X

Samsung's NX lens lineup for 2010

In addition to its already-announced basic zooms and 30mm pancake, Samsung promises a handful more of kit essentials for the yet-to-be-released NX10.

Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Expertise Photography, PCs and laptops, gaming and gaming accessories
Lori Grunin

Samsung

Joining Sony in the fantasy-road-map department, Samsung finally, sort of, announced availability and dates for the first lenses for its as-yet-to-ship NX10 camera. However, of course, Samsung hasn't released pricing information for its NX lenses.

Lens Availability
30mm f2 pancake January
18-55mm f3.5-5.6 OIS
January
50-200mm f5-5.6 OIS January
18-55mm f3.5-5.6 (no OIS) Spring
20-50mm f3.5-5.6 compact zoom
Second half 2010
20mm f2.8 pancake Second half 2010
18-200mm f3.5-6.3 OIS tbd
50mm f2.8 macro tbd

I find it very interesting that Samsung is planning to ship a non-OIS version of a very standard kit lens, and that it is being released so soon. I think that probably indicates the company is having trouble hitting a good price on the OIS version of the lens, and that they need a cheaper lens to get a kit price low enough to compete with the $600 E-PL1. Even if you're excited about the prospect of the NX10, you really shouldn't buy into a camera system until you've seen the price of its lenses, and made sure that the company will actually deliver on them.