Samsung GX10

The eagle-eyed among you may notice a striking similarity between the Samsung GX-10 and the Pentax K10D, reviewed on page 84. Thanks to a deal struck between Pentax and Samsung to jointly develop digital SLRs, these are to all intents and purposes the same model.

Despite this fact, we still think the camera is worth reviewing, if only to make you, the reader, aware of the ‘rebadging’ exercise. Plus, there’s the crucial question of which brand offers the better deal financially.

The specifications of these two cameras are identical on paper and the only obvious external differences between the GX-10 and the K10D are in the shape of some of the buttons and symbols. Like the K10D, first impressions of how the camera looks and feels in the hand are excellent: the GX-10 has a reassuring weight to it, although it is considerably heavier than its other rivals – as with any camera, make sure that you check whether you feel comfortable holding it if you’re thinking of buying one of these. The ergonomically designed grip makes keeping hold of GX-10 very easy, whether you have huge hands or dainty digits, and all of the controls are easy to reach and operate. The controls are thoughtfully laid out, with dedicated buttons or shortcuts to most of the functions you’re likely to need, along with a few extras.

In addition to the usual dials and switches, there is a dedicated AF button that focuses on the subject and allows the user to check for proper metering before taking a shot, which could prove useful if you suffer with a heavy ‘trigger finger’. The Optical Picture Stabiliser button is another handy feature, which can help avoid blurry shots when shooting in poor lighting conditions, but you’re reluctant to switch to a higher ISO setting, for example.

Adjustment of key controls, like ISO, white balance, flash or drive modes falls to the Function (or Fn) button, which is nestled next to the bottom right-hand corner of the LCD. This button calls up a menu on the LCD that can be navigated around using the d-pad and OK button. Once the you’ve selected the setting that you wish to adjust, a sub menu appears to allow for fine tuning. The ISO sensitivity can then be selected, or you can limit the range of ISO settings the camera can choose from when ISO Auto is selected. This is particularly handy if you know you’re going to be photographing certain subjects that you don’t want to be obscured by digital noise.

The same sophisticated white-balance control we enjoyed in the Pentax K10D is present and correct here. It uses a graphical representation of colour temperature, with a moveable point that can be shifted to alter the current colour temperature settings until you get a satisfactory final result. By rotating the main switch to the Preview position, the camera takes a test shot that appears in the background on the LCD and provides a preview of how the shot will look at different colour temperature settings.

Those of you who like to switch between shooting JPEG and RAW will appreciate the RAW button on the front of the camera. Located just to the left of the lens barrel, this button can be pressed easily without having to take your eye off the viewfinder and offers the same set of RAW and JPEG combination shooting options offered by the K10D.

One way in which the GX-10 differs from the K10D is in the layout of its menu system. You’ll find the same wealth of features and settings to play around with, but navigating through them is, in some respects, simpler. The Custom menus are particularly interesting, with each setting leading to a sub menu, which has a brief description of the selected function underneath, so that even first-time digital users will be able to understand the technology. Users can set the camera to warn them if they set the ISO sensitivity above a certain value, as well as being able to turn Noise Reduction on or off, adjust the bracketing order, or program the function carried out by the customisable Green Button.

In terms of price and resolution, the GX-10 fares well as a credible alternative to Canon and Nikon. The camera would support an amateur photographer on their journey to becoming a more sophisticated user, with equally innovative Auto and advanced Manual settings. It faithfully reproduces colour and records detailed textures across the board, delivering broadly similar image standards to the Pentax K10D. In fact, with a street price of only £599 with an 18-55mm kit lens included, the GX-10 works out at significantly better value for money than its Pentax equivalent – something that Pentax might want to rectify very quickly if it doesn’t want its own sales to suffer as a result of the Samsung deal.

The GX-10 looks and feels great, and produces good results. It certainly provides some healthy competition for its peers, and is one to consider if you’re looking to upgrade from your entry-level DSLR.