sure they might not be the best now, but after a few generations who know, maybe Samsung will be up there and with software to back it up too. They have to start somewhere. 10 years ago you would laugh at someone with a samsung cellphone.
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Okay, now it's my turn. WTF Samsung? (Samsung Galaxy NX)
- Thread starter ChazUK
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sure they might not be the best now, but after a few generations who know, maybe Samsung will be up there and with software to back it up too. They have to start somewhere. 10 years ago you would laugh at someone with a samsung cellphone.
well, i think it looks nice, at least samsung is doing something, android on a DSLR seems a new and cool thing to me.
This is kinda cool but the easiest solution to instantly post great quality photos is to invest in a $3 OTG adaptor for your smartphone, take a picture from your dslr camera and post!
Well if we are gonna bash new ideas let's just sit back and pull out our VCRs, if you can find one. Seriously, there is a reason why we are all here on this forum rather than making decisions in the big chair. Remember when Samsung introduced the Note? A lot of us laughed. Me included. But now look what we have? The phablet. All thanks to Samsung and their vision for it. So I am now at a "sit back and wait" type of mindset these days. The mobile world is taking off and we should applaud the companies who are willing to pour money into R&D for developing the things we just would never think of wanting.
A camera that you can attach your phone into to use as the interface or something similar would be pretty awesome, not sure about a camera with a phone built into it or whatever's going on in that picture.
Also add the following:
- you can basically write any file transfer, p2p etc. app to, say, quickly upload a just-taken image to your desktop computer (this is immensely useful if you need to very frequently transfer just-shot shots to your desktop)
- depending on the camera API, you can directly control the resolution, framerate, bitrate, exposure, focus etc. of a video. You can do even extreme things like traversing the focus at a predefined time between two predefined, pre-set focus points. This is VERY commonly used in movie shooting and is painfully missing on large-sensor cameras.
All in all, if Smasung's API is sufficiently open, such programmability is a god-send.
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For example me. While writing computing-related articles (you can find many of them here at MR too, with tons of camera shots inside), I very often need to make a quick shot with my camera and immediately transfer the shot to my desktop. (Not to a photo sharing service but a desktop.) A quick way of doing this is built-in Wi-Fi in a camera - no need to pop up the card (or connect the sync cable) all the time.
In addition, I prefer cameras with Wi-Fi in them to Wi-Fi enabled memory cards. The latter are far more expensive if you want to stock more of them for quick swaps or in the event they break down (unfortunately, memcards are pretty fragile. Many of them have already broken on me).
Large-sensor cameras with good image quality and decent lens (e.g., the NEX-5r and 6) have just started to add this kind of functionality to them. Nevertheless, some of these cameras have very restricted transfer capabilities. A camera with an open, easily-programmable API is definitely a godsend under such circumstances too.
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1. Well, actually, the NX series has a pretty good-quality lens lineup - particularly the primes are of good quality. I in no way would state "lack of quality lenses".
Up until now, it has been mostly the somewhat lower AF speed and the not very good JPEG engine that made people choose other platforms. Nevertheless, with each new model, the NX series becomes better and better and is now a very serious contender in the mirrorless field.
2. "touch screen gimmickry"? You surely haven't meant this seriously either. Touch creens, when done properly, are of great help: much faster and easier focus point selection, menu navigation etc. No wonder even non-entry level enthusiast cameras (e.g., the NEX 5n/5r) have touchscreens.
FYI I do have a Nikon D5000, great amazing quality pics but I cannot share pics instantly on the field like i could with the Samsung!
Is this really a need, though? I shoot with the Sony Alpha line, and while I'm no professional, I can't think of a single instance where I wished I could upload a photo from my camera instantly. If I'm on vacation, I'd rather just enjoy the moment (and upload for family/friends later on when I have time). If I'm shooting for a client, I can show them directly on the camera, or upload the photos to a laptop or iPad (which will be easier to view on, rather than someone's smart phone). And if you are carrying a camera like this around only for snapshots, an iPhone 5 / GS4 / 920 / 928 take fantastic web-friendly pictures without the bulk.
Sometimes I think Samsung churns out EVERY idea (not just the great ones) and throws at them at the wall to see what sticks. While this is "cool" tech, I don't see it being particularly useful.
The emphasis is on "web-friendly". The NX series isn't slouch, image quality-wise, particularly with their better primes, particularly the excellent 60mm F2.8 Macro and when used in RAW. It beats all of the listed phone cameras - even at web resolutions when it comes to noise / DR.
"Johnny, are you using your new camera phone? I can't hear you. Talked INTO the lense damn it..."
I wonder how many people on this thread have tried a Samsung camera before? I shoot with a Nikon D700 and have some pretty fancy glass... but when I was in Korea a few years back, I tried their NX11 (which seems to be similar to the Galaxy NX minus the Android) and was really impressed with it. Almost bought one actually.
I also did try the Galaxy camera at AT&T while waiting for an employee to get back to me... was not impressed with it. But the Galaxy NX could be interesting...
The Galaxy NX looks like it has a viewfinder...
Lack of quality lens isn't a big issue IMO. Like I said before, I was impressed with the NX11. It's not the best image quality but it's good enough. And it's weight and size can trump quality lens. I don't bring along my D700 with me all the time because frankly, it's heavy to carry it and my two lens (almost weighs 10lbs I think). Canon and Nikon are no doubt the leaders in the SLR market... but in mirrorless, definitely not so. In fact, they're playing catch up to Sony and the likes.
Some of Samsung's camera lenses allow you to control some camera functions via the lens. http://petapixel.com/2010/09/17/online-demo-of-the-samsung-i-function-lens-system/
I could see a camera like this be very helpful for photo-journalists. It would also theoretically make it faster to do edits in the field (download Photoshop Touch app). I say theoretically because Photoshop Touch isn't quite there yet. But there's been some really nice photo apps lately (like PicTapGo which is only on iOS for now) and I could see editing in camera as a benefit in the future, especially if you cannot bring/use your laptop with you to edit.
Will I buy the Galaxy NX? Probably not. But for all the flack about Samsung not being innovative... they are at least trying something different in the camera field. I don't see that as a bad thing.
I also did try the Galaxy camera at AT&T while waiting for an employee to get back to me... was not impressed with it. But the Galaxy NX could be interesting...
The Galaxy NX looks like it has a viewfinder...
Lack of quality lens isn't a big issue IMO. Like I said before, I was impressed with the NX11. It's not the best image quality but it's good enough. And it's weight and size can trump quality lens. I don't bring along my D700 with me all the time because frankly, it's heavy to carry it and my two lens (almost weighs 10lbs I think). Canon and Nikon are no doubt the leaders in the SLR market... but in mirrorless, definitely not so. In fact, they're playing catch up to Sony and the likes.
Some of Samsung's camera lenses allow you to control some camera functions via the lens. http://petapixel.com/2010/09/17/online-demo-of-the-samsung-i-function-lens-system/
I could see a camera like this be very helpful for photo-journalists. It would also theoretically make it faster to do edits in the field (download Photoshop Touch app). I say theoretically because Photoshop Touch isn't quite there yet. But there's been some really nice photo apps lately (like PicTapGo which is only on iOS for now) and I could see editing in camera as a benefit in the future, especially if you cannot bring/use your laptop with you to edit.
Will I buy the Galaxy NX? Probably not. But for all the flack about Samsung not being innovative... they are at least trying something different in the camera field. I don't see that as a bad thing.
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well, actually i like it. android OS on a DSLR and samsung's own UI (TouchWiz) running on it. that's new and unique, let's see how the consumers will respond.
I completely agree regarding wifi connectivity, very useful to have. If you go back and re-read my post, my question was regarding the usefulness of have data connectivity via cellular. My thinking is that pros are going to tend to use better camera hardware than the Galaxy NX yet it seems like overkill for the general public, or even prosumers. Most people who want to be able to post a shot online find the quality of their phone (with its existing data plan) more than adequate and aren't going to be ponying up another $30-50/month to have a data plan for their camera. Throw Android and data on a higher end dSLR for a pro who may need to be able to instantly edit/upload a high quality shot (i.e. photojournalist) and I see it making more sense. If said Pros find this a desirable camera, I stand corrected.
You, many people think a Samsung ILC must be bad because Samsung has no expertise in producing large-sensor cameras. Well, while their name isn't as established as Canikon, the NX series is still pretty decent, particularly if one also considers lens quality and price.
Yup, photojournalists are unlikely to use any kind of "toy" mirrorless ICL cameras. (Even the very expensive Panasonic GH3 is considered a toy by many because it's "only" a m43.)
However, for a prosumer, a camera like one of the NX'es can be a much better choice than either a full-blown Canikon (both the size / weight and price are far lower than even APS-C prosumer Canikon models, let alone full-frame ones). These cameras, coupled with some bright, stabilized lens for nighttime shooting, can be immensely useful for populating, say, a constantly updated photo channel in real time via 3G. In this regard, they (all automatical 3G upload-enabled models) can be much more useful than anything requiring manual interaction for upload.
Think of this situation: as a tourist (that is, without full-frame equipment) you're in Istambul, Turkey, and tons of people want to see the shots you take of the riots, preferably in the same moment as you take them, on your public photo stream. Then, 3G can indeed be very useful. (I'm using Turkey as an example because most of the shots published in the last 1-2 days were nighttime ones.)
Another subject:
Directly programming Android and, if and only if the camera API is open enough and the device has GPS, compass and even a leveller, opens a whole lot of possibilities. VERY few large-sensor cameras have GPS'es, let alone compasses / levellers - they're mostly only found on low-IQ P&S cameras like the Pana TZ / ZS series or the, IQ-wise, even worse Sony HX series.
With an open camera API and with all (most) of these sensors, it becomes REALLY easy to shoot video with always-exact location / camera direction info, which is hugely useful in many cases. I've written several of such apps for iOS, Android and Windows Phone8 (see for example https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1517256/ ) but, of course, could only run them on (comparatively) low-IQ phones like the Galaxy S2. A large-sensor camera running fully programmable would allow for something NOT achievable on any of current other large-sensor con/prosumer cameras: dynamically recording location / direction info along with video.
This is also why I'm seriously looking forward to this camera. If it indeed has an open API and all the necessary sensors, I'll surely get one.
I think you might have misread me. I'm a fan of the Samsung mirrorless
Contemplating an NX300 actually (love the look).I think you might have misread me. I'm a fan of the Samsung mirrorless
Oops... Sorry, mistyped the first word of my answer - it should have been "yup", not "you". That is, i certainly didn't mean you. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
So is it possible to make a phone call with this thing?
It runs android. Maybe not whatsapp, but the other chat apps like hangouts should be possible.
No one asking if it supports angry birds?
There is definitely a market for this. The problem is that the market is still premature.
I own a Canon 7D DSLR, and I would absolutely consider using this camera in lieu of my DSLR for certain activities (amusement park, snowboard trip, photos for a friend where neither of us care about getting optimal image quality)
The advantage to one of these cameras is that I can shoot with it and ever have to pull out a USB cable or card reader to extract the images.
Imagine using one of these at a wedding or news conference....the camera could automatically upload every single geotagged photo to an ftp/flickr/picasa/dropbox/<insert cloud service> immediately after the picture is taken.
In order to do this currently, you need an expensive accessory (called a wireless grip) for your camera and specialized software on a nearby computer. All THIS camera needs is a wifi hotspot... you could automatically upload still photos, or broadcast real time video (via google hangouts) to a personal youtube channel...or do both of these things at the same time
Make no mistake... this product has HUGE potential. I am thinking about getting one as a secondary camera.
I own a Canon 7D DSLR, and I would absolutely consider using this camera in lieu of my DSLR for certain activities (amusement park, snowboard trip, photos for a friend where neither of us care about getting optimal image quality)
The advantage to one of these cameras is that I can shoot with it and ever have to pull out a USB cable or card reader to extract the images.
Imagine using one of these at a wedding or news conference....the camera could automatically upload every single geotagged photo to an ftp/flickr/picasa/dropbox/<insert cloud service> immediately after the picture is taken.
In order to do this currently, you need an expensive accessory (called a wireless grip) for your camera and specialized software on a nearby computer. All THIS camera needs is a wifi hotspot... you could automatically upload still photos, or broadcast real time video (via google hangouts) to a personal youtube channel...or do both of these things at the same time
Make no mistake... this product has HUGE potential. I am thinking about getting one as a secondary camera.