We flew into Las Vegas last night for the PMA 2009 show here and woke up this morning to find that Samsung has already made a little news. Samsung's mostly known for its point-and-shoot cameras and hasn't really penetrated the pro market despite putting out a digital SLR a couple years back. This morning's announcement of its new "hybrid" NX series of cameras could turn some heads though.

Sigma was the first manufacturer to produce a pocket-size camera with a large, APS-C-sized imaging sensor, the DP1, and with the NX series -- which is still a "concept" -- Samsung could be the second. (As a side note, the terms "hybrid" and "concept" are way overused and always conjure up nightmares of vaporware, to us. They should be stricken from any future press releases, thank you.)

Yes, this NX camera "series" from Samsung doesn't actually exist yet but the company is making a big deal about it at PMA. Samsung will have at least one prototype of the NX on the PMA floor in Vegas if you're attending the show and want to check it out.

Samsung is touting the NX cameras -- which from the press shot look similar to all-in-one superzoom models -- as being able to bridge the gap between DSLRs and compact point-and-shoot models. While that's quite a bold statement, we've wondered for the last several years why manufacturers haven't taken Sigma's lead and produced small cameras with APS-C sized sensors, since the larger imaging chip gives you bigger pixels to gather more light and reduce noise.

Instead of a mirror box, the Samsung NX cameras will use an electronic shutter -- Samsung calls it an Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) -- a concept that sounds similar to what Panasonic has done with its small, pseudo-DSLR, G1 camera. By getting rid of the mirror box, the camera can, theoretically, be much smaller and lighter than a digital SLR.

But there's a lot missing from the Samsung announcement this morning, aside from the fact that there isn't an actual working camera yet. For one, the press release gives no mention of whether the camera will use an CMOS or CCD sensor and offers no indication of what resolution these models will have. Also, there is no pricing yet. Samsung does say that the first model in the NX series will be released in the second half of 2009.

Read the full press release below.




SAMSUNG’S NX SERIES, HYBRID DIGITAL CAMERAS MAKE GLOBAL DEBUT AT PMA 2009

NX Series Offers APS-C Image Sensor, Bridges Gap Between Compact Digital Cameras and DSLRs

SEOUL, KOREA – March 2, 2009 – Samsung Digital Imaging Co., Ltd. used PMA 2009 as the global launching pad for the NX Series, the company’s revolutionary new family of hybrid digital cameras.  A new concept digital camera, the NX Series offers the performance and image quality of a DSLR and the portability and convenience of a compact point-and-shoot. With the NX Series, Samsung will become a global leader in the new hybrid market.

Samsung’s new NX Series bridges the gap between a DSLR and compact point-and-shoot digital camera by combining the benefits of both in one new model. Like conventional DSLRs, the NX Series utilizes an APS-C sized image sensor providing a much larger surface area to gather light and produce higher-quality images than comparable digital camera systems.     Unlike a DSLR, the NX Series does not feature a mirror box and employs an ultra-precise Electronic Viewfinder (EVF). The use of an EVF has allowed Samsung engineers to significantly reduce the size and weight of the new camera system by decreasing the distance between the lens and image sensor (flange back) by approximately 60% compared to traditional DSLRs. In addition to utilizing the EVF, consumers can also take advantage of the camera’s Live View functionality to frame their shots on the NX Series’ high-resolution screen.     

Samsung has recently intensified its focus on the digital imaging market and established a separate company dedicated exclusively to digital imaging in Samsung Digital Imaging Company. The new company was formed to focus on the development of its digital still cameras around world’s first and best in class features, design, and easy-to-use interfaces, and will work towards achieving the company’s stated goal of becoming the world’s leading digital imaging company.

 “We estimate that the hybrid digital camera market will be over 20% of the global digital still camera market by 2012,” said Sang-jin Park, CEO of Samsung Digital Imaging Company. “With the release of the NX Series, a digital camera that combines the strengths of a DSLR and compact digital camera, Samsung Digital Imaging will become a global leader in the new hybrid digital camera market and achieve the company’s goal to become the global leader in the digital camera market by 2012.”

Samsung Digital Imaging Company also creates a much more efficient vertical alignment between related Samsung affiliate business units including semiconductor, LCD panel and consumer electronics. This new vertical alignment will create competitive advantages for Samsung by fostering greater collaboration between Samsung affiliate business units and allowing the company to develop and deliver highly-innovative digital imaging products that set the standard for the industry, including the newly unveiled NX Series.

The first model of NX Series will be available in the second-half of 2009.