Samsung GX20 Digital SLR (Single Lens Kit, 14MP, + 18-55mm Lens) The APS-C Size Samsung CMOS Sensor boasts an impressive 14.6 Megapixels, giving you stunning image detail and great low light performance.
OIS utilises a “floating” sensor system that offers 3-way stabilisation by shifting in the opposite direction to horizontal, vertical or diagonal movement correcting even the tiniest of camera shakes. This allows you to take clear, natural pictures without blur, even in low light conditions
Conventional cameras only allow people to see 95% of the image they’re about to shoot. Live View lets you see the full image on the LCD – before you take the shot.
Special anti-dust coating keeps pictures free from blemishes. A gentle vibration removes any particles of dust.
Helpful consumer’s review
Samsung with Pentax have produced a DSLR which is quite different from the rest. Samsung provides the 14.6MP CMOS sensor and Pentax the body etc. The Samsung offering is not inferior to the Pentax one. The body is packed with features: usable weather proofing, lens focal plane adjust, pixel remapping, image stabiliser (so all lenses benefit), sensor vibrate clean, auto ISO range select, ISO seen as part of exposure and adjustable as such, configurable noise reduction, HDR, interval timer, etc. The firmware has so many functions and parameters to adjust to your taste (all accessible via a very good LCD interface. It uses Adobe’s DNG (Digital NeGative) royalty free format for RAW and so that is pretty well universally acceptable.
IT uses SD/SDHC cards which are cheap and plentiful. The write speed is very fast and varies with the speed of your card. Using a Class 6 Transcend 8GB SDHC (£15) card is fast enough for me.
Crucially the sensor is a good one and Samsung’s first… Canon must be worried. Many DSLRs have noise issues getting 10MP and 12MP onto an APS-C size sensor let alone 14.6. Samsung has managed it very well whilst keeping excellent detail. Shooting RAW mode the noise is comparable to my Canon 20D up to ISO 1600. The Samsung will go up to ISO 6400 but only use if you have to.
The body is excellent and water resistant – you can really shoot in the rain or dusty environments. In the rain/dust you must have a weatherproof lens for it to be effective. Don’t be put off by the plastic on a rigid stainless steel frame. I have a Canon D60 which is made that way and that has done great service for over six years – but is not water resistant. Obviously there’s plastic then there’s Plastic. The body feels comfortable to hold and is not too heavy.
There’s a reasonable array of lenses to suit most people by Samsung, Pentax, Sigma, Tamron and Tokina plus an array of older Pentax lenses that work too. The 18-55 kit lens is not bad and would do well until you could get something better – say a Pentax 16-45 f4 or Tamron 17-50 f2.8.
This is quite a leap for me from Canon. I got sick of Canon’s incremental updates and wanted something new, faster and exciting. The Samsung is and with great a IQ too.
