Why are Samsung's NX series of cameras/lenses not more loved?

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Sigismund

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Mark Haywood
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I recently bought a secondhand Samsung NX2000 (£112.00) to go along with an older NX100, 20-50mm f3.5-5.6 and 30mm f2 lenses already owned. Being more than happy with image quality the NX2000 is, nevertheless, almost entirely menu driven from the 3.7in. touchscreen and this encouraged me to buy a brand new NX300 along with the rather spiffing 45mm f1.8 lens (£285.00). A couple of weeks later I couldn't resist a new 20mm f2.8 lens from Jessops for £69.97. I finally ran out of G.A.S.

With many an Olympus E-M5, E-M10, E-M1 and Fuji X-E1, X-E2, X-Pro 1, X-T1 and associated lenses popping up for sale here on the classifieds, as well as threads discussing said cameras and lenses here in the Talk Equipment forum, me and my Samsungs must admit to feeling a little left out!

The Samsung NX series of cameras/lenses seem to be available at the right price. The cameras and lenses seem to have a sufficiently well rounded feature set and are well reviewed, so why I am I in the minority? I must admit to being a little baffled... why are Samsung's NX series of cameras/lenses not more loved?
 
I think for a new camera system to succeed these days you need either technical features to make you stand out (eg. Sony A7 full frame mirrorless), or emotional appeal (Fuji retro look).

Samsung, although I'm sure it takes good pictures doesn't really have either as far as I'm aware. All of the mirrorless systems do have cheaper bodies and lenses to compete with Samsung as well as a better second hand market for resale too.
 
I was looking at the new NX-1 the other day,seem one hell of a camera,and some very good pro lens as well,if i was looking for a new system in that price range,it would be on my list :)
 
Samsung are still were Sony were a few years ago when it comes to being a so called acceptable brand. Their cameras and lenses are really good especially the 85mm F1.4. The one advantage of this non acceptance is you get to buy cheap bodies and lenses!
 
I agree with all the comments above. I recently purchased an NX11 with a 18-55mm lens second hand for £105. A lot of camera for the money and this appears to be largely due to lack of brand acceptance rather than any issues with the camera itself or the images it can produce. Also purchased an M42 lens adapter so I can use some vintage glass.

Now looking for some prime NX lenses, and possibly an NX200 or 300 as a smaller second body.

Prices for anything NX related on eBay vary wildly due to the limited market and smaller user base for these cameras and lenses. If you can get lucky there are some real bargains.

I saw the 20mm prime for sale in the Oxford St branch of Jessops last week for £69 but was told out of stock. Was also told by salesman that unlikely to be getting any more, or indeed any other Samsung gear as they were no longer being supported by Jessops. Be interesting to see what happens to the brand.
 
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I very carefully considered a Samsung NX1. Samsung are one of the biggest electronics manufactures out there, and they have a long history of getting it right, I have been a user of their phones for a long time. The NX1 is, by many metrics, one of the best DX cameras out there right now. There are a few things that kept me on the Nikon path - I don't consider Electronic viewfinders to be quite there yet, in 5-10 years I think they may surpass OVF, but not at the moment, and many of features are pure Gimmikry, and the autofocus is just not as good Nikon's, and the viewfinder blacks out if you try to actually use that 10fps feature. The lack of accessory and lens support is a big issue for me - no serious telephoto lenses or macro lenses available. And the lack of a serious intergrated flash system like Nikon's CLS is a big turn off. It is the eco system and adaptability of the DLSR that is its big draw - take gorgeous pictures using primes in low light of the family one day, take it hiking and capture the scenery, get in the thick of the action and freeze the motion of sport, take detailed macro shots the next and go hunting wildlife after that. At the moment the Samsung fulfils a limited brief very well and may be worth considering in 5-10 years.
 
Photopaque said:
Samsung are still were Sony were a few years ago when it comes to being a so called acceptable brand. Their cameras and lenses are really good especially the 85mm F1.4. The one advantage of this non acceptance is you get to buy cheap bodies and lenses!
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Sony was an amazing brand across the board, it took them literally a decade of tarnishing the brand to end up where they are.

I'm not sure I see Samsung as a brand associated with quality but in fairness that is a matter of opinion.
 
As has been said, I think that until the nx1 they didn't really bring anything new that would make people choose them over other more established brands.

I have looked at them and wouldn't mind an nx11 or newer but every time I look on ebay they sell for a surprisingly high price. I am sure the prices have gone up since the nx1 was announced.
 
I'm very impressed with the Samsung NX system. The specifications of the NX1 camera are awesome. And I'm really impressed with the way the control ring on the lens allows you to change all sorts of settings on the camera. The first time I handled one, it was a real eye opener. Like this was a camera system designed by a race of very intelligent aliens who have no idea how we do things here on Earth.

I think the reasons it hasn't taken off to a greater extent are basically those explained so well by @natureiser.

But also ... whilst Samsung obviously have capabilities which are as good as any other company, I think they have a bit of a reputation - from their mobile phone business - of not really bothering to think things through very well. How big should the screen on our phone be? Who cares, let's just make 4", 5", 6", 7", 8", 9" and 10" versions and see which ones sell. In contrast to Apple, say, who give the impression of having thought everything through and will only actually sell the version that's "right". (I should mention that I don't actually own anything made by either Samsung or Apple. These are just my impressions as an observer.) That might be a good business model in some markets, but I don't think it's well suited to the "serious" camera market.
 
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I have an nx30, which I was lucky enough to win in a competition, which has loads of wonderful features but I just can't seem to "get on with it". I use it more, as a glorified point and shoot, than it deserves but it just doesn't "feel" right in comparison to my D610 or even my D90.

Possibly my opinion has been tainted by using a dslr :nikon::confused:
 
StewartR said:
I'm very impressed with the Samsung NX system. The specifications of the NX1 camera are awesome. And I'm really impressed with the way the control ring on the lens allows you to change all sorts of settings on the camera. The first time I handled one, it was a real eye opener. Like this was a camera system designed by a race of very intelligent aliens who have no idea how we do things here on Earth.

I think the reasons it hasn't taken off to a greater extent are basically those explained so well by @natureiser.

But also ... whilst Samsung obviously have capabilities which are as good as any other company, I think they have a bit of a reputation - from their mobile phone business - of not really bothering to think things through very well. How big should the screen on our phone be? Who cares, let's just make 4", 5", 6", 7", 8", 9" and 10" versions and see which ones sell. In contrast to Apple, say, who give the impression of having thought everything through and will only actually sell the version that's "right". (I should mention that I don't actually own anything made by either Samsung or Apple. These are just my impressions as an observer.) That might be a good business model in some markets, but I don't think it's well suited to the "serious" camera market.
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I would disagree about Samsung mobile,they happen to make very good phones that have hit apple,they also make great tv and laptops.

But will agree about the NX-1 great camera,but its going to be a hard market to get into,but Sony have had a good go :)
 
@StewartR - Apple seem to have acknowledged the Samsung approach that "one size doesn't fit all". Both the iPad and iPhone are available in 2 screen sizes.

I think Samsung's problem in the camera market is that they look bland. The Fuji X series has succeeded due its retro rangefinder look, and even the Sony alpha series has a clean modern look that works. Samsung are improving in this respect though - the latest NX500 in the brown leatherette effect trim is a nod to the Fuji X's success.
 
I went on a Samsung sponsored half day shoot at Westfield in Shepperds Bush. The condition was that I had to use their camera's and the NX line was there as well. Whilst technically they were no better or worse than another camera of that sort I just really disliked the way they felt in my hand. The controls weren't in the right place for me, a bit like their phones, designed by engineers and too many compromises. Buttons in the wrong place, materials used feel cheap, weight is too light, focus (this was two years ago) too slow, the list just goes on an on.

I just don't like them and the eco system is too small.
 
AdamTudor said:
If the nx1 was made by nikon people would be all over it
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Doubt it ;) Canon perhaps yes as it will improve their system :P :evil: only joking....
 
If it had an ovf and a nikon af system nikon would have an aps-c 7d2 killer ;)
 
Haha very true. Tbh I bet it would have sold more of made by Apple over samsung...
 
And that is exactly the difference. Exactly the points I described earlier. If it was, then it would ha e handled better and not feel like it was made by a Korean engineer in a highrise office cubicle. Apple wouldn't just take something and plonk a label on it.
 
dejongj said:
And that is exactly the difference. Exactly the points I described earlier. If it was, then it would ha e handled better and not feel like it was made by a Korean engineer in a highrise office cubicle. Apple wouldn't just take something and plonk a label on it.
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You understand there's actually nothing magical about Apple right? Their history is littered with far more failures than successes, it's just right now they've had a string of hits off the back of ipod/iphone.
 
I think the problem is the lens ecosystem. We feel inclined to stay with a system when we have invested in some lenses. Thus our scope for new lenses is limited to that one system. Which system do you commit to?
I picked m43 because of the lens choice as well as the lenses are proportionally smaller due to the format ratio.

The Samsung cameras look great to me. But there are a lot of wonderful CSC cameras out now and new ones with new goodies coming out all the time.
 
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dejongj said:
I went on a Samsung sponsored half day shoot at Westfield in Shepperds Bush. The condition was that I had to use their camera's and the NX line was there as well. Whilst technically they were no better or worse than another camera of that sort I just really disliked the way they felt in my hand. The controls weren't in the right place for me, a bit like their phones, designed by engineers and too many compromises. Buttons in the wrong place, materials used feel cheap, weight is too light, focus (this was two years ago) too slow, the list just goes on an on.

I just don't like them and the eco system is too small.
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I went from apple to samsung phone wise a few years ago,no regret here :)
 
simonbarker said:
You understand there's actually nothing magical about Apple right? Their history is littered with far more failures than successes, it's just right now they've had a string of hits off the back of ipod/iphone.
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Who says there is? That was not the point im making.
 
dejongj said:
Who says there is? That was not the point im making.
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Well you said "not feel like it was made by a Korean engineer in a highrise office cubicle. Apple wouldn't just take something and plonk a label on it." which would suggest either Samsung is doing something terrible wrong or Apple is doing something especially right (or some combination of the two).

Assuming you meant the former then I don't really see it as they and Apple were the two main companies making profits out of their mobile divisions and Samsung did this with original designs which no one else was looking at (like the Note), I am not suggesting that Samsung is especially great for doing so but their success is no more accident than Apple's.
 
No this was in context of using someone's product and plonk their logo on it ;) You seem to take this much further outside context.
 
Sigismund said:
With many an Olympus E-M5, E-M10, E-M1 and Fuji X-E1, X-E2, X-Pro 1, X-T1 and associated lenses popping up for sale here on the classifieds, as well as threads discussing said cameras and lenses here in the Talk Equipment forum, me and my Samsungs must admit to feeling a little left out!

The Samsung NX series of cameras/lenses seem to be available at the right price. The cameras and lenses seem to have a sufficiently well rounded feature set and are well reviewed, so why I am I in the minority? I must admit to being a little baffled... why are Samsung's NX series of cameras/lenses not more loved?
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I think that Samsung's are a little overlooked and I can't really say why. Maybe they're not seen as a traditional camera maker and suffer a little snobbery because of that. I think that Sony suffer this too but maybe to a lesser extent, I remember one poster on a forum calling Sony's Playstations which to me seems about as useful as calling Canon's photocopiers.

I've no idea how many cameras Samsung sell but I hope they have enough interest in cameras to stay in the market and hopefully at some point they wont be quite so overlooked.
 
I've had various Fuji, Olympus, Sony, Canon and Panasonic CSC but i have never even looked into Samsung cameras due to myself, wife and few friends problems with there handsets i personally had a S3 and it went in for repair about 5 times and eventually i gave up after that repair sold it to a recycling site and got a iPhone and had no problems..

Anyhow due to all problems i've seen with there handsets the last thing i would do is start taking a chance investing in a camera system and glass with them.
 
Throttle said:
I've had various Fuji, Olympus, Sony, Canon and Panasonic CSC but i have never even looked into Samsung cameras due to myself, wife and few friends problems with there handsets i personally had a S3 and it went in for repair about 5 times and eventually i gave up after that repair sold it to a recycling site and got a iPhone and had no problems..

Anyhow due to all problems i've seen with there handsets the last thing i would do is start taking a chance investing in a camera system and glass with them.
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But their another side,me and my friend both had problems with Apple phones,both change to Samsung and no problems :)
 
I don't think Samsung has a reputation for bad quality compared to other handset makers. You have to look at the global picture with tens of millions of devices. Not just one phone.
 
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I have had a faulty speaker on iPhone 4 that was sorted out first go with Apple,
But the repeated problems on S3 that really annoyed me..
Both handsets was returned exact same fault freezing with sudden death syndrome fault i think it was in 6 week period it had been away 5 times and I'd even purchased a Nokia windows phone as i never had a handset due to it being with Three or a Samsung repair centre...
Never again !!!!

Anyhow just saying my experience with Samsung products and my wife had similar problems to at the same time.

No problems with HTC or Nokia ones so I'm no Apple fanboy :(
 
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Have 3 Samsung tv's and 2 smartphones and happy with them all :D
 
I've got a Samsung 60" plasma, and although happy with it, it is no patch on the build quality and colours of my outgoing Pioneer. I've had the Samsung Galaxy and returned it within the 7 days, the platicy feel and unnatural colour just did my head in...Seeing the version 5 of some friends and colleagues it hasn't improved much in my opinon....However as stated before having actually used most of the NX range, to me it is the handling and feel first and foremost that just isn't right. But hey it could be for someone else, it is great there is choice.
 
Yes feel is very subjective. There is always someone that doesn't like the feel of just about every device.

I've moved from a metal HTC to a plastic Samsung S4 and there's no problem with build quality. Very solid. I didn't particularly want a Samsung, but the Vodafone choice is not great. And now I'm changing to a Sony Z3. But phones are all very samey these days. Thankfully unlike the choice of mirrorless cameras.

Anyway good luck to Samsung the underdog camera maker and yah boo to Samsung the dominant phone maker.

But it's pointless to judge reliability of a brand on a small sample.
 
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I think because:

1) they were too late to enter the game
2) really awful small electronic viewfinder
3) too small and lack convenient dial controls

as far as lenses go they seem to have a better line up than sony mirrorless thing, but maybe they should out a FF pro style body first?
 
dejongj said:
I've got a Samsung 60" plasma, and although happy with it, it is no patch on the build quality and colours of my outgoing Pioneer. I've had the Samsung Galaxy and returned it within the 7 days, the platicy feel and unnatural colour just did my head in...Seeing the version 5 of some friends and colleagues it hasn't improved much in my opinon....However as stated before having actually used most of the NX range, to me it is the handling and feel first and foremost that just isn't right. But hey it could be for someone else, it is great there is choice.
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The Samsung TVs aren't actually bad as in fairness no one else is putting out TVs as good as the Pioneer Kuro's were (although we finally have better tech in OLED screens).

My brand new iPhone 4 was killed by a software update and my Samsung Note 2 suffered from SDS. The key difference between the two experiences was Apple handed me a new handset while Samsung had me jumping through hoops like a trained pet.
 
Lol very true.
 
Another point against Samsung are their comparative lack of viewfinders, even compared to Sony.
They have a whole shelf of decent bodies but hardly any of them take or have viewfinders, which puts me off and probably many more potential users.
 
People always forget that Samsung brought out the first APS-C mirrorless camera, only one year behind the first M43, so to say they were late to the game seems a little weird when they essentially created that market.

Optron Tec, who make all NX lenses, were really pushing for some good lenses from the start but for some reason Samsung never brought those lenses to market. There's a few images online of fully working Optron Tec made 70-400mm, a 16-80 F4 and a long prime that I've forgot about (might be a 500mm?). This was at a time the E-mount was struggling to make a 16mm prime and a kit lens.

And the same thing happened with bodies, Samsung created something that was either medium format or square sensored way back in the early days of the NX mount and something that would later look like it was designed by Fujifilm. Only one of these cameras made it to market (the white NX2000 on the right).

samsung-nx-prototypes.jpeg


Samsung seemed to predict that the changes would happen (ASP-C, then larger sensors, vintage designs and higher end lenses) but didn't, for some odd reason, act on it.

I was an NX user for a few years, probably one of the first and only NX100 users. My issue at that time was getting the lenses, a few Samsung items could only be purchased from Hungry, Poland and S. Korea. Jessops started adding NX lenses but at a weird price range, you could buy the 30mm f2 from a popular Polish camera store website for £80 or you could buy from Jessops for £240. I switched systems when I just couldn't get hold of the 12-24 lens in this country, it's probably easier now, but back then it just didn't appear in any UK stores.

I always felt Samsung knew their home market will always buy their camera products, and until the NX1 they tried to keep it that way.
 
With the lenses, maybe they could share a lens mount. Rather than have a niche one that is incompatible.

Otherwise their users lose out.
 
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