Samsung NX500 Image Quality Comparison: A lot of resolution packed into that lightweight camera
posted Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at 12:26 PM EDT
The compact, travel-friendly Samsung NX500 borrows a lot from the exterior design of its predecessor, the NX300, which is understandable. However, it borrows most of the guts from the larger, powerful NX1, which is quite remarkable. Inside this rather compact ILC body is the same 28.2-megapixel APS-C backside-illuminated CMOS sensor as found in the NX1, as well as a very similar DRIMe 'Vs' image processor. With this combination, the little NX500 can create some very high-resolution photographs and at a very high ISO sensitivity up to ISO 51,200 when fully expanded.
We've just completed our in-depth image quality comparison and print quality analysis of this newest Samsung NX-mount camera. As is our standard protocol, we begin our image quality comparison against its predecessor, and the bump up from a 20MP chip to a 28MP one shows a noticeable boost in image resolution and fine detail. We also pit the Samsung NX500 against the Canon T6i, Nikon D5500, Olympus E-PL7 and Sony A6000, which all sit at relatively similar price points and/or categories in their respective product lineups as compact, travel-friendly, consumer-class cameras.
Samsung NX500 vs Samsung NX300 at Base ISO
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Samsung NX500 at ISO 100
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Samsung NX300 at ISO 100
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Of course, we don't just look at on-screen, digital image quality performance, but also with how well the images look in the hand -- as printed photographs. Print quality from the new NX500 also produces some impressive results, especially at low ISOs, with some rather massive, wall-sized prints. Even up around the very extreme ISO sensitivities, the NX500 is able to produce usable prints.
For all the details on the image quality performance -- both digitally and physically -- head on over to our Samsung NX500 Image Quality Comparison and Print Quality Analysis. And if you've yet to do so, be sure to check out our Samsung NX500 Shooter's Report. We'll be wrapping up our full review on the Samsung NX500 very soon, so stay tuned for our final verdict!