Samsung NX210 Pro Reviews

We’re left feeling this model, while good on its own, doesn’t quite differentiate itself enough when examining the wider picture.

Ultimately the Samsung NX210 falls between two stools - the cheaper NX1000 offers a natural upgrade path for compact camera users, while the more expensive NX20 is the obvious choice as a DSLR replacement. For us that leaves the NX210 a little out in the cold, especially since Samsung haven't addressed the annoyingly slow RAW processing times or the lack of a built-in flash or viewfinder. We can still recommend the NX210, but it's no longer the stand-out model that the NX200 was...

The NX210 is an impressive compact system camera that relies on its mighty 20.3-megapixel APS-C sensor to deliver the goods. And deliver it does: images are not only large, but also detailed, in particular at the low-mid ISO settings. But for all its good the NX210 isn’t staggeringly different from the budget NX1000, and its £750 price tag may seem steep for what is essentially a cosmetic improvement over the more budget model. There are other issues too: it’s still not possible to add an electronic viewfinder, processing is slow, autofocus in low light isn’t there and the AF-illuminator lamp is often bypassed (even when deployed). Of course all cameras have their issues. Ignore the NX210’s shortcomings and it’s really all about that excellent image quality. It’s that combined with the decent build quality that will sell the NX210.

I like the NX210; I enjoy shooting with it. But I think there are too many confusing choices for automatic operation, and the JPEG quality needs to be better. Of course, if you shoot raw or only view photos at small sizes then it's perfectly fine (but if you only display your shots at small sizes then you shouldn't be spending this much on a camera). And while the speed of the autofocus never got in my way, it really should be a little more responsive for the money.

The Samsung NX210 offers you the high pixel-count and compact dimensions of the NX200 and adds WiFi-connectivity to the mix. The NX210 is slightly let down by long buffering times in raw mode and the JPEG engine's noise treatment at high sensitivities but overall it is a powerful photographic tool with a good feature set for its class and enjoyable to use.

The Samsung NX210 is a subtle but worthwhile update for anyone who wants to share photos straight away. The addition of Wi-Fi to the NX200 brings the whole NX line of cameras up to date with a number of extremely useful Wi-Fi sharing options. However, if Wi-Fi is not something you are interested in then you can save a lot of money by going for the Samsung NX200. The NX210 promises quicker focusing and shooting speeds, but in our tests was no quicker, and sometimes slower, than the Samsung NX200. The camera also frustrates at times with the regular display of "Processing" when the camera is writing photos to the memory card, this is particularly frustrating when taking JPEG and RAW photos. Saying that, the NX210 is capable of taking some excellent photos, with plenty of detail, and very pleasing colours. Noise levels are low and certainly appears to be on a par with competitors from Sony and Canon with well controlled noise up to ISO3200. The camera has a fast 7fps shooting mode and an easy to use control system and menus. With the addition of Wi-Fi, the NX210 doesn't seem to offer as good value for money as the NX200, but if you're interested in a metal bodied compact system camera with high image quality then the NX210 is an excellent choice. Alternatively, you could save some money by looking at the plastic bodied NX1000.

We've all seen WiFi cameras come and go over the years, but this time may be different, for several reasons. First, WiFi itself is more ubiquitous than ever, with WiFi antennas even found recently on ski lift towers: WiFi is becoming the near-universal connectivity fabric of modern society. What's different this time around is that these latest cameras have a whole lot more smarts to deal with WiFi interfacing, and there's also a new "WiFi Direct" protocol that makes it easy for devices to communicate with each other without the fiddling with network names, encryption types, etc, that was needed in the past. If there's an open WiFi network available, these new NX models will use that; but if not, they'll publish their own network to let a phone or computer connect to it. Suddenly, rather than being islands unto themselves, cameras become true photo sharing hubs, able to email photos or upload to Facebook and YouTube or to a Samsung-provided cloud directly, automatically backup photos to your computer, let you use your smartphone or tablet as a remote viewfinder and shutter release, and connect to your cell phone for photo sharing even when there's no WiFi network around. We think this is just the first ripple of a wave that's going to sweep through the camera industry in the next few years: Two or three years from now, this sort of connectivity will be expected in cameras, rather than an unusual feature. You can wait for the coming wave, or get onboard now with these latest NX models from Samsung. One way or another, the WiFi wave is coming; you heard it here first.

Given as it has the same button arrangement and control system as the NX200 there are few surprises with the NX210. It has the same high quality feel and sleek, curvaceous lines. Like Samsung's other NX cameras it also supports i-Function 2.0 control. This enables users to control parameters using the lens itself. It takes a little getting used to, but it's a quick and efficient way of working in many situations.