After the small, light interchangeable lens mirrorless camera NX10 and NX5, the NX100 got an attention with the very interesting i-Function.
When using a DSLR camera, there are a lot of things to be done by a right hand, but a left hand is used to keep the camera from shaking.
Therefore, the right hand needs to do a lot of things including the operations for menu, shutter, and stable grip.
That’s why the i-Function lens allows the right hand to just hold the camera and push the shutter by making some functions through the lens, I think.
As the 18-55mm standard zoom lens user, the 20mm single lens with a new function made me want to use it.
However, I was worried that the i-Function lens released with the NX100 which is the next model of the NX10 can be used with the NX10. Samsung has released new firmware to address this. Of course, their purpose is to sell the new lenses, but I’m actually happy that Samsung allows the user of the previous model to use the new lenses. You can understand that easily if you compare this to other Japanese camera makers.
Before looking at the 20mm single lens, let’s take a look at the new firmware.
Compared with the previous firmware, 2 menus have been added in the new version 1.20.
One is for the external GPS function in No.4 menu, and the other is for i-Function in No.5 menu. When looking at the space below in No.4 and 5 menus, it makes me hope there will be more functions later.
<Lens i-Function> includes WB and ISO On/Off menu and <Distortion Correct> includes On/Off menu in a standard lens, but when it comes to a single lens, it’s set to On.
For your information, if you use the Ver. 1.05 or lower, you’d better update it to the Ver. 1.15, and then upgrade it again to the Ver. 1.20 firmware for more stable i-Function.
This time, 2 i-Function lenses such as the 20-50mm F3.5-5.6 standard zoom lens and 20mm F2.8 single lens have been released together with the NX10, and the diameter and length are a little different from the previous 30mm F2 single lens, but the filter size is the same with 43mm and it has a little unique focal length.
At the front of the 20mm F2.8 single lens, red colored text “i-Function” is on it, and the rectangular button to use the i-Function is located on the mounting part. Adjusting ring to adjust values is like a trademark of Samsung in a blue colored ring with projections for easier adjustment.
The 20mm i-Function single lens is mounted on the Samsung NX10 and compared with the 30mm single lens, the size is not that different.
On a small camera, a small single lens fits well, and compared with the image that the 18-55mm standard zoom lens is mounted on the NX10, it looks sharper and easier to carry around.
1. Push~ 2. Rotate~ 3. Shoot~ and Enjoy~~
No more left hand to hold the camera!!
A left hand was only used to hold the camera. Now, the left hand holds the camera, push the o-Function button, and rotate the focus ring in front of the lens. The right hand holds the camera more tightly and push the shutter with the index finger. Then, you will get the results you want in Aperture / EV / WB / ISO.
According to the shooting mode, the detailed menu composition of the i-Function is changed, and the test was made in A mode.
The new function consisting of 4 actions such as pushing, rotating, shooting, enjoying opened a new way of lenses, I think.
When holding the lens with the left hand, my thumb was naturally located around the i-Function button, but due to the size of the 20mm single lens, it wasn’t that convenient to push the button, and due to my previous habit, I tried to touch the buttons or dial located on the back and the top, but I think it’s getting more convenient.
Every time pushing the i-Function, Aperture/EV/WB/ISO menu (In A mode) are selected orderly, and in the menu, users can adjust the value by rotating the ring. Once pushing the i-Function button, it can be also selected by the dial located on the right top of the NX10, so users don’t need to take unnecessary actions for more convenience. Now, we don’ t need to move the right finger quickly to maintain the composition any more.
Resolution by aperture values
Because I used the partly printed chart, the quality wasn’t that great, comparing the resolution of the lenses by the aperture value, it’s like the above image and it shows the highest resolution from F7.1 to F13. Since I didn’t need to show them all, I just jumped a level between levels, but actually, the aperture consists of 19 levels from F2.8 to F22.
White balance
ISO
They are the images of White balance and ISO to find out the performance of the 20mm single lens except the resolution.
The white balance consists of auto / daylight / cloudy / fluorescent_White / fluorescent_NW / fluorescenet_daylight / tungsten / flash WB and custom modes (tested the white balance by myself) and K mode which adjust the color temperature is provided.
These white balances are used to express subjects more accurately, but when using it outdoors, you can get the unique effects, so using it for various ways will give another fun.
They are 100% cropped images after upgrading the firmware, high ISO (Including the resolution chart) noise has been reduced. From ISO 800, noise was started to be shown, but in high ISO, it reduced the noise quite well, so you can appropriately use the high ISO under low light condition.
For your referent, the NX10 supports ISO and noise reduction for long time and high ISO, and noise reduction function has been applied in the test images.
So far, we’ve tested the 20mm F2.8 lens by updating the firmware and found out the performance of the lens.
By adopting various functions on the lens which was only used to rotate the zoom ring, your right hand doesn’t have a lot of things to do, so it helps take fast shots with the left hand. This makes the i-Function lens more special.
Since I have already been used to DSLR buttons, I still need to check the composition and functions, after seeing people using it and having interests, I think it’s very new and useful trial.
Going out earlier on a sunny day, but I just got some sample images due to the capricious sky.
• Wheel & Command Dual Dial • Accessory shoe • HDMI • AF-assist lamp • Depth preview button • Battery for 420 shots on CIPA standard • SD / SDHC Memory Card • Intuitive direct function button |
