We sort of knew what was coming thanks to the timely leaks over the weekend, but that doesn’t make the announcement by Samsung any less exciting. Today, Samsung announced their new flagship mirrorless camera, the NX1, as well as a new 50-150mm F/2.8 (70-200mm 35mm equiv) to go with it. samsung-nx1-front The announcement marks Samsung’s official entry into the professional realm, as up until now none of their bodies could really be considered for professional use. This new NX1, with is 28.2 APS-C sensor, 15fps, 4K recording, and weather sealed magnesium-alloy internal frame , firmly places the NX1 as a great option for anyone looking for a top class APS-C body.

Probably the most impressive part about the NX1, besides its amazing 15FPS or 4K recording, is the price. Not only did Samsung manage to pack all of these great features into a single body, but they did so and it will only cost you $1499 for the body only. A fantastic value. samsung-nx1-top

Samsung NX1 Spec Highlights

  • 28.2MP BSI APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • DRIMe V Image Signal Processor
  • 4K Video Recording at 24 fps
  • UHD Video Recording at 30 fps
  • 1080p Video Recording up to 60 fps
  • 100 to 51,200 ISO range
  • 3.0″ 1036k-Dot Tilt-Touchscreen Monitor
  • XGA OLED Electronic Viewfinder
  • Advanced Hybrid Autofocus System
  • 205 Phase-Detection AF Points
  • 209 Contrast Detection AF Points
  • 15 fps Burst with AF
  • Samsung NX Lens Mount

samsung-nx1-side In addition to the NX1, Samsung addressed the need for more pro style lenses in their NX system with the a new 50-150mm F/2.8 lens. Along with their current 16-50mm F/2-2.8, the 50-150mm F/2.8 gives semi-pro and professional shooters a good base kit to start with in the Samsung system.

Together, the two announcements make for an interesting shot across the bow from Samsung at the major players in the photography industry. It will be interesting to see how the NX1 will compare to the 7D Mark II in regards to specs and pricing (we have leaks on the 7D II but nothing official  7D MK II Is Now Official), because for the money this NX1 is looking mighty enticing to me as a big wildlife and sports action shooter. samsung-50-150mm If you are interested in pre-ordering the NX1, you can get it body only for $1499, or in a kit with the 16-50mm F/2-2.8 for $2799. If you are interested in the 50-150mm F/2.8 you can get that pre-ordered for $1599.