After unveiling its
audio-digital lineup and new
Series 7 PC notebooks, the Korean manufacturer has also announced the NX300, its latest NX series mirrorless camera. The company also revealed a compatible 45 mm f1.8 2D/3D lens which is said to be the first one-lens 3D system capable of capturing both stills and HD video. The NX300 will available from March for $750 with a 20-50 mm kit lens. The Samsung 45 mm f1.8 2D/3D lens will also be available in March priced at $500.
Measuring 122 x 63.7 x 40.7 mm (4.8 x 2.5 x 1.6 inches) and weighing 280g, the NX300 sports a retro look when compared to other NX cameras. The camera comes in Black and White colour variants surrounded with a silver lining. It features a 3.3 inch AMOLED tilting touchscreen with 768,000 dots.
The camera also comes with a 20.3MP APS-CMOS sensor, which the company claims is brand-new, along with an updated smart camera functionality and a new hybrid autofocus system. This translates to sharp and detailed images under any lighting conditions and has an increased ISO range of 100-25600.
The Smart Mode allows users to choose from 14 different settings, such as Creative Shot, Landscape, Light Trace or Action Freeze that automatically adjust parameters such as aperture and shutter speed in order to obtain the best shot possible for the desired situation.
Users can also adjust the depth of an image using i-Depth, a part of the NX Series' unique i-Function system which enables users to modify camera parameters using the lens itself, adjusting the image without ever having to move off target.
The camera features a hybrid autofocus system which combines contrast AF with phase detection AF for enhanced focussing. The DRIMe IV imaging engine makes the NX300 capable of not only continuous shooting at close to 9 fps, but also supports 1080/60p video capture.
The NX300 has an enhanced dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity allowing users to connect a smartphone to the camera with the Samsung SMART CAMERA App which is available for Android and iOS.
Features of the app include the ability to automatically send photos to your smartphone as they are taken, select images for transfer and even use the phone as a remote viewfinder. One-Touch sharing of images to social networks is enabled by a hot key on the camera.
The Samsung 45 mm, f1.8 2D/3D lens when used with the NX300 makes it the first mirrorless, interchangeable-lens camera to shoot 3D. Touted as the "world's first one-lens 3D system for a consumer camera", in 3D mode it works by using two LCD filters to project slightly different images onto the camera's sensor. When used in combination with the NX300, it produces 5-megapixel 3D stills and 1080p HD videos at 30fps in 3D.
In pics: Best of CES 2013