The advanced compact category has been dominated by the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 since its debut two years ago. It has a few worthy challengers such as the Canon PowerShot S90 and G11, but attempts at overthrowing the LX3 have been futile so far. However, there's a new kid on the block and it encompasses the best of almost all the high-end compacts in one package. We're talking about the Samsung EX1.
Upside
The main selling point of the EX1 is its f/1.8 aperture. This is the fastest lens we've seen in a compact camera, considering the EX1's main competitors, the LX3 and S90, have an aperture of f/2.0. The closest match to the Samsung is the Ricoh GRD III which has f/1.9 optics.
A wider aperture allows photographers to use a higher shutter speed when shooting in low-light conditions and can deliver shallow depth-of-field which facilitates that blurred background effect for portraits.
Another plus point of the EX1 is its 1/1.7-inch image sensor, which matches that of the GRD III, S90 and G11's. It is slightly larger than the LX3's which measures 1/1.63-inch. The EX1 does use a CCD sensor though, rather than a backlit CMOS sensor which many other cameras in 2010 will have.
The EX1 has a 3-inch swivelling AMOLED display which is bigger than the 2.7-inch LCD employed on the G11. According to Samsung, the use of an AMOLED screen reduces power consumption and lets users get more shots out of the camera.
As with most advanced compacts, the EX1 has a variety of exposure options from manual to aperture/shutter priority, program and the company's Smart Auto function. It can also shoot in RAW.
Downside
The EX1 can only record VGA quality video (like the S90 and G11) but this is still lower resolution than the HD (720p) that the LX3 delivers. However, considering the target audience of the EX1 are enthusiasts and advanced users, they probably won't mind the lack of high-definition video capture.
Outlook
We've been waiting for a compact that can trump the LX3 and it seems Samsung has a very promising camera. The EX1's specifications look impressive on paper and if it can deliver great shots, we think it'll be the next benchmark that other manufacturers will have to meet.
No word yet on local availability or pricing, but it will be available in Asia in the second quarter of the year.
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