About this time last year, Samsung announced three new Wi-Fi-packing additions to its NX mirrorless camera range. Since then, smartphone cameras have come on in leaps and bounds – increasing the megapixel count to within spitting distance of dedicated cameras, while also bumping up overall image quality. Rather than square up to the ubiquitous smartphone, like Samsung's Galaxy Camera for instance, the new NX2000 reaches out and taps mobile devices on the shoulder to offer a friendly greeting. Thanks to the inclusion of near field communication (NFC), that quick tap is all that's needed to set up direct wireless communication for instant photo sharing and file backup.
The NX2000 includes Samsung's own 20.3-megapixel APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) CMOS sensor, and DRIMe IV imaging engine. The camera benefits from 21-point contrast autofocus, ISO100 to 25600 sensitivity for flash-free low light shooting (which is just as well since the camera doesn't have a built-in flash, though there is a hot shoe mount for attaching an external module), fast 8 fps continuous shooting and 1/4000 sec shutter speed for sharp capture of fast-moving subjects, and JPEG and RAW image format support.
Thanks to the included NFC technology, users just need tap the NX2000 to a smartphone or tablet, and the Samsung Smart Camera App for Android/iOS will auto launch and then pair the device with the camera via direct Wi-Fi (no need to go looking for a hotspot or home router to act as go-between). A favorite social networking site can be assigned to a dedicated Direct Link hot key for one-button sharing of snapped images, and an AutoShare feature sends photos to a smartphone or tablet for instant backup over 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, direct from the camera itself.
NX2000 users have a choice of 12 interchangeable lenses, including pancake, macro and premium portrait lenses, and can record stills and video in glorious 3D when the camera is combined with the (optional) 45-mm 2D/3D lens. Fourteen different scene modes adjust camera settings according to the scene chosen, and a Best Face creativity option takes five consecutive frames, then lets the photographer choose the best facial shot for each of the subjects in the combined photo.
The mirrorless camera is capable of Full 1080p HD video recording at 30 frames per second with stereo audio, and there's an HDMI 1.4a output for display on a big screen TV. To the rear, you'll find a 3.7-inch touchscreen TFT-LCD display with a not-too-shabby 1,152,000 dot resolution. Finishing up the specs is a 1,130 mAh battery for up to 340 shots per charge.
The NX2000 will carry a suggested retail of US$649.99, including a 20-50 mm lens, when it goes on sale later this month. It's available in white, black and pink, and comes bundled with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 photo workflow software.
Source: Samsung US
