1) It is an energy hog. It is advisable to have spare batteries here.
2.) It has been (with an emphasis on PHOTO) where the PHOTO-camera, a video function to that is not on the amount of time but with 640x480 resolution. As a small extra addition tolerable - but what one has in such a secondary video function of the camera video a red-release button on the back and donated it to a point where you have to hold your thumbs? Directly above is still to the AEL button that feels the same way. It happened to me more than once that I had inadvertently triggered the video function by the one-button start. In my view, unnecessary and a design flaw.
3.) The hot shoe for external flash units is nice. But a marketing technical Boomerang is deciding this switch only for the two systemkompatiblem Samsung flashes, to be able to use foreign flashes without possibility.
4.) Set in the original price range, it is not cool, but stingy, giving no manual, no external battery charger and a very short, stiff charging / USB cable for internal charging it.
5.) The camera does not belong with their image sequence times and by the relatively contemplative autofocus with pre-focusing the fastest. This shows most clearly the difference for dSLR.
6.) In the Tele Macro mode only works from 50 cm. That's pretty far away and can hardly be described even as a macro.
7) As a lens cap you would like the Ricoh GX100 / 200 an automatic lid or wish a different solution than the antiquated dangling plastic lid on tapes.
8) accessories such as original bag, flash, viewfinder etc. is significantly overpriced.
So much for the worse. Now the strong points: For photographers who quickly to dive without the menu, manual exposure / aperture settings want to make a really good working unit. Two individual buttons for exposure lock and exposure mode - super. A pressure on the front wheel and the exposure can be varied. Bracketing also fast. Fogbanks prevent accurate focusing? Short time switch to manual focus and correct.
Furthermore: Excellent Verarbeitungsqualiät. Also not too big or too heavy. A reasonable camera should have a mind of its own weight and its haptic to handle well the size. This is not a snapshot clippers for the whole family. While the EX1 has an automatic function, which is not bad, but of course the possibilities of this camera does not do justice. This camera is the real pictures with flexible engagement in the parameters. The masters the camera ideal.
Further positive noticed:
- The automatic ISO setting is very well decorated, as it holds the ISO value as long as possible and below instead adjusted with an open aperture and shutter speed. That is at dusk when the first street lamps come on, the value is still at ISO 100 or 200th
- Noise performance for a compact camera to ISO 400 very good. From ISO 800 suffers too much image quality on details. But ISO 800 at f 1.8 tested enough, means that a space of only a candle lit = extreme lighting conditions. When shooting at night is recommended basically a tripod or support, then you come with lower ISO values from.
- Switchable flash which is really active only when you open it yourself. No annoying, automatic pop-up flash. The flash output is ok.
- Brilliant, sharp image quality / good colors (no problems with Auto White Balance) / many settings
- Those who want even more and be happy afterwards in the "dark room" goes: The EX1 has RAW storage, which usually considerably more details shows as the JPEG software from Samsung passes.
- The camera is very comfortable to hold.
The camera starts up quickly (Logo off). The display is very good, but not described as intoxicating as often. For example, the fine adjustment by manual focus can be in the final sharpness much to be desired. The brightness is excellent for a compact, the lens a stunner. The 1.8 aperture is always emphasized. Even more striking, I find the aperture value in the 72-mm telephoto: 2.4 - zoom lenses with such values are usually extremely expensive. Since no competition comes with. Of course, experienced a 24 mm - lens. The barrel-shaped warpage is very discreet but vertical lines tilt such as indoors naturally outward. What I have not found is any "sogginess" or blurring in the corners. The lens features to the edges knackescharf, and this even at full aperture. However, it leaves from the factory setting forth as much light through that bright areas outside often appear overexposed or even burned. I have the camera therefore - established 0.7 Exposure Value. The dynamic contrast is mediocre in JPEG mode. Only when RAW show better contrasts, for example, bright sky, dark street architecture. Overall, I am very satisfied with the camera. It's fun to work with her. I admit, despite the negative aspects of a perfect score because the positive aspects simply can fully convince.
Additional after two weeks of intensive use: The camera has been proven, but it is to me twice crashed (not downshifts, but off) at power; nothing was more. Quick check on the Samsung site - there were offered at the time as the latest firmware 008 261 downloads. Amazingly, since my model runs at 009 301. The danger of falling so could not be fix by update. After request to Samsung support I was told: "Remove the SD card and take a picture without." Ahja, thank you, great. ("... Or you can send the camera to the service center for repair") If it had not come, the explanation was simple: The battery indication of the EX1 has its pitfalls. Relatively long show three bars the full level. However, if a bar disappears, you should be forewarned and grope for the replacement battery. If one bar left, you should change the battery because obviously otherwise the boot, which pulls a lot of electricity, with the remaining capacity can not reach and the camera can freeze in the middle of starting. So it was with me.
After a month or two, I would give me the camera - as measured by the current price at which the Canons, Nikons and Panasonic can not ignore, nor are better - buy immediately. Who relies on fast automatic snapshot images will be perhaps disappointed and lies more properly in a Canon S90 / S95. Those who like to tinker a bit and manually screwed, found in the Samsung EX1 a / n friendly / n playmate / s.
