Samsung finally unveiled the new EX2 compact camera. You can already preorder it at Bhphoto. The 24-80mm f/1.4-s.7 lens is much faster and wider than the big Sony RX100 competitor. An astonishing achievement! The only “downside” compared to the Sony camera is the much smaller 1/1.7-inch sensor compared to Son’y full 1 inch size.
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Smaller 1/1.7-inch sensor the only downside. You made it sound as if it was just one of those many things. But sensor size is a dominating factor. Comparing the lens compactness achievement of two cameras which have a vastly different sensor sizes carries very little meaning.
Which will collect more light – the 1/1.7″ sensor with f1.4 lens… or the 1″ sensor with f1.8 lens?
Both lenses are sure to be nice optically (Schneider / Zeiss)
Actually, it is a 5.3mm lens with F1.4 at wide end. The shallow depth of field can only be achieved by close focus. In theory, F1.4 with 4.68X crop factor just can produce image similar to 24mm w/ F6.5. I think Samsung make a decision of using 1/1.7″ CMOS too early. Prosumer P&S must use 1″ sensor to compete with the potential future model. Sony already has RX100, Olympus, Panasonic may make another one. Let’s wait and see.
So now 1/1.7 sensor compacts don’t have large enough sensors? Just cause Sony came out with one larger?
Hmmm…oh well I guess people will never be happy. I’m sure the next lx6/7 or xz-2 will have the 1/1.7 sensors as well. I’m sure they will be great cameras. I love my xz-1! The sensors not “huge” but it can provide a shallow DOF at the long end for head and shoulder shots. Its the first compact I’ve had that could do that!
The predecessor of this camera also had a 24mm(equiv) f/1.8 lens, but the real trick is, it has a shipload of distortion which is corrected in JPEGs but not correcter on RAWs. Check dpreview.com:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/samsungtl500/7
Actually the Sony lens is quite a bit faster. The crop factors differ by factor of (:)) 1.7, thus to compare the properties of the systems you should multiply the Samsung apertures (and focal lengths) by 1.7.
The f-numbers are not cross-format compatible. If one wants to compare across formats one needs to convert them.
I always urge the manufacturers to produce prime lens P&S with large aperture. Ricoh GRD series is still quite a good example of its compact size balance of control. I believe Ricoh may make one too.
woho……
1/1.7? is not large enough to compete with 1″ ,
1″ is not large enough to compete with M43, X2.7, X1.85……
M43s(and others) are not large enough to compete with APS-C,
APS-C are not large enough to compete with APS-H,
APS-H are not large enough to compete with FF size Cmos,
FF are not large enough to compete with 645D or MF Digital Back
Woho…….what the people in need is a MF 645 camera or a MF Digital Back , all the others are not competitive and their good selling point could be ignored~ good job! Phase One and Pentax! LOL~!
The Sony RX100 and Nikon 1 sensors are NOT 1″! It is just marketing bragging (exagerarting is 30%)! True size is 13,2 x 8,8mm which is significantly smaller. Still, the sensor is at least twice as big as the Samsung.
The Sony is smaller, lighter, longer zoom range and more mpix. As I always work RAW and am disappointed by RAW from small sensor cameras, I prefer the Sonty. Why I am disappointed? RAW from small sensor you can work with but very soon image starts falling apart quality wise. In reality you can change very little.
I can agree with with Physica above that you cannot expect MF IQ from a small sensor camera. But – within the high end compact segment the Samsung looks big, heavy and a little behind in everything but aperture. Also never liked files from Samsung cameras. Had a Samsung camera with RAW and when I accidently dropped it on concrete it was a relief! 🙂
You guys are funny, why don’t you wait til the cameras are actually available, before you start saying which one is better
I don’t find the EX2 aperture range so impressive.
Sure f1.4 at 24mm is a breakthrough, but f2.7 at 80mm falls behind the Olympus XZ1 which still gives you f2.2 at 85mm. And The Oly can still zoom to 105mm f2.5, while the EX2 stops at 80mm.
I can’t find the full EX2 aperture vs focal length anywhere, but I assume that the Olympus lens becomes brighter above ~50mm approx.
I thought Samsung dropped the P/S cameras to focus on their NX system since
the cell-phone market was taking over?
Dunno why you should shout “(super lens!)” in the title? Have you tested it? Is Samsung well known for good lenses? You could say “(unusually specced)”. We don’t know yet if it is super, even though i doubt it – whatever prestigious name may be written onto it.