Part 1 - The resume: Gifted small DSLR-sister
Part 2 - Unboxing and Installation
Part 3 - Night Photography
Part 4 - ISO test
Part 5 - This is all just ge-Cloud
Part 6 - Lightroom - Cheers for the addition
Part 7 - Final conclusion in one sentence
1. The resume: Gifted small DSLR-sister
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Since almost 4 weeks I can test the Samsung NX30 Smart Camera on the heart, kidneys and sensor (via Trnd community).
* What I liked *
- Picture quality - JPEG and especially in RAW mode
- Video quality is great. Have not tested much lack videowürdigem event, but the sample pictures taken are color fidelity, powerful and sharp.
- Lightroom Bundle. One of the best decisions of Samsung product management has been the bundling of Adobe Lightroom. Only in this way will receive the photos a final wow factor.
- The brilliant AMOLED touchscreen display. Who knows Samsung displays the S-series, know how great their displays are. Features like touch focus are about solved Really clever.
- The practical cloud functions allow quick sharing of pictures.
- The NFC feature allowed in applicable machines, fast connection from Tablet / Smartphone and NX30. It is "only" the WLAN switch and the app loaded, but in everyday life is the - really handy.
- USB charging function sets the philosophy of Universal power supply for mobile devices consistently
- I can my 52mm Hoya Digital polarizing filter of the Lumix FZ150 at telephoto USING
- The flexibility and convenience while shooting thanks to the two swiveling display (viewfinder and bakery displays)
- The built-in flash is nice and bright with guide number 11 and can control external flash good (did not have a compatible Aufsteckblitz da)
* What I did not like *
Occasional software crashes requiring removal of the battery. The firmware version 1.30 is therefore definitely not be allowed to remain the last.
The Smart Camera apps are handy, but implemented carelessly - downright unworthy of the system. You do not look particularly great, with nervous unnecessarily repeated popups. Because I know what the app is here - which would have to be Samsung every time the app by clicking Confirm.
The device saves unlike other cameras in the segment not the serial number of body and / or lens in the Exif files. In order for the practical tools can not be used, which would enable a retrieval of a possibly stolen camera from the pictures.
The touch focus "pumped" a bit when focusing. That's ok for photos, but in the video it bothers. So if you turn off the autofocus and wants to use the Rack Focus in the image as a stylistic device, can not help but to manual focusing. In case of unclear motives like the sky he sometimes fails entirely.
* Buy rating *
I would recommend the camera to a friend buying. The small disadvantages are outweighed by the benefits loose. Just climber who had previously compact cameras, will find many opportunities to meet first with the Smart modes specific styles and can then produce over time about the manual modes and Lightroom step by step these styles itself and thus achieve a considerably higher quality than any Automatic.
2. Unboxing and Installation
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The camera is efficiently packaged and Samsung does not produce unnecessary packaging waste (Frustration-Free Packaging ;-)
Only is striking that no external charger for the battery is provided. It charges the battery in the camera via Micro-USB cable. The spoiled by the professional battery grip possibly turns up his nose. This design decision allows but to operate on connecting an external power bank such as my great Astro of anchor and load. A single device can smart phones and cameras invite. This saves space and weight in the camera bag and is innovative. Whether it asserts itself, remains to be seen.
Thanks factory charged battery can conveniently unpack the camera and start immediately with the snapping. With a smart camera but did not remain there. She is cross-linked and has several software. The will be installed and configured. But that's not a big problem.
3. Night Photography
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I did not make any laboratory quality tests and no Pixelbeschau made in detail, but just let the pictures speak for themselves (see pictures in the gallery).
I like the quality is very good. It begins even in low light details, which my Panasonic Lumix FZ150 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150EGK Digital Camera (12MP, 24x opt. Zoom, 7.5 cm (3 inch) screen image stabilized, Full HD video) black their compact camera sensor for a long time no longer sees.
One can not compare with those of a full-frame DSLR images naturally. That's so hard in comparable Setup 3x and 5x and so expensive. If you want to do the comparison but one should remember that I had used a nice compact camera and a 30cm plastic tripod. Found this very practical and also the handling of the NX30 here is pleasant. Especially the brilliant Monitor allows a great viewing of images on site.
When shooting RAW images I had the problem that I had forgotten to load the camera to shoot no. 1 (it runs the way a surprisingly long time). With 8% remaining capacity constantly warned against the imminent off. Thanks to Power Bank ([PowerIQ Version] Anker® Astro3 2nd Gen 12000mAh 3 Smart Port External Battery Battery Power Bank charger with PowerIQ technology for smartphones and tablets - SmartPort for maximum charging speed) but I could Camera also operate without replacement battery continue and even their Compatible with 40% recharge. Especially with long exposures for fast motion or video that's awesome, because you do not have to turn off the camera for the battery change.
4. ISO test
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The product designers at Samsung permit adjustment to ISO 25,600. For verwacklungsarme possible capture of UFO sightings that may still be ok. But also for good pictures? I have done this a test series. In conclusion I would say that the images up to ISO 3200 are still quite good. See pixels fetishists rather the ISO 800 limit given. With development in poster size that can even vote.
In addition, it is critical and you can see clear sensor noise. The camera also provides the automatic mode usually one to 3,200. This is a good compromise point of quality (camera shake versus noise) for hands-free photography. If you have a tripod, achieves better quality with longer exposure.
5. This is all just ge-Cloud
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This section deals with the description and evaluation of the WiFi capabilities. Because this is a clear differentiator from other cameras. Many are practical. One makes the privacy advocates in me really scared - the camera seems to redirect data connections via a data center in Ireland (see Facebook).
* Mobile Link *
In conjunction with the Samsung Smart Camera app can be in this mode, images from the camera on the smartphone (or tablet, but I repeat not) invite - and theoretically also be reversed. I once used to send a nice picture of the road safely by threema-Messenger can function. The transfer is quite slow and the gallery view is not particularly chic.
* Remote Viewfinder *
Now that's a really handy feature. The camera shows the viewfinder image on the smartphone and can be pressed with it the trigger. The app transfers the touch focus camera. Furthermore, the recording modes (Auto, PASM) can be adjusted. This goes beyond the function of a pure remote release and shows what is the difference between "normal" cameras.
However, I admit that the need for such a remote control is rather a niche. But both at night photography as well as when using the camera as a second unit at a wedding, this feature can be really handy.
Share * Group *
In this mode, the NX30 pushing the newly captured images on up to 4 devices. Unfortunately, they appear again only in a gallery view and can be displayed only in the native photo app reasonable. I think it would it be nicer if they could be automatically displayed in full screen. Then they could be used in a photo shoot the same as a second screen for Model and Entourage.
* Baby Monitor (Samsung Home Monitor) *
About the poor localization (language adaptation) of software I had written the post about the installation.
In a concrete me noticed a delay of 5-6 seconds. This struck me from the GoPro App familiar. For this purpose, that's not bad. Nett is still that you can activate the green auto focus assist lamp from a distance, if necessary in order to illuminate the room. Still, she is here the function of a real Netcam as a AxisCam or Foscam clearly inferior.
* Auto Backup *
This function can be saved on the PC automatically images. I have not tried. For others a killer feature. I choose rather from specifically what where lands on my PC.
* E-mail *
Here, the images can be sent as e-mails. The camera can be in an existing WLAN login (Access Point or smartphone with tethering, probably not with Hotspot application) and bring a fixed mail server with Samsung. Although This eliminates the device, but you do not know who mitschaut the images. The image is reduced during shipping. An image with full 20.3 MP resolution comes with about 300 kB size. That's OK.
* Social and Cloud *
When access to cloud services currently are Facebook, Picasa (Google+ actually), YouTube, Flickr and Dropbox offered.
Times have angetestet short the connections. In general setup you can still select whether the photos should be sent in original resolution or in reduction to 2 megapixels (long edge 1080 pixels). For social media, the resolution is usually sufficient. It is important for sharing that here the images must be definitely in JPEG format. RAW images are not sent.
* Facebook *
Application works despite 2-factor authentication. Facebook asks during registration to whether the application of an unknown device was in order and sends an e-mail with confirmation.
But made me suspicious that Google has pinpointed the same polling IP. They obviously come from a data center in Ireland. That's definitely not mine, because my IP was almost exactly locates in Cologne. What does that mean, though? The NX30 forwards the requests apparently continued through a proxy server. Presumably this was done in order in the case of API changes in cloud providers to adapt the code centrally. In order for the operator of this server, however, can probably also see the passwords and content. Each user needs to know if he / she finds the good itself. When items in the pictures you can still add a small comment. However, the target group can not be selected. It uses the default settings. After all, you can select the Setup function in which album the images to land. If you want to post as allerallererster of an event images, which are better than the usual smartphone pictures, can safely use this feature well.
* Picasa (Google +) *
With activated 2-factor authentication you have to generate here an app-specific password, which you can then enter. When uploading is easily uploaded to the folder "Samsung Smart Camera". The social media features of Google+ can not be used here. After all, it's convenient for those who like me take advantage of the blog platform "blogger". Here you can namely easily access the Picasa Web Album and take pictures in the blog.
* YouTube *
This feature is a joke compared to smartphones. You can not upload any video, but only in the smallest video resolution of 320x240 pixels and a maximum of 30 seconds. The camera allows unlike Facebook not enter a title for the video. It is taken as SAM_0815.MP4 just the little meaningful filename. So here post is necessary in the YouTube Video Manager.
* DropBox *
The function itself is rather unremarkable. Is to praise, that you can adjust the setup that images can be uploaded in contrast to other social media platforms here at full resolution.
* Flickr *
Again, the upload is rather simple one. It is also not entitled to enter. As with YouTube, the file name is taken and yet the note adds that the picture "sent from Samsung Camera" was. Here is a picture-example in my photostream.
* Samsung Link *
With this function photos by SamungLink or DLNA can share. In theory goes that. But the call of a 20.3 MP image took on my Playstation 3 for 10 seconds and videos juddered to himself. The Media Player in my Samsung TV LE46B750 was certainly overwhelmed.
* My conclusion of the Wi-Fi tests *
The camera's WiFi capabilities, I have not yet seen in any other to this extent. However, it also notes that camera that you stand here still in its infancy and itself is still not sure whether you are on the right track. The apps for Apple iOS and Google Android are only moderately implemented and the online features only rudimentary. Correct care can make a that the Samsung camera makes access to Facebook directly, but previously redirects on your server. Thus, there is another avenue for identity theft in the network. Here Samsung should urgently do something for the confidence.
6. Lightroom - Cheers for the addition
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Anyone who wants to save the incorporation into RAW software and post-processing, natural place with basically Smart modes of Samsung NX cameras have many features such as HDR, waterfall, night scene, etc. directly into the software. For starters, that's for sure class. The compressed versions on Twitter or Facebook even blur the differences often, making it even realistic enough.
One must however be aware that you can transform these images subsequently never as diverse as an unprocessed RAW Lightroom (Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 WIN & MAC [Download]).
The RAW developer Silkypix, the Panasonic accompanied its Lumix cameras is, with its the 90s sprung interface so daunting that I have so far saved me the use of the RAW format.
Although I knew from others to take advantage, but I shrank from the issue for the purchase of over 100 or a Creative Cloud subscription to 156 a year. After all, could also be with the RAWs iPhoto always tune a little.
Only lucky that Samsung's much better usable Lightroom 5.5 delivers bundled with its smart camera NX30, has made me more back to illuminate the subject RAW development and image post-processing. And I'm thrilled. The pictures look after 1-2 levels better. Much more to the software I want here no longer write, but their presence is truly an important point that you should consider when you compare with other cameras.
7. Overall conclusion in one sentence
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The Samsung Smart Camera NX30 is the gifted little sister of the SLR that combines high image quality and communication skills, thereby 3-fold focus is (display, sensor and mind) to me.
Because of the weaknesses here though prominently described, but forgivable in sum I would rate more with Amazon 4.5 stars. But since this does not go here and I have to decide between "good" and "very good", it has become for the whole package just 5.
