If you haven’t seen Ben’s videotography of freerunners Pasha the Boss and Jesse La Flair in action, we highly recommend you check them out:

Pavel “Pasha” Petkuns  Click here

Jesse La Flair  Click here

Want to see more? You can follow Ben here.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benfrankephotography

Instagram: https://instagram.com/benfrankephoto

The freerunners.

Pavel “Pasha” Petkuns

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pasha.petkuns

Instagram: https://instagram.com/pashatheboss

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Pasha3run

Jesse La Flair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JesseLaFlairFanPage

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jesselaflair

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jesselaflair

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LaFlairParkour

The 4K videos taken with the NX1 were so incredibly dynamic that it was almost impossible for us to choose which still images to grab – each frame was better than the next. Not so surprising though, since we had been in good hands with the hugely talented parkour and movement photographer Ben Franke who instinctively knew how to capture Jesse La Flair’s raw energy and incredible athletic finesse. Jesse is a professional freerunner who has a huge following both online and among the budding parkour and freerunning athlete community. And for the rest of the crew, it was pure joy just to be present and witness Jesse’s fluid and graceful yet firm and solid moves. Ben captured it all beautifully on the NX1. Watch the video below to see the action and enjoy the sublime beauty of videotography. And keep an eye out for our talk with Ben.

Want to see more? You can follow Jesse here.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JesseLaFlairFanPage

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jesselaflair

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jesselaflair

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LaFlairParkour

And follow Ben here.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benfrankephotography

Instagram: https://instagram.com/benfrankephoto

For this NX1 Videotography project, we teamed up with New York-based photographer Ben Franke. Ben is a highly regarded photographer known for his parkour photography. It was his amazing photography skills and deep understanding of movement that brought the art of videotography to life with the NX1.

For the first installment, we collaborated with freerunner Pavel Petkuns, better known as Pasha. Pasha is a fearless soul with crazy energy and even crazier skills. In person, he was a soft-spoken charming young gentleman who wouldn’t say no to any challenge we threw at him. Nothing was insurmountable for this young guy. In fact, throughout the shoot, he was the one who was pushing us to go to the next level. The result is a beautiful piece of work.

Check out the video below to see what we’re talking about and witness some of the best moves in freerunning. We have another video coming up very soon, so stay tuned for that as well.

Want to see more? Follow Pasha here.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pasha.petkuns

Instagram: https://instagram.com/pashatheboss

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Pasha3run

And follow Ben here.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benfrankephotography

Instagram: https://instagram.com/benfrankephoto

Sure, the technology sounds impressive, but the photos are the ones that tell the true story.

Low Light. Captured with very little light, the combination of the NX1’s back side illuminated sensor and the powerful 50-150mm S lens snags the color, the motion and detail of the pins and the bowling ball with aplomb.

Lombard Street is globally famous and will forever be a special place, since it was a spot where my wife and I stopped before I proposed to her. At night with the dark and bright spots, the NX1’s sensor continues to capture magical photos.

Gorgeous detail and sharp lines remain in this photo of the San Francisco skyline.

Shoots Fast. Photographed at 1/6400s, the NX1 didn’t skip a beat. Samsung’s NX1 sensor captures colors vividly, maintains an incredible level of focus and detail all at 15 frames per second in RAW and lets you capture the strikes.

I wanted the movement of the river as the focus of the photo as it crashed over the ledge and bubbled like a freshly poured glass of champagne.

Sharp Focus. Even with the 60mm macro lens, the 28 megapixel sensor shines. It showcases great detail even when the detail is so tiny you can see by the bugs crawling on this Mexican Blanket, a Texas wildflower that overtakes the state in the spring.

Just before springing into action, the rabbit paused. Our dog stared out the window as I shot this photo through the door.

At times light can be tricky with spots that are very bright, others dim and fast motion on top of it. During a cooking competition in San Antonio, chefs compete on stage. The NX1 and the 30mm pancake lens came through.

Farmer’s markets prove to be fun places for interesting characters and their dogs. Here, both of these canines were stealing the show…and maybe a treat or two.

Name: Nan Palmero

City & Country of residence: San Antonio, Texas, USA

Why do you take photos and make films?

In 2009, I saw Prague and it inspired me. I wanted to stop taking terrible photos, so I did. With the help of articles, videos and practice, I got better. The world is such a beautiful place, I want to capture it with my camera and share well-known locations and special hideaways with friends, family and anyone that is willing to have a look.

How to follow Nan

Instagram: @nanpalmero

Twitter: @nan

Website: nanpalmero.com

The NX1 delivers on image quality whether it’s photographs or video. In this installment of our interview series, Samsung Imagelogger Young Dae Han talked with two engineers who led the developments that made the NX1 it is today. Sangjun Yu (right in above image) and Hyunsik Yu (left in above image) are both Senior Engineers at Samsung Electronics and we met them at the headquarters in Korea.

1.     What is the main thing that Samsung Electronics considers in developing its camera and what are some of the ideas or thoughts that went into it?

Creating a camera that our consumers love.

We’ve placed our utmost focus on enhancing image and video quality in our cameras to make a device that our consumers truly love. In addition, we have been doubling our efforts to create an unparalleled APS-C camera.

2.  What makes the Samsung camera competitive in terms of its image quality and processor? Also, are there certain qualities of the Samsung Camera that we haven’t heard of or overlooked?

Developing and manufacturing our own camera parts.

Samsung Electronics has made many strides in successfully developing and manufacturing its own camera parts from the image sensor, lens, and other accessories in order to create the perfect camera that meets the consumers’ needs and preferences. With this in place, we were able to further develop the NX system into the consumer-focused camera it is now. The NX1’s enhanced image sensor and processor played not only a crucial role in delivering outstanding image and 4K/UHD video quality but also enabled a faster burst shooting which adds to its hallmark of its cutting edge features.

3.     The NX1 and NX500’s 28.2 megapixel sensors have seen a significant pixel boost compared to its previous 14.6 megapixel and 20.3 megapixel sensors. What can be expected in a higher resolution camera?

Delivering ultra-high detail by taking in as much information as possible.

A higher pixel sensor allows the camera to capture more digital information in a single shot which then enables the consumers to take high resolution pictures. Another plus from this feature is that the consumers are able to crop or change the composition and theme without compromising image quality.

4.     NX1 is the first in its APS-C class to utilize the BSI technology. What are some of the immediate advantages this sensor has over the FSI sensor?

Capturing 30% more light than the previous FSI sensor.

The prime advantage that the BSI technology holds over the FSI technology is that each of the sensor’s pixels receives 30% more light. This means that despite having a 28 mega pixel senor, it has the noise levels of a 20 megapixel sensor; hence the ability of having a lower noise capability with a high pixel sensor.

5.     The NX1 supports 14-bit RAW files. How has this increased the image quality compared to the previous 12-bit RAW mode?

Easier post-processing thanks to enhanced dynamic range.

NXI’s ability to support 14-bit RAW files significantly contributed to the enhanced image quality. Another advantage that comes with this is its significantly increased dynamic range compared to its previous 12-bit RAW mode, which gives the consumers a wider breadth of options for post processing. I highly believe that smoother post processing would help with maintaining high quality images especially when the NX1 was specifically developed for professional photographers.

6.     NX1 has removed the optical low pass to increase the resolution, what is the role of the low pass and what are the pros and cons of removing it?

Sharply increasing resolution after removing the optical low pass

Previous sensors had to use the optical low pass filter in order to prevent moiré effect and aliasing because the sensor just couldn’t keep up with the lens. However, since cameras like the NX1 already have sufficiently high resolution, to keep the optical filter would lower the resolution and the losses would simply outweigh the benefits of maintaining the filter. Therefore without the filter, the NX1 and NX500 are able to deliver higher resolution and allow photographers to take more pristine images. Some may express concern over the color noise or moiré effect that may arise in certain situations due to the absence of an optical low pass filter; however, we have included several algorithms in the newly developed DRIMe 5 image sensor to address such problem.

7.     We’ve seen significant improvement in the noise pattern of the NX1. What were some of the reasons to achieve such accomplishment?

A little bit of noise compliments image quality.

Previous Samsung cameras were developed with the sole aim to remove noise since that was considered the arch enemy of image quality. Eliminating noise was the prime consideration in developing cameras. However, after listening carefully to our consumers, we realized that a small amount of noise actually complimented image quality. As a result we’ve developed the NX1 so that it could produce the best noise pattern as opposed to removing it entirely. In the NX1, we’ve included a function called the noise active reduction to express the most natural noise.

8. The NX1 system was praised for its accurate white balance function. How were you able to accomplish such achievement?

Accurately expressing the colors that our consumers are most familiar with.

Samsung Electronics has been working hard to express colors that our consumers are most familiar with and as a result was able to create a highly accurate white balance. We are not only researching how to develop a white balance function that is better suited for different array of lighting conditions, but also researching colors that the consumers prefer the most.

9. The headline-grabbing feature of the NX1 is its ultra high definition 4K video capability. Can you tell us about the background of such achievement and some of the defining characteristics of the 4K video capability?

Carefully thought out 4K video.

The development of the NX1’s 4K 30PFS video capability was the prime objective in our planning stage where we tried to differentiate this camera by building a powerful sensor and processor that have the ability to process higher resolution 4K video through the full pixel readout method; this allowed us to create algorithms that eliminated noise and moiré effect by downsizing the high resolution data. As a result, we were able to produce an unmatched 4K quality that suits the need of professionals.

About the Interviewer: Young Dae Han

City & country of residence: Goyang-si, South Korea

Why do you take photos?
Every day is a special day and I take photos to capture those moments. It may seem like the days run into each other because they’re seem so alike, but in reality, each day is a different day and you can’t live the same day twice. That’s why I take pictures – so capture those fleeting moments as they pass.

Why do you like the NX1?
I like the NX1 because it’s the camera that lets me capture that precise moment. A lot of the cameras out there struggle with booting and AF, and I end up missing the moment. The NX1, on the other hand, has a hybrid AF system, 28MP APS-C BSI CMOS Sensor and the DRIMe V image processor, giving it the fast startup time and fast AF. Exactly what you need to shoot the instant you want to.

How you can follow Young Dae
Blog – http://funfunhan.com

Photography is a test of patience as much as it is of speed. And when you’re dealing with creatures of the wild, patience is a superbly gratifying virtue. Samsung Imagelogger Matt Binstead has mastered the art of staying as still as a rock as you can see in this amazing collection of photos taken with his NX1. They’re so incredibly intimate that you’ll find yourself holding your breath lest the squirrel scurries away.

Name: Matt Binstead

City & Country of residence: Lingfield, UK

Why do you take photos?
I work at the British Wildlife Centre in the UK, and originally started taking photographs of the wildlife around me as a souvenir of the animals I care for. I took to it far more than I thought I would, and it is now a big hobby for me. I soon found out that working closely with these animals gives me many advantages for my photography, the biggest being the bond I have with the animals. I trust them, and they trust me, allowing me to get closer than anyone else ever could. I have been lucky enough to be recognised in many awards, and sell images around the world, but I still see my photography as a hobby. I am a wildlife enthusiast first and foremost. I just use my camera as another way to spend time with the animals I care for. If I get a decent photo out of this, then that is a bonus to me. The aim of my photography is to show British wildlife off to its best, and to show how beautiful it can truly be.

Why do you like the NX1?
The NX1 is a cracking camera, and has many great features which helps with photographing wildlife. It is very quiet when taking a photo, making it less likely to disturb an animal. The screen on the back is stunning, crystal clear, and folds out allowing you to take photographs at unusual angles without getting too uncomfortable. Animals are often more active in the lower light, and the high ISO performance of the NX1 is great, making this much easier. But the best thing for me is the 15 frames per second the NX1 can capture! This is very fast, and allows you to choose a final image from a short burst where the animal may have a slightly different expression or nuance. It is often these little differences that make an image stand out from the rest!

How you can follow Matt
Matt’s Blog – http://mattbinstead.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/mattbinsteadphotography

<Video recording>

- Sensor reads larger data size, resulting in improved FHD quality – up to 60P (not for Slow Movie).

- Time code added features:

• Rec Run option is added

- “1920×1080 (120)” setting in the Movie Size Menu for easy access

- Auto Mic Control On/Off

- Histogram & Digital Level are displayed during standby / recording mode

- Capture individual 4K frame forward & backward with precision

• Embedded EXIF data in jpeg

- Added NEW MF Responsiveness mode

• Capable of setting to Low, Medium, High focus angle in manual focus mode

- Remains in Stand By mode after recording

<Photo>

- Overall AF improved:

• Enhanced AF performance in low light condition
• Enhanced AF performance in backlight and spot light
• Enhanced AF performance in the corners when utilizing 16-50mm PZ lens
• Enhanced Face Detection AF performance
• Enhanced AF performance in movie mode

- Added “Zone AF” mode

- Increased the size of AF to 5 steps in AF “Area Size”

- No time limitation in Bulb mode

- Increased the time-lapse to 3,000 shots

- Includes the 4 most popular Pro Suggest presets (Cinematic, Memories, Gorgeous Night, & High Speed)

- Simplified EXIF data preview

<Connectivity>

- JPEG, RAW (JPEG only), & Video transfer via WiFi

• Actual RAW file doesn’t transfer via WiFi.  It only transfers JPEG file with Picture Wizard setting embedded to smartphone.

-Introducing NEW Samsung Remote Studio software & SDK

• Download via ilauncher
• Full control of NX1 through USB
• SRS and SDK will be available to download on 1^st week of June 2015

- Supports Tizen OS TV connection

• One touch connection
• Launched 2015 Samsung TV models operated by Tizen are compatible with NX1

-          Overall fixed minor bugs

Go here to download the firmware:

Nature is one of the most versatile and rewarding subjects a photographer can pursue. As light shifts and fog gathers, the landscape takes on new qualities. Wild animals dart out from behind the trees to disappear just as quickly. Samsung Imagelogger Steven Moore is a photographer who understands the magic of being outdoors — He sees the life, the light and the shadows that make nature so incredible to behold. Scroll down to discover just a small collection of photos from his vast portfolio.

Name: Steven Moore

City & Country of residence: Atlanta, Georgia

Why do you take photos?

There are so many reasons I take photos so here are a few, the key ones. Slowing down from my normal everyday activities to connect to my curious creative soul to create something. To hopefully create something that someone may find meaningful, interesting, or takes their thoughts somewhere. To slow the pace of my being to find the sublime and beauty that surrounds us and not take it for granted. When I am traveling backroads or hiking into a wilderness, finding the sublime and beauty that allows me to be in a state of grace and bliss and sometimes it is just to make sure something is not forgotten. As time passes, it is important for the preservation of memories for life truly is a collection of moments of time and place.

Why do you like the NX1?

To someone like me…always curious and a gadget tech guy, there is a wide swath of visual creation that can be done with it… stills, video, time lapse, slow-mo, hyper lapse, custom settings, remote shooting apps, the connectivity, etc, etc, …it is so so good at a level that anything that I can think of, anything I can create or shoot with it. Being an outdoor photographer that loves storms, mist, fog, and the cold, the ability to not be limited by the gear is a blessing. With the NX1 my need to try all kinds of photography is not limited and that makes it a joy to pick up every day and look for something to shoot or create. How could I describe the NX1 in a way that’s easy – it’s a Content Creation Machine.. a beast of one. The workflow from creating, producing, editing, distributing and syndicating that can be done in one camera is unmatched by any device that I have found and that I know of, and have been looking and searching all this time for. Because part of what I do is to help companies and folks understand what the future of visual content marketing is all about now and into the near future.

How you can follow Steve.

Website: http://stevenmoore.500px.com/

The NX1 shoots 4K and UHD (there is a difference, though often UHD is referred to as 4K) in addition to HD. Until recently, if one wanted to record 4K video from the small number of cameras that offered such capabilities, it was only possible through the addition of an expensive and often cumbersome external recorder. Thanks to advancements in compression technology, the NX1 is the first camera to utilize H.265, or HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding). In practical terms this means it is now possible to record high-quality 4K and UHD content directly to an SD card internally – emphasis on high-quality.

In the few months I’ve been using the NX1, I’ve had the opportunity to use it on multiple projects, from behind-the-scenes documentaries to live events, and recently a short film ‘Yvonne’ entirely shot on the NX1. A couple of months ago I was also asked by a friend if I could shoot behind the scenes of a project he was filming in a brand new estate in California, USA. I showed up with the NX1 and spent two days shadowing the crew as they documented the unique home. I was able to work handheld, using a tripod, and using another favorite tool of mine, a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer. Thanks to the compact size of the NX1, I was able to shoot longer takes without feeling fatigued. The camera is versatile. Whether I’m working as a one man band, or have an entire crew, the NX1 fits perfectly into the mix and delivers quality every time.

Working with H.265/HEVC does require an additional step to transcode the material you shoot before editing, though I predict this will be less of an issue as post-production software updates begin to support native editing of the codec, hopefully later this year.

I’m excited about the present and future possibilities that the NX1 has to offer. Ultimately any camera is but a tool to help tell a story, though some make that process a lot easier than others.

Here are a few shots from the short film ‘Yvonne’ that was shot entirely with the NX1. The film stars Marissa Jaret Winokur and was directed by yours truly. Following a behind scenes look at the making of, the film itself is also embedded below, so be sure to take a few minutes to check it out.

Tyler Haft uses the NX1 and a Birdycam rig to capture behind the scenes video on the set of “Yvonne.” Photo by Bob Kurtz  ABOVE 

Tyler Haft shoots behind the scenes on the short film “Yvonne” using the NX1. Tyler Haft shoots behind the scenes on the short film “Yvonne” using the NX1. Photo by Bob Kurtz BELOW

Director Andrew Putschoegl works with Director of Photography Robert Brinkmann on the set of “Yvonne.” Photo by Bob Kurtz ABOVE

Actress Marissa Jaret Winokur in a still from the short film “Yvonne,” shot entirely on the NX1. BELOW

Actor Adam Kubersh in a still from the short film “Yvonne,” shot entirely on the NX1.

Actress Marissa Jaret Winokur in a still from the short film “Yvonne,” shot entirely on the NX1. 

Layla the dog in a frame grab from the short film “Yvonne.” ABOVE

Director of Photography Robert Brinkmann frames a shot on “Yvonne.” Photo by Bob Kurtz ABOVE

The Samsung NX1 in full Cinema Mode, with camera cage, matte box, follow focus, external battery, and attached Atomos Shogun recorders. Photo by Bob Kurtz BELOW

Name: Andrew Putschoegl

City & Country of residence: Los Angeles, California

Why do you take photos and make films?

Like most filmmakers, I’m drawn to compelling stories and characters. I love the collaborative process of making a film and the creative energy that is generated throughout the process is what drives me. Photography is the other side of that coin, as I prefer shooting landscapes, so I get to create everything by myself. I enjoy being able to capture a moment in time, even if I’m the only person who ever sees that image.

How to follow Andrew

Instagram: @ninjagoldfish

Twitter: @ninjagoldfish

Website: ninjagoldfish.com

As part our interview series with the experts behind the NX1, this time Samsung Imagelogger Sang Woo Lee spent a fruitful afternoon gaining insight into the NX1’s design with its key designers — San Hui Oh, Senior Designer, Kenji Yamauchi, Principal Designer, and Kenji Baba, Senior Manager (Samsung Electronics Japan).

Kenji Yamauchi, Principal designer

Let’s begin with the body design.

The NX1 was designed with professionals in mind. It has a magnesium alloy body and is dust/splash proof. Its sleek profile is one continuous line that seamlessly connects the lens to the photographer looking through it. We paid great attention to detail, and not just to the body itself. For instance, it was important that the lens, when attached, became an uninterrupted part of the body.

San Hui Oh, Senior Designer

The lens mount was given equal consideration. When designing the grip, we focused on minimizing fatigue allowing users to hold the camera comfortably in their hands for much longer periods of time.

Kenji Baba, Senior Manager (Samsung Electronics Japan)

The NX1 is designed purposefully to look and feel like a DSLR to identify with its lineage that began with the NX10. And we’ve made a great deal of progress since then. Having the DSLR look and feel also means that professionals can comfortably switch to the NX1 in no time. We also made sure that even beginners could feel right at home with the camera in their hands.

The NX1 has a lot of buttons and dials. And I’m guessing it wasn’t easy making the NX1 weather-proof.

Yes, given its relatively small body, the camera features a lot of buttons and dials. It was challenging, since we needed to assign extra space to seal the gaps. And obviously compromising quality wasn’t an option. The buttons also had to be placed to ensure the most effortless and seamless photography experience for the photographer.

True to its status as a flagship product, the NX1 has a vertical battery grip. Personally, I feel it has superior ergonomics and a seamlessness with the body not yet achieved by even DSLR cameras.

We began with the thought that when you’re working the vertical grip, it should be the same experience as when you’re when handling the camera horizontally. Most DSLR cameras feel unwieldy when held vertically, and having a vertical grip doesn’t make it any better. Achieving a cohesive design and feel between the body and the vertical grip was our priority. The NX1’s smaller size has an advantage in this regard. Even with the vertical grip, the grip feels similar whether held horizontally or vertically.

For ultimate comfort and usability, we designed the vertical grip to be attached from the back instead of the front. This way nothing gets in the way when you’re holding the camera. Comments and feedback from photographers using our cameras proved to be invaluable in the entire design process.

The Premium S Lens is a beautifully designed lens, but it works perfectly with the NX1. Tell us the story behind its design.

While the 16-50 mm S Lens was released before the NX1, the two products were developed simultaneously. NX was only launched a little later because we were tweaking it to raise the degree of perfection. That’s why the S Lens works so well with the NX1. At the same time we made sure it would work equally well with others cameras.

There’s great attention to detail in the Premium S Lens – from its design to the changing of the lens. It’s designed to be easy to handle, especially since it’s light and durable. The S Lens aligns with the body perfectly even when the NX1 is set on its side with the vertical grip attached. Its tripod lens mount ring has a dial that is designed to be simple in looks and unobtrusive when you’re handling the ring. The tripod mount can be unfastened and carried about easily in one’s bag or even pocket because it’s so small and light.

Going back to the NX1, its pattern AF illuminator helps users focus farther, better and above all, more precisely. Why did you choose to incorporate a pattern? And is there any particular reason you use green as the illuminator color?

With most illuminators, it’s still difficult for the camera to focus on white walls. By using a pattern, the NX1 is able to focus almost immediately and accurately. We use green light because it has higher visibility.

The rear display tilts up and down, but doesn’t swivel.

It’s better for recording videos. It helps for the lens, viewfinder and display to be at the same level. It is also helps to maintain level accuracy.

Speaking of video recording, we place the record button next to the shutter button at the top to allow users to maintain speed and accuracy while switching between still photography and video recording.

About the Interviewer

Sang Woo Lee, Samsung Imagelogger, Seoul, Korea

On photography

“I’m happiest when taking photos.”

On why he likes the NX1

The 28MP APS-C BSI CMOS Sensor, its wide dynamic range, ability to take superb photos even in the most conditions. Fast AF performance, 15FPS continuous AF shooting, best-in-class high quality 4K video recording capability and options, and unsurpassed level of connectivity (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC) – they’re just some of the things why I think the NX1 is a great camera.

How you can follow Sang Woo.

Blog: http://lst1000.blog.me/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumbo1004