Nikon D3000 v Samsung NX10

THERE is little doubt of the impact that affordable, high-quality digital SLRs have had in recent years, so you would be forgiven in thinking that its reign at the top of the photographic tree is unlikely to be threatened any time soon. However, in the last year or two, a new breed of camera has begun to emerge on the scene, looking to steal large chunks of the market currently dominated by DSLRs.
Hybrids, as they're commonly known, share plenty of similarities with DSLRs, most notably boasting a lens mount that allows lenses to be swapped in exactly the same way as a DSLR. The biggest difference is the lack of a reflex mirror, which offers the benefits of a more compact and lighter camera body, but means there is no optical viewfinder.
Panasonic and Olympus have been leading the hybrid charge with their Micro Four-Thirds cameras and are now joined by Samsung with its NX10. In this month's main camera test, we chiefly look at the Samsung NX10 but use it alongside the similarly-priced Nikon D3000, a DSLR we tested in our November 2009 issue. Is the Samsung NX10 the shape of things to come, or has hybrid cameras some way to go before it can offer a real alternative to the DSLR? Let's see what answers this test can give.

Handling & ease of use
The Samsung is clearly more compact than the Nikon, with a far thinner and shorter body – 
the result of the camera lacking a mirror or pentaprism. Its very small size is a major bonus for travel photographers, or those looking for a small and lightweight camera. However, its diminuitive received mixed views in the magazine office, as some found it too small for their liking. My personal view is that while the body is small, its contours allow it to be gripped securely, while the pronounced buttons are easy to press. I certainly don't think the general operation of the camera is affected by the smaller size.
In terms of working your way around the controls and selecting different functions, both score highly for ease of use. In fact, the control layout on both are similar, with a top-plate dial selecting the exposure mode and the majority of function buttons – including a four-way control – located on the back around the monitor screen.
Both cameras sport a 3in monitor, but while the Nikon has a standard LCD screen, the Samsung uses an AMOLED, which has the key benefit of lower power consumption. The menu systems of both are very easy to navigate and neatly designed (the Samsung's menu system is an improvement over the set-up used on its DSLRs). However, the Nikon has one trick up its sleeve that gives it the edge in terms of ease of use, in the form of its Guide Mode, a series of informative, interactive screens that help beginners choose the most appropriate settings via step-by-step instructions.
The viewfinders of these two cameras could not be more different. The Nikon screen is typical of entry-level DSLRs, in other words sharp and clear but quite small, with black markings for AF points and exposure information running along the bottom. The Samsung's screen is electronic, much like you'd find on a camcorder, and it takes some getting used to looking at a 'miniature TV'. However, after a few hours using it you do grow accustomed to it and it does have the benefit of displaying a large amount of information icons on the screen. However, the problem is it's far more difficult to use in low light, when colours and detail become murky and dark.
Overall both the Nikon and Samsung handle well and are easy to use, however the Nikon has the edge thanks to the Guide Mode and the benefits of the optical viewfinder.



Features
Both these models offer an excellent range of features for the amateur photographer and while there are plenty of similarities in the specification of this pair, there are also several differences.
The Nikon has a 10.2-megapixel resolution, which is the norm for entry-level models, but the Samsung boasts 14.6-megapixels, which gives it a notable advantage in terms of file sizes. It's also worth noting that the NX10, like the D3000, uses an APS-C sensor, which is larger than the Four Thirds sensor used in both the Olympus and Panasonic's range of hybrids.
A full range of exposure modes is available on both cameras, including a wide selection of Scene modes for complete novices, along with the core four creative modes (program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual). Multi-zone, spot and centre-weighted metering patterns are available on both cameras. Nikon's 3D Matrix meter uses a 420-pixel sensor, while Samsung bases its metering on 247-zones. Overrides such as exposure compensation, AE-Lock and bracketing are present on both, and to boost detail in highlights when shooting high-contrast scenes, Nikon offers its Active D-Lighting mode, while the Samsung has a Smart Mode facility.
The autofocus systems on both cameras are impressive but very different. Nikon's 11-point system is a tried and tested set-up, with AF points covering a very wide area of the frame. The NX10's focusing is radically different to that found on DSLRs. It uses a contrast detection system similar to those found on compact cameras and offers a number of ways of focusing on the subject. In normal use, you would leave it set to its standard 15-point AF, which when shooting close-ups, converts to a 35-point system for extra sensitivity. As with the Nikon, you can switch to single-point AF if you so wish or set it to continuous AF when tracking moving subjects. The NX10 also offers a face detection facility that is ideal when shooting group portraits and can also be set to self-portrait mode to aid AF when you'd like to include yourself in the frame. When needed, you can also switch to manual focus too. Both cameras offer a pop-up integral flash with a comprehensive range of flash modes, including first- or second-curtain sync and flash exposure compensation, plus a hotshoe for mounting a dedicated flashgun.
Other features the cameras share include continuous shooting at three frames-per-second, the option to shoot in Raw+JPEG, an ISO range of 100-3200 (plus Auto), a sensor-dust removal system, a wide choice of Picture Styles, a top shutter speed of 1/4000sec and the use of SD/SDHC cards. Unlike its DSLRs, there is no body-integral shake reduction facility on the NX10, instead, like Nikon, Samsung offers lenses with built-in image stabilisers.
While there are a number of smaller differences in terms of specification, the following are the key ones to note. The Nikon offers a Retouch Menu that allows for in-camera processing, with the Miniature Effect being of particular note. The Samsung boasts a Depth Preview function, that works much like the traditional depth-of-field preview button, closing down the aperture and allowing you to get a grasp of depth-of-field using its monitor. It also offers a HD Video function that records movies in 720P.

Performance
The first thing I have to say is how much I enjoyed using the Samsung NX10. As with anything new, first impressions are important and while the Samsung has some little quirks, the overall impression I gauged from using it for a number of weeks is very positive. With the exception of the optical viewfinder, its operation closely resembles that of a DSLR in nearly every way.
In terms of its performance, the Samsung hybrid is as good as the Nikon in many areas. Looking at metering first, there is nothing to choose between the two, with both multi-zone patterns performing very well and delivering spot-on results in all general conditions and struggling only with very tricky situations such as strong backlighting. In terms of autofocus, both are excellent, although the Nikon has the edge in terms of speed in more challenging conditions such as low light and when tracking moving subjects. However, in general use, the Samsung is every bit as quick and positive.
In the age of LiveView, using an electronic screen to compose an image is far more acceptable than it used to be, however there are two areas that I noted caused me problems with the Samsung. Firstly, when working in low light, the viewfinder is dark and any bright hotspots like street lighting, TV screens etc are very bleached out and distracting. Secondly, when you take a shot, the review image appears in the finder until you press the shutter button again. You can set it to 'off' on the menu, but this also switches off the review image on the 3in screen too. I'd like to see an option to turn off the viewfinder review image independently of the rear AMOLED screen.
While both shoot continuously at 3fps, the Samsung's buffer slows more quickly than the Nikon's when shooting sequences in Raw.
In terms of image quality, both Auto White Balance systems work well to give very natural colours in ambient light, but with a tendency for warmth in tungsten lighting. As for image noise, both are excellent at ISO 100-200, with noise being slightly more evident at ISO 400 on the Samsung. At ISO 800 upwards, it's noticeable on both cameras but the Nikon handles it better than the Samsung. The Samsung's resolution means it produces bigger file sizes than the Nikon but in terms of image sharpness, both are on a par, delivering images with very good levels of detail. You'll get better images if you process from Raw but Apple Mac users should note that Samsung's software is currently PC only.

Nikon D3000
 Body only: £430 (Guide) / £300 (Street)
 With 18-55mm vr: £500 (Guide) / £380 (Street)
 IMAGE sensor: APS-C CCD (22.3x14.9mm)
 IMAGE RESOLUTION: 10.2-megapixels
 Monitor: 3in LCD (230,000 dots)
 STORAGE: SD/SDHC
 WEIGHT: 485g (without battery and card)
 PHONE: 0800 230220
 WEBSITE: www.nikon.co.uk

Samsung NX10
 With 18-55mm OIS: £600 (Guide) / £490 (Street)
 With 30mm f/2: £650 (Guide) / £550 (Street)
 IMAGE sensor: APS-C CMOS (22.3x14.9mm)
 IMAGE RESOLUTION: 14.6-megapixels
 Monitor: 3in AMOLED (614,000 dots)
 STORAGE: SD/SDHC
 WEIGHT: 353g (without battery and card)
 PHONE: 0845 7267864
 WEBSITE: www.samsung.com/uk


Verdict
Both the Nikon and the Samsung represent great buys for anyone who wants to get a capable camera outfit for under £500. In terms of handling and range of features, both options are excellent. However, for those looking to expand their system in line with progress in photography, the huge system available to the Nikon (and other DSLRs) provides real advantages over the Samsung. In term of performance, again both are very good but the Nikon's better AF performance and noise handling give it the edge over the Samsung. Dust on images weren't a problem in this test as lenses weren't changed too often, but the exposed sensor is a real concern as dust (or damage) is a real possibility with the NX10. These factors should not take away from the fact that the NX10 is an excellent camera with many merits, in particular its size, specification and ease of use. Samsung should be congratulated for delivering such a high quality, first generation hybrid. While it offers an real option for those who need a small camera with interchangeable lenses, it still falls short of bettering Nikon's entry-level DSLR.

Nikon D3000
Handling & ease of use 23/25
Features 22/25
Performance 22/25
Value for Money 23/25
Overall 90/100

Samsung NX10
Handling & ease of use 21/25
Features 22/25
Performance 19/25
Value for Money 22/25
Overall 84/100

What do we 
mean by 'hybrid'?
The term 'hybrid' camera has been around for decades and originally referred to compacts boasting long superzooms. However, more recently, the phrase hybrid has been used to describe digital cameras that have interchangeable lenses but lack the reflex mirror. Without the mirror, the cameras are cheaper to make and can be smaller and thinner than a DSLR. Because there is no mirror, the camera lacks a pentaprism and optical viewfinder. Instead, you compose the image using an electronic viewfinder and/or the LCD monitor.

The NX system
One of the cornerstones of success for DSLRs is the system built around the camera, so for Samsung's NX system to succeed, it will need to offer a real alternative to DSLR systems. Currently, the NX system of lenses has three options: NX 30mm f/2 pancake; 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS and 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED OIS zooms, while there are two flashguns, the SEF 20A and SEF 42A. Samsung has announced three lenses are due for release later this year: a 20-50mm, 20mm pancake and a non-OIS 
18-55mm. A 60mm macro and 18-200mm are also due but no date has been confirmed. Also expected at some point is a K-adaptor to allow Pentax-fitting lenses to be used with limitations. So, while the NX system offers a basic line-up, it has significant strides to make before it comes close to matching DSLR systems.

Supplied software
The Samsung software CD includes packages for browsing and editing images, as well as converting Raw files. It's PC-only, so Mac users need to ensure their post-processing software will have an update to allow them to process the NX10's Raw files.