Samsung Sings A New Song

Samsung stepped on our stage a few months ago with some very new and highly-featured mirrorless cameras for their new system. The one at the top of the tree is the NX-1. now it has a smaller brother - the NX 500 - with very much the same heart.

The lens mount remains the same, of course - it wouldn't be a system camera if this wasn't the case. But instead of the larger body of the NX-1 that is somewhat reminiscent of a DSLR shape ( without being as heavy as a DSLR ) the NX 500 has the familiar rangefinder shape of other mirror-less cameras.

No stinting inside, however, as Samsung have put the sensor from the NX-1 into the new body. You get 28 megapixels in a APS-C frame. It has an AFIII autofocusing engine and can fire at 9 frames per second.

ISO rating is native at 100-25600 though you can go one step higher for emergencies. 4K video. Samsung Auto Shot predictive focusing to capture moving objects coming toward or away from you.

3" full tilt LCD screen means you can accurately line up your selfies - and bluetooth and WiFi built in mean you can pester all your friends with them within seconds of taking them. Every camera is sold with a certificate licensing you to drive your rellies mad.

And if this was all not enough, it can also be had in retro colour. In case you think this is silly, recall the stylish cameras of the 1930's and 1940's that were sold with rich brown leather coverings - well the Samsung compliments what is a very speed-lined style with this same look - very Raymond Loewy. Makes you think of Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1's and the Empire State Building. You Deco-ists out there know what I am talking about...