Samsung NX3000 Wireless Smart 20.3MP Compact System Camera Review
Product
Description
NX3000 is at compact and light interchangeable lens
camera, giving you great quality images with rich color. The large APS-C 20.5MP
CMOS Sensor delivers shots which are bursting with sharp detail even in low
light. The Retro Design with premium metal accents , make the NX3000
exquisitely modern with just the perfect touch of analogue. The Smart Wi-Fi
features let you share a just a quick touch.
From the
Manufacturer
The Samsung NX3000 Smart Camera with 16-50mm power
zoom lens and flash combines vintage design with a 20.3-megapixel sensor and
wireless connectivity for an ideal combination of style and technology. The
NX3000 features Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity for instant sharing and remote
control from your smartphone. Smart Mode settings make it easy to take
beautiful shots in a variety of settings, while the flip-up display lets you
capture the perfect selfie.
20.3-Megapixel
Sensor for Crisp, Detailed Photos
An advanced 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor is at the
heart of the Samsung NX3000, capturing lifelike colors and beautiful images
with the highest resolution in its class. The camera has an ISO range from 100
to 25,600, so you'll be able take detailed photos in different lighting
situations. And, with a fast shutter speed of 1/4,000 and a capture rate of 5
frames per second, you can shoot successive action shots that are clear and in
focus.
Includes
16-50mm Power Zoom Lens
The NX3000 is bundled with a 16-50mm power zoom lens,
an exceptionally compact lens suited for a variety of shots from standard portraits
to wide-angle landscapes. Videographers will appreciate the power zoom
function, which helps keep the image steady as you zoom in and out.
The camera uses a Samsung NX mount so you can choose
the appropriate Samsung NX lens to suit your needs.
Premium Vintage
Design
The NX3000 makes a bold visual statement. Its vintage
design features a solid, compact body wrapped in natural leather-like covering
for a timeless look.
Take the
Perfect Selfie with Flip-up Display
The 3-inch flip-up display is large and easy to see
and makes framing your next selfie a snap. Plus, the wink shot feature means
you can give the camera a wink and the NX3000 will capture the shot--perfect
for getting a fun pic with the kids.
Wi-Fi and NFC
Connectivity for Instant Sharing
Thanks to built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, transferring your
images and sharing them doesn't require memory cards or cables. You won't have
to worry about running out of space on your camera, either. With Photo Beam and
MobileLink, you can transfer photos instantly or send whole albums. With
AutoShare enabled, all the photos you shoot are automatically transferred to
your mobile device where you can easily view and share.
Turn Your
Smartphone into a Remote Control
Remote Viewfinder Pro turns your phone into a
viewfinder and lets you preview images, adjust camera settings, frame the
scene, and tag the shot location from up to 30 feet away. When you need to be
in the group shot, Remote Viewfinder Pro makes it easy.
Full HD Video
Recording
The NX3000 shoots 1080p Full HD video at 30 frames per
second for brilliant color and sharp detail. And the H.264 format lets you
record longer MPEG-4 videos so you can capture more of the action. The CMOS
sensor gives you precise autofocus even as you're shooting, so you can shoot
with confidence.
Choose Smart
Mode or Customize the i-Function Lens
Beginners and experts can both get the most out of the
NX3000. Get high-quality shots right out of the box with a variety of presets
in Smart Mode. More advanced users can use i-Function control to adjust
features such as white balance, aperture, shutter speed, exposure, and ISO
range. You can also program shortcut keys to your favorite custom settings.
What's in the
Box
NX3000 Smart Camera with 16-50mm power zoom lens and
flash, rechargeable battery, USB charging cable, user manual, strap, and Adobe
Photoshop Lightroom 5.
User rating and
reviews
Pros:
- Superb APS-C sensor delivers excellent image quality
- Good price for a mirrorless ILC with an APS-C sensor and WiFi features
- WiFi features and mobile app are best in class (currently)
- Excellent NX lens line is very reasonably priced, covers all the bases
- Includes Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software ($100+ value)
- Samsung menu system and iFn functions controlled by lens ring are great
- Manual zoom and focus on 20-55mm compact lens is "old school" nice
- Manual focus works better than most cameras in this price range
- Handles well, good auto focus, responsive
Cons:
- No external battery charger included, must charge in camera -- boo!
(External charger and battery is available, but expensive: Samsung ED-AK4NXM01/US Extra Battery and Charging Cradle for NX Mini and NX3000 (Black))
- Display screen flips but is not articulated (can't rotate)
- TFT LCD display has a low resolution (320x480)
Notes:
- Uses a micro-SD card rather than the more standard SD size. Not an issue, just something to be aware of. Buy a fast card for best results.
I am not wed to any one brand of gear. I look for innovation, quality, value, and performance. And especially, handling. If you are going to carry a camera around and shoot with it all day, it better be comfortable and easy to use or you will quickly grow frustrated. Ideally, the camera disappears and your focus is on the image. The camera is the tool that lets you capture that image.
Samsung is a bit of an upstart, not widely recognized (yet) for their cameras, though that is changing. But they are one of the most innovative manufacturers around, currently, in my opinion. And, they seem to listen and learn from customer feedback. You see continual tweaks and improvements in their line that truly matter and are not just gimmicks. So, if you are wondering if Samsung is a good, reliable, brand, rest easy.
So how did they do with the NX3000? This camera is positioned right in the middle of their enthusiast line. Below the excellent NX300, above the NX-mini. It replaces the NX2000 which featured a touch screen that the NX3000 drops in favor of the more traditional controls (plus the cool, innovative iFn button and lens ring). It is designed to appeal to the casual photographer (the selfie flip screen) as well as the enthusiast (the excellent APS-C sensor and NX lenses!). The price is fair and a good value, though Samsung tends to debut at a bit of a premium (update: price has dropped now). However, you are also getting Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 (worth about $100+), so that needs to be kept in mind when comparing prices.
Another bonus you are getting, is the excellent Samsung NX line of lenses. They are, in my opinion, simply the best value for the money available today. All are very reasonably priced and many are outstanding lenses, delivering superb images (I especially love the 16mm f2.4 for landscapes, you can read my review of that lens here on Amazon as well: Samsung NX 16mm f/2.4 Camera Lens (Black)). You can currently get the white version of this lens for $199 which is a very good deal.)
Another great thing about the Samsung line is choice, you have many models to choose from, and many of them share the excellent APS-C sensor I fell in love with when I purchased my NX1000. As many photographers will tell you, when you purchase an ILC (interchangeable lens camera), you are purchasing a system, not just the camera. You will likely eventually spend more on lenses than for the camera itself. So keep that in mind.
The NX3000 is available with a 16-50mm powered OIS Zoom as well as the 20-50mm compact zoom featured on this model. The 16-50mm is the best choice for video, the 20-50mm for light weight and compactness. Both are fine lenses. The 20-50mm on this NX3000 is capable of excellent image quality, especially for a "kit" lens. Although it is not stabilized, I have never had any problems with it and rarely use a tripod, hand-holding nearly all my shots. I have this same lens on my NX1000 and it's a fine lens. It gets excellent marks in all the labs and pro reviews.
Ths NX3000 also features the popular "retro" styling so in vogue these days. It looks nice, has a mostly a plastic body on a metal frame with a faux leather texture that gives a good grip. The Samsung Menus and controls are among the best. All the menus are easy to understand, access and use. And there is the proprietary iFn function button on the 20-50mm lens that lets you use a ring on the lens to very easily select and change important exposure settings. (The iFn control quickly lets you adjust the WB, aperture, shutter speed, EV and ISO range using the lens ring.) It's simply the best system available on any camera today, bar none. Also, the manual focus (again using the lens ring) works better than any other camera in this price range I have used. It's a treat and it's quite easy to get sharp focus using the LCD screen and the MF assist feature, which automatically enlarges the image while focusing. You can also turn on direct manual focus (DMF) so that turning the lens ring engages MF automatically. Great for quick macro work. These features are proof of thoughtful design by Samsung and are things photographers will actually use and love, rather than just bullets padding a feature list.
The camera comes nicely packaged, the lens ships with extra foam padding, a nice touch, and you get a Samsung logo strap, battery, and USB cable in addition to a Quick Reference Guide, a Quick Start guide and the DVD with the Adobe and Samsung software and the full PDF manual.
There is no viewfinder, alas, on these mirrorless wonders, but the TFT LCD screen on offer here is nice, bright, and detailed, though a bit smaller and of much lower resolution (only 320x480) than on the NX300 or NX30. The physical controls are all well positioned and work well. The recessed main dial is nicely designed and very easy to use. There's also a WiFi feature button and the shutter release on top. All smooth, metal, and easily accessible. The usual ring-dial on the back also works well and has a nice feel. With the 20-50mm it all feels well balanced and easy to hold and shoot. The WiFi features are "best in class" throughout the Samsung line and the NX3000 is no exception. (Samsung has been the clear leader in WiFi features.)
The NX3000 uses the same attachable flash as many of the other models. An advantage is no bulky flash in your way unless you need it. Disadvantage is one more thing to keep up with and have handy if needed. I'm fine with it, since most of my shooting does not require flash, and when I need it, it works fine. The display screen is OK, though not nearly as nice as that on the more expensive NX300, or even the older NX1000/1100 (low resolution means text not quite as sharp). It gets the job done, however, and is fine for composing and quick review.
The gem here is the APS-C sensor which is simply superb. It is what made me sit up and take notice when it first came out (and was available cheap on the NX1000). Samsung has continued to tweak it to near perfection. (I very much like that they stayed with this excellent sensor and continued to improve it, rather than switching chips every model.) It gives excellent detail in images and a wonderful nice, overall tone and very natural color. Noise characteristics are very good and you can use ISO's up to 3200 and get very good results. I cannot say enough good things about this sensor. It is the key to the great value on offer here. (When I first shot with my NX1000 and 16mm, and later reviewed the shots after an afternoon shooting at a beautiful local park, I got very excited when I saw how good the images were. It's a wonderful thing to still experience such joy after so many years of shooting. That's when I knew Samsung really had something going with this APS-C sensor.)
I am giving the NX3000 5 stars based on features, performance, and value. I will continue to test and shoot with it and will come back and update this review, as needed.
2014-07-25 Update: Enjoying the smooth tones, great shadow detail, and rich, but natural color with the excellent APS-C sensor. Using the WiFi pcauto-backup feature to transfer pics via WiFi works well as with past Samsung cameras in this line. Shot a little video and it looks very good to me. NX3000 has stereo mics which is nice for that use. Updated the body firmware. Hoping to get out this weekend and shoot a bit more.
2014-07-26 Updated review with some minor edits and additional comments.
2014-08-10 I continue to enjoy and be impressed by this camera. The image quality is the big win here. The APS-C sensor is much larger than most of the other cameras this one would be competing with. Better IQ than the Samsung Mini, better IQ than most high end compacts in its price range. The easy WiFi transfer of images to my laptop is also a nice feature and continues to work well. It's only going to get better as I eventually find time to try out some new NX lenses on it!
2014-12-13 Update: I continue to enjoy this excellent camera. Noise levels are good to ISO 3200, if printing small (4x6) maybe even to 6400. (Some images will print bigger depending on subjects, exposure, etc.). JPEGS are simply excellent, so I find little need to even shoot RAW much of the time. A big time saver.
The excellent line of NX lenses is a big plus, it means it will be hard to "out grow" this camera (although if you shoot a lot of action, the NX300 and NX30 are much better having faster burst modes). Great dynamic range, colors, sharpness and low noise in images - what's not to love?
The video is acceptable, if not great, but the still images are stellar.
2015 Jan update: With the excellent 16mm f2.4 wide angle pancake lens, this make a very compact camera that can deliver some outstanding images, especially landscapes
- Superb APS-C sensor delivers excellent image quality
- Good price for a mirrorless ILC with an APS-C sensor and WiFi features
- WiFi features and mobile app are best in class (currently)
- Excellent NX lens line is very reasonably priced, covers all the bases
- Includes Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software ($100+ value)
- Samsung menu system and iFn functions controlled by lens ring are great
- Manual zoom and focus on 20-55mm compact lens is "old school" nice
- Manual focus works better than most cameras in this price range
- Handles well, good auto focus, responsive
Cons:
- No external battery charger included, must charge in camera -- boo!
(External charger and battery is available, but expensive: Samsung ED-AK4NXM01/US Extra Battery and Charging Cradle for NX Mini and NX3000 (Black))
- Display screen flips but is not articulated (can't rotate)
- TFT LCD display has a low resolution (320x480)
Notes:
- Uses a micro-SD card rather than the more standard SD size. Not an issue, just something to be aware of. Buy a fast card for best results.
I am not wed to any one brand of gear. I look for innovation, quality, value, and performance. And especially, handling. If you are going to carry a camera around and shoot with it all day, it better be comfortable and easy to use or you will quickly grow frustrated. Ideally, the camera disappears and your focus is on the image. The camera is the tool that lets you capture that image.
Samsung is a bit of an upstart, not widely recognized (yet) for their cameras, though that is changing. But they are one of the most innovative manufacturers around, currently, in my opinion. And, they seem to listen and learn from customer feedback. You see continual tweaks and improvements in their line that truly matter and are not just gimmicks. So, if you are wondering if Samsung is a good, reliable, brand, rest easy.
So how did they do with the NX3000? This camera is positioned right in the middle of their enthusiast line. Below the excellent NX300, above the NX-mini. It replaces the NX2000 which featured a touch screen that the NX3000 drops in favor of the more traditional controls (plus the cool, innovative iFn button and lens ring). It is designed to appeal to the casual photographer (the selfie flip screen) as well as the enthusiast (the excellent APS-C sensor and NX lenses!). The price is fair and a good value, though Samsung tends to debut at a bit of a premium (update: price has dropped now). However, you are also getting Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 (worth about $100+), so that needs to be kept in mind when comparing prices.
Another bonus you are getting, is the excellent Samsung NX line of lenses. They are, in my opinion, simply the best value for the money available today. All are very reasonably priced and many are outstanding lenses, delivering superb images (I especially love the 16mm f2.4 for landscapes, you can read my review of that lens here on Amazon as well: Samsung NX 16mm f/2.4 Camera Lens (Black)). You can currently get the white version of this lens for $199 which is a very good deal.)
Another great thing about the Samsung line is choice, you have many models to choose from, and many of them share the excellent APS-C sensor I fell in love with when I purchased my NX1000. As many photographers will tell you, when you purchase an ILC (interchangeable lens camera), you are purchasing a system, not just the camera. You will likely eventually spend more on lenses than for the camera itself. So keep that in mind.
The NX3000 is available with a 16-50mm powered OIS Zoom as well as the 20-50mm compact zoom featured on this model. The 16-50mm is the best choice for video, the 20-50mm for light weight and compactness. Both are fine lenses. The 20-50mm on this NX3000 is capable of excellent image quality, especially for a "kit" lens. Although it is not stabilized, I have never had any problems with it and rarely use a tripod, hand-holding nearly all my shots. I have this same lens on my NX1000 and it's a fine lens. It gets excellent marks in all the labs and pro reviews.
Ths NX3000 also features the popular "retro" styling so in vogue these days. It looks nice, has a mostly a plastic body on a metal frame with a faux leather texture that gives a good grip. The Samsung Menus and controls are among the best. All the menus are easy to understand, access and use. And there is the proprietary iFn function button on the 20-50mm lens that lets you use a ring on the lens to very easily select and change important exposure settings. (The iFn control quickly lets you adjust the WB, aperture, shutter speed, EV and ISO range using the lens ring.) It's simply the best system available on any camera today, bar none. Also, the manual focus (again using the lens ring) works better than any other camera in this price range I have used. It's a treat and it's quite easy to get sharp focus using the LCD screen and the MF assist feature, which automatically enlarges the image while focusing. You can also turn on direct manual focus (DMF) so that turning the lens ring engages MF automatically. Great for quick macro work. These features are proof of thoughtful design by Samsung and are things photographers will actually use and love, rather than just bullets padding a feature list.
The camera comes nicely packaged, the lens ships with extra foam padding, a nice touch, and you get a Samsung logo strap, battery, and USB cable in addition to a Quick Reference Guide, a Quick Start guide and the DVD with the Adobe and Samsung software and the full PDF manual.
There is no viewfinder, alas, on these mirrorless wonders, but the TFT LCD screen on offer here is nice, bright, and detailed, though a bit smaller and of much lower resolution (only 320x480) than on the NX300 or NX30. The physical controls are all well positioned and work well. The recessed main dial is nicely designed and very easy to use. There's also a WiFi feature button and the shutter release on top. All smooth, metal, and easily accessible. The usual ring-dial on the back also works well and has a nice feel. With the 20-50mm it all feels well balanced and easy to hold and shoot. The WiFi features are "best in class" throughout the Samsung line and the NX3000 is no exception. (Samsung has been the clear leader in WiFi features.)
The NX3000 uses the same attachable flash as many of the other models. An advantage is no bulky flash in your way unless you need it. Disadvantage is one more thing to keep up with and have handy if needed. I'm fine with it, since most of my shooting does not require flash, and when I need it, it works fine. The display screen is OK, though not nearly as nice as that on the more expensive NX300, or even the older NX1000/1100 (low resolution means text not quite as sharp). It gets the job done, however, and is fine for composing and quick review.
The gem here is the APS-C sensor which is simply superb. It is what made me sit up and take notice when it first came out (and was available cheap on the NX1000). Samsung has continued to tweak it to near perfection. (I very much like that they stayed with this excellent sensor and continued to improve it, rather than switching chips every model.) It gives excellent detail in images and a wonderful nice, overall tone and very natural color. Noise characteristics are very good and you can use ISO's up to 3200 and get very good results. I cannot say enough good things about this sensor. It is the key to the great value on offer here. (When I first shot with my NX1000 and 16mm, and later reviewed the shots after an afternoon shooting at a beautiful local park, I got very excited when I saw how good the images were. It's a wonderful thing to still experience such joy after so many years of shooting. That's when I knew Samsung really had something going with this APS-C sensor.)
I am giving the NX3000 5 stars based on features, performance, and value. I will continue to test and shoot with it and will come back and update this review, as needed.
2014-07-25 Update: Enjoying the smooth tones, great shadow detail, and rich, but natural color with the excellent APS-C sensor. Using the WiFi pcauto-backup feature to transfer pics via WiFi works well as with past Samsung cameras in this line. Shot a little video and it looks very good to me. NX3000 has stereo mics which is nice for that use. Updated the body firmware. Hoping to get out this weekend and shoot a bit more.
2014-07-26 Updated review with some minor edits and additional comments.
2014-08-10 I continue to enjoy and be impressed by this camera. The image quality is the big win here. The APS-C sensor is much larger than most of the other cameras this one would be competing with. Better IQ than the Samsung Mini, better IQ than most high end compacts in its price range. The easy WiFi transfer of images to my laptop is also a nice feature and continues to work well. It's only going to get better as I eventually find time to try out some new NX lenses on it!
2014-12-13 Update: I continue to enjoy this excellent camera. Noise levels are good to ISO 3200, if printing small (4x6) maybe even to 6400. (Some images will print bigger depending on subjects, exposure, etc.). JPEGS are simply excellent, so I find little need to even shoot RAW much of the time. A big time saver.
The excellent line of NX lenses is a big plus, it means it will be hard to "out grow" this camera (although if you shoot a lot of action, the NX300 and NX30 are much better having faster burst modes). Great dynamic range, colors, sharpness and low noise in images - what's not to love?
The video is acceptable, if not great, but the still images are stellar.
2015 Jan update: With the excellent 16mm f2.4 wide angle pancake lens, this make a very compact camera that can deliver some outstanding images, especially landscapes
Comments
Post a Comment