Samsung EX1 appreciation thread

[stratokaster]

Every time I have a chance to shoot with Samsung EX1, I can't help but feel that I made a mistake by investing in Micro 4/3 system.

Samsung EX1 is such a wonderful camera. It is significantly more compact than even E-P1 and has a very useful 24-72mm zoom range. And that Schneider-Kreuznach lens is simply gorgeous: fast, sharp, with low distortion and CA. Oh, I also forgot to mention high-resolution flip-out AMOLED screen.

It's such a useful camera to take everywhere I go. It's a bit too large to fit in my coat pocket, but it's small enough to fit even in the smallest bag. Fast lens and image stabilization make it easy to shoot in low light. This shot, for example, was taken at 1/8 of a second; I doubt I could have managed it with my Panasonic G2:



Image quality is surprisingly close to Micro 4/3, too. Samsung EX1 at ISO 400 is very similar to Panasonic G2 at ISO 800 with the welcome addition of wide DOF. If I want the same DOF with G2, I have to stop down the lens and shoot at ISO 1600. And - surprise, surprise - files from EX1 tolerate lifting of shadows better than files from Panasonic G2, although G2 is better at preserving highlights.



Overall EX1 works great when I just want to wonder around alone and take shots of whatever I find interesting.

[BBW]

Strat, I'm very glad that you posted these and it's easy to see why you would be in love with your Samsung. There really are so many very good cameras around, but when you find one that really makes you happy a high percentage of the time and gives you what you want - who can beat that?

Great reds in that restaurant shot, beautiful vista at night and I happen to love the colors in your electrical one.

[Fiddler]

I like my EX1 very much too. It's beautifully built, and I love the lens.

[Wally Billingham]

You can have my Samsung EX1 (TL500 here in the states) when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

[Eric]

Stratokaster,

Thanks for starting this thread and showing us some fine images you made with your EX1.

During decades of film photography, I owned and used several Schneider lenses including the phenomenal 28 PC for 35mm. Seeing that marque on a serious digital compact got my attention, and I think the EX1's little Varioplan is worthy of the house. Its contrast and clarity are wonderful. As I work with the images, I feel like I'm using a lens worth many times more than the entire camera's price. I know that's a film-based impression, but that's where I'm coming from. I'm glad that the zoom is in steps and I can think back to what a bag full of eight excellent fast primes would weigh and cost in film days. It's hard not to feel anxious about the next new camera and improvements, but when I look back, the EX1 is pretty amazing.

About the AMOLED screen, I'm especially pleased with its accuracy as a preview of exposure. I never take my EX1 out of manual mode: I set the aperture and simply spin the front wheel (shutter speed) until the image on the screen looks right. If the scene is very contrasty, I simply hold the highlights, knowing the RAW has enough depth to let me lift shadows a lot. Lately, I've been staying at or near base ISO and simply choose my shots and brace myself as conditions require. No exposure comp, no priority modes, or other fiddling around. This radical simplification in shooting has been very liberating, letting me visualize more and operate technology less. For me, this is really a case of "less is more," and I love the EX1 for what it lets me turn off and ignore.

I use the selection of AF points a lot, and manual focus, a lot, though mostly to lock focus and for infinity focus. With all its limitations, the manual focus implementation is very useful to me.

One low-tech note: I made a huge lens cap out of a Fancy Feast tin covered with layers of black tape. It covers the entire lens turret, gripping the knurled ring. With this ugly thing on the front, and the screen turn inward, I have no qualms about plopping the camera into a pocket or bag, knowing both screen and lens are well protected.

I could say much more in praise of the EX1, but these are a few of my favorite things.

[Wally Billingham]

Stratokaster,

About the AMOLED screen, I'm especially pleased with its accuracy as a preview of exposure. I never take my EX1 out of manual mode: I set the aperture and simply spin the front wheel (shutter speed) until the image on the screen looks right. If the scene is very contrasty, I simply hold the highlights, knowing the RAW has enough depth to let me lift shadows a lot.

thanks for that tip, I never would have thought of that

[bilzmale]

You guys are making it hard. I can buy an EX1 for $385 delivered compared to a XZ1 for about $550 or an E-PL2 for about $650 delivered to Australia. The Samsung is looking like good bang for bucks.

[BBW]

Just to fuel your fire, Bill - don't forget about these threads Amin posted a while back comparing this camera to others: Samsung EX1 Hands-On Impressions.

[ricardovaste]

I pretty much agree with the thoughts about the EX1 here, "IQ" and handling are both very good. It's not perfect, layout&customization could be a little better, it should really accept the electronic viewfinder with a 'smart' shoe, a quicker processor for multiple RAW files, and a few other niggles, but Samsung are new to this game, so you have to be patient with them. This is my first compact, ever... never even had a film compact, so it's been an interesting experience for more casual photography - the 'release' from the SLR has been quite pleasant. Above all, you have the accept the limitations of any tool you use, and with that in mind, it's an extremely capable camera... like many, when you learn to get the best out of it, the rewards can be nice.

I've only really had one 'outing' with it in honesty, I was expecting to get some more images with it over the Christmas period, but the bad weather meant travelling was just dangerous or tediously long... so didn't really take any photos sadly. Although, I have some time to relax next week so hopefully I will have more to share then :-)

"Forgotten"




"Cattle-Shuffle"




"Alley"




"Pavement"




"Reflection"




"Palette"




"Richard, can you please stop playing around. I'm talking to you and then I look around and you're stood with your camera out again. Rah!"




"Life in the Sky"



"Settling back"

[Eric]

Ricardovaste,

Welcome to the forum! So many nice images from one outing is a good success rate: I suppose the EX1 deserves some of the credit, but yours is clearly in capable hands. Your images titled "Palette" and "Settling back" have the subtle colors and luminosity that I was delighted to find the EX1 capable of capturing. The shot in the pedestrian tunnel, with its lengthy caption, is both an interesting image and a situation that I and various companions could easily relate to! Looking forward to your future postings...