Samsung GX20 anyone?

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build, functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane, sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100 rebate
for the kit version.

"ME" wrote:

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build, functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane, sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100 rebate
for the kit version.


The Samsung is usefully cheaper than the Pentax, at least in the UK.

However the Samsung lacks two key features of the Pentax. One is the
extended dynamic range mode and the other is the dual RAW format. If
I was considering these two cameras, I would not hesitate to choose
the Pentax over the Samsung for those two features.

"Bruce" wrote in message
news
"ME" wrote:

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build,
functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane, sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100
rebate
for the kit version.


The Samsung is usefully cheaper than the Pentax, at least in the UK.

However the Samsung lacks two key features of the Pentax. One is the
extended dynamic range mode and the other is the dual RAW format. If
I was considering these two cameras, I would not hesitate to choose
the Pentax over the Samsung for those two features.

It lacks another important thing: the name Pentax ;-)


--
Focus

"Bruce" wrote in message
news
"ME" wrote:

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build,
functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane, sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100
rebate
for the kit version.


The Samsung is usefully cheaper than the Pentax, at least in the UK.

However the Samsung lacks two key features of the Pentax. One is the
extended dynamic range mode and the other is the dual RAW format. If
I was considering these two cameras, I would not hesitate to choose
the Pentax over the Samsung for those two features.


I have not seen the extended DR making more than a little difference but the
compressed pef would be the deal maker for me. Mind you I have not bought
on and am waiting to see what they do with the fps and focusing in the K30D.

"Bruce" wrote in message
news
"ME" wrote:

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build,
functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane, sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100
rebate
for the kit version.


The Samsung is usefully cheaper than the Pentax, at least in the UK.

However the Samsung lacks two key features of the Pentax. One is the
extended dynamic range mode and the other is the dual RAW format. If
I was considering these two cameras, I would not hesitate to choose
the Pentax over the Samsung for those two features.


I don't see the lack of PEF as a problem DNG is widely supported, Lightroom
is aware of the GX20 and memory is dirt cheap - 8GB Transcend class 6 SDHC
is £20 (19/12MBs). The EDR is doable elsewhere (Photoshop) and likely better
for it. But the price, I have the GX20 + kit lens is £460 UK (includes 10%
off plus £100 rebate so £300 less than K20D) which is very good indeed. One
can buy Pentax, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina lenses many of which are very good or
better.

"Bruce" wrote in message
news
"ME" wrote:

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build,
functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane, sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100
rebate
for the kit version.


The Samsung is usefully cheaper than the Pentax, at least in the UK.

However the Samsung lacks two key features of the Pentax. One is the
extended dynamic range mode and the other is the dual RAW format. If
I was considering these two cameras, I would not hesitate to choose
the Pentax over the Samsung for those two features.

Does the Samsing still carry a four-year warranty vs. the Pentax one-year
warranty?

"ME" wrote:
"Bruce" wrote in message
news
"ME" wrote:

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build,
functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane, sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100
rebate
for the kit version.


The Samsung is usefully cheaper than the Pentax, at least in the UK.

However the Samsung lacks two key features of the Pentax. One is the
extended dynamic range mode and the other is the dual RAW format. If
I was considering these two cameras, I would not hesitate to choose
the Pentax over the Samsung for those two features.


I don't see the lack of PEF as a problem DNG is widely supported, Lightroom
is aware of the GX20 and memory is dirt cheap - 8GB Transcend class 6 SDHC
is £20 (19/12MBs). The EDR is doable elsewhere (Photoshop) and likely better
for it. But the price, I have the GX20 + kit lens is £460 UK (includes 10%
off plus £100 rebate so £300 less than K20D) which is very good indeed. One
can buy Pentax, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina lenses many of which are very good or
better.


As I understood it from a review that I skimmed through (no time to
read it in detail) it wasn't possible to shoot RAW + JPEG at the same
time with the Samsung. Perhaps I got that wrong.

If you feel you can live with the very slightly lesser specification
of the Samsung, I agree it is a bargain at £460. A £300 price
difference for what is basically the same camera is staggering.

There seems to be no additional risk in buying the Samsung as they are
in it for the long haul. Samsung have a full frame CMOS sensor under
development and in pixel count at least, it is expected to beat the
Sony 24MP full frame sensor that will go in the soon-to-be-announced
Sony Alpha 900 and Nikon D3X. Samsung have no intention of making
their own DSLRs and their relationship with Pentax is very sound
indeed. Pentax are financially very strong and have recently become
part of the very stable and strong Hoya group, along with Tokina, who
make all the new Pentax lenses. So Pentax and Samsung are good
choices.

Buying a Sony DSLR would appear much more risky than buying a Pentax
or a Samsung as their sales are running at only a tiny fraction of
Sony's projections. The reason is that almost all Sony Alpha sales
are to existing Konica Minolta SLR/DSLR and Sony DSLR owners, of which
there are relatively few, and hardly any are new entrants to the Sony
brand.

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
"ME" wrote:
"Bruce" wrote in message
news
"ME" wrote:

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build,
functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane,
sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its
operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100
rebate
for the kit version.


The Samsung is usefully cheaper than the Pentax, at least in the UK.

However the Samsung lacks two key features of the Pentax. One is the
extended dynamic range mode and the other is the dual RAW format. If
I was considering these two cameras, I would not hesitate to choose
the Pentax over the Samsung for those two features.


I don't see the lack of PEF as a problem DNG is widely supported,
Lightroom
is aware of the GX20 and memory is dirt cheap - 8GB Transcend class 6 SDHC
is £20 (19/12MBs). The EDR is doable elsewhere (Photoshop) and likely
better
for it. But the price, I have the GX20 + kit lens is £460 UK (includes 10%
off plus £100 rebate so £300 less than K20D) which is very good indeed.
One
can buy Pentax, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina lenses many of which are very good
or
better.


As I understood it from a review that I skimmed through (no time to
read it in detail) it wasn't possible to shoot RAW + JPEG at the same
time with the Samsung. Perhaps I got that wrong.

It will do RAW + JPEG and that's selectable from a RAW button


If you feel you can live with the very slightly lesser specification
of the Samsung, I agree it is a bargain at £460. A £300 price
difference for what is basically the same camera is staggering.

As far as I am aware it is only the EDR and a reduced-size-21-fps mode which
are missing: I do not need 21fps. At £460 it's a steal. I can get the Pentax
16-45 lens for £199 too. I'm sick of Canon's incremental upgrades. I was
just viewing the Canon 450D samples on DPReview and have to say that the
GX20/K20D hi-iso ones are less noisey yet the DIWA graphs suggests
otherwise. Times are a changing. Canon might not rule alone for too much
longer. Only bug is that Samsung has announced the G30X already due later
this year. That promises to be something even better. Canon and Nikon need
to get a move on. Competition is good for buyers.

There seems to be no additional risk in buying the Samsung as they are
in it for the long haul. Samsung have a full frame CMOS sensor under
development and in pixel count at least, it is expected to beat the
Sony 24MP full frame sensor that will go in the soon-to-be-announced
Sony Alpha 900 and Nikon D3X. Samsung have no intention of making
their own DSLRs and their relationship with Pentax is very sound
indeed. Pentax are financially very strong and have recently become
part of the very stable and strong Hoya group, along with Tokina, who
make all the new Pentax lenses. So Pentax and Samsung are good
choices.

That's my understanding too.

Buying a Sony DSLR would appear much more risky than buying a Pentax
or a Samsung as their sales are running at only a tiny fraction of
Sony's projections. The reason is that almost all Sony Alpha sales
are to existing Konica Minolta SLR/DSLR and Sony DSLR owners, of which
there are relatively few, and hardly any are new entrants to the Sony
brand.

I agree. I did not like Sony's NR-in-RAW method either. Samsung has opted
not to do that. You can turn up NR in JPEG but by default it is off and as
far as I am aware RAW is RAW. There's a good article on www.cameralabs.com
on the K20D which shows its effects.

"Pete Stavrakoglou" wrote in message
...
"Bruce" wrote in message
news
"ME" wrote:

If so, what do you think of it - iso noise, exposure, af, build,
functions,
etc? I know it has pixel remap, image stabiliser, lens focal plane,
sensor
clean, water resistance, iso range,etc., so am intersted in its
operation.
It is quite abot cheaper than the Pentax K20D in the UK with its £100
rebate
for the kit version.


The Samsung is usefully cheaper than the Pentax, at least in the UK.

However the Samsung lacks two key features of the Pentax. One is the
extended dynamic range mode and the other is the dual RAW format. If
I was considering these two cameras, I would not hesitate to choose
the Pentax over the Samsung for those two features.

Does the Samsing still carry a four-year warranty vs. the Pentax one-year
warranty?

My understanding is that they offer a two-year warranty on DSLRs but someone
did say three years. I'll have to check that out. the law in the UK though
does not specify a time.

ME wrote:

Buying a Sony DSLR would appear much more risky than buying a Pentax
or a Samsung as their sales are running at only a tiny fraction of
Sony's projections. The reason is that almost all Sony Alpha sales
are to existing Konica Minolta SLR/DSLR and Sony DSLR owners, of which
there are relatively few, and hardly any are new entrants to the Sony
brand.

I agree. I did not like Sony's NR-in-RAW method either. Samsung has opted
not to do that. You can turn up NR in JPEG but by default it is off and as
far as I am aware RAW is RAW. There's a good article on www.cameralabs.com
on the K20D which shows its effects.

Some comments on the Samsung sensor:
"Thus, the best comparison that one can come up with is the ability to
boost raw under-exposed tones in post processing. I have shown that one
can boost Nikon D300 low ISO images by 4 stops where as one can only
boost K20D images by 2 to 2.5 stops; at high ISO's the Canon 40D and the
Nikon D300 have about the same noise at ISO 1600 as the K20D does at ISO
400 or the K20D has about 1.0 to 1.5 stops less dynamic range for images
at ISO 1600, or only about 6 to 6.5 stops of dynamic range at ISO 1600
for medium high image quality".
http://daystarvisions.com/Docs/Rvws/K20D/pg3.html