Samsung NX1 Review – Design

Samsung NX1 top plate

When you consider that the Samsung NX1 is in fact a Compact System Camera, it doesn’t actually feature particularly compact dimensions. Its 138.5 x 102.3 x 65.8mm dimensions, and 550g weight, are more akin to the Nikon D7100 than other CSCs around the same price point.

This overall weight and bulk is further added to if you choose to employ one of Samsung’s premium ‘S’ lenses, with the 16-50mm lens in particular adding around 600g of extra bulk to the camera.

If you compare this to similarly specified DSLRs then there’s no huge difference, although it’s certainly on the bulkier size for a CSC.

That’s not to say that the NX1 is unattractive, however, and in fact quite the opposite is true. Samsung has adapted a clean and minimal approach to the camera’s body complete with sensibly placed control buttons. The body also features an ergonomic handgrip that fits comfortably within the palm and offers a secure hold over the camera while shooting.

Samsung NX1 rear

Custom buttons

While the body is certainly designed to be minimal and to avoid clutter, there is still a good range of camera controls on hand variously around the camera body. While the top panel is relatively sparse, it does feature a wide range of customisable buttons that allow you to set the camera up to suit your shooting needs.

Add to this the fact that a wide range of the camera’s functionality is accessible through the substantial and well specified touch screen and you should find that the camera is perfectly capable of being set up to shoot exactly as you would require.

The only real problem with the NX1’s controls is regarding the size of the secondary control buttons located on the top left shoulder of the camera. For some reason these controls are disproportionately small, formed of slithers rather than whole large buttons, which make the general adjustment therein a touch difficult.