Samsung NX1000

By Jim Fisher

The NX1000 ($699.99 list with 20-50mm lens) ?brings Samsung's excellent Wi-Fi implementation to an interchangeable lens camera, making it possible to push top-quality photos to your phone, home network, or favorite social networking outlet. The 20-megapixel camera is a little slow to start and suffers from some shutter lag, but is still worth a close look for its Wi-Fi features and overall image quality. It doesn't manage to oust our Editors' Choice mirrorless camera,?the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 , which lacks Wi-Fi, but does offer a tilting screen, built-in flash, and the ability to add an electronic viewfinder.

Design and Features
The NX100 is one of the smaller mirrorless cameras out there, especially when you consider that its APS-C image sensor, the same type found in consumer D-SLRs, is physically larger than those found in Micro Four Thirds cameras. The included 20-50mm zoom lens is actually about the same as the standard 14-42mm kit zoom included with Olympus PEN Micro Four Thirds cameras. The NX1000's 7.7-ounce body measures 2.5 by 4.6 by 1.4 inches, only slightly larger than the 7.7-ounce Olympus PEN E-PM1 . There's no built-in flash, but there is a small external one included?you'll just have to slide it into the camera's hot shoe.

The rear display, which you'll use for all image framing and review, just as you do on a point-and-shoot camera, is 3 inches in size and packs a 921k-dot resolution. It's one of the best in its class, but not the best. Both the Samsung NX200 and Olympus PEN E-P3 pack OLED displays that are slightly crisper, brighter, and refresh more quickly than LCDs.

The NX1000's physical control layout is well designed. Unlike the Sony Alpha NEX-5N , the camera has a physical mode dial that switches between Smart Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, and Scene shooting modes. On the rear of the camera you'll find controls for the Self Timer, Drive Mode, Exposure Compensation, and Autofocus mode. There's also a function button that launches an overlay display, from which you'll be able to adjust most shooting settings. You'll have to access the Menu to dive deeper into the camera's settings, but unless there is a rather obscure setting you'd like to adjust, you won't have to go there during shooting.

One of the unique controls found on the NX series of cameras is the iFn button that is found on the kit lens as well as many other lenses available for the system. It launches a menu from which you can adjust certain settings, including ISO, White Balance, Shutter Speed, Aperture, and EV Compensation. When the iFn function is active, all of these settings are adjusted using the focus ring on the lens.

The feature that really sets the NX1000 apart from its mirrorless competition is its built-in Wi-Fi. Moving the Mode Dial over to this position brings up a menu of options that make it possible to share photos without cables. You can use MobileLink to directly beam photos to your iOS or Android device, or Remote Viewfinder to use the same device to take control of the camera. Both functions require that you download an app, but it's free for either platform. There's also a Social Sharing menu from which you can push photos and videos to Facebook, Picasa, YouTube, and Photobucket. You also have screens from which you can transfer your images and movies to the Microsoft SkyDrive service, or your Windows PC, as well as a TV Link option that lets you view photos on a Samsung Wi-Fi TV. The great thing about the Wi-Fi on this camera is that it's fairly easy to configure and use?it transcends the gimmick niche and becomes an actual useable function of the camera.

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