Samsung has unveiled its latest compact system camera to slot into its NX range, the NX200, which replaces last year's NX100.
When we were handed the NX200, the first thing that struck us was its attractive body. Now designed in aluminium, Samsung has gone for a retro look much more akin to the Fujifilm X100 and moving away from the plastic outer shell of the NX100.
Other upgrades on the NX200 include a higher pixel count, redesigned body and quicker autofocus. There's also been a number of new lenses announced, bringing the total NX system lens range up to 9. Will the system now be considered a serious contender in the ever increasing mirrorless market?
While it's a lot lighter than the previous model, it's not the smallest compact system camera on the market. Samsung says this is deliberate, and meant to reflect the quality of the camera and the fact that it houses a large APS-C sized CMOS sensor.
That sensor gives the NX range an edge over Panasonic's G range and Olympus's PEN series, as they use a smaller micro four thirds sensor. This should mean that in theory, low light performance is improved and image quality is higher.
Speed issues found on the NX100 have been addressed in the new camera body. Now boasting an autofocus speed of 100 milliseconds, in our brief time with the product it did certainly seem to lock on to subjects quickly and easily.
iFunction lenses
iFunction lenses were debuted last year and allow photographers to make certain adjustments, such as aperture, shutter speed, creative filters and so on, directly from the lens. With the NX200, once again the lenses are compatible and four new lenses have been added to the range. This brings the total up to 9, which is a fairly impressive offering.
The new lenses include an 85mm f/1.4 portrait lens and a 60mm f/2.8 lens. Both of these lenses are ni-on the same size as standard DSLR lenses, along with being weighty and chunky. Mounted on the svelte NX200 they do look a little odd, but Samsung says that again this should be considered a reflection of their quality.
One of the criticisms of the NX100 was the lack of flash for the price premium. While there's still no in-built flash on the NX200, a hotshoe mountable GU8 model does come packaged in the box as standard.
Handling
Holding the NX200 in your hand feels quite natural, with buttons well-spaced across the back of the body. The i-Function button on the standard kit lens is well placed to allow for shooting without taking your eyes from the composition in front of you.
The new aluminium body and protruding rubberised grip also make it more comfortable to hold than the NX100, making one-handed shooting also quite easy.
The Samsung NX200 UK release date is late September, with a UK price of around £699 with the standard kit lens. Look out for a full review soon.
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