Samsung NX1 Comparison Review
The Samsung NX1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was revealed to the public in September 2014 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 28 megapixel.
Is the Samsung NX1 a good camera? The NX1 has a Camera Elo of 2070. This rating puts the NX1 below average of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the NX1 ranks among the top 40 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 3-star performance rating.
| Samsung NX1 |
|---|
| Mirrorless system camera |
| Samsung NX mount lenses |
| 28 MP, APS-C Sensor |
| 4K/30p Video |
| ISO 100 - 25 600 (100 - 51 200) |
| Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots) |
| 3.0 LCD, 1036k dots |
| Tilting touchscreen |
| 15 shutter flaps per second |
| Weathersealed body |
| 500 shots per battery charge |
| 139 x 102 x 66 mm, 550 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size of the Samsung NX1 vis-à-vis a credit card. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Samsung NX1 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
| Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life 1 |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch 2 |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung NX1 | 5.5 in | 4.0 in | 2.6 in | 19.4 oz | 500 | Y | Sep 2014 | 1,499 |  | |
| Fujifilm X-Pro2 | 5.6 in | 3.3 in | 1.8 in | 17.5 oz | 350 | Y | Jan 2016 | 1,699 | | |
| Fujifilm X-T2 | 5.2 in | 3.6 in | 1.9 in | 17.9 oz | 340 | Y | Jul 2016 | 1,599 | | |
| Nikon D7200 | 5.4 in | 4.2 in | 3.0 in | 27.0 oz | 1110 | Y | Mar 2015 | 1,199 | | |
| Nikon D7100 | 5.4 in | 4.2 in | 3.0 in | 27.0 oz | 950 | Y | Feb 2013 | 1,199 | | |
| Nikon D5300 | 4.9 in | 3.9 in | 3.0 in | 16.9 oz | 600 | n | Oct 2013 | 799 | | |
| Panasonic GH4 | 5.2 in | 3.7 in | 3.3 in | 19.8 oz | 500 | Y | Feb 2014 | 1,499 | | |
| Pentax K-3 | 5.2 in | 3.9 in | 3.0 in | 28.2 oz | 560 | Y | Oct 2013 | 1,299 | | |
| Samsung NX500 | 4.7 in | 2.5 in | 1.7 in | 10.1 oz | 370 | n | Feb 2015 | 799 | | |
| Sony A6500 | 4.7 in | 2.6 in | 2.1 in | 16.0 oz | 350 | Y | Oct 2016 | 1,399 | | |
| Sony A7 | 5.0 in | 3.7 in | 1.9 in | 16.7 oz | 340 | Y | Oct 2013 | 1,699 | | |
|
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement. |
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Samsung NX1 was launched in the US market at a price of $1,499. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Samsung NX1 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Samsung NX1 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.
For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
| Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung NX1 | APS-C | 28.0 | 6480 | 4320 | 4K/30p | 24.2 | 13.2 | 1363 | 83 | |
| Fujifilm X-Pro2 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Fujifilm X-T2 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | .. | .. | .. | .. | |
| Nikon D7200 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.5 | 14.6 | 1333 | 87 | |
| Nikon D7100 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.2 | 13.7 | 1256 | 83 | |
| Nikon D5300 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.0 | 13.9 | 1338 | 83 | |
| Panasonic GH4 | Four Thirds | 15.9 | 4608 | 3456 | 4K/30p | 23.2 | 12.8 | 791 | 74 | |
| Pentax K-3 | APS-C | 24.1 | 6016 | 4000 | 1080/60i | 23.7 | 13.4 | 1216 | 80 | |
| Samsung NX500 | APS-C | 28.0 | 6480 | 4320 | 4K/30p | 24.8 | 13.9 | 1379 | 87 | |
| Sony A6500 | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 4K/30p | 24.5 | 13.7 | 1405 | 85 | |
| Sony A7 | Full Frame | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/60p | 24.8 | 14.2 | 2248 | 90 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The NX1 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the NX1 can use is 4K/30p.
Feature comparison
Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the NX1 has an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 2360k dots. The viewfinder offers a field of view of 100% and a magnification of 0.69x. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Samsung NX1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.
| Camera Model |
Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots) |
Control Panel (yes/no) |
LCD Size (inch) |
LCD Resolution (000 dots) |
LCD Attach- ment |
Touch Screen (yes/no) |
Mech Shutter Speed |
Shutter Flaps (1/sec) | Built-in Flash (yes/no) |
Built-in Image Stab |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung NX1 | 2360 | Y | 3.0 | 1036 | tilting | Y | 1/8000s | 15.0 | Y | n | |
| Fujifilm X-Pro2 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1620 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.0 | n | n | |
| Fujifilm X-T2 | 2360 | n | 3.0 | 1040 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 8.0 | n | n | |
| Nikon D7200 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1229 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Nikon D7100 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1229 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 6.0 | Y | n | |
| Nikon D5300 | optical | n | 3.2 | 1037 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 5.0 | Y | n | |
| Panasonic GH4 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 1036 | swivel | Y | 1/8000s | 12.0 | Y | n | |
| Pentax K-3 | optical | Y | 3.2 | 1037 | fixed | n | 1/8000s | 8.3 | Y | Y | |
| Samsung NX500 | none | n | 3.0 | 1036 | tilting | Y | 1/6000s | 9.0 | Y | n | |
| Sony A6500 | 2359 | n | 3.0 | 922 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 11.0 | Y | Y | |
| Sony A7 | 2400 | n | 3.0 | 1230 | tilting | n | 1/8000s | 5.0 | n | n |
One convenient feature of the NX1 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.
Connection comparison
For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Samsung NX1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
| Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Microphone |
Internal Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support | NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung NX1 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 3.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Fujifilm X-Pro2 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Fujifilm X-T2 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 3.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Nikon D7200 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Nikon D7100 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
| Nikon D5300 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
| Panasonic GH4 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Pentax K-3 | Y | mono | mono | Y | Y | mini | 3.0 | - | - | - | |
| Samsung NX500 | Y | stereo | mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sony A6500 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
| Sony A7 | Y | stereo | mono | Y | Y | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
It is notable that the NX1 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.
Expert reviews
While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the NX1 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why expert reviews are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog).
| Camera Model |
camera labs |
dp review |
ephoto zine |
imaging resource |
photography blog |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung NX1 | .. | 87/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2014 | 1,499 | |
|
| Fujifilm X-Pro2 | + | 83/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2016 | 1,699 | |
|
| Fujifilm X-T2 | + + | 86/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Jul 2016 | 1,599 | |
|
| Nikon D7200 | + + | 84/100 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2015 | 1,199 | |
|
| Nikon D7100 | + + | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2013 | 1,199 | |
|
| Nikon D5300 | + + | 79/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2013 | 799 | |
|
| Panasonic GH4 | + + | 85/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Feb 2014 | 1,499 | |
|
| Pentax K-3 | .. | 83/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2013 | 1,299 | |
|
| Samsung NX500 | .. | 81/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | 799 | |
|
| Sony A6500 | + + | 85/100 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2016 | 1,399 | |
|
| Sony A7 | + + | 80/100 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | Oct 2013 | 1,699 | |
|
| Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. | |||||||||
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.
Samsung NX1 FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the NX1.
What type of imaging sensor is used in the NX1?
The camera has a BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor at its core.
Which image processing chip is used to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Samsung equipped the NX1 with the DRIMe 5 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the NX1?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600.
What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Samsung NX1?
Samsung mentions a shutter rating of 150 000 actuations for the NX1. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the NX1 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 150 pictures each and every day.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences?
No, the Samsung NX1 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Samsung NX1?
The NX1 offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Samsung NX1 feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with flash?
The NX1's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.
Does the Samsung NX1 support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-II cards (data transfer speed of up to 312 MB/s) in its first slot, and UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s) in its second slot.
Which battery does the NX1 use?
The camera gets its power from the BP1900, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.
Is there a vertical grip available for the NX1?
Yes, Samsung offers the ED-VGNX01 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.
Camera to camera comparisons
In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.
- Canon 1D Mark III vs Samsung NX1
- Fujifilm X-T30 vs Samsung NX1
- Leica S Typ 007 vs Samsung NX1
- Nikon A1000 vs Samsung NX1
- Nikon B500 vs Samsung NX1
- Nikon Z50 vs Samsung NX1
- Olympus E-PL7 vs Samsung NX1
- Panasonic FZ1000 vs Samsung NX1
- Panasonic LF1 vs Samsung NX1
- Pentax K-3 II vs Samsung NX1
- Samsung NX1 vs Sony NEX-3
- Samsung NX1 vs Sony NEX-5N
| Camera Model | Samsung NX1 | |
| Camera Type | Mirrorless system camera | |
| Camera Lens | Samsung NX mount lenses | |
| Launch Date | September 2014 | |
| Launch Price | USD 1 499 | |
| Sensor Specs | ||
| Sensor Technology | BSI-CMOS | |
| Sensor Format | APS-C Sensor | |
| Sensor Size | 23.5 x 15.7 mm | |
| Sensor Area | 369 mm2 | |
| Sensor Diagonal | 28.3 mm | |
| Crop Factor | 1.5x | |
| Sensor Resolution | 28 Megapixels | |
| Image Resolution | 6 480 x 4 320 pixels | |
| Pixel Pitch | 3.63 μm | |
| Pixel Density | 7.59 MP/cm2 | |
| Moiré control | no AA filter | |
| Movie Capability | 4K/30p Video | |
| ISO Setting | 100 - 25 600 ISO | |
| ISO Boost | 100 - 51 200 ISO | |
| Image Processor | DRIMe 5 | |
| DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 83 | |
| DXO Color Depth (bits) | 24.2 | |
| DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 13.2 | |
| DXO Low Light (ISO) | 1363 | |
| Screen Specs | ||
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder Field of View | 100% | |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.69x | |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 2360k dots | |
| Top-Level Screen | Control Panel | |
| LCD Framing | Live View | |
| LCD Size | 1036k dots | |
| LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
| Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
| Shooting Specs | ||
| Focus System | On-Sensor Phase-detect | |
| Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
| Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/8000s | |
| Continuous Shooting | 15 shutter flaps/s | |
| Shutter Life Expectancy | 150 000 actuations | |
| Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
| Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
| Fill Flash | Build-in Flash | |
| Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
| Second Storage Option | Single card slot | |
| UHS card support | Single UHS-II | |
| Connectivity Specs | ||
| External Flash | Hotshoe | |
| USB Connector | USB 3.0 | |
| HDMI Port | micro HDMI | |
| Microphone Port | External MIC port | |
| Headphone Socket | Headphone port | |
| Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
| Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
| Bluetooth Support | Bluetooth built-in | |
| Body Specs | ||
| Environmental Sealing | Weathersealed body | |
| Battery Type | BP1900 power pack | |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 500 shots per charge | |
| In-Camera Charging | USB charging | |
| Body Dimensions |
139 x 102 x 66 mm (5.5 x 4.0 x 2.6 in) |
|
| Camera Weight | 550 g (19.4 oz) |
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