Fed up with the sub-par picture quality on your mobile device, and thinking about stepping up to a
DSLR camera? A major sticking point, when it comes to DSLR cameras, is their cost, which deters most of us from investing in one. However, in recent times cheaper, entry-level DSLR cameras from reputed companies have been doing the rounds.
Samsung’s NX1100 is one such offering; a compact, perfectly capable and feature-packed shooter at an extremely attractive price.
Although it’s plastic-bodied, the NX1100 does not feel like any old plastic camera. The plastic is thick, and the camera feels robust. When you actually hold it, the NX1100 feels perfectly sized, with the grips on the front and the back keeping the camera secure. A traditional mode dial on the NX1100’s top plate is a nice touch and offers a fast, simple way to switch between modes. Also on the top plate is a Smart Link button that connects to your preferred Wi-Fi network. You can then select files to share with your
smartphone, social networking site or simply back up your files by transferring them to a PC.
The Samsung NX1100’s 3-inch LCD screen is also bright and easily viewable in sunlight. The NX1100 comes bundled with a 20-50mm lens, and is compatible with 11 other lenses, if you so desire.
For its class, the Samsung NX1100’s boasts a rather impressive spec sheet, with a 20.3 million pixel APS-C CMOS sensor, an ISO range stretching from 100 to 12,800, full HD movie recording and a maximum of 1/4000 second shutter speed especially standing out. The NX1100 incorporates Samsung’s iFunction lens technology, which enables you to make adjustments to manual settings such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance and exposure compensation simply by pressing a button on the lens.
Other key features include 8fps continuous shooting, Sweep Panorama functionality, Smart Filters that apply a range of creative effects to your photos and an iScene mode, which enables photographers to select scene modes via the lens.
Although there is no built-in flash on the Samsung NX1100, there is a hotshoe, and the camera ships with a small flash unit that slides into the hotshoe. As a bonus, Samsung has teamed up with Adobe to provide Lightroom 4 with the NX1100 for free, which allows users to simply and quickly enhance their images with a plethora of creative techniques.
At the end of the day, image quality is the ultimate test for any DSLR camera, and the Samsung NX1100’s vibrant, realistic colours and sharp detail make it a great option for someone looking to take their photography beyond cell phones at a great price.
Yantrick’s Verdict: Retailing at approx. Rs 35,000 in New Road, the Samsung NX1100 offers photographers making the jump to interchangeable lens cameras a lot of flexibility and creative potential.