Samsung announces NX30 and Galaxy Camera 2 #SamsungForum2014

Most of you would know that the Samsung Forum 2014 is on in Bali, Indonesia. As expected we saw a lot of launches/announcements and unveiling of pathbreaking products by Samsung today. First up we would be talking about the two new additions to its industry leading range of Digital Imaging devices, the NX30 and the Galaxy Camera 2. The NX30 is a professionally-inspired compact system camera delivering high quality images with faster than ever performance. The Galaxy Camera 2, the latest device in the award winning Galaxy Camera line-up, combines the quality imaging of a high end camera with the sharing capabilities and intuitive interface associated with the most up-to-date smartphones 

Samsung NX30

Image Quality at the Core

High quality images with rich color are guaranteed with the advanced 20.3MP APS-C CMOS Sensor. Delivering shots that are bursting with sharp detail and intense colors, the large sensor is ideal for creating rich images with dramatic foreground and background blur, providing professional quality imaging that ignites the visual senses. Featuring the Samsung NX AF System II that boasts fast and accurate auto focusing, this new model ensures all moments – including fast-moving scenes and subjects – that make up the beauty of everyday life will never be missed.

Capturing short-lived, fast-paced moments in perfect clarity is achievable with the NX30’s exceptionally fast 1/8000 sec Shutter Speed and the 9 frame per seconds (FPS) Continuous Shooting function. These features help to further break down the action and capture movement beyond what the eye can see so that each split second can be appreciated.

Featuring a unique Tiltable Electronic Viewfinder (XGA, 2,359K-dot resolution) the NX30 makes it easier than ever to discover a new perspective. Whether crowds are obstructing the shot or a more creative angle is desired, the 80 degree tilt means that different viewpoints are simple to achieve. With the ability to move from side to side up to 180 degrees, and upward and downward up to 270 degrees, the NX30’s 76.7mm (3.0-inch) Super AMOLED Swivel and Touch Display offers flexible angles which are especially useful for self-shooting, whether for stills or video capture.

Smart Connectivity, Tag & Go

Building on the successes of Samsung’s market leading SMART CAMERA technology, the NX30’s NFC and Wi-Ficapabilities offer the next-generation of connectivity, making it is easier than ever to take advantage of a host of intuitive sharing features. The ‘Tag & Go’ function lets users tap and share memories instantly and easily, pairing the NX30 with NFC enabled smartphones and tablets.

The Photo Beam feature allows users to transfer images or videos between smartphones or tablets by simply touching devices together, with no other configuration needed. MobileLink lets users select multiple images to send to four distinct smart devices at one time – everyone can treasure photos, without the need to take repetitive shots on each individual device.AutoShare automatically sends every photo you take instantly to your smartphone or tablet and the Remote Viewfinder Profunction enables users to control many features of the NX30 from a smartphone, allowing the user to zoom and snap shots remotely yet still have full visibility of the scene, opening up new photographic possibilities. Manual settings can still be accessed, including shutter speed and aperture, so that photographers can retain camera control yet have another option as to how they want to frame their shot.

Dropbox is pre-loaded on the NX30 in selected regions – making it the first camera-specific device to offer direct-to-Dropbox uploading. Additionally, users of the NX30 in select regions can upload directly to Flickr, the full resolution photo sharing site: another first in a camera-specific device. Using the advanced connected features of the NX30, images can be uploaded automatically so that snap happy photographers will not need to be concerned with filling up their memory.

Experience Life from All Angles

The NX30 includes the sophisticated next-generation DRIMeIV Image Processor and a powerful DSP imaging engine that brings an unmatched shooting experience and Full HD 1080/60p movie capabilities. The high light sensitivity of the NX30, with a range from ISO100-25600, produces stunning images even in low light conditions. Furthermore, with OIS Duotechnology, steady shots for better movie recording are guaranteed, even while on the move. The innovative technology provided by the DRIMeIV also enables the 3D capture of scenes and subjects via the Samsung 45mm F1.8 2D/3D lens, letting memories live on through lifelike 3D images and videos displayed on compatible 3D devices. The introduction of OLED Color to the NX30 records the ultimate contrast and real colors, making it possible to capture rich landscapes and portraits with natural tones.

Advanced video features make the NX30 the ideal solution for movie makers searching for a compact yet high performing camera. In addition to Full HD Video Stereo Recording, the NX30 supports a standard 3.5mm microphone input for high quality audio capture while shooting movies. The Audio Level Meter appears on the display so you can continuously monitor the input level status while recording. In addition, the input level can be manually adjusted to ensure optimal audio quality. Moreover the NX30 is also perfect for advanced video enthusiasts because of its HDMI live streaming with Full HD 30p output that makes it easy to connect with a large screen, recorder and other HDMI devices.

Intuitive design is a central feature of the NX30. Two dedicated Custom Modes can be accessed on the mode dial, so that preferred camera settings can be retrieved quickly, while ten additional custom sets can be stored on the camera. The separate drive dial also provides instant access to a selection of popular modes, including continuous shooting, bracketing and self timer. It is therefore fast and simple to select the ideal settings for a shot, meaning that there is no delay in capturing the perfect image.

Through Samsung’s innovative i-Function system, advanced camera settings such as shutter speed and aperture can be accessed with the touch of one button. For more experienced photographers, i-Function Plus lets users reprogram existing buttons with their preferred and frequently used settings.

The new powerful TTL external flash with a Guide Number of 58 makes it simple to capture perfect shots, allowing light to travel further and wider. The high speed flash sync mode allows for flash with shutter speeds faster than 1/200^th of a second, ideal for brightly lit scenes with selective depth of field. Additionally, this new flash supports wireless strobe sync, bringing an added dimension to images with light that looks natural.

Product Specifications 

Samsung 16-50mm F2-2.8 S ED OIS lens

The new Samsung 16-50mm F2-2.8 S ED OIS lens allows photographers of all skill levels to achieve professional image quality through a myriad of new and advanced features. It is the first Premium “S” Series lens, which provides end-users with no less than superior optical-technology to meet their photography needs. Its versatile standard zoom angle of view allows for flexibility to take photos at frequently desired angles and vantage points, without limitations on what is captured. The 16-50mm lens has an extremely bright aperture (F2.0 at 16mm; F2.8 at 50mm), making it the brightest 3X zoom among equivalent class lenses and adding value to the overall picture-taking experience and imaging results. Splash and dust proof, this lens is designed to deliver quality results even in extreme, harsh conditions.

This lens features an Ultra-Precise Stepping Motor (UPSM), with 3X more precision in its ability to control and focus on subjects than the conventional Stepping Motor (SM). Coupled with its optical image stabilizer and combination of three aspherical (ASP) lenses, two extra-low dispersion (ED) lenses, and two eXreme High Refractive (XHR) lenses, the 16-50mm F2-2.8 S ED OIS has the ability to take a steady shot and produce an exceptional photo with ultimate clarity and detail. The ASP lenses nearly eliminate spherical aberration, whereas the ED elements reduce chromatic aberration and the XHR allows for a more compact and light lens.

Samsung 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS lens

The new 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS lens was designed for everyday use as well as for photographers who often travel and desire quality and compactness. At only 111g, it is lightweight and sports a compact 31mm frame with a modern and simple design. It is available in two colors (Black and White). With an outstanding wide angle optical performance, the 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS lens includes Silent Auto Focusing and a low zooming noise, excellent for capturing video which is clear but undisturbed by the noise of the mechanism.

A vital feature of the new lens is its quick control made possible through an Electro zoom with a seesaw type button. This unique feature allows photographers to simply click to zoom and take a photo from any view or angle, similar to a compact camera experience. The smooth zooming operation, applied from the high-end camcorder not only creates superb pictures, but enables high-quality videos. The intuitive operating mechanism, i-Function and UPSM help to take more precise pictures, while the Optical Image Stabilization reduces the blur associated with camera movement.

SAMSUNG 16-50mm F2 – 2.8 S ED OIS Specifications

SAMSUNG 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS Specifications

Samsung Galaxy Camera 2

Fast and Superior Performance

The Galaxy Camera 2 lets users enjoy the full benefits of the Android platform. Intuitive to use and faster than ever before, users can easily navigate the Galaxy Camera 2 functions and focus on capturing the perfect shot rather than having to filter through complex settings. With an enhanced battery life (2000mAh), avid photographers can enjoy the photography experience for longer.

A high performance camera, the Galaxy Camera 2 produces images of exceptional quality, unrivaled by smartphone photography. Its 16M BSI CMOS Sensor produces vivid images which are both rich in color and sharp in detail, allowing memories to be captured and reproduced with perfect clarity. With a huge 21x Optical Zoom, photographers can get closer than ever to their subjects. Featuring an upgraded 1.6 GHz Quad-Core processor supported by a massive 2.0 GB of RAM,the Galaxy Camera 2 operates at ultra high speed so that the array of intuitive features can be accessed without delay. This internal memory is supplemented with the pre-loaded Dropbox app, an exclusive offering which provides 50GB of free cloud storage for up to two years, so that passionate photographers need never worry about running out of memory ever again.

Simple Sharing and Easy Use

Sharing is made simple with advanced Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities that accompany the Galaxy Camera 2. The all-new innovative ‘Tag & Go’ feature makes it easy to connect the Galaxy Camera 2 to NFC-enabled smartphones and devices. All it takes is a simple tap of the smartphone and camera for devices will be automatically paired to swiftly transfer images. WithPhoto Beam, the picture being viewed on the camera is automatically sent to the paired smartphone, while Mobile Linkallows photographers to select images they wish to transfer to their smartphone at their leisure. For more creative shooting,Remote Viewfinder lets photographers control the camera using the smartphone, providing greater freedom for setting up and snapping shots.

The Galaxy Camera 2’s 121.2mm (4.8-inch) HD Super Clear Touch LCD provides users with a beautiful way to view and edit images. Shots are displayed in intense color and detail, while its large size makes it easy to navigate the many apps and features available on the camera. With a lightweight design, the Galaxy Camera 2 is a highly portable option making it the perfect choice for both day to-day, as well as special occasion photography.

Creative Capture

With Smart Mode, users can choose from 28 different pre-set modes all designed to address different shooting scenarios, which will allow a professional touch or creative twist to any image. For those unsure which mode they want to select, theSmart Mode Suggest feature provides a helping hand in securing those winning shots. It analyzes the scene at hand; recognizing lighting conditions, scenery and objects – and then instantly recommends the optimal Smart Mode to ensure that the perfect shot is always captured. New Smart Mode Selfie Alarm guarantees that self-portraits receive the attention they deserve. It takes five consecutive, high resolution images so that users can select their best angle and share immediately on their favorite social media site.

Videos can also be given a unique twist with features such as Multi Motion Video, which allows users to set the speed of capture and ranging from eight times slower than normal speed up to eight times faster. This feature adds visual flair to footage which can be enjoyed time and time again. The Galaxy Camera 2 also makes it easy for photographers to use their favorite applications, such as Paper Artist and Xtremera, to personalize their shots straight from the camera so that images can be edited and shared without delay.

Galaxy Camera 2 Product Specifications