Samsung GX-20

By Tony Celeste, published on February 11, 2008
Source: bestofmedia | Keywords: , , | Themes: Digital Cameras

4. Samsung GX-20

The Samsung GX-20 features a CMOS image sensor with an impressive 14 megapixel resolution, 14-bit RAW image capture, noise reduction technology, sensor based shake reduction, a 2.7” LCD display with live preview, and a dust removal system.

Samsung GX-20 DSLR

There’s a one touch RAW shooting button that enables you to quickly capture 14-bit RAW images, and if desired, convert the images to JPEG from inside the camera. The GX 20’s continuous shooting mode is capable of capturing up to three images per second, and if you have the memory available, you can capture an unlimited number of JPEG images, or nine images in RAW format.

The GX-20 uses “Optical Picture Stabilization” (OPS), Samsung’s sensor based shake reduction system. The OPS is located inside the camera, instead of in the lens, so that the OPS feature works with a wide range of lenses. Samsung included a dust removal system that can be set to automatically vibrate the CMOS sensor when the GX-20 is powered on, and they have manufactured the GX-20’s sensor with a special dust resistant coating.

The GX-20 appears to be the most rugged of the digital SLRs that debuted at PMA 08. Every button, gap and other potentially vulnerable area on the camera’s body has been fortified with seals and silicone to protect against damage from common contaminants such as water, sand, and other elements.

The Samsung GX-20 will be available in March 2008 for $1,299. Obviously, the combination of 14 megapixel resolution, 14-bit image capture, and a camera built to withstand outdoor elements, comes at a premium. Whether or not the GX-20 is worth $1,299 for you is likely to depend on how you plan on using it. If you need 14 million pixels, and a camera that can withstand the elements, the GX-20 probably will be worth the investment.

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Deleted profile 02/11/2008 10:37 AM
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The Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 is NOT a digital SLR. It's a high end point and shoot with a very big zoom. It cannot be compared to a real SLR.
oldscotch 02/11/2008 3:10 AM
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oldscotch
The Casio EX-F1 is not a dSLR.

You're also letting your anti-Sony bias show again.
Deleted profile 02/11/2008 3:32 AM
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Dude, what are you smoking. Another wasted article. Come on.
Deleted profile 02/11/2008 4:11 AM
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dnz is right, and Samsung is just a rebadge Pentax with a different sensor, and it is not a serious contender neither. Where is Sony, Pentax, and Olympus?
Deleted profile 02/11/2008 5:27 AM
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I agree. The Pentax K200D and K20D SLRs are much more notable than the Samsung. Which is the same thing with a blue trim instead of green. And Sony has a couple real interesting SLRs on display this year. Namely the A350.
Wastral 02/11/2008 8:42 AM
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Wastral
Note to the editor: Whoever you are, please never have this ignorant moron type any more words about cameras. Everything he said was wrong from the crap about the 14bit A-D converter on the new Rebel to the fact he doesn't even know what an SLR is. And don't give us tripe about it being a PMA coverage. If you actually want PMA coverage add insight not just copy/paste tripe from the camera makers PR pamphlets. Honestly you guys do it correctly with CES etc why can't you figure out what actually journalism is? Anyone can copy paste BS
Deleted profile 02/11/2008 9:23 AM
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Your article is not very good I mean, come on. You dont state anything more than we already know and you miss some key points.

Plus what about the Pentax K20D and K200D? Those are two very noticeable camera.

Oh, and the Casio EX-F1 is NOT a digital slr, its just a high end point and shoot.
yass 02/11/2008 11:28 AM
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yass
Please refrain from having this editor write any more articles on cameras. It is obvious that he knows nothing about the topic.
yass 02/12/2008 12:06 PM
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yass
Please refrain from having this editor write any more articles on cameras -- he obviously knows nothing about the topic...
Deleted profile 02/12/2008 1:12 AM
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Please don't write about a subject you don't know. Stay in your pc world and leave the cameras alone.
Deleted profile 02/12/2008 1:32 AM
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As others have said, the Casio is not a dSLR. It has a 1/1.8" sensor similar to other point and shoot cameras. A typical APS-C SLR such as the Canon or Nikon has a sensor that is about 10 times larger than the Casio.

1/1.8" = 37.63 sq. mm
APS-C (Canon) = 328.56 sq. mm

Also, keep in mind that the super high frame rates it produces are at extremely low resolutions (336X96 @ 1200 fps).

Again, I'm rehashing what others have said, but if you're going to do a roundup of dSLRs, why wouldn't you include the new Pentax and Sony models? If you were to leave one out, certaily the Samsung could have been dropped since it is just a re-badged Pentax.
Deleted profile 02/12/2008 2:58 AM
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Ok,
This article is obvious an Press Release for Casio, the pictures that apear in the front page of the site is for the casio. Which obviouslly is not a DSLR, and neither casio name it a DSLR. So I think the problem is clearly with Toms Hardware, which Day after day have became a SIte for PROPAGANDA of PRESS RELEASE from who pays more.
MAybe people should digg this article as the last example of the slow death of Toms Hardware
oldscotch 02/12/2008 3:07 AM
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oldscotch
husky91 :
As others have said, the Casio is not a dSLR. It has a 1/1.8" sensor similar to other point and shoot cameras. A typical APS-C SLR such as the Canon or Nikon has a sensor that is about 10 times larger than the Casio.1/1.8" = 37.63 sq. mmAPS-C (Canon) = 328.56 sq. mm...



Sensor size is irrelevant to what makes a camera a SLR.
GillesML 02/12/2008 4:01 AM
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GillesML
ummmmm...

"And there?s dual support for image stabilization, provided by Nikon?s new VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization lens, and Nikon?s proprietary VR camera image stabilization technology."

That's odd. I have not seen any mention anywhere else of Nikon using in camera stabilization on the D60 or on any of their dSLRs. And having a Nikon with in camera stabilization would be HUGE news for Nikon lovers/fanbois/etc... Wonder how many other errors on specs there are. And strating to wonder if the author was even at PMA and handled any of the cameras.
Deleted profile 02/12/2008 4:42 AM
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Yes, sensor size is irrelevant. However, the fact that it has an electronic viewfinder and does not have a mirror, means that it doesn't qualify for the "reflex" part of the "Single Lens Reflex" part of SLR.

The fact is this writer knows nothing about cameras and did not even do the due diligence a good reporter would have done. Tom's Guide would have done a better service to its readers by inserting a link to qualified coverage, as done by Digital Photography Review. This article does the readers a disservice because it is simply full of misinformation.
weinheimer 02/12/2008 7:20 AM
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weinheimer
What good is this article? There is no review or comparison... just a regurgitation of manufacturer supplied specs.

How about a review? Wow how this site has changed over the years... and that's not a compliment!
Deleted profile 02/13/2008 8:05 AM
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@GillesML

"That's odd. I have not seen any mention anywhere else of Nikon using in camera stabilization on the D60 or on any of their dSLRs."

They are packaging an 18-55 VR lens with the body.
Deleted profile 02/13/2008 11:59 AM
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I use this site to get information about video cards and CPU's, and I trusted in the information provided here, but this article changed my mind.

I read a lot of information about dSLR cameras, and this is the worst article that I read!

1. The camera dust reduction method aren't very effective. In fact, some dust reduction systems increased the amount of dust in the sensor according to some tests. That's why a lot of semi and pro dSLR cameras doesn't have dust reduction systems, and Nikon refused to introduce this kind of system in the entry-level dSLR until the D60.

2. In my opinion, the most important characteristcs of a dSLR camera is the low noise on high ISO without destructive noise reduction (that means a big sensor with a crop factor of 1.6x or bigger), the interchangeable lens and the optical Trought-The-Lens (TTL) viewfinder (not electronic, please).

3. A bigger zoom means a lot of optical distortion. That's why prime lens (fixed focal length) have a better image quality than zoom lens. And the zoom doesn't mean anything if the focal length isn't provided: a 15-45mm lens is very different from a 80-240mm, but both lens have a 3x zoom.

4. If you want to make movies, don't buy dSLR!

5. If you want a non-dSLR ultra-zoom, the best is the Panasonic FZ18, with 18x optical zoom (28-504mm) and low optical distortion. But like the others very-small-sensor cameras, the high-ISO performace is very bad.

6. If you really want to buy a entry-level dSRL with a lens kit:
Sony has a bad high-ISO performance
- Canon don't have the best high-ISO performance, but it have the most sharp image (low noise reduction) and a lot of good lens.
- Nikon uses the Sony sensor and have a smooth image (high noise reduction) and the body are too small, but it has the best flash metering and the very cheap 55-200mm VR lens.
- Panasonic/Samsung have the best anti-dust reduction system.
- Pentax provides more features (like shake-reduction in the sensor and a weather sealed body), but we don't know about the future of this brand.
GillesML 02/13/2008 1:39 AM
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GillesML
@dstarr3

True they are packaging a VR lens with the body as a kit but the wording of the article says "And there's dual support for image stabilization, provided by Nikon's new VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization lens, and Nikon's proprietary VR camera image stabilization technology." I read that as the author saying there is both VR on the lens (true) and the camera (Which I have not seen mentioned anywhere including the Nikon website)
Deleted profile 02/13/2008 2:53 AM
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@GillesML

"I read that as the author saying there is both VR on the lens (true) and the camera (Which I have not seen mentioned anywhere including the Nikon website)"

They may be refering to an additional scene mode that provides "digital image stabilization," a.k.a. high-ISO.


@rocharh

#3 - I figure the zoom race is the new megapixel race. It's won't be "who has the most megapixels" anymore. It's going to be "who has the most megapixels and the most zoom," both at the expense of quality. We haven't seen any drastic increases in quality since the 6-megapixel era. Almost all of the blame lies with marketing, too. If we could just stop trying to reinvent this wheel over and over again, we might actually be able to make it work well in the first place.

#5 - I find the FZ8 to be a better camera than the FZ18. A 12x optical zoom, you do have less zoom, but less distortion, and a lot better corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the full range. And the range is still plenty large.
But in fairness, both cameras have class-leading lens designs. I just don't find the extra telephoto useful. The extra wide is certainly nice, though.

#6 - I've always found Canon to provide the best noise levels. There's no entry-level SLR that can beat the XTi at ISO 800 or above. Even some prosumers can't touch it.
I've also found that, excepting the occasional Nikkor VR glass, Canon typically has the best optical stabilization systems. Sensor-shift stabilization systems like those in Olympus, Sony, and Pentax just don't work.
And Pentax has been around forever, and I think they'll be around for a long time to come. Pentax lenses are of a competing quality with Leica and (true) Zeiss, and their cameras offer an amazing amount of features and quality for their lower price tag. The only disadvantage is accessories are a little difficult to come by, but it's the same with Olympus and Sony. And we know that's not enough to stop them.

Note You are going to post a comment as anonymous.



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