Design

A quick glance at the NX20 from the front and it’s difficult to spot where the design changes have taken place. What’s most noticeable is the likeness the NX20 has to the conventional shape of a D-SLR, albeit a lot smaller and more compact. Weighing 341g, it’s roughly 30% lighter than the NX11 and features a newly sculpted handgrip to improve handling and comfort. In an average sized hand the feel is superb and you’re able to wrap four fingers round the grip with ease. Your thumb is left to rest on a comfortable thumb rest and over prolonged periods of use we found little, if anything, to fault in terms of its handling.

The NX20’s buttons aren’t overly large. Those with large fingers may find it trickier to operate but having said that all the buttons are well arranged. Like a D-SLR the mode dial can be operated single handedly and for those spur of the moment video recordings the movie-rec button is in easy reach of the thumb. Metering gets its own dedicated button on the top plate to save you hunting around in the menu and the Fn button is particularly useful if you’d like to quickly change image quality, drive mode or a list of other variables.

How much use the i-Function function sees is dependent on the user and the way he or she likes to operate the camera. We’re very much in favour of i-Fn and have been since the day it first arrive. For whatever reason you don’t like the idea of using the manual focus ring to make your setting adjustments, you can alternatively use the scroll dial on the top plate.

As for the NX20’s menu system it is split into five categories – camera, movie, custom, settings and GPS. The white text on black background with a blue colour indicating your selection is very clear and effective. Furthermore, the screen flips out to the side very smoothly and offers a reassuring click as it’s folded in on itself when not being used.

How much use the i-Function function sees is dependent on the user and the way he or she likes to operate the camera. We’re very much in favour of i-Fn and have been since the day it first arrive. For whatever reason you don’t like the idea of using the manual focus ring to make your setting adjustments, you can alternatively use the scroll dial on the top plate.

As for the NX20’s menu system it is split into five categories – camera, movie, custom, settings and GPS. The white text on black background with a blue colour indicating your selection is very clear and effective. Furthermore, the screen flips out to the side very smoothly and offers a reassuring click as it’s folded in on itself when not being used.