Samsung is more known now for its mobile phones rather than anything else the manufacturer makes. It’s made cameras before but largely only point and shoot, or consumer models, nothing that would interest filmmakers. This new NX1 cam, however, has some nice specs on paper, but we’re not sure whether it can compete or even stand alongside either Sony’s A7S or Panasonic’s GH4.
The one serious stand-out of the NX1 is the fact that Samsung has included the High Efficiency Video Codec (HEVC) H.265 with 4K & UHD recording, which is said to be visually “lossless” convert ProRes 4444 to 1% of its usual rate (according to Cinemartin’s tests 590MBs video outputted to 4.9MBs with no visible degradation).
The H.265 codec does make those storage killer resolutions somewhat useable for the average indie filmmaker. Which is a big plus! As to it actually being lossless though, don’t count on it. You will be losing data from somewhere and there will be those who will notice that loss. So keep that in mind, when weighing up the pros & cons on your next camera purchase.
Still, along with the Super 35mm APS-C CMOS sensor, it might just be the cam to take out the other models in its price range.
On to the specs and details.
The NX1 is a native 4K Samsung NX1 Mirrorless digital camera, which features a 28.2MP BSI APS-C CMOS sensor, 4K video @24 fps, UHD @30 fps, and full 1080p HD video up to 60 fps, ISO up to 51,200, a 3.0″ HD 1036k-dot touchscreen monitor and 205 phase-detection AF points, with a XGA OLED electronic viewfinder.
The camera records to UHS-I or UHS-II SD-type memory cards, with a micro HDMI connector with a 4:2:2 (8-bit) output signal, a USB 3 port, NFC, Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi. The camera is also water and dust resistant and has a magnesium-alloy internal frame.
- 28.2MP BSI APS-C CMOS Sensor.
- 100 to 51,200 ISO range.
- 4K Recording at 24 fps, UHD @30 fps and 1080p Full HD Recording at up to 60 fps.
- HEVC (H.265) compression with a 4:2:2 (8-bit) output signal to an external recording device.
- Hybrid Autofocus System.
- High-Speed Performance.
- Smart Shooting Modes.Including: Action Freeze, Beauty Face, Fireworks, Landscape, Light Trace, Multi-Exposure, Night, Panorama (Live), Rich Tone (HDR), Samsung Auto Shutter, Silhouette, Sunset, and Waterfall.
- Tiltable 3.0″ HD 1036k-dot touchscreen monitor i
- XGA OLED electronic viewfinder which turns on when brought up to one’s eye.
- Easy Connectivity.
- Samsung NX Lens Mount.
A broad array NX-mount of lenses is available for use, ranging from wide-angle primes to long-reaching zooms. Additionally, the NX1 is compatible with the unique 45mm f/1.8 2D/3D lens that enables one-lens creation of true 3D photos and movies.
Pricing and Availability
Samsung NX1 should become available to purchase mid-October, 2014 and will come priced as body-only for US$1499.99, or as a ‘premium kit’ with 16-50mm F2-2.8 lens, battery grip, and extra battery for US$2799.99.
Full Specs:
Sensor | |
---|---|
Max resolution | 6480 x 4320 |
Other resolutions | 6480 x 3648, 4320 x 4320, 4560 x 3040, 4605 x 2592, 3088 x 3088, 3264 x 2176, 3328 x 1872, 2160 x 2160, 2112 x 1408, 2048 x 1152, 1408 x 1408 |
Image ratio w:h | 1:1, 3:2, 16:9 |
Effective pixels | 28 megapixels |
Sensor photo detectors | 31 megapixels |
Sensor size | APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS |
Processor | DRIMe 5 |
Color space | sRGB, AdobeRGB |
Color filter array | Primary color filter |
Image | |
ISO | Auto, 100 – 25600, expandable to 51200 |
White balance presets | 8 |
Custom white balance | Yes |
Image stabilization | No |
Uncompressed format | RAW |
JPEG quality levels | Super fine, fine, normal |
File format |
|
Optics & Focus | |
Autofocus |
|
Autofocus assist lamp | Yes |
Manual focus | Yes |
Number of focus points | 209 |
Lens mount | Samsung NX |
Focal length multiplier | 1.5× |
Screen / viewfinder | |
Articulated LCD | Tilting |
Screen size | 3″ |
Screen dots | 1,036,000 |
Touch screen | Yes (Touch AF/shutter, menus, image playback) |
Screen type | Super AMOLED |
Live view | Yes |
Viewfinder type | Electronic |
Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | 1.04× |
Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
Videography features | |
Resolutions | 3840 x 2160 (30p), 4096 x 2160 (24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 |
Format | H.265 |
Videography notes | Uncompressed 4K output over HDMI (4:2:0) |
Microphone | Stereo |
Speaker | Mono |
Storage | |
Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II) |
Connectivity | |
USB | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) |
Microphone port | Yes |
Headphone port | Yes |
Wireless | Built-In |
Wireless notes | 802.11/b/g/n/ac + Bluetooth |
Remote control | Yes (wired or via smartphone) |
Physical | |
Environmentally sealed | Yes (water and dust resistant) |
Battery | Battery Pack |
Battery description | BP1900 lithium-ion battery and charger |
Weight (inc. batteries) | 550 g (1.21 lb / 19.40 oz) |
Dimensions | 139 x 102 x 66 mm (5.47 x 4.02 x 2.6″) |
Excerpts from PR