Samsung GX-20
Review Date : Tue, 1 Jul 2008
Author : Paul Nuttall
- Product Shots: http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/galleries/productshots/samsung/8782/1/0/samsung-gx-20-product-shots.html
- Sample Photos: http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/equipment/galleries/sample-images/samsung/9176/1/0/samsung-gx-20-sample-images_pg_Inspire.html
- Video: http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/videos/reviews/285102/pentax-k20d-versus-samsung-gx20-a-video-appraisal.html
The 14.6-megapixel Samsung GX-20 digital SLR is the result of a partnership between camera specialist Pentax and electronics giant Samsung that delivers impressive results.
| Pros: | Sleek design, resolution, noise control, intelligent button layout |
|---|---|
| Cons: | Slightly cramped viewfinder, underexposure, LCD screen |
The photographic industry is littered with partnerships and collaborations. Manufacturers will either find themselves bought by a larger brand with extensive purchasing power (see Sony and Konica Minolta), or focus on their field of expertise and then share these technologies with other brands. Indeed, there is a long tradition of companies working co-operatively to create cameras, with Samsung and Pentax collaborating once again to create the GX-20.
While Pentax offers a rich history of photographic expertise, Samsung boasts the facilities of a multinational electronics specialist, and as such the pair are a DSLR production partnership seemingly destined to succeed. A result of that partnership, however, is that their respective new DSLR releases tend to launch at or around the same time, as is the case with Pentax’s K20D and the Samsung GX-20. The K20D certainly impresses, so how does the Samsung GX-20 weigh up? Is it the golden child of a fruitful relationship or the sign of a technological collaboration where one party is gaining more than the other?
Next page:Samsung GX-20 features
More Samsung GX-20 on What Digital Camera.com
- Compare the Samsung GX-20 with other products
- Samsung GX-20 video review
- Samsung GX-20 sample images
- Samsung GX-20 product photos
Verdict
The GX-20 can be viewed as the fruit of a successful manufacturing partnership. Samsung’s electronics expertise has been coupled with Pentax’s long-standing photographic heritage to produce a camera that manages to meet a high specification while not breaking the bank. The semi-pro/prosumer specification that made the former a hit has been bolstered with the boost in resolution of the sensor, while further interface and usability tweaks make the GX-20 easy to use. The fully weatherproofed body is a real asset, and, along with the increased resolution, mean the GX-20 would be at home with the enthusiast photographer in field or studio.
Have your say!
Latest comments
No comments posted. Be the first by posting yours below...