Samsung’s NX mini camera is true to its name weighing 158 grams (without the battery) and measuring 23mm thick. These proportions prove impressive as it works with interchangeable lenses, has an in-built flash and a rotating 180 degree screen.
A back-side illuminated CMOS sensor snaps photos at 20.5-megapixels and records videos in Full HD. Samsung has released three lenses optimised for the NX mini, and although an adaptor can be used to support its existing range of 15 NX lenses, it’s an additional purchase. The custom mini lenses follow as detailed in the official Samsung press release:
•The NX-M 9mm F3.5 ED lens is an ultra-slim wide angle lens and is the best choice for capturing landscapes and flattering individual or group shots
•The NX-M 9-27mm F3.5-5.6 ED OIS lens is a micro-compact zoom lens which fits well in a pocket or handbag, just like the mini itself. It offers a variety of shooting options from wide-angle to telephoto and features optical image stabilisation
•The NX-M 17mm F1.8 OIS lens provides photographers with a large aperture to produce smooth bokeh effects which helps make the subject stand out from the background
Photos are captured quickly with a shutter speed of 1/16,000 and a continuous burst mode of 6 frames per second. The NX mini should perform admirably in poorly lit environments with a range of ISO160 - ISO12,800.
Further differentiating the camera is a proficient suite of connectivity. The NX mini uses Wi-Fi 802.11n and NFC to transfer photos between the camera and compatible smartphones, and to use the smartphone as a remote viewfinder. Photos can be backed up over Wi-Fi with support for Dropbox and Flickr.
An interesting inclusion is a feature called ‘wink shot’, which Samsung explains “enables hands-free photography [by] letting users set up their shot and capture it with a ‘wink’".
Read more: Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch review
The Samsung NX mini is available now with the following lens kits:
•Samsung NX mini with 9mm F3.5 ED lens bundled with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 — RRP $499, available now
•Samsung NX mini with 9-27mm F3.5-5.6 ED OIS lens bundled with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 — RRP $599, available now
