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Samsung My Samsung NX30 Is Here - First Thoughts

Location
Central Ohio, USA
Name
Andrew
Have the NX30.

I can see the upgrades to the camera over the NX20.
Auto focus and over all speed seem better. The grip is better.

The downside? It does not use the same battery as the NX20 - and the battery I got with the NX30 seems to be having issues. I charged it up, but it fluxes between 98% and 80% frequently....and the camera seems to operate a little unstable. Not sure this is an issue with the camera or the battery. I've ordered another battery just to check. I've seen other cameras act weird with faulty batteries...The Fuji X-Pro 2 acted hinkey when a third party battery was faulty. Have to wait until January 17th for the new battery. Checked firmware and it is also at the latest version.

No matter, as I went out and took pictures with it anyway. I also got the NX 16mm f/2.4 lens with it. Absolutely gorgeous image quality coming out of the lens and NX30.

A few sample from the NX30 and NX 16mm f/2.4 from today.
Any image not monochrome is RAW processed in Lightroom.

1
01-05-2024_fpc_NX30_SAM_0008.jpg
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2 - "Classic" picture wizard preset
01-05-2024_fpc_NX30_SAM_0012.jpg
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3
01-05-2024_fpc_NX30_SAM_0013.jpg
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4
01-05-2024_fpc_NX30_SAM_0048.jpg
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5
01-05-2024_fpc_NX30_SAM_0022.jpg
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6
01-05-2024_fpc_NX30_SAM_0051.jpg
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7
01-05-2024_fpc_NX30_SAM_0019.jpg
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Have the NX30.

I can see the upgrades to the camera over the NX20.
Auto focus and over all speed seem better. The grip is better.

The downside? It does not use the same battery as the NX20 - and the battery I got with the NX30 seems to be having issues. I charged it up, but it fluxes between 98% and 80% frequently....and the camera seems to operate a little unstable. Not sure this is an issue with the camera or the battery. I've ordered another battery just to check. I've seen other cameras act weird with faulty batteries...The Fuji X-Pro 2 acted hinkey when a third party battery was faulty. Have to wait until January 17th for the new battery. Checked firmware and it is also at the latest version.

No matter, as I went out and took pictures with it anyway. I also got the NX 16mm f/2.4 lens with it. Absolutely gorgeous image quality coming out of the lens and NX30.

A few sample from the NX30 and NX 16mm f/2.4 from today.
Any image not monochrome is RAW processed in Lightroom.

1
View attachment 522118

2 - "Classic" picture wizard preset
View attachment 522119

3
View attachment 522120

4
View attachment 522121

5
View attachment 522122

6
View attachment 522123

7
View attachment 522124
Nice photos and I love the 16mm lens too because it's so sharp and compact. I have a genuine Samsung battery in my NX30 and managed to buy another genuine one on E-Bay but my camera has a couple of glitches. Firstly the control wheel behind the shutter button only seems to work one way, so I don't use it, instead I use the touch screen and i-function button on the lens. My mode dial plays up and sometimes I have to move the dial between modes before it selects the right one, I shoot 99% of the time in A mode so that's not too much of an issue just a little annoying. 🙂
 
Nice photos and I love the 16mm lens too because it's so sharp and compact. I have a genuine Samsung battery in my NX30 and managed to buy another genuine one on E-Bay but my camera has a couple of glitches. Firstly the control wheel behind the shutter button only seems to work one way, so I don't use it, instead I use the touch screen and i-function button on the lens. My mode dial plays up and sometimes I have to move the dial between modes before it selects the right one, I shoot 99% of the time in A mode so that's not too much of an issue just a little annoying. 🙂

Mine acts similarly....but it seems to do ti less with the newer batteries in my "controlled in-office" testing. I want to go out and shoot with it more. Work has been crazy with a lot of on site stuff this week...so opportunities to get out have been less than normal. I do like the fact thta there is an additional method of accessing the aperture controls via the iFunction and the control ring on the lenses...so if the command dial were to ever stop functioning all together, you ar not completely out.

I didn't trust the sellers I saw on eBay that had the genuine Samsung batteries, so I opted to go with Kastar and got 3 of their BP-1410 versions from Amazon.
 
Mine acts similarly....but it seems to do ti less with the newer batteries in my "controlled in-office" testing. I want to go out and shoot with it more. Work has been crazy with a lot of on site stuff this week...so opportunities to get out have been less than normal. I do like the fact thta there is an additional method of accessing the aperture controls via the iFunction and the control ring on the lenses...so if the command dial were to ever stop functioning all together, you ar not completely out.

I didn't trust the sellers I saw on eBay that had the genuine Samsung batteries, so I opted to go with Kastar and got 3 of their BP-1410 versions from Amazon.
That's interesting about the batteries, I can't get Kaster here in the UK but I will have a look and see what else is available
 
I can confirm that the camera functions properly now with the new battery. I was out for 3 hours today and had no hiccups at all.
I read that using a contact spray for electronics might work with the dial problem, so I sprayed some around the base of the mode dial and also into the top dial behind the shutter button and I now have two fully working controls 🙂 hopefully this will continue to work for quite a while and maybe that's all that is required, a little maintenance now and then .
 
I read that using a contact spray for electronics might work with the dial problem, so I sprayed some around the base of the mode dial and also into the top dial behind the shutter button and I now have two fully working controls 🙂 hopefully this will continue to work for quite a while and maybe that's all that is required, a little maintenance now and then .
Might have to give that a try.
 
I read that using a contact spray for electronics might work with the dial problem, so I sprayed some around the base of the mode dial and also into the top dial behind the shutter button and I now have two fully working controls 🙂 hopefully this will continue to work for quite a while and maybe that's all that is required, a little maintenance now and then .

May I ask what brand you used? Jusyt curious as there are a bunch out there. Inclined to trust/use the WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner just due to familiarity with the brand. Open to using another if there are any suggestions.
 
Excellent images Gryph, I can't wait to see more pictures. You are making me a bit jelly with my interest in the Sammy NX system.
It is a bit sad to see that the build quality might not be up to par with the other brands BUT they seem to be functional enough as it is.

I can't wait to get a Samsung NX330 and try out the wonderfully small primes.
May I ask what brand you used? Jusyt curious as there are a bunch out there. Inclined to trust/use the WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner just due to familiarity with the brand. Open to using another if there are any suggestions.
I would recommend products that do not leave any solvents marks after use. Something that are safe for electronics, I don't think WD-40 might be safe enough for electronics.
 
May I ask what brand you used? Jusyt curious as there are a bunch out there. Inclined to trust/use the WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner just due to familiarity with the brand. Open to using another if there are any suggestions.
I use a brand named "Rapide" but any electronic cleaning spray should work. I tried my mode dial just now and it is still working ok but the top wheel is playing up again, so I need to spray it some more. Time will tell if this works long term
 
I use a brand named "Rapide" but any electronic cleaning spray should work. I tried my mode dial just now and it is still working ok but the top wheel is playing up again, so I need to spray it some more. Time will tell if this works long term

Sounds like worst case scenario is that it does nothing. Best case is it is fully functional or better than when you got it.

I remember having to do something similar with my original Olympus EM1. With that though, I just vigorously adjusted the command disk for about 2 minutes.
 
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Excellent images Gryph, I can't wait to see more pictures. You are making me a bit jelly with my interest in the Sammy NX system.
It is a bit sad to see that the build quality might not be up to par with the other brands BUT they seem to be functional enough as it is.

I can't wait to get a Samsung NX330 and try out the wonderfully small primes.

I would recommend products that do not leave any solvents marks after use. Something that are safe for electronics, I don't think WD-40 might be safe enough for electronics.

WD-40 makes a product specific to electronic contact cleaners besides their standard product.
 
Went to Home Depot yesterday as I needed some new light bulbs for my kitchen ballast and while I was there in the electric section, I found a can of electrical contact cleaner. My main command dial was still acting u pa little bit, even after the new batteries and manually running it for a few minutes.

Sprayed some of the contact cleaner on a q-tip and then ran it across the dial, while tunring it. Did that for the whole cycle of the dial. Let it sit foir 10 minutes, then put hte battery back in and fired it up. Dial is acting as new now. Thanks @Blooper7206 for the tip.
 
After using the NX30 all of last week as the starter for my "Camera-A-Week" self challenge, I must say that I am really appreciating the camera more and more. The image quality that it is capable of given it's age is outstanding. I did get a chance to use it in more challenging light situations. The EVF does drop it's frame rate some when the light gets low, but still serviceable.

I do wish there was a way to assign the exposure comp to the rear dial when in aperture priority mode. You have to hold down the exposure comp button adn spin the main dial....would be nice to even be able to press teh exposure comp and it lock there until you press it again....but I'm starting to get into some minor things...not a complaint, really...just an observation on handling that could either could have been improved via firmware changed in future versions of the camera. Having no experience with the NX Galaxy or the NX1, those camera may have addressed that.

The "Classic" monochrome is very nice, and in Lightroom I just add a little touch of grain and vignette, crop and they are good to go.
"Retro" picture wizard is a nice preset as well, giving you that Kodachrome 25 feel. Again, I usually just add a tocuh of grain to the images in Lightroom to make it feel a bit more film like.

It is a shame that when processing the RAW file that you cannot apply those picture wizard settings to the images for JPG output....not sure why Samsung decided on that course of action.
 
After using the NX30 all of last week as the starter for my "Camera-A-Week" self challenge, I must say that I am really appreciating the camera more and more. The image quality that it is capable of given it's age is outstanding. I did get a chance to use it in more challenging light situations. The EVF does drop it's frame rate some when the light gets low, but still serviceable.

I do wish there was a way to assign the exposure comp to the rear dial when in aperture priority mode. You have to hold down the exposure comp button adn spin the main dial....would be nice to even be able to press teh exposure comp and it lock there until you press it again....but I'm starting to get into some minor things...not a complaint, really...just an observation on handling that could either could have been improved via firmware changed in future versions of the camera. Having no experience with the NX Galaxy or the NX1, those camera may have addressed that.

The "Classic" monochrome is very nice, and in Lightroom I just add a little touch of grain and vignette, crop and they are good to go.
"Retro" picture wizard is a nice preset as well, giving you that Kodachrome 25 feel. Again, I usually just add a tocuh of grain to the images in Lightroom to make it feel a bit more film like.

It is a shame that when processing the RAW file that you cannot apply those picture wizard settings to the images for JPG output....not sure why Samsung decided on that course of action.
I can confirm that Samsung NX1 and NX500 have fixed the EV customisation and I can set the dials per Mode basis with Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO and EV Exposure per each dial. I noticed this while trying to customise my NX500 today before I dropped it off at a computer store to have it fixed.
 
After using the NX30 all of last week as the starter for my "Camera-A-Week" self challenge, I must say that I am really appreciating the camera more and more. The image quality that it is capable of given it's age is outstanding. I did get a chance to use it in more challenging light situations. The EVF does drop it's frame rate some when the light gets low, but still serviceable.

I do wish there was a way to assign the exposure comp to the rear dial when in aperture priority mode. You have to hold down the exposure comp button adn spin the main dial....would be nice to even be able to press teh exposure comp and it lock there until you press it again....but I'm starting to get into some minor things...not a complaint, really...just an observation on handling that could either could have been improved via firmware changed in future versions of the camera. Having no experience with the NX Galaxy or the NX1, those camera may have addressed that.

The "Classic" monochrome is very nice, and in Lightroom I just add a little touch of grain and vignette, crop and they are good to go.
"Retro" picture wizard is a nice preset as well, giving you that Kodachrome 25 feel. Again, I usually just add a tocuh of grain to the images in Lightroom to make it feel a bit more film like.

It is a shame that when processing the RAW file that you cannot apply those picture wizard settings to the images for JPG output....not sure why Samsung decided on that course of action.
I use the i-function button on the lenses to change exposure comp. Press the i-function button until you get the exposure comp, then turn the focus ring to adjust. I agree about the classic monochrome, it's very nice.
 
I use the i-function button on the lenses to change exposure comp. Press the i-function button until you get the exposure comp, then turn the focus ring to adjust. I agree about the classic monochrome, it's very nice.
I haven't yet had the chance to make pictures and edit the RAW files, are the internal picture profiles from Samsung supported in Lightroom Classic? I would like to shoot the Classic Monochrome and apply the profile to the RAW files in edits to keep the look. I have no interest in shooting/keeping JPEGs unless I know I need to instantly share them (that hasn't happened yet but I might get into that at some point).
 
I haven't yet had the chance to make pictures and edit the RAW files, are the internal picture profiles from Samsung supported in Lightroom Classic? I would like to shoot the Classic Monochrome and apply the profile to the RAW files in edits to keep the look. I have no interest in shooting/keeping JPEGs unless I know I need to instantly share them (that hasn't happened yet but I might get into that at some point).
I am afraid I have no idea as i do not use Lightroom Classic
 
I use the i-function button on the lenses to change exposure comp. Press the i-function button until you get the exposure comp, then turn the focus ring to adjust. I agree about the classic monochrome, it's very nice.
Yes, that is my next plan. I'll go into the menu and unselect all the other options except for exposure comp so that I can get right to it.
 
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