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February 24, 2006 – Samsung introduced its second DSLR today, the GX-1L, from its design partnership with Pentax. The 6 megapixel Samsung GX-1L looks and sounds very much like the Pentax **ist DL, much the same way Samsung’s first GX-1S looked like the Pentax **ist DS2. The new entry level DSLR will accept Schneider D-Xenon and Pentax interchangeable lenses and will be sold as a body only or with the Schneider D-Xenon 18-55 mm kit lens. Pricing and availability has not yet been announced, but is expected to be on the low end for DSLRs.
"The GX-1L was designed with entry-level DSLR users in mind with its easy-to-use features and aggressive price point," said Stewart Henderson, national marketing manager at Samsung Camera, in today’s press release. "The GX-1L features a host of automatic functions including auto sensitivity, auto picture mode and a newly designed operation system. This, combined with its full range of advanced manual functions, make the GX-1L perfect for the beginning through advanced DSLR user."
The Samsung GX-1L has many features found on compact digital cameras but also has the added bonus of being able to switch lenses. However, its automatic modes are highly marketed. Indeed, this digital single lens reflex camera features 8 scene modes and an Auto Picture Mode that selects from standard, landscape, macro or action modes to get the right look and exposure. The 6 megapixel Pentax *ist DL had this exact same feature. The compact GX-1L has other features more typical of a point-and-shoot. It has a 5-point auto focus system and three metering modes that are standard in small cameras, as well as a 2.8 frame-per-second burst mode that lasts 8 frames before stalling to write to the memory.
The Samsung GX-1L also features a 2.5-inch LCD monitor with 210,000 pixels, coupled with a high-magnification pentaprism viewfinder with a 96 percent field of view. The camera body is identical to the Pentax *ist DL with the exception of the Samsung GX-1L logos. The cameras share the same 4.9 x 3.6 x 2.6-inch measurements and relatively light 16-ounce weight. Both cameras are also powered by four AA batteries.