Samsung GX 1S Digital Camera Review

Samsung GX 1S

Digital Camera Review

Apr 20, 2006 - By Patrick Singleton
3 The Samsung GX-1S is a small, lightweight, 6-megapixel DSLR with a Pentax lens mount, 11-point autofocus, and a kit price around $800. It looks very similar to Pentax's DSLRs, which are tough, nicely styled, and easy to use. Predictions point to the sub-$1000 DSLR field as the expanding market for digital cameras, so it makes sense for Samsung, a company with ambitions in the photographic industry, to produce a model for this field.. The question is whether the GX-1S is the right camera to introduce in such a competitive market.
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Samsung GX 1S


Auto Mode (7.5)
The GX-1S's Auto mode controls aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. ISO defaults to automatic, but can be manually set. Metering and autofocus patterns can be manually set, as can file resolution and quality, but image parameters including saturation, contrast, and sharpening are automated. This mode is included in the scene modes. It's called “Normal.”

Custom Image Presets (7.5)
The GX-1S has seven scene modes, including Normal.  This is a reasonably sizable selection for DSLRs, and should accommodate most users graduating from compact cameras.
 
Normal
Standard full auto
Portrait
Reduces depth of field, may decrease sharpening
Landscape
Increases depth of field, sharpening, and saturation
Macro
Increases sharpening
Moving Object
Increases shutter speed to freeze motion
Night Scene Portrait
Combines flash with long exposure time
Flash OFF
Like Normal, but without flash
 
Drive / Burst Mode (6.25)
The GX-1S delivered a little better than 2.5 frames per second in burst mode in our tests. Though that's not as good as some competing cameras (the Nikon D50 and the Canon Rebel XT both hit 3 fps), it is in the ballpark. However, while burst shooting with the GX-1S may be convenient for shooting portraits, the burst is not fast enough for high-speed sports or wildlife.

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