Samsung’s NX500 is the first of what will be many affordable, sub-$1,000, mirror-less cameras that shoot 4K video.
The NX500 is only $800 with a 16-50mm kit lens, which costs half as much as Samsung’s flagship $1,500 NX1. The lower price doesn’t come at a loss of performance, though.
The camera shares much of the NX1’s DNA. They both have 28.2-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS image sensors, DRIMeVs image processors, 3-inch Super AMOLED touchscreens, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and, of course, 4K video recording.
The NX500 can record 4K video in two resolutions: 4,096 x 2,160 (Digital Cinema Initiatives standard) at 24 frames per second (fps) and the more common 3,840 x 2,160 (Ultra High Definition) at 30 fps.
With the NX500, Samsung has finally struck the right balance between big performance and compact design.