Hands-on with Samsung's Smart Camera
Have you ever dreamed of getting your hands on a Hollywood-caliber camera? Well unless you're planning on taking out a bank loan, Samsung's NX1 SMART Camera is about as close as you're going to get, and I managed to sneak in some time with it at CES 2015.
Let me just say, this isn't your daddy's point-and-shoot — it's a 28-megapixel, mirrorless camera capable of both world-class still photos as well as 4K video recording, and you can still hang it around your neck. Think about that for a second: That's video so sharp that not even your 1080p HDTV can handle it. Now that's a serious piece of future-proof tech!
I love everything about this camera, from its lightning-fast auto-focus to the super convenient continuous shooting mode that snaps photos 15 times every second so there's no chance at missing the perfect shot. These are both features that are made possible by the mirrorless design, and most DSLRs simply can't offer the shutter speeds and focus perks that mirrorless cameras provide.
I'm also super thankful that Samsung built some durability into this beauty, and the dust-proof, drop-proof magnesium alloy body means you don't have to worry about it meeting an untimely end unless you do something really, really foolish. It's even got an optional add-on grip that gives you a little extra traction if you're shooting in particularly stressful conditions.
Of course, if a camera wants to call itself "SMART" it better be able to live up to that billing, right? The NX1 puts its money where its mouth is with full Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity so you'll have no shortage of ways to transfer your photos and video to your computer or other gadgets. If you could install Angry Birds on it, it would practically be a smartphone.
The NX1 is currently available with a price of $1,499 for the main body unit, with various lenses available that vary in price, but can run upwards of $1,200 on their own.