Samsung NX-mount
| Company type | Lens mount |
|---|---|
| Industry | Photography equipment |
| Founder | Samsung |
| Products | Lens mount for NX series mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras |
The Samsung NX-mount serves as the lens interface for Samsung's NX series mirrorless interchangeable lens camera models. This mount made its debut with the Samsung NX10 camera. Samsung initially described the NX lineup as 'hybrid digital cameras', highlighting their blend of features typical to both DSLR and compact cameras.
Engineered for APS-C image sensors, the mount supports a 1.54x crop factor. Certain lenses incorporate optical image stabilization, denoted by an "OIS" label. Autofocus functionality in NX lenses is powered by an electric motor integrated within each lens.
Most Samsung NX lenses, except some early versions, come equipped with i-Function (iFn) technology. This feature enables users to adjust various camera settings through a dedicated ring and button located on the lens. Firmware updates 1.10 for the NX5 and 1.20 for the NX10 added iFn support, while all later models include native compatibility.
NX lenses
The following sortable table enumerates Samsung NX lenses.
| Focal length | 35mm EFL | Angle of view | Design | Mark | Features | Series[lower-alpha 1] | Filter size | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Aperture | E/G[lower-alpha 2] | Size[lower-alpha 3] | Weight | Macro | VCM[lower-alpha 4] | SSA[lower-alpha 5] | OIS[lower-alpha 6] | Pancake[lower-alpha 7] | iFn[lower-alpha 8] | ||||||
| 10mm Fisheye | 15.4mm | 180° | Template:F/3.5 | 7E/5G | 58.8 mm × 26.3 mm (2.31 in × 1.04 in) |
72 g (2.5 oz) |
No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Carry | N/A | |
| 12-24mm | 18.5-37mm | 99-60.7° | Template:F/4-5.6 | 10E/8G | 63.5 mm × 65.5 mm (2.50 in × 2.58 in) |
208 g (7.3 oz) |
No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Omnia | 58mm | |
| 16mm | 24.6mm | 83° | Template:F/2.4 | 7E/6G (2A) | 61.5 mm × 24 mm (2.42 in × 0.94 in) |
90 g (3.2 oz) |
No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Carry | 43mm | |
- Additional Notes on Table Entries
- ↑ Samsung categorizes its lenses into classes based on intended use and target audience:[1]
- Carry (compact)
- Optima (mainstream)
- Omnia (multipurpose)
- Premium (enthusiast/professional)
- ↑ Lens construction details:[2]
- E: elements count
- G: cemented groups
- A: aspherical elements
- ED: extra-low dispersion elements
- XHR: extreme high refractive elements
- ↑ Maximum diameter × length
- ↑ "Voice Coil Motor" providing linear focus movement[2]
- ↑ "Supersonic Actuator" motor enabling full-time manual focus override[2]
- ↑ "Optical Image Stabilizer" with moving elements
- ↑ "Pancake"-style compact lens
- ↑ "iFunction", allowing direct control of settings via lens controls[2]
Samyang Optics (also marketed under Bower, Rokinon, Walimex) offers NX-mount lenses including:
- MF 8mm Template:F/2.8 Fisheye lens (equivalent to 12mm in 35mm terms)
- MF 8mm Template:F/3.5 Fisheye lens (35mm EFL: 12mm)
- MF 8mm T3.8 Fisheye lens (35mm EFL: 12mm)
- MF 10mm Template:F/2.8 (35mm EFL: 15mm)
- MF 12mm Template:F/2.0 (35mm EFL: 18mm)
- MF 14mm Template:F/2.8 (35mm EFL: 21mm)
- MF 14mm T3.1 (35mm EFL: 21mm)
- MF 24mm Template:F/1.4 (35mm EFL: 38mm)
- MF 24mm T1.5 (35mm EFL: 38mm)
- MF 35mm Template:F/1.4 (35mm EFL: 54mm)
- MF 85mm Template:F/1.4 (35mm EFL:130mm)
Lenses roadmap
In December 2011, Samsung revealed intentions to release a 16-80mm Template:F/3.5-4.5 lens featuring Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) designed for movie shooting.
Back in June 2010, Samyang Optics introduced three manual focus lenses: an 8mm Template:F/3.5 fisheye, a 14mm Template:F/2.8, and an 85mm Template:F/1.4 aspherical lens. Later, at the Photokina 2010 exhibition held in September, Samyang announced the addition of a 35mm Template:F/1.4 lens compatible with the NX mount.
Lensbaby also made available its Composer Pro model tailored for the NX mount, offering different optical options.
Adaptation to non-NX lenses
Samsung launched an adapter (ED-MA9NXK) to enable the use of Pentax K-mount lenses with NX-mount cameras. Additionally, Novoflex manufactures several adapters that allow lenses from Nikon F-mount, Canon FD mount, Minolta SR and AF mounts, Sony A-mount, Leica R bayonet, Pentax K-mount, Olympus OM system, M42 mount, and T2 mount to be fitted onto NX bodies. Kiwifotos also supplies a range of adapters compatible with various mounts.
Because the NX system has a relatively long flange focal distance compared to other mirrorless designs, creating telecompressor adapters proved challenging; however, in 2017, a crowdfunded NX-L adapter became available.
Compared with other mounts
| Mount | Flange focal distance (mm) | External diameter (mm) | Sensor size (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung NX-mount | 25.5 | 42 | 23.5×15.7 |
| Pentax KAF2-mount | 45.5 | 44 | 36.0×24.0 |
| Panasonic/Olympus μ4/3 system | 20 | 38 | 17.3×13 |
| Sony E-mount | 18 | 46.1 | 35.9×24.0 |
| Leica M-mount | 27.8 | 44 | 36.0×24.0 |
| Fujifilm X-mount | 17.7 | 44 | 23.6×15.6 |
| Canon EF-M-mount | 18 | 47 | 22.3×14.9 |