» Samsung GX-1S 6.3MP Digital SLR Camera with Schneider D-XENON 18-55mm Lens

Samsung GX-1S 6.3MP Digital SLR Camera with Schneider D-XENON 18-55mm Lens Reviews

Customer Rating:
Summary: Pros and Cons
Comment: I took over 5000 photos with this camera, it is fun, easy to use and delivers beautiful images, here follows the strong and weak points in my opinion:

Pros:
Large pentaprism viewfinder
Nice photos
Top LCD
Good solid construction
Pleasant to operate
Decent kit lens
Use AA batteries

Cons:
Slow auto focus in low light
Loud shutter release
No sensor cleaner
No image stabilisation
Auto white balance poor in incandescent light

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Samsung GX-1S
Comment: I'm glad to say I chose this camera as my first dslr and am beyond pleased! Like others have said, it's basically a copy of an *ist ds2 and can take k-mount lenses. The build is plastic (I suspect with the steel chassis of the *ist), it's nice and light, but feels very sturdy and not cheap. It's just right really. The grip is perfect for my girl hands, and the features have been easy to learn alongside the user manual. The xenon lens included feels much nicer than I expected a cheap kit lens to be, and it's a good starter to experiment with before diving into purchasing better and more expensive glass. (Seeing as Samsung and Pentax are in kahoots here, I think it must be like the Pentax kit lens, re-stamped.) I got this when it was $350 not too long ago and I'm still stoked about what an awesome value it was, and how much more of an awesome value it becomes as I get better at taking photos. I'm not so sure I would choose it over the Pentax now that the price has gone back (?) up to around $500, but it is a great camera nonetheless and I'm glad to have it.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Everything I ever wanted it to be
Comment: Ever since I gave up on my 35mm and went digital I've had point and shoots. Nothing more expensive than $200.

I've missed my Pentax SLR, but was unwilling to pay the high price for Digital SLRs. I was closely watching the prices on the new Pentax cameras, especially the K100 and K110. When Amazon had this Samsung GX-1S on sale for half price, I jumped.

A rebranded Pentax *IST ds2, this camera is awesome. 6.1 mega pixal, 18-55mm lens. When you factor in the price, below many high end point and shoots, it can't be beat.

I've already bought a zoom lens (75-300mm) and filters. Pentax lenses are a direct match, so that's no problem. I have a whole kit to replace my old 35mm, for not much money.

Thank you Pentax, thank you Samsung, THANK YOU AMAZON!

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Deal . . . when it was 350
Comment: I got this product for 350 at the time. Now i seen it went up in price. It's a great camera. The Auto features don't give you the best possible photos. They tend to be a little dark. I also went to a few local camera stores and picked up a few cheap pentax lens to cover a bigger range since the lens included isnt the greatest. Overall at 350 it was a great deal. At over 500 you are better to look towards other brands!

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Samsung GX-1 Tips That Will Help You!
Comment: First I want to say that I got this camera for the incredible price of only $349 or 375 with next day shipping. It arrived on-time and I was so amazed that I even got a deal like this and it actually was real.. unlike some sites that give you japanese products or don't include everything.

My cameras are, Sony Cybershot F717 (which still costs more than this SLR), a panasonic Lumix, a Canon EOX Rebel X, an HP photosmart, and a Sanyo.

This camera is a really good camera, I have no real complaints other than it took me quite awhile to figure out how to get it to perform well in action photography and in indoor situations.

After I discovered a few simple techniques I was well on my way with this camera and even have taken some professional pics for friends and family!

First things first. DISABLE AUTOFOCUS!!! - the camera has to focus on everything and when taking pics of babies you cannot wait for the camera to focus every single time before firing a shot.

1. Set-up the OKAY button for your focus. go to: Menu, custom, Ok Btn Whn Shooting, and select number 3. This will allow you to focus with the Okay button and only take pictures with the shutter button. sounds simple but this is a lifesaver! I focus on a child with the okay button, and fire multiple shots by pressing the shutter release. this way the camera doesn't ask any questions or doubt your ability to focus! it just fires away! this is what professionals do. once you fix your focus point, you don't need to keep focusing for every shot.

2. Turn off auto metering*. choose the samsungs 11-point focus. This way the camera won't guess what your trying to focus on and give you what it thinks. what you focus the little red dot on is what the camera will focus on. (use the up, down, left, or right keys to focus on other areas on the screen. you will see the red focus light move in the viewfinder to one of the 11 points you choose.)

3. when indoors and zooming in on a subject to take a photo the camera guesses the exposure, so pictures will usually come out dark. Easy tip - when zooming out to its widest, keep exposure at 0.0. when zooming all the way in on a subject, change the exposure to 1.0. If you need it brighter change it to 1.5 if you need to. this will keep the subject well lit and sharp.

4. don't use anything over 400 for the exposure indoors, it just isn't worth it.

Well, these are my tips so far! hope you like! I promise they will enhance your photos tremendously!

---

More Reviews for Samsung GX-1S 6.3MP Digital SLR Camera with Schneider D-XENON 18-55mm Lens