Samsung GX-10
£649.00
| Photo answers rating |
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| Owners' rating |
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Evidence of the new co-operation between electronics giant Samsung and photography legend Pentax, the GX-10 is virtually identical to the Pentax K10D although it has one major advantage – it is considerably cheaper.
Photo answers review
Photo answers rating
It’s not hard to spot that the Samsung GX-10 is virtually identical to the Pentax K10D, or rather that they are identical to each other. As far as we can discover the biggest and perhaps only significant difference between the cameras is the price and the Samsung wins that fight by a good few notes.
The GX-10 is a well-rounded camera, but if you pick it up after using the other cameras in this test you’ll immediately notice the less substantial feel it has and the less positive feel to the controls. It features built-in shake reduction (also known in Samsung terms as OPS). This uses a sensor-shift to combat tiny movements during exposures, limiting the effects of camera shake and meaning you don’t need to invest in expensive image stabilisation lenses.
Whether you choose to get the Samsung or the Pentax K10D, the build-quality of the GX-10 is impressive. The handling will suit most photographers too, although it seems slightly more geared towards first-time D-SLR users rather than the advanced enthusiasts that the other three cameras on test here cater for.
The results from JPEGs straight from the camera are excellent. The levels of noise throughout the ISO range is impressively low, although there is evidently of noise reduction going on as the results lose some sharpness and saturation as the ISO rating increases.
The GX-10 has plenty going for it – there’s a great range of features, the performance is good, the results are solid and the build-quality is good. The price featured here includes both a standard lens and a longer telephoto lens too, so the value is pretty good indeed.
Product Specifications
| Weight/size (WxHxD) |
710g/142x101x72mm |
| Effective resolution |
10.2MP |
| Lens mount |
Pentax K-AF |
| Focal length conversion |
1.5x |
| Aspect ratio |
3:2 |
| LCD monitor size |
2.5in |
| File formats |
JPEG, RAW (DNG) |
| Card type |
SD (SDHC compatible) |
| Exposure modes |
Auto, program, sensitivity-priority, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, manual, Bulb and flash X-sync speed |
| Metering modes |
Multi-segment, centre-weighted and spot |
| Autofocus |
11-point |
| ISO range |
100-1600 |
| Battery type |
1x D-Li50 Lithium-ion |
| Software supplied |
Samsung DigiMaster |
| Start-up time |
Less than 1 second |
| Write times |
2 seconds (JPEG), 2.5 seconds (DNG RAW) |
| Shutter speed range |
30 seconds to 1/4000sec |
| Flash sync |
1/180sec |
| Continuous shooting speed |
3fps for unlimited JPEGs or 10 DNG RAWs |
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I've been using a GX-10 for some time now...it replaced my ageing D100. I love it. It feels good in the hand, takes showers and knocks with aplomb, delivers great quality at low to medium ISO.And the ability to meter with my collection of Pentax film lenses is a wonderful bonus. As a non-professional photographer, this body is quite heavy enough, though, and for that reason I now carry a lightweight Nikon D60 for everyday / street photography. But whenever a preplanned shoot arises, it's the GX-10 that I reach for.
(Written by: EricHands)
27 May 2010 11:23
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This is my first venture into the DSLR world and I am finding the camera is easy to get along with and has enough features to keep me busy with the manual for some time to come. Your headline price would seem to be out of date as this camera is a lot cheaper than this. Your DSLR course came along just after I got this camera and I am enjoying the chalenge and am learning a lot at the same time.
(Written by: T.Bee)
29 June 2008 17:00
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I have been using this camera for nearly a year now and it is fantastic and very user friendly. i believe for a beginer in the DSLR arena it is brilliant.
(Written by: JohnnyR)
03 December 2007 23:02