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A few weeks ago, Samsung’s newest camera, the NXMini arrived at my home and things have not been the same. The first three days I barely touched the camera, because one of my three children had it. I love this camera because it has encouraged my children to document our life and I actually end up in some of the pictures taken with my cameras.
The NXMini is a pocket-sized contender in the compact system camera arena. These types of cameras have DSLR image quality features and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses. The Mini I received came with a 9mm, f/3.5 prime pancake lens which takes decent pictures.
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The Technical Stuff
Images are captured on a 1” BSI sensor with 20.5 megapixel resolution. The camera will record RAW files, Full HD 1080p video and shoot up to 6fps. One of the best things about the camera is the flip-up 3” touch-sensitive screen. If you are a selfie junkie, this camera will have you shooting the most composed shots ever!
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What I Like About the NXMini
The small size of the Mini means I can easily take a camera with me wherever I go. Yes, I do have a smartphone with a pretty awesome camera, but having a compact camera with 20.5 megapixel resolution is even better. The Mini is light, weighing in at 158 grams and it feels solid in your hand. My camera is mint green and I like the color more than I thought I would.
My children were able to use the camera immediately with little instruction. In fact, when you flip the screen up 180 degrees, the Mini comes on and you are ready to take a selfie. You even get a 1-2-3 count down before it takes the picture. Get this: if you wink at the screen, it will take your picture. How fun is that?
One more thing I really like is the battery life. As small as the camera is, Samsung was able to pack a 2330mAh-capacity rechargeable battery in the camera which is double the life of your average battery camera. I have not charged the camera since receiving it and it is still on a full charge almost three weeks later.
What I’m Not Loving About the NxMini
The majority of the Mini’s body is a textured plastic, which can look a little cheap, but it does not take away from the functionality of the camera. I always have the camera strap around my arm because the camera can be a little slippery in the right conditions.
The detachable lens does not come with a lens cap and that makes me a little nervous. I am stickler for taking care of my glass and I really wish they would have created the new lenses to accept some time of protective covering.
Final challenge for me is the lack of image stability with the 9mm lens. Shooting in low light does not always give the sharpest images. The 9-27mm zoom lens does have image stability and the upcoming 17mm, f/1.8 will have image stabilization.
All in all, I like the NXMini and it is a nice addition to the compact system cameras. My oldest girl said this camera is really smart for YouTubers and tweens and pretty much anyone else who loves taking selfies. If you want something a little more sophisticated than your standard point and shoot, the NXMini is a great option.
I am a Samsung Imagelogger, which means I receive new cameras as they come out to use to take pictures and share my opinions with the team. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
I like the idea of it working with your smartphone, but lack of image stability worries me.
Misty, the 9mm lens does not have image stability, but the 9-27mm zoom does have it, which is nice. I have not had a chance to use the zoom lens, but I have used others from the NX lens family and they are pretty good. I really like the features of the camera that work with my smartphone. Very handy!