While the Samsung NX210 takes very nice, relatively low-noise raw photos, its JPEG processing could use some work.
Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
I'm less impressed with the JPEG processing on the Samsung NX210 than I was with the NX200's; it's not that it's worse, it's just that even as low as ISO 100 you can get better results from raw. By ISO 400 I see artifacts everywhere -- though not bad artifacts, and frankly I don't think they'll jump out at many people until you hit ISO 800. In contrast, raw-format night photos shot at ISO 3200 looked reasonably good printed at 13x19.
Slightly defocused edges become especially troublesome (not just for the NX210 but for all cameras) as ISO sensitivity rises. In the NX210, they start to look aliased (jagged).
(1/80 sec, f5, spot metering, AWB, ISO 400, 30mm lens)
The aliasing on out-of-focus edges became so strong at ISO 800 that I thought I might have shot this at too low a resolution. You can also see noise and suppression artifacts in the flat black areas.
(1/80 sec, f2.0, spot metering, AWB, ISO 800, 30mm lens)
Interestingly, Samsung's Picture Wizard setting -- its color controls -- defaults to off, which is its most neutral setting, and my preferred option. However, if you're looking for a setting that automatically produces a higher-contrast, more saturated look comparable to what you get from other consumer cameras, you'll want to use the Standard setting. It produces decent results, boosting contrast and saturation slightly without sacrificing detail or accuracy.
