Struggling in the smartphone market Samsung is now trying to get people to believe that they are a serious player in the top end camera market.
At a launch in New Zealand the Korean Company who is not a major player in the camera market has revealed a $2,599 NX 1 camera and lens, it comes on the same day that Sony has launched their new a7 II, a7 series camera that delivers interchangeable-lens capability and has an optical 5-axis image stabilisation designed for a full-frame image sensor.
Samsung has no heritage in the camera market other than a series of compact cameras now they believe that they can take on Japanese camera powerhouses such as Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Sony who have been making “good” headway in the mirrorless camera market.
These Companies have between them have over 150 year’s heritage in the camera market said Professional photographer Ian Barnes.
Unlike the Samsung NX1 the new Sony offering has a 24.3 effective megapixel 35 mm full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor that moves along five axes to compensate for camera shake, it also provides optical image stabilisation equivalent to up to 4.5 steps faster shutter speed.
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Samsung claim that digital SLR cameras could face extinction and that brands such as Canon, Nikon and Olympus could lose their lead over advanced smaller cameras in just 18 months, however several leading photographers who SmartHouse have spoken to disagree.
Despite showing journalists the NX1, Samsung executives were unable to issue a specs press release or background press release on their new product.
Brands that already lead in the mirrorless camera market include Panasonic who recently revealed the award winning Lumix GX4 Sony, Fujifilm and Olympus, Nikon also has a mirrorless camera.
Samsung Electronics Australia digital imaging manager Craig Gillespie claims the company was serious about backing the technology as a DSLR replacement.
He told journalists that “Within the Australian market, the DSLR is still the most popular system but it is declining and mirrorless is growing. We will see mirrorless catch DSLR, I believe, in the next 18 months,” Mr Gillespie said.
“By moving to a mirrorless system, which is actually the growing segment, you don’t have to accept an inferior quality.”
The claim has angered several professional photographers who claim that nearly 90% of professional photographer along with “the bulk” of press photography is done around the world using digital SLR camera’s.
Samsung is currently running a campaign in the USA urging consumers to “ditch the DSLR”.
Samsung said that CIPA’s latest worldwide camera figures show compact system camera shipments grew 10 per cent this year, while DSLR shipments fell by almost 24 per cent.
According to Nick Seggar Marketing Director at Nikon the mirrorless camera market has grown but only in the sub $1,200 market. “No professional photographer that we know is using a mirrorless camera, yes the market has grown but it is primarily the consumer market that is moving over to a cheap mirrorless camera.” He said.
“What digital SLR cameras have over mirrorless cameras is a superior range of lenses, this is what the serious photographer wants. We also deliver the digital SLR service and backup that a lot of mirrorless players don’t”.
Samsung’s NX1 will cost $1899 in Australia before adding a lens, or $2599 when packaged with a 16-50mm f2-2.8 lens.
The NX1’s features include a 28-megapixel, backside illuminated sensor, 3-inch hinged touchscreen, 205-point focus system, and 15-photo-per-second shooting speed.
Also on board is NFC, Bluetooth and Wi Fi connectivity capability.
