A lot of cool things developing today in the technological world. Just thought I would mention Samsung Gx-20.Samsung has come a long way to providing an alternate photographic result for promoted photographers.Besides minor outside differences and menu interface, a non- distinguishing eye may not be able to tell the difference between Samsung's GX-20 and the Pentax K20D.Most of the differences are purely cosmetic such as the different shaped buttons and mildly different body styling. The GX20 has a slightly boxier approach to its design but that's not to say it's undesirable.This is because both models are based on almost the same body that the two companies co-developed.The weight of the GX20 unmistakably feels like a professional digital SLR body heavy. Tipping the scales at 808 grams after we put in the battery and SD card, we wondered how we were going to lug this 14.6-megapixel camera around on a full day's shoot. This is probably due to the solid build of the camera, which has a very comfortable hand grip.The rear of the camera houses a nice 2.7-inch LCD.

While large screens may be common in compact cameras, for dSLRs, it is still quite a new feature..The viewfinder offers a bright, clear 95 percent view of the actual scene and also shows the shutter speed, aperture, focus indicator, exposure meter and ISO value. It also makes it easy spectacle-wearing photographers to view properly.

• Resolution: 14.6Mp
• Sensor size: 23.4x15.5mm
• Sensor type: CMOS
• Image size: 4672x3104
• Focus system: TTL phase-matching
• Focus points: 11
• Lens mount: Pentax KAF2 bayonet
• File type: JPEG, RAW
• Sensitivity: ISO100-6400
• Storage: SD, SDHC
• Focus types: Single, continuous, manual
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture 16-segment
• Metering types: Multi, centre-weighted, spot
• Exposure compensation: +/-3EV in 1/2 step increments, +/-2EV in 1/3step increments
• Shutter speed: 30sec-1/4000sec, bulb
• Frames per second: 3fps maximum
• Flash: Built-in, hotshoe
• Flash metering: P-TTL
• Flash sync speed: 1/180sec
• Image stabilisation: Yes maximum 4EV
• Integrated cleaning: Yes
• Live view: Yes
• Viewfinder: Optical, 95% field of view
• Monitor: Low-temperature TFT colour LCD monitor, 2.7in
• Buffer depth: 21 RAW, 35 JPEG
• Interface: USB2.0
• Power: Li-Ion battery
• Size: 142mmx101mmx71.5mm
• Weight: 727g (body only)

Live-view was introduced for the first time on the K20D and the GX20 shares this feature. The GX-20 has a built-in image stabiliser in the body which shifts the sensor in accordance to the movements from shaky hands. It can be activated via a small switch besides the Fn button.While powering ‘ON’ Camera, the body shake for quarter a second.For a while we thought the camera was alive. But no!!! it was actually sensor-cleaning function shaking off any particles stuck on the ‘CMOS\ sensor. The shutter button is very responsive, and with the slightest pressure, the autofocus would kick in. This is a matter of preference because some photographers like a more tactile feel.The dial is a switch for changing the metering options from centre-weighted, multi or spot. The dial also has a bulb setting for ultra long exposures as well as auto, custom and flash sync. Green button is an override for if you're in aperture, shutter-priority or manual modes and pressing this button flicks the camera into program allowing the camera to take control. The camera will then correct the exposure and when you release the button you're back in the previous mode.

In my sentiment, the menu isn't the most sympathetic I've come across. It's a relatively easy one to use with only a few meanings that you may not have heard of such as e-dials, which are the finger and thumb wheels that you use to adjust the shutter and aperture but they can also be designated other tasks. E-dials may be a term that you've heard a lot and have no problem with but in my experience, if I've not heard of it, then 1000 other people haven't either. The layout is the problem as I think it's a bit too cluttered. The controls can take some getting used to such as pressing right to enter the folder of options from the tabs down the left side and you also press right to enter an option but you can't press left to get back out.

One thing to note about the GX-20 is that while images are being copied to the card, you should not open the cover because it will transfer only the current image and delete the remaining pictures from the buffer. Unfortunately, these lost images cannot be retrieved.

Samsung has included its own RAW image-processing software,Samsung RAW converter 2.0 together with the camera. Installing it was a breeze on our workstations, although it did hang the first time we started the program. The same dust removal and dust alert system is used on the GX20 that we saw on the K20D and it works by scanning the sensor for dust particles. It then displays on the screen the location of any dust it has found while saving that display into a folder on your memory card called Dust. This process allows you to see whether the sensor needs shaking or if it needs a deeper clean.Processing RAW files to TIFF was a speedy affair, and we had the liberty of testing the image quality of the GX-20 with Samsung's D-Xenogon 35mm F2 lens. While images looked clean at ISO 100 and 200, anything at ISO 400 and beyond had a fair amount of noise. At ISO 3,200, digital artifacts appeared prominently all over the picture.

Using a DSLR in the test images is great because I don't have to stick it in landscape or portrait mode and let the camera do it all. I can override the system and take control which is why the landscape image has an aperture of f/22. Of course it means the image will be softer and I accept it on this picture. Despite the day being brighter than recent forecasts would lead me to believe,I had to push the sensitivity to ISO400 to get a steady shot.