The rapid evolution of the digital camera will continue unabated at CES this week, with the first announcement being another downsized DSLR system, this one from Samsung. The NX10 is much smaller than a traditional DSLR yet suffers little in comparison, shooting 720p video, running a 14.6 MPX APS-C size CMOS sensor and sporting a whopping 3.0 inch AMOLED screen, allowing users to easily view their images, even in bright sunlight. Most importantly, it’s following the trend begun by Panasonic with the Four Thirds System of DSLRs getting smaller and ridding themselves of fast-moving mirrors and other mechanicals carried over from another era.
At the time of launch the NX system will comprise the NX10 body, three lenses (it will be bundled with an 18-55mm lens and there will also be a fixed 30mm, a 50-200mm and two dedicated flashguns in the SEF20A and SEF42A.
The NX10 has a fast and decisive auto focus incorporating the company’s latest innovation, the new DRIMe II Pro engine and advanced AF algorithm.
The NX10 successfully integrates the APS-C size CMOS sensor with a mirrorless interchangeable lens, for a sleek, lightweight camera that users can easily take with them everywhere they go. Consumers are not just limited to taking shots but can also tell their own stories in video format with HD movie recording (H.264 codec).
Samsung continues to extend the usage of AMOLED screens across many products, using a large 3.0” AMOLED screen in Samsung NX10. AMOLED provides easier viewing even in bright sunshine and at acute viewing angles, meaning users no longer need to shield their screen with their hand. The category leading screen also provides 10,000 times faster response rate than conventional LCDs, has a far lower power consumption and higher contrast ratio – 10,000:1 vs. 500:1.
“The new Samsung NX10 marks the start of the next generation of cameras,” said Mr. S J Park, CEO of Samsung Digital Imaging Company. “We know from our detailed research over several years that what consumers want from their cameras is evolving, which we’ve reflected in the development of the Samsung NX10. With specialist equipment open to everyone and no longer restricted solely to the professional, more and more people want to capture something creative and tell a story through their camera – but they also want something compact that they can carry round with them all day. The large sensor and the ultra fast auto focus give consumers the quality they demand as well as the compactness they want in one exceptional package.”
Mr. Park continued: “Samsung has always been quick to implement cutting edge technology and no more so when it comes to quality of images. For the first time in the market, Samsung has successfully integrated an APS-C size sensor into a compact body by eliminating the mirror box, meaning that our users can now be as creative as they want to be on the move without having to compromise on image quality.”
The Samsung NX10 also contains a range of intelligent features to put professional quality images within reach of the amateur photographer. The Samsung NX10 includes in-depth manual controls and also a Smart Auto function which automatically detects the surrounding environment of the shot and selects the right shoot mode. Its Smart Range feature also enables the user to vividly express both bright areas and dark areas in the same frame, and the Supersonic Dust Reduction system keeps those dust particles clear of the image sensor that can often impair an image. It even senses when the user brings the camera close to their face to look through the viewfinder, and puts the AMOLED screen on standby to conserve power.
More details as they become available.