Samsung NX500 Pro Reviews

The NX500 is one of the most impressive midrange mirrorless cameras, with excellent photo and video quality, good ergonomics, and a broad feature set. Those serious about 4K video may be put off by the large crop factor, and the lack of an EVF may also disappoint some users.

It’s hard not to be wowed by what Samsung has achieved with the NX500, and in such a small footprint. While its sacrifices in video mode may make videographers pause, those who want excellent image capture but without lugging a DSLR or even one of the larger interchangeable-lens cameras around will find much to love about Samsung’s compact flagship.

The Samsung NX500 is a solid mirrorless camera with 4K recording capabilities, but it requires you to take some extra steps to edit video.

We were extremely impressed with the performance, features and image quality of the Samsung NX1, but there was one major drawback with that camera: its size. By taking many of the key components from the NX1 and packaging them in a smaller, lighter body, the NX500 is a camera almost without compromise. Image quality is superb, with excellent detail levels and well controlled noise levels right up to ISO6400. Video performance is also impressive, especially for this size of camera, as 4K recording has traditionally been associated in this sector with larger cameras like the NX1 and Panasonic Lumix GH4. The NX500 offers even more value for money with its extensive wireless connectivity options and high Super AMOLED screen quality with touch sensitivity. Its tilting capability is arguably less important, but is handy nonetheless. Cramming so much into such a small and light design is impressive, but it’s not without compromises. Unlike the Sony Alpha α6000, there’s no EVF or built-in flash, though the NX500’s included hot-shoe mounted flash unit is relatively powerful and recycles quickly. The new H.265 video compression format also has its issues, as whilst it provides excellent compression quality, it’s not currently as compatible with TV’s and computer video software as the more commonplace H.264 format. Some may also miss the features that didn’t make the transition to the NX500 from the NX1, like the NX1’s faster continuous shooting rate and ability to output uncompressed 4K video, but it’s fair to assume these omissions won’t bother the vast majority of NX500 buyers. If you’re after a small interchangeable lens camera that doesn’t compromise on image or video quality and is also packed with features, the NX500 is a great buy that offers superb value for money.