Samsung EX2F Digital Camera Review

Color

Color accuracy came in with an uncorrected error value of 2.90, which makes the EX2F an above-average performer, but only by a slim margin. In fact, we've come to expect at least slightly better performance from cameras in this price range, and although you may not notice a difference, this score was a bit disappointing for us. We also detected nearly 10% oversaturation, which is a tad too high. More on how we test color.

Looking over the color spectrum, reds, yellows, and blues seem to be responsible for the most severe inaccuracies. Blue is expected because consumers like bright skies, however those errors and red and yellow will cause human subjects to be rendered slightly unnaturally, and that's a major reason why color accuracy is so important.

NOTE: Because of the way computer monitors reproduce colors, the images above do not exactly match the originals found on the chart or in the captured images. The chart should be used to judge the relative color shift, not the absolute captured colors.

Unfortunately, many high-end compacts struggle in this test. Our EX2F scored better than the mighty Sony RX100, as well as the Canon S100. Panasonic's LX7, another F1.4 camera, is the best performer of this group.

White Balance

The EX2F’s handling of white balance is excellent. The automatic algorithm comes up with adequate color temperatures under both daylight and fluorescents, and reacts instantaneously to changing conditions. Incandescent light is typically most challenging source, and while that’s true here, the EX2F is only off by an average of less than 600 Kelvin, which isn’t so bad.

For sticklers, or those that need to use incandescent lighting, performing a custom white balance with the EX2F will always give you better results. Using this method, errors under daylight are reduced to around 60 Kelvin, and both incandescent and fluorescent sources are treated to errors of only 35 Kelvin, which is barely perceptible.

White Balance Options

The easy-to-use white balance interface has only five preset options, but also has an option for direct Kelvin entry. White balance bracketing is possible, but this requires use of both the drive mode dial and the main menu.