Value & Verdict

Samsung NX100 review – Value

The NX100’s price is one of its key winning points. For around just £380 – and consider that’s less than some high-end creative compact cameras – there’s a whole lot here for the money and plenty of prospect for expansion too. The three ‘next nearest’ competitors come in the form of Panasonic’s forthcoming GF2, Olympus’s E-P2 and Sony’s NEX-5 – all of which will cost at least £100 more than the Samsung.

While the Micro Four Thirds market may offer more lenses, the road map for forthcoming NX-series glass looks promising and should provide considerable variety. However, the lack of flash and viewfinder options may prove too limiting for some to consider purchasing and, as both the optional accessories are hot-shoe based, they can’t be utilised at the same time.

Samsung NX100 review – Verdict

The NX100 certainly looks the part and it works a treat for what it provides too. It’s the lacking of a flash and viewfinder that will limit its prospective audience however and, although these can be purchased as accessories, this won’t be to everyone’s tastes. Although the body looks great and is well laid out, its generally large size is slightly confusing when considering that a more shrunken-down option with built in flash would be absolutely perfect to pop in a pocket or handbag.

When it gets things right they’re great however: the new iFn lens idea is simple yet effective, the promise of more lenses in the very near future will mark the NX as a strong contender to look out for and the autofocus improvements are much welcomed too.

A more specialist release than its previous NX10 counterpart, the NX100 has a lot to offer. It’s more of a ‘specialist’ release and will appeal to the style-conscious looking for good quality, but the absence of a viewfinder and flash that may still prove a sticking point for many.