The Vice-president is correct. It's a big fantastic deal! Hey, what are you thinking?
What I am talking about is Samsung's NX10. While Ricoh is laudable for impacting the camera market (it had been quite some time for other makers provided us with compacts fitted with a 24mm lens and a 1/1.7" sensor since Ricoh's models) by the strength of creativity, Samsung should be applauded for letting us get a APS-C-core compact camera without draining our purse or making us niggardly in spite of ourselves when beefing up our acquisitions for the system.
As revealed by the Co-editor yesterday, the body plus the 30mm pancake kit set costs just HK$6,590, which can be a bit lower at the retailing level. In comparison, Pany's GF-1, which uses a sensor a wee bit smaller, is sold by at around HK$6,900 (already the street price) with the 20mm pancake.
If compared to, say, Canon EOS 550D tagged around HK$ 6,800 (there is a way to get it at HK$5,700!), the Samsung NX10 has lower the threshold which can effectively make perspective buyers feel bound to stand up for it.
I still believe that price is not an issue when considering moving from the embrace of DSLRs into the arms of interchangeable-lens large-sensor compacts; certainly not for new comers without past investments in lenses and accessories. But, for sure, pricing is a strong factor to entice. When the price is low enough, it can rule the decision of buyers as the moon rules the tides.
And, I can admit that I could be wrong in suspecting the determination of Samsung in owning this market segement. Having checked out the accessory list posted here yesterday, I now have no doubt that Samsung is putting its shoulder to the wheels in developing the NX10 system.
The three avant-garde lenses are selling at afforadable prices too. Take for example, the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 zoom lens. The suggested retail price is HK$2,190 (street price can be around $2,000). Now, look at Panasonic's LUMIX 14-45mm F3.5-5.6 MEGA O.I.S. which is asking for the lowest price of HK2,700 according to some recent buyers. What a price difference!
Now, when I think about the HK$6,xxx asking price for a GXR A12 lensor.... Isn't the decision already ruled by the moon ... er ... price? Okay, the bottom line: price can become an issue when it is low enough.
Oh, if you're buying the NX10, either get the twin-lenses kit set (not available as such yet) or the pancake-lens kit set. It is wiser in money term to buy the cheaper zoom lens rather than the dearer pancake separately.
Comments
I want a small camera WITH an eye level finder as well as a good rear screen. Having to add a finder to the hotshoe doesn't work for me.
The G1 and GH1 are nice BUT one is limited when it comes to WA lenses.
The NX10 will replace my aging Pentax K100D and with its very nice pancake lens it should also do well as a day to day street camera
I'm very pleased that I don't have to buy a micro 4/3 camera and will have the future choice of being able to use some of the same lenses I presently use on my K100D and K10D
I just wish Samsung would get some stocks into UK shops. There already seems to be a waiting list here.
Fact is, Samsung is not a bit creative about the NX10. BUT, and a big BUT, no one has figured out the right pricing until now. When these cameras are equally expensive, the more affordable price of NX10 is a big draw. As in a football match: not by much, but by just enough!