Speaking at a press conference in Photokina yesterday, Sangjin Park, Samsung's president, said that the release of the NX100 represented, for the Korean firm, a major milestone. The compact camera fits a 14.6 megapixels APS-C sized CMOS sensor, offers a sensitivity range of ISO 100 to ISO 3200 (expendable to ISO 6400), has a 720p HD video mode and features compatibility with the new iFn lenses.

The iFn function, which is being introduced in Samsung's NX range of lenses, allow, with the push of a button, photographers to control settings such as aperture, ISO and shutter speed by turning one of the lens' rings. The 20mm pancake lens and the standard zoom lens of 20-50mm focal length currently support the iFn function. Samsung, says Park, plans on updating its other lenses with the new feature, as well as introducing a new firmware update to its NX10 camera to support the modified lenses.

With the release of the NX100, Samsung says it's looking to become a "global leader in the mirrorless interchangeable lens market by 2012." In fact, Samsung expects sales of such cameras to exceed that of DSLRs in years to come.

According to figures released by Samsung, 1,479,000 mirrorless cameras will be sold this year. That number is expected to rise to 4,488,000 in 2011, 6,653,000 the following year, 9,269,000 in 2013, before reaching 12,800,000 and 15,357,000 units in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Samsung plans to take a major role in this rise, says Park, with the release, next year, of another NX model, which will feature a new sensor with better low-light capabilities.

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