish, scratching at the surface revealed that there's plenty more we can anticipate from the NX range in the fairly immediate future.

Samsung NX lenses roadmap

With the entire range of NX lenses now set to be i-Function capable, the announcement of a ‘Movie Pro' 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS, 16mm f/2.8, 60mm f/2.8 OIS Macro, ‘Portrait' 85mm f/1.4 and ‘Movie Home' 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 OIS all due for release inside 2011 is a firm and ongoing commitment to the NX series. In an interview with Jeong Wook Kim, Vice President of Samsung Digital Imaging, we found out details of a proposed lens factory move - a move that will provide yet more capable new premises to enhance the company's capability to make larger diameter lenses, up to 50mm. In addition output will be increased, and seeing as 2010 saw the production of some 18-million lenses, that certainly shows Samsung's up-and-coming rule of the optical world. It can also only suggest one other thing: that faster, brighter apertures and longer, more professional telephoto lenses are likely to be around the corner, the kind of lenses that aren't (as yet) available for any other Compact System Camera and could see future NX releases firmly set apart from the competition.

Inside Samsung's lens production factory, Busan, South Korea

Although the big bosses confirmed a commitment to making five new lenses a year - a feat that they say no other Compact System Camera manufacturer is capable of - there was no specific comment as to what these lenses would be from 2012 and beyond. However, in discussion with the R&D team, it came to light that a prototype 700mm lens had already been made for the NX-mount, promptly followed by a very impressive close-up image of a full moon as shot using that very lens. And if such optical prowess is already a possibility for the system, though not yet commercially feasible, then the future of NX lens releases should be very strong, even professional-grade.

Samsung NX: A new beginning

Mr Kim disclosed that the move away from the GX-series DSLR system and, indeed, from the partnership with Pentax, was a decision to ‘think about how to focus on the camera business,' in order to put the company one step ahead of its rivals. Revealing a frank commitment to the NX-series, Mr Kim stated that, ‘we think the timing is right to create this new (NX) camera system, and if we lost out on more time then we'd be the latecomer in the market again and then we would repeat the same failure (GX DSLR).' However he was quick to assert an ongoing and good relationship with Pentax, and didn't rule out the possibility of future collaboration.

Come 2015, according to both Samsung and other analysts, the Compact System Camera market is set to overtake DSLR sales by volume, so a focus on this area of the business certainly seems like a shrewd move. Confident of the NX system's larger-than-Micro-Four-Thirds APS-C sized sensor, the company's target is the be the number one camera seller in five years' time.

Enquiring as to whether other sub-categories such as Sony's latest ‘SLT' (Single Lens Translucent) technology would be considered for production in the future, Mr Kim saw a clean-cut division between DSLR and Compact System Camera, with SLT firmly rooted in the former category: ‘Now the market is shifting to Compact System Camera - there will be two segments for interchangeable lens cameras (DSLR and CSC). Although professionals may continue to use DSLR, the SLT category will only attract a small portion of new DSLR users, not Compact System users that want the high quality.'

Samsung NX and the importance of video

And it's not just stills that were the hot topic of discussion. When developing the NX system, video functionality was certainly of key importance, and Mr Kim is keen to point out that development saw a lot of thought about different segmentation, including the possibility of a camcorder-like NX release: ‘Video recording is getting more important and more popular. We know that trend and Samsung is already very strong in video products, so we've always worked together with those other (Samsung) departments. When we first developed the NX system we put an ‘NX-movie' release on the roadmap. This will focus on the video function, and how to create video more conveniently; how to meet the demand for better quality video recording.'

As the NX series progresses, so too will its video-capability. Enquiring about the future of high definition, the team revealed that Super High Definition 4K2K is something being considered for the company's stills cameras as soon as 2013, and that ‘every option is being considered and worked on,' though without any definitive solution as to what may see the light of day and when.

The future of Samsung NX

Although details aren't one hundred percent concrete as to exact product releases, all paths point to the development of Samsung's NX series into a more rounded, complete and, we suspect, professional solution. Although there are only three UK camera bodies - the NX10, NX11 and NX100 - in production at present, the lens map and other information would suggest there will be yet more bodies in the future: to encompass the full range of quality, style, video and pro-grade capture. All we can do for now is watch this space, but from what we've seen Samsung is certainly putting its all into the digital imaging business and it looks like it'll pay off...