Samsung NX300 review: Shoot like a pro, share like a teenager

Avid photographers may think Samsung is more of an electronics company than a maker of quality cameras.

NX300

may be the product that changes their perspective.

At the heart of its imaging system is a 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor. The hybrid autofocus system uses both contrast and phase detection systems to ensure fast performance. And the camera's burst mode can record a respectable 8.6 frames per second.

Built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to connect the NX300 to your iOS or Android smartphone. File transfers can also be done via NFC or, if you have to, via USB using the supplied cable.

Still, there are a few issues that can be significant, depending on how you shoot. First, you need to compose your footage on a gorgeous 3.31-inch tilting AMOLED LCD screen - because there's no way to add an electronic or optical viewfinder - and that can be tricky in direct sunlight.

Second, if you plan to use the NX300 for long shooting sessions, you might not be crazy about the in-camera battery charging. If you want an external battery charger, you will need to purchase one separately.

Handling and design

The NX300 is available in three different colors: all white, silver and black, and brown and silver leather. The aluminum top plate provides a durable and attractive finishing touch.

The controls are well positioned, with the exposure mode dial on top at the wide end of the camera along with the shutter button, Wi-Fi direct link button and command dial. Eleven other buttons adorn the back, including one for dedicated video recording.

My favorite button isn't on the camera body at all. The Fn button on the side of the 18-55mm zoom lens provides quick access to ISO, white balance, and lens compensation settings. exposure. Press the button and turn the manual focus ring to change the setting.

The manual focus ring is also handy when you want to take over the reins of the autofocus system. Move the switch on the side of the lens barrel from AF to MF, then rotate the focus ring. The camera presents you with a magnified view on the LCD monitor that makes it easy to get exactly what you want to focus on. Press the shutter button and you're back to normal non-magnified view.

Using manual focus on the NX300 gave me control over what I wanted to be in focus in this composition.

Wireless

You know Wi-Fi is important when it earns a spot on the top mode dial. And that's where the Wi-Fi option appears in the NX300. In the Wi-Fi position, you'll see a handful of wireless options on the camera's LCD screen, including Mobile Link (file transfer), Remote Viewfinder, Auto Backup, Email, social media, and cloud storage. Overall, the various functions worked well .

Transferring files to your iOS or Android smartphone is easy via built-in Wi-Fi and the Smart Camera app.

To interact with your

iOS

Where

android

device, download the Samsung Smart Camera app. The iOS and Android apps are optimized for phones rather than tablets. A universal option for iPads would be welcome.

The apps allow you to use your mobile device as a remote shutter with the Remote Viewfinder function. You can even choose to save the image to both the smartphone and the camera, or just the camera.

In addition to Wi-Fi on the mode dial, there's a Direct Link button on the top plate that allows others to follow your captures in real time, perfect for mums and dads who want to see what the shoot is like. portrait of their child to the camera.

Image quality and options

The NX300 produces excellent images in a variety of conditions. ISO performance is outstanding, even when pushed to the higher ISOs. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot with this camera at ISO 1600. Color is also very pleasing. Skin tones and foliage are a bit more saturated than in shots from many competing compact class cameras, but not to an exaggerated extent. The NX300 produces some of the best images 'just out of the camera” that I have seen among mirrorless models.

In addition to Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual modes, Samsung includes a series of Smart Mode and Smart Filter settings. These are not gimmicks, but creative options to help you capture the picture you want.

The Beauty Face Smart Mode is remarkably clever in the way it applies its skin smoothing.

For example, the Beauty Face Smart Mode attractively smooths textures, producing images that are sure to please your subjects. The trade-off is the 2-second delay after the NX300 captures an image while it processes the image. Once done, you can take the next photo. For your patience, you are rewarded with a retouched image directly on the LCD screen.

Other smart modes, such as Light Trace, are also worth exploring. While you can shoot the traditional way using Program or Aperture Priority, don't ignore the other options. As a group, they're pretty impressive.

Software

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 comes with the camera, thankfully, because at present Aperture and iPhoto can't process Raw files from the NX300. If you're only shooting JPEGs, it won't matter. But Raw files processed in Lightroom look great, so I found myself shooting in Raw+JPEG a lot, sending my favorite JPEGs to the iPad for immediate publishing and saving the Raws for further processing in Lightroom.

At the end of the line

The Samsung NX300 offers a legitimate alternative to the

Sony-NEX

and

Olympus OM-D

series. Its large APS-C sensor, sharp kit lens, and plethora of smart controls are worth investigating before deciding which compact system camera to buy.

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