Instead of the mystical belief that the focusing speed is the strength of the NX10, I would say that its menu system is simply the most fantastic about it. In this post, you will be introduced the good things about the menu system which is swift, easily accessible and highly user-friendly. If you tweak the camera a lot, you will know how useful and helpful such a menu system will be.
Even in the proper menu, Samsung has successful kept the functions in each tab within the five rows. That is to say, users don't have to scroll up and down but only shift left to right for surfing through the functions. This is much, much better than what are offered by its competitors.
The NX10 has a unique menu system which is so well thought-out that the users are actually discouraged to use the menu. This is not sarcasm. As the focusing speed is crucial to a camera, the accessibility and user-friendliness of the menu system can also do a big favour to photographers doing photos at critical moments where adjustments are needed.
Fact is, every function on the menu is hidden behind this button or that on which a few presses can recall them. With a bit getting used to, the user will not be confused about which button is pressed for what tuning even without looking. This is achieved by Samsung's smart standardisation of the way to adjust all the functions which is by way of the directional keys at the back of the camera body.
The functions in the menu system can be accessed through he buttons on the back of the camera body. The arrow keys marked (AF-MF; WB; ISO; Metering) on the big circle button also double as the buttons to do the tweaking.
The turning and tweaking are done by pressing the corresponding button to access the desired function, the up-arrow key to activate the adjustment options and then the right- or left-arrow key to do the suitable adjustment. Lastly, half-pressing the shutter release can confirm and simultaneously return the camera to the shooting status.
An Example
Take doing the image format adjustment as an example.
First, press the Fn button to access the graphic menu on which the first function is the photo size.
Now press the up-arrow key to activate the adjustment options and then the left- or right-arrow key to make the preferred choice. Half-press the shutter release to return to the shooting status.
This brilliant design for doing the tweaking can easily win over users of Ricoh cameras which, especially in the case of the GXR, boast the most flexible menu system on earth for tweaking and customisation. In fact, what Samsung has done is putting all the functions in several quick menus. Simply marvellous!
Legibility
The big display of the accessed/ selected functions makes sure that the user needs not double-check the setting when the concentration has to be fully on taking the photos.
Another thing to be loved for the NX10's menu system is the graphic interface resembling a 3-dimensional graphic outlook:
When the adjustment is made, the dot on the meter moves according to your setting. Very intuitive indeed.
The selected ISO displays in the large graphic font, which legibility is the best I have seen in serious compacts or DSLR.
When shooting on the go, such an unmistakeable display of the function being selected really liberates the photographer to focus on doing the photo, especially for photographers permanently at the pilot seat (i.e. on full manual mode). The NX10's menu system is an exemplary example definitely to be followed by its competitors.
The exposure value ruler and the exposure combo are shown at the bottom in a way facilitating the checking and tuning.
Also, I especially like the exposure value ruler displayed on the screen. It is shown in markings more legible than the cases with the GXR and GF-1. As usual, the activated functions can be called up and, if so chosen, remain displayed on the edges of the screen.
Eye Sensor
Adding to the user-friendliness of the function-tweaking layout is the eye-sensor to toggle the screen display between the viewfinder and the LED. Although the viewfinder is of a high resolution, the larger LED is always preferred when doing the tweaking. Instead of asking the user to manually toggle the display, the NX10 is built with an eye-sensor right below the viewfinder. When the user moves the head close to the viewfinder, the sensor activates the viewfinder; when moving away from the viewfinder, the sensor activates the LED.
The toggling works almost simultaneously. This convenience is to be loved by every photographer. You will just wonder why no one has thought about it before. They should now.
A Function of Note
A function to be singled out is about the video. No, it is not about doing the video recording. As we all know, the NX10 can do HD videos which can be used in emergency for doing photographs.
If the photographer is unsure about the most decisive moment, the video function allows any single clip to be captured and generated into a photo.
After shooting a video, the user can replay it with the camera and capture any of the sequential shots to save as a JPEG image. The final image is not scaled down in resolution. That is to say, the images made as such are around 14 MP.
Certainly the same trick can be done with the post-processing software for videos done by any digital cameras or camcorders. But the NX10 offers a handy alternative to save the hassles.
If the menu system of the NX10 can be summed up in one word, it should be UNBEATABLE.
The NX10 field report is to be continued.
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