It does not always have SLR!

As part of a project I was trnd test the system camera Samsung NX30. I have this camera get in early July and was allowed to test this camera for a month through its paces. On 01/08/2014 I have the camera sent back at the latest, because I can keep this not. However, the test has a lot of fun and I would not hesitate to re-test a Samsung product. Thanks again to Samsung and trnd that I was able to participate in this test. Would of course like to keep the camera, but then I would have had to pay well. Too bad as well ^^

Tips for Fast Readers:
Since this report is very detailed, I recommend those who do not like to read, easy to jump to conclusions. There is the most important summarized in it. All other are welcome to read all;)

Price and source:
As mentioned before I got the camera as part of a project trnd sent. I am registered with trnd as Produkttesterin and received in early June a job ticket for the camera. When I saw the ticket, of course I immediately sent and hoped that I am elected to this job. The end of June I received the promise. I was very happy about it, because I'm a big fan of photography.
The camera was put to me a month free of charge.

To give you an impression pricing, I've picked out the prices at Amazon times. The camera incl. 18-55mm lens will cost 645th The Samsung EX-i-Function lens T50200CSB 50-200 mm you get for about the 280th So that makes a total for the camera package 925th

The test package:
The test package was delivered by trnd by DHL. It came in a sturdy box and included the following:

-Samsung NX30 Camera (Body)
-Samsung 18-55mm Lens + Lens Hood
-Samsung 50-200 mm lens + sunshade + Objektivbeutel
-Samsung 16GB memory card (you may keep)
BP1410 battery pack
-Micro-USB charging cable + power adapter
-Samsung Shoulder
Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5
-Bedienungsanleitung

The 16GB memory card may keep. I have, however, not used and will give away the card coming up on my photoblog blitzibit.blogspot.com
On my blog you'll find this external way also with pictures.

Manufacturer's product description:
Here it is: the Samsung NX30 Smart Camera with Hybrid autofocus, 20.3 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, dual display and faster shutter speed of 1 / 8.000 second. It's never been easier to take advantage of perfection. Due to the higher sensitivity of the Smart Camera NX30 You can record without grain or noise breathtaking details even in low light.

Always connected, simply practical!
Send photos and videos directly to a computer, printer or cloud service. Share. Content via email or social media And all this, while you're shooting. (Worry that your memory is not enough, you need also no longer to make.)

In the product description of course is immediately apparent that a like actually being promised from heaven in every product Blue. Honestly, there is not a perfect camera, it always depends on the application depends. There is simply no camera is perfect and it will probably never give, because the technology is evolving daily.

Even the promise in low light without taking grain and noise, I can not quite believe it, even I will come back later plan.

No more worries with respect. Insufficient memory space and always connected? Honestly I have not anywhere Internet and when I open my super great mobile internet hotspot to secure the images online, it takes hours probably stored until the pictures, but that is what I will try, of course.

Technical Details:
For the techies among you here are the technical details, this can of course also read on the manufacturer's website. Wen is not interested in these data, it can also like skip and more in my personal opinion)

Sensor
Sensor resolution: 20.3 Megapixels
Photo resolutions: JPEG (3: 2) 20.0 MP (5,472 x 3,648 pixels), 10.1 MP (3,888 x 2,592 pixels), 5.9 MP (2976 x 1984 pixels), 2.0 MP (1728 x 1152 pixels ). Only Burst 5.0 MP (2736 x 1824 pixels). JPEG (16: 9) 16.9 MP (5,472 x 3,080 pixels), 7.8 MP (3712 x 2088 pixels), 4.9 MP (2944 x 1656 pixels), 2.1 MP (1920 x 1080 pixels). JPEG (1: 1) 13.3 MP (3,648 x 3,648 pixels), 7,0MP (2,640 x 2,640 pixels), 4,0MP (2,000 x 2,000 pixels), 1,1MP (1,024 x 1,024 pixels) RAW: 20, 0MP (5,472 x 3,648 pixels)
Light sensitivity: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200, 6,400, 12,800, 25.6000, * Auto ISO: max. Level ISO 3200
Sensor Type: CMOS

Lens
Zoom range: 18 - 55 mm
Optical zoom: up to 2x
Autofocus: Hybrid autofocus system II
Image Stabilization: Lens Shift (depends on Lens), DIS for Video Mode: OIS Mode 1 / Mode 2 / Off

Display
Screen size: 7.6 cm / 3 inches
Display resolution: 1,036,000 pixels
Display Type: Super AMOLED Touchscreen Type C
Adjustable Display: Yes
Touchscreen: Yes

Memory
Storage media: SD, SDHC, SDXC (up to 128 GB guaranteed)
File formats: JPEG, RAW

Shutter
. Max Shutter Speed: 1 / 8,000 sec.
Min shutter speed:. Auto: 1/4 sec. Manual: 30 sec.
Lock Modes: Single, Continuous, Burst (only 5 megapixels), self-timer, exposure bracketing (AE, WB, PW, Focus)

Lightning
Built-in Flash: Yes
Flash Modes: Smart Flash, Auto, Flash Off, Fill, Fill with red-eye reduction, synchronization on the first shutter curtain sync Rear-curtain
QuickCorrect values: -2 - +2 EV (in 0.5 EV steps)
Red-Eye Correction: Yes
External Flash Shoe: Yes

Viewfinder
Viewfinder: EVF
Viewfinder Resolution: 2,359,000 pixels

Features
Face Detection: Yes
Panorama function: Yes
Effects: modes: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Nature, Retro, Cool, Moderate, Classic, own attitude (3) own parameters: sharpness, contrast, saturation, tint
Continuous shooting: 4 - 60 frames / sec.
White Balance: Auto, Custom, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent (W, D, N), Flash, Kelvin, fine-tuning: 7 steps to the amber / blue / green / magenta axis
Self Timer: Yes
GPS: Yes

Video
Video formats: MP4 (H.264)
Frame rate: 60fps, 30fps, 24fps (only 1.920x810) (3D: only 30fps)
Video resolution: 1920 x 1080, 1920 x 810, 1280 x 720, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (Standard: 1,920 x 1,080)
Sound recording: Yes

Interfaces
Computer Connector: USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed), micro-USB output
Wi-Fi: Yes
Audio / Video output: NTSC, PAL (selectable); HDMI 1.4a (1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p)

Battery
Battery / Battery Type: BP1410 (1410 mAh)
Battery power in shots: 400 shots (CIPA standard)

General features
Dimensions (W / H / D): 127 mm x 95.5 mm x 43.25 mm
Color: Black
Weight: 368 g (body only)

Now I finally get to my personal experiences and impressions of the Samsung NX30.

First Impression:
When I first unpacked the camera a lot to me immediately on that the camera is very easy. Yet it works by not cheap. It is high quality and well made and is very comfortable to hold. Due to the weight and dimensions, you can easily take the camera everywhere.

Body:
The body weighs just 368 grams, making it very light and due to the dimensions (W / H / D 127 mm / 95.5 mm / 34.25 mm), the camera is also good with small hands to use. Even with one hand, I can hold the camera without any problems, which is actually not necessary but. When I photograph, I concentrate fully on the image and make the way anyway otherwise. So I have one way or another both hands to take pictures freely. Only for Selfies it makes sense that you can take pictures with one hand. So you have at the end only one arm in the image and not both.
The case is indeed plastic, but still makes a high-quality and well-made impression. Nor do I believe that it is immediately broken when the camera falls down times. Tried I did not of course, because it is not my camera.

Battery / battery life / charging cable:
The battery lasts for about 400 pictures. For me personally, the battery life is not enough, which does not mean that the battery life is poor. If I am, however all day photo tour I'm doing before more than 2,000 images. The battery I would therefore not get far. If so I would buy me the camera, I would also order at least 2-3 extra batteries and an extra charger. Whether there is a charging station, however, I do not know, because I could not find anything on the Internet. Charging takes about 2 hours.

The charging cable has a Micro-USB port for charging. The charging cable incl. Power supply unit simply connects to the camera and then charging the battery in the camera. The USB cable and the power adapter I have not used. Since I already have a Samsung smartphone and a tablet and it is also compatible with the Samsung NX30. I simply used my existing charging cable to charge the camera. This has the advantage that I have a charging cable are less in the apartment rum and yet everything can store.

First Photos / Steering:
I made at the public viewing at the World Championship match between Germany and USA The first photos. Unfortunately I had no time to deal with me before the game with the operations and settings, so I decided just to test the automatic mode. I must say that I normally shun the automatic mode, but when trnd Testerin I felt obliged to do so but then this mode a try. I was even surprised, because the images have become really good and I even was able to capture some emotions. The images are not overexposed or underexposed but just right. In addition, the faces are sharp and the background blurred, just as I wanted it.

Image Quality:
The Samsung NX30 delivers very good photos, both in automatic and manual mode. Even in low light conditions and up to a value of ISO 3200, the camera delivers good results without image noise and grain. From an ISO value of 6400, the noise starts but then. Unless it is necessary for the situation, but the noise can cope with it yet. The ISO 12800 and 25600 values ​​you should not use but even in an emergency. To this end, also this camera is not suitable. The noise is so strong that the image quality is significantly impaired. Here I would rather try to expose more and to open up the aperture or possible to use if a Lichtempfindlicheres lens. If all this is not possible, I would prefer to take the picture with ISO-6400 value and try to rework. It's easier to lighten a dark image as a noisy picture to get back.
This course is recommended to RAW picture, because this is to work better than a JPEG format. After editing you can save it as JPEG, it still.
Editing can be the images the way super with the supplied software. Adobe Lightroom 5 is easy to use and achieved good results during processing.

In automatic mode, the camera maximum an ISO value of 3200 and thus reflects my experience again. Because Samsung would even shoot in the leg when the camera in automatic mode would provide noisy images. As the ISO value, is limited in automatic mode comes a noise usually not before.

Personally, I mostly take pictures with an ISO setting of 100 or 200. Only when I eg Scan at an indoor tournament, in a dark hall, I use sometimes even ISO values ​​up to 3200. So I do not have to extend the exposure time and get despite the movement speed sharp images.
If you want to photograph only buildings, nature or objects in the dark, I generally recommend to use a low ISO and a tripod. So you can work with long exposure times and get noise-free and clear images. My tripod, I could use, fortunately, because the thread is a standard thread and just fit on the Samsung NX30. What I find unfortunate, however, that I could not use my wireless remote release because of this lack of connection. Would be nice if it would have given this more connections. Wireless remote release is available for this camera probably, if I have correctly seen. How good they are, I can not judge, however.

In daylight, the camera delivers excellent natural images. The images are crisp and sharp and, depending on the aperture value is a nice Schärfeverlauf recognizable. The automatic delivers great pictures and is of course only through the manual mode to beat. For manual mode, however, you have to be familiar with the parameters themselves. Personally, I always prefer to manual mode and have even when I started skipped completely with photography to automatic mode.

Operating Instructions:
The manual I find very confusing and kept small. I wanted to set, say that the camera to store the images in RAW format. I have not found and searched out of frustration the manual This function. I normally never use instructions and try rather rum until it works. After I had scoured the manual, I knew again why I normally shun manuals. A waste of time without end. A solution to my problem, I have not found it. Whether it is now up to the structuring of the guide or the fact that no information is really to contain I can not say. But do yourself a favor and let the operating instructions in a box and tried rum prefer. At trial and error you will also usually out other worthwhile causes. I later found out that the RAW format can be set only if the dial is set to M for Manual Mode. Does the dial to another position in vain for the setting in the menu.

Operation:
Aside from the above example, the camera can be easily set. The buttons and the dial to tell, thanks to good name, of course. Learn more about the individual programs are also displayed on the screen if you have selected the relevant program. Also on the touch screen, everything can be easy to operate and adjust. Nevertheless, you can adjust everything just as well on the menu buttons. Depending on how you prefer it.

Settings:
The camera offers a lot of different settings. Select the settings on the dial. The recording modes are explained below by me.

Automatic mode:
The automatic mode can be selected on the dial on the sign AUTO. With this setting, I have snapped the first images at the World Cup. The camera automatically detects what settings are best include aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. The camera is no different here but between the object being photographed. It is the camera for example whether it is a tree, a building or a person. With Smart Settings example is here again distinction and similar settings, for example for portrait perfected.

Wi-Fi mode:
The Wi-Fi mode can actually be put to good use with a fast Internet connection. At home in the WLAN for example it works great the images directly from the camera to Facebook etc. upload. If you try it, however, from the wireless Internet out one fails due to the size of image files. The pictures are not transferred or it takes hours. In addition, the mobile Internet is choked quickly, as long as you by the provider has a throttling it. A backup of the images on the move is thus not guaranteed without a memory card. Still, I find the function well, because looking at the camera does not always immediately have to connect the PC to share photos. It is for example also comfortably from the couch.

Smart Mode:
In Smart mode, you can first select what is to be photographed. The setting is done either via the touch screen or use the menu keys. You can choose between multiple exposure, Creative Shooting, Smart Jump Shot, Silhouette, Sunset, Night, Fireworks, Leuchtspuren ,, Beautiful portrait, Best Face, Landscape, Macro, snapshot, color fill, waterfall and panorama. Depending on the situation, the camera sets the appropriate values ​​for it. The waterfall, the sunset and the fireworks I could not test, because the test period was too short and I got from the 3 things not before the lens. Otherwise, I can tell operate the Smarten settings very well. For an amateur photographer, the results are more than satisfactory.

I especially like the panorama function. Because with my Canon DSLR I have ever put together many single images into one image with difficulty, to create a panorama. The Samsung NX30 just press the shutter button and the camera pulls in one direction. The camera will automatically create a panoramic picture. The panorama seems not to stutter may be distorted spherical depending on the angle. I just made the time Zollverein in Essen, a test panorama. Here you can see that it is distorted. But you have to remember that the first building is to the pipes at a 90 degree angle. Since it is no wonder that the picture is distorted at the end. On the positive side, however, that a flowing image is created, without visible transitions. Unless one is further away and only photographed landscapes, the distortion is less noticeable. The distortion but you can also easily use as a design tool;)

The Smart setting for Best Face I find very convenient. One example makes several photos of his friends as a group and can then, for example, if person A on the second image to his eyes, lifting the face from the first image and the second image set. So you make it then nevertheless times to let all look good in a picture;)

Record Mode Creative Shooting I find useless. No matter what I photographed, I could not detect any change in the image.

i-Function (Fn):
On the dial, there is also an i-Function (Aperture Priority Mode), which is marked with a small i in a circle. It provides the dial on a and then there is the lens i-Fn button. If one these presses, you can adjust the settings, such as shutter speed and aperture with the lens. I need this feature but honestly not that I even in manual mode, make the settings.

Custom (Custom):
C1 and C2 on the dial give the user the opportunity to save manually set values. If you have for example gladly photographed light trails of cars and found himself a good attitude, you can save it under here. If necessary, you can easily C1 or C1 call and immediately set everything back so. I think that's frankly a very good idea and has also been helpful to me personally.

Manual mode:
The manual mode is indicated on the dial by a M. Here you can really adjust everything by hand. I think this can let his imagination run wild, and it's the most fun. In addition, arise in manual mode, in my opinion the most beautiful images, as long as you a little concerned with the settings and is familiar with it. When I started about 3 years ago to photograph, I immediately started with the manual mode and simply made an object of hundreds of images with different settings. So I just learned by trial and error which setting which changes the picture. Is definitely more exciting than learning all just theory.
As you can adjust everything explained almost without saying, as the menu buttons are well known and can be seen immediately on the display what has been set.

Shutter priority:
Here is how the name implies, the aperture automatically. Everything else we as the ISO value can be set myself still. The auto iris is marked on the dial by a S.

Time automatic:
With this setting, the shutter speed is automatically adjusted. Everything else, such as the ISO value can be set by you. The automatic timer is indicated on the dial by an A.

Program:
Except the shutter speed and aperture value can make settings manually. This mode is characterized by a P.

Recording Method:
There is also a second smaller dial with which you can set the recording method. You can choose between Single, Continuous image recording, timer, exposure bracketing (BKT). I use mostly classically the still image shooting.

Adjustable Display:
The idea of ​​a pivoting display is not new, but I'm still a fan of it. This way you can easily make Selfies or photograph on the ground or from the air. The display can thereby rotate so that you still can see no problems, what is being photographed. The display is also equipped with a touch function, which facilitates the operation. But these were already all the positive things of the display. Negative, I find that one as the image on the display, zooming can not, for example, to adjust the focus accurately. On my Canon does that. In addition, the display has a poor quality. When it is dark and you wobble created the display as a white noise to contours. Then you can hardly focus properly on the display and can only hope that the picture is sharp. Even in bright light when you zoom the lens or shaking produced this white noise to contours.

The viewfinder:
The viewfinder can be moved, so tilted upwards. This can also be very helpful if, for example photographed close to the ground. But even when the viewfinder I have the problem with the white noise to contours of objects. Honestly how to so reasonable an image sharp when my eye is irritated by this noise. In the picture later you do not see this noise but, nevertheless, I find it disturbing and is a reason for me not to buy the camera, because I almost always manual focusing.

The Objekive / Lens selection:
It comes complete with a 18-55mm lens and a 50-200 mm lens. A good mix for a start. So you can record both landscapes and buildings, as well as things get zoom closer. Both lenses are standard lenses. Sufficient for the hobby and amateur area. The lenses deliver sharp images from, if one has previously set correctly. They also have an image stabilizer that can compensate for hand-shake to some extent. In addition, both an auto-focus can be adjusted, as will also be focused manually. The lenses are both very light but well made.

The range of lenses for this camera is rather low compared to Nikon, Canon, Sony and Co. As we know, lenses are hugely responsible for the image quality I find it very unfortunate that the selection is so low. Would the camera for the time being not to buy me another reason.

Flash:
The flash is ok, but only comparable to a normal compact camera. An external flash can be attached which would potentially achieve better results, as the built-in flash. The hot shoe also has a protective cap which I find very good. So the hot shoe remains intact and is protected from dust and dirt.

Video:
The video function is the reason why I do not want to give back the camera. Not because the video recording is good so incredible, but because I then ne second camera would have to turn to video tutorials for beginner photography. In general, the video function is nothing special. It provides noise-free images from with good sound recording.

Conclusion:
The camera is despite the interchangeable lenses light and handy. Nevertheless, it is well made and does not look cheap despite plastic case. The operation of the camera is very simple, especially through the touch screen and dials. The automatic camera and the Smart settings have surprised me and convince with good results positively. The panorama feature is the highlight of the camera for me. With my Canon DSLR I have ever put together to form a panorama multiple images on a PC. This is of course very time consuming. With the NX30, the panorama is created directly in the camera and the quality of the panorama is very good, albeit somewhat distorted. Even the swivel display is useful because you can photograph the famous Selfies better for example. Apart from good pictures, the camera can also record video. The video function is ok, but not a highlight.

On the negative side, I have the low battery life of approximately 400 pictures and the poor quality of the display and the viewfinder. A white noise when zooming appears on the display contours. This noise also arises when something is shaking the camera and in low light conditions. The noise is so strong that you can not properly detect whether the image is sharp. When viewfinder exactly the same problem. In the captured image the noise is indeed no longer exists, but it bothers scary at the focus of the camera. For me, the manual focus is thus completely unusable and is for me really the most important instrument in picture composition. Thus, for me an absolute no-go. The problem should be revised as soon as possible by Samsung. Maybe I got here just caught a Monday device.

If the problem did not occur with the display and the viewfinder I would have awarded 4.5 stars. So I can but only awarded 3 out of 5 stars. In addition, I recommend that the camera only to those who like to use automatic and smart functions, because for the camera in my opinion, is built. Need automatic fans, therefore no SLR camera, but can also draw on the NX30. SLR cameras are in fact generally larger and heavier than the NX30. People who like to manually focus should however be completely from the NX30 fingers and better access to a DSLR.

Benefits:
Light & handy, well finished, operation, automatic, panorama, image quality, swivel screen, viewfinder

Disadvantages:
Battery life, on ISO 6400 produces noise, display quality and viewfinder deficient

Thanks for reading and review.
LG BlitziBit