[stepheno]

As released in our News Section Samsung have brought out the GX-20 with 14 megapixels and a host of other features.

Do you think Samsung will make a dent in the Nikon/Canon stronghold? You can read the full feature list and specification in our Equipment Reviews.

[JMitchell]

Every new camera has almost the same features now, but somehow there seems to be things with the image quality that separate some from others. I also think build quality will be an important factor, as will lens choice, but without a photographic test, I think it would be impossible to distinguish most of the cameras on the market today

[silkstone]

The traditional barriers are disappearing. At one time, Canon Nikon, Olympus, etc were regarded as the 'serious' camera manufacturers, and Sony, Casio, Samsung, Panasonic, etc were also-rans who majored on electronic and electrical goods and were seen to be dabbling in the camera market.

But a digital camera is just an electronic recording device, so there's no reason why an established film camera manufacturer should be any better at it than an electronics company. Except for the lenses, of course, and here there are specialist optical companies (e.g. Zeiss) which have teamed up with the likes of Sony.

So I don't see why Samsung shouldn't make an impression, although they'll have to maintain consistency - unlike the 'panel lottery' with their monitors.

[Kajuah]

I doubt it will ever be. Samsung makes japanese phones and budget electronics. I wouldn't trust them as a serious player far as I could throw an elephant. That said I don't consider olympus on the same level as canon or nikon. Pentax I do, as well of course as hasselblad but olympus still has a little bit of a trek before it can gain the same status as the those camera makers. The dabblers will do what they do - dabble. Occasionally they will come out with some camera with an insane feature like the 50mpx kodak or a 60 fps casio (Hands-on with Casio's 60fps digital camera - Engadget) but they won't soon gain the recognition and specialized trust that the big makes have for years and years of consistency.

[VinnyP]

They have a long way to go. I think if anyone can make a real play it's Sigma. At the moment they keep on playing with the Foveon sensor and 4/3rds system which has real strengths but will scare pros since it interpolates too much. It also means wide angle lenses, shallow depth of field and fast optics are problematic. But they do have the system behind them which is why if they went mainstream with their sensor they could make it happen.

That's why they have the advantage over Samsung. It's a huge commitment to put together a whole system which is the problem for any new kid on the block. As well as a good range of bodies you need a selection of flashes, consumer lenses, pro lenses, in both zooms and primes, exotic lenses (Tilt and shift, ultra fast, ultra wide, super tele etc), remote releases, a spares and servicing network etc etc etc. Most brands don't have this and also at the outset they targetted the consumer with VR in the body which limits what can be done with long lenses and pro optics. So they can all sell a 2 lens outfit which may well be as good or better than the big players but I'm not sure the market is out there for another Canon or Nikon.

[Gary Petersen]

There are only 3 players in this game. Canon, Nikon and all the rest.

[towershot]

Quite agree with you all, I,d just like to see Pentax come up with a Nikon D300 or Canon D40 Equivalent,they seem to have dropped back the last few years mores the pity....

[Rob Barron]

I don't agree that the Pentax is in the same class as Nikon and Canon, not by a long shot. The processing in their cameras isn't as accurate and the cameras themselves are for people with midget hands!

Returning to Samsung, I don't think they are even close to one of the big boys and I think they will probably go backwards over the next few years. The Korean economy is really struggling at the moment (yes I know the global economy is bad but it still differes country to country) and Samsung's reputation is not improving.

A few years ago they really were getting a good name for themselves with their TVs and video recorders (both tape and DVD) but some high profile problems with the longevity of their products has dented that reputation. I teach a lot of Korean students and 5 years ago they would be really angry if you uttered a single word against their beloved Samsung. Now I am noticing that they too are starting to grumble. They used to all have Samsung mobile phones but now they are buying Nokias and things.

Koreans are a fiercely patriotic bunch so would normally always buy their own products (something we Brits could do with learning from I guess!) so to see them being negative about their own companies is something unusual to say the least. Samsung is the biggest electronics manufacturer in their country by a very long way and employs a huge number of people but they are starting to cut back on staffing levels due to the economic problems.

Does this mean they have less money to invest in all important R & D? They have always had a reputation for not doing a whole lot of development themselves but buying electronics on a huge scale from other companies that have superceded them with newer products and so it is often older technology wrapped up in a fancy case.

I think there is a very long way to go before the mass-marketers like Sony and others are embraced by serious photography enthusiasts on a large scale. Not to say it won't happen but they'll need to be highly innovative, have quality products (not doing badly there) and have very good reliability as well as both attractive pricing and good marketing.

Cheers,
Rob