Samsung NX1 - Hands On Review & Camera Launch in Malaysia

Samsung NX1 - The High-Speed Mirrorless Camera for Professional


As a user of Samsung NX30, I can see the huge improvement on Samsung NX1 to be used as a professional camera. Not only they have two Premium S lenses (16-50mm F 2-2.8 S ED OIS Lens and 50-150mm F2.8 S OIS Lens) to pair with the NX1, they are both dust and weatherproof for more extreme photoshoot condition. I personally think that with this two Premium S lenses it can cover wide range of photography theme from travel to studio photoshoot (16-150mm with constant f2.8 aperture). With its 15fps high speed burst shooting, you will definitely able to capture your jump shot and sport photo perfectly without missing any part of it.

Few weeks ago NX1 was launched in Malaysia (16 Dec) and I was there to check out the Samsung NX1 and met awesome photographers who are users of Samsung NX1 too. I manage to hands-on the NX1 and kinda amazed with the lightweight even when the 50-150mm lens and battery grip were attached on it. If you are a DSLR user you sure know that DSLR with zoom lens and a battery grip is not light at all and not suitable for frequent traveller. With my age catching up, I've always wanted to find a lighter camera that can perform well like a DSLR too. At least I won't feel the weight burden when I am travelling with my camera. Now let's look at some of the key features of Samsung NX1 first:


Samsung NX1 key features and specification:


  • 28.2 megapixel APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor
  • Hybrid AF system with 205 phase-detect points covering 90% of the frame
  • 15 fps burst shooting with continuous autofocus
  • 4K (DCI 4K & UHD) video recording using H.265 codec
  • Can output 4:2:0 8-bit 4K video over HDMI
  • Stripe pattern AF illuminator with 15m range
  • Weather-resistant magnesium alloy body
  • Context-sensitive adaptive noise reduction
  • 3" tilting Super AMOLED touchscreen display
  • 2.36M dot OLED EVF with 5ms lag
  • LCD info display on top of camera
  • Built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • USB 3.0 interface
  • Optional battery grip



Blue - Represent Samsung and latest technology well
Blue - Represent Samsung and latest technology well

Talking about photography, I can talk about it whole day long. The best way to show the pro and con of a camera can't run away from real hands-on review with it. To be a good camera reviewer, one must master the three main elements of photography - ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed. Other additional function like WiFi capability and Bluetooth/NFC connection has became more important nowadays especially when people like me who love to do live update on Instagram and other social medias with quality images.


Lee Jui Siang, Vice President of Mobile, IT and Digital Imaging, Samsung Malaysia Electronics holding the Samsung NX1
Lee Jui Siang, Vice President of Mobile, IT and Digital Imaging, Samsung Malaysia Electronics holding the Samsung NX1

Marcus Reichmann, National Geographic Channel Photographer did a presentation with Samsung NX1
Marcus Reichmann, National Geographic Channel Photographer did a presentation with Samsung NX1
Being able to meet Marcus Reichmann who work in NGC (National Geographic Channel) is great because I've always admire National Geographic photographers as they not only get to take nice documentary photos, they also get to travel around the world.  I hope one day I could achieve this level too (or even better) and doing photo sharing with you guys haha. More info about Marcus Reichmann work can be found here.



With Renay from Samsung Malaysia
With Renay from Samsung
I still remember it was a very awesome experience to travel together to Korea for Incheon Asian Games 2014. That precious moments when you get to interview Pandelela Rinong and Dato' Lee Chong Wei personally is just one of the awesome thing to do in Korea. Read more bout my Incheon Asian Games here.

It is easier for people to handle Samsung NX1 with its lighter weight
It is easier for people to handle Samsung NX1 with its lighter weight


Tiltable touchscreen display on Samsung NX1
Tiltable touchscreen display on Samsung NX1
Although you can't tilt the touchscreen display 180 degree like NX30, it is still good enough that you can take high and low angle shots with this tiltable screen. Do note that it is touch sensitive too so you can just point and shot by touching on the screen.

You can carry Samsung NX1 with ease although zoom lens and battery grip were attached on it.
You can carry Samsung NX1 with ease although zoom lens and battery grip were attached on it
Conventional DSLR is heavier especially when it is attached with both zoom lens, battery gtip and sometime even with speedlight too. One must have strong shoulder and hand to carry that heavy DSLR everywhere throughout the day for photoshoot; Now with the invention and improvement of mirrorless camera like Samsung NX1, you can have less burden on your shoulder and carry camera around without feeling restricted and yet can create quality images too.

Talking about the EVF (Electronic ViewFinder), it responds quicker than previous version of Samsung camera (thanks to the fast processor) as I noticed it has faster speed in switching between the screen and EVF where you place your eyes into the viewfinder and it show live view instantly. That's another good reason for DSLR user to move to this mirrorless camera too.

Samsung NX1 with Speed light and battery grip at side
Samsung NX1 with Speed light and battery grip at side

Samsung NX1 showcase at the lunch in Malaysia
Samsung NX1 showcase at the lunch in Malaysia
The product showcase area of Samsung NX1, as shown above is kinda packed. Which is why media friends were divided into three groups and take turn to hands on with the camera.  There are two different place where one for modeling/catwalk shooting and another one is for shooting sport and highlight on its 15 fps burst shooting.

Two gorgeous models holding the Samsung NX1
Two gorgeous models holding the Samsung NX1
Football talent who did a yoga-teresting pose for the camera *peace*
Football talent who did a yoga-teresting pose for the camera *peace*
Premium S lenses (50-150mm F2.8 S OIS Lens) was launched together with Samsung NX1 and you can do pretty much everything with just two premium S lens. The f/2-f2.8 aperture that can work well even under low light conditions for both photo and video recording. Although Samsung don't have as much lenses choices as other camera brand, they have came up with variety of lenses that fit your special photography interest. Check out some of the Samsung lenses here. One of my favourite is none other than their 10mm f3.5 FishEye lens for selfie usage ;p

#TCSelfie with Dato' Lee Chong Wei in Korea using NX30 and the 10mm Fisheye lens
#TCSelfie with Dato' Lee Chong Wei in Korea using NX30 and the 10mm Fisheye lens


28.2 megapixel APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor on Samsung NX1
28.2 megapixel APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor on Samsung NX1
Samsung NX1 smart camera has 28.2 megapixel APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor that allows you to take high quality image in both JPEG and RAW format. I seldom take RAW photos but it seems like every photographer must learn when to take RAW photo no matter how ;p (I shall make this as one of the resolution for year 2015)

According to the specification of NX1,  this camera has Hybrid AF system with 205 phase-detect points covering 90% of the frame. Which means although the object in focus run to the side of your frame, it can still in focus most of the time. I am using DSLR and the focus point mainly focus on the center zone but not the side. So yeah, another good news for user to switch to mirrorless camera.


Marcus Reichmann, "Is that a fisheye lens?" Yaman Ibrahim and Jon Low professional photographers in photo above
Marcus Reichmann, "Is that a fisheye lens?"
Yaman Ibrahim, David Khoo, Marcus Reichmann and Jon Low professional photographers in photo above

#TCSelfie with Yaman Ibrahim
#TCSelfie with Yaman Ibrahim
Sports Photography Made Simple with NX1- Yaman Ibrahim

#TCSelfie with Jon Low
#TCSelfie with Jon Low
Travel Memories Made Beautiful with NX1-Jon Low

#TCSelfie with Marcus Reichmann
#TCSelfie with Marcus Reichmann
Why should you get a Samsung NX1 Smart Camera??
I've been a user of DSLR Camera for years and always looking for alternative camera with lighter weight so I can travel around with ease. I love zoom lens like 70-200mm but sometimes it is just too heavy if you travel and walk a lot. At first I was hesitate to use mirrorless camera because they don't have the ViewFinder that conventional camera have and the response was slower compared to camera nowadays. I wasn't convinced with mirrorless camera until I get to try out Olympus EM-1 (thanks Robin and Jackie) and Samsung NX30 mirrorless camera where they both can produce quality images with ease. If you hate the heavy weight that a DSLR have, you definitely must go for mirrorless camera now.

If I got the extra budget now, I will definitely go mirrorless with Samsung NX1 together with the two Premium S lenses and perhaps with their flash gun as well since I wanna make full use of their family of photography system. The EVF has improved a lot and the shutter sound is not as loud as DSLR that caught people attention. Most importantly, is the NX1 will able to produce quality images like DSLR without giving you much weight burden on your shoulder. I am happy with my current Samsung NX30 but looking forward for a huge upgrade next year. Finger crossed that awesome mirrorless camera system will come to me next year!! I shall save my shoulder and knee from further heavy weight "injury" haha

I can't really comment much about NX1 performance until I really hands-on for at least a period of time. Hopefully get to review it anytime soon. Anyway, below are some photos captured using Samsung NX1 during the media launch.

Photo captured using Samsung NX-1
Photo captured using Samsung NX-1

Photo captured using Samsung NX-1
Photo captured using Samsung NX-1

Photo captured using Samsung NX-1
Photo captured using Samsung NX-1

Photo captured using Samsung NX-1
Photo captured using Samsung NX-1

Photo captured using Samsung NX-1
Photo captured using Samsung NX-1

Photo captured using Samsung NX-1
Photo captured using Samsung NX-1

Ending this post with myself and the Samsung NX1
Ending this post with myself and the Samsung NX1 


Samsung NX1 Price in Malaysia

The Samsung NX1 is avaialble at all Samsung authorised dealers, at a recommemded retail price of RM4,699 (Samsung NX1 body only) and RM8,699 (Samsung NX1 camera body and 16-50mm F2-2.8 lens).

I can't seems to find it on Lazada Malaysia yet but you may purchase it from Amazon Store if you are frequent online buyer =)


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