The NX is a concept the Korean producer said it was planning to make. The NX, also dubbed “hybrid” model, is combining the performance and image quality of a DSLR with the compactness of a point-and-shoot photo camera. The NX packs an APS-C image sensor like all DSLRs do, but doesn’t have a single-lens reflex mirror system. Using a larger sensor translates into smoother images and better performance. 

 

The NX uses an electronic viewfinder combined with Live View on the rear LCD for composing photos. By putting a mirror mechanism aside, Samsung said the NX will reduce the distance between the lens and the image sensor by as much as 60%.

 

The NX combines the enhanced performance of a large sensor and the compactness of a point-and-shoot camera, a concept already successfully implemented by Samsung competitors such as Olympus and Panasonic, pioneers in the Micro Four Thirds system.

 

Last September, at the IFA trade show in Berlin, Germany, after the Micro Four Thirds was announced, Samsung executive VP announced that the Korean company plans to make a new compact interchangeable lens system camera with a 14-megapixel APS-C sensor. At this year’s PMA, Samsung did not give any details about megapixel count or interchangeable lenses.

 

Announcing the NX was a pretty smart move from Samsung Digital Imaging Company. The only competition it has to face for now is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and the hybrid Olympus might launch. However, Samsung said it will most likely launch the NX series sometime in the second half of 2009 and many things can happen during this period.