The new Samsung NX Mini is the “world’s slimiest interchangeable lens camera.”

The super compact design is just a touch bigger than your palm—it’s truly difficult to comprehend how small it is without holding it. The Mini looks, feels, and functions like a compact point and shoot camera. At the same time, the interchangeable lens system and 1-inch type 20.5MP CMOS image sensor provide powerful performance that challenges many of Samsung’s competitors.

The NX Mini is what I call a “step up” point-and-shoot camera—a product for people looking for a higher level of functionality, adjustment, and adaptability without breaking the bank on a more expensive DSLR. To this market, size matters as larger cameras come off as cumbersome and impractical—and importantly—simplicity reigns supreme. At 158 grams (5.6oz), a width of 22.5mm (0.89″), and a length of 110.4mm (4.35″), the NX Mini is one of the thinnest, smallest, and lightest cameras that offer full-featured performance. It’s generally easy to use, the menus are easy to navigate, and it offers exceptional image sensor resolution in a small package.

The Samsung NX Mini is not the only small interchangeable lens camera on the market. Other super-small cameras with lens interchangeability include Nikon’s 1 series, the Panasonic GM1, and the Pentax Q7. The Samsung adds another competitor into the market mix of tiny “step up” cameras. The NX Mini’s 1-inch sensor has a higher resolution than all of them, although micro four thirds sensor cameras like the Panasonic GM1 offer larger sensor size (17.3mm x 13mm compared to the NX Mini’s 13.2mm x 8.8mm).

Key Specifications

• 20.5mp 1-inch type BSI-CMOS sensor
• 1080/30p HD video
• RAW Shooting
• 3-inch 460,000 dot touch screen LCD
• Screen tilt (180 degrees up)
• Electronic shutter (1/16000 max speed)
• Auto ISO, 160-12800 (extendable to 100-25600)
• 6fps continuous shooting
• 650 shot battery life with 9mm lens
• Wi-Fi and NFC

Samsung was the first company to offer cameras that ran full Android operating systems. In that vein of innovation, the NX Mini was designed for connectivity through Wi-Fi and NFC. In addition to a larger image sensor than anything you will find on a pocket-sized point-and-shoots, the Mini offers a burst mode of 6 fps, a maximum electronic shutter speed of 1/16000, 1080/30p video capture, and a 3-inch touch screen LCD that tilts 180 degrees.

Another new lens mount—NX-M—was designed to reduce the size of the camera. Three NX-M mount lenses will be available at launch in April: 9mm f/3.5 and 17mm f/1.8 prime lenses, and a 9-27mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom. The 1-inch sensor crop factor will provide the 35mm film equivalent of a 24mm focal length. The 17mm is an impressively fast lens at f/1.8. It will act as a “normal” lens with a 45.9mm equivalent focal length. An NX mount adapter will also be available so you can use NX lenses on the NX-M mount.

The NX Mini’s focus system is based on contrast-detect points which traditionally offer fast and accurate AF performance. Video shooting capabilities are par with the current range of compact system camera competitors. Additionally, battery life is exceptional with a 650 shot battery life using a prime lens. Adding the NX adapter or a zoom lens reduces battery life.

Going ultra-small with the NX Mini forced Samsung to compromise on layout and button placement. Most setting adjustments require menu navigation instead of simple one-press button use. The menu interface is easy to navigate, but there are many other compact system cameras that offer better functionality when it comes to immediate settings adjustment.

That brings us to Samsung’s intended market. The NX Mini is not necessarily a camera for the “prosumer” or the professional photographer who wants the compact form of a point-and-shoot style camera with advanced functionality. The advanced functions are there, but you have to dig through a menu system to get to them. This camera might be a fun second-shooter for some, but it doesn’t offer the control flexibility that DSLR shooters are accustomed to. Instead of making a camera to steal away DSLR users, Samsung made a product designed specifically for point-and-shoot photographers who want better image quality and the option to fine tune settings.

If you are looking for one of the best point-and-shoot style cameras out there—one that has the ability to adapt to different shooting situations with interchangeable lenses, resolution that rivals more expensive cameras, and the ability for advanced setting control—the NX Mini might be it. You certainly aren’t going to find an interchangeable lens camera that is smaller. And—the price is right—it comes in at what high-end point-and-shoot cameras sell for.

You can order the new Samsung NX Mini on Amazon.

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