The Samsung 18-55mm NX Standard Zoom ($249.99 direct) is the kit lens that is bundled with the mid-range NX210 and high-end NX20 digital cameras. Samsung bundles the smaller 20-50mm f/3.5-5.6 ED II NX Lens with the entry-level NX1000SEE IT. This lens may be physically larger, but provides a slightly longer zoom range and optical image stabilization.

The lens features Samsung's iFn control button, which allows you to use its manual focus ring to adjust shooting settings. A lens hood is included, and the front element does not rotate during zoom or focus—so you can use a 58mm polarizing filter. It's at its shortest at 18mm, but extends as you move the zoom towards its 55mm extreme. The focus motor is almost silent, so you won't add unwanted audio to the soundtrack when using it for video recording.

I used Imatest and an NX20 body to check the sharpness and distortion characteristics of the lens. It's a bit shy of the 1,800 lines per picture height required for a sharp image at its widest setting—at 18mm f/3.5 it only manages 1,649 lines. Stopping down to f/5.6 improves the sharpness; it hits 2,111 lines there. At 35mm f/4.5 it scores 1,803 lines, which increases to 1,925 lines at f/5.6. At its longest 55mm f/5.6 it hits an impressive 2,080 lines, and an even better 2,337 lines at f/8. In-camera distortion correction is used across the NX line, which virtually eliminates barrel distortion at 18mm—although if you disable this in the camera settings, barrel distortion is very noticeable at this setting. At 35mm and 55mm there is slight pincushion distortion, 1.5 percent and 1.9 percent respectively, even with distortion correction enabled. The 20-50mm lens is smaller, sharper throughout its zoom range, and shows less distortion—but it isn't optically stabilized.

The NX system is limited when it comes to standard zooms—your only choices are this lens and the smaller 20-50mm. If you value size above all, the 20-50mm is a good lens, but the 18-55mm's optical stabilization makes it possible to get sharper photos in less than ideal light. If you add this lens to your kit the way most people do, by having it bundled with a camera, it's a good value—but it's a tough sell on its own at the $250 price point. The lack of a high-end f/2.8 constant-aperture zoom is a weak link in the NX lens system; although the excellent Samsung 30mm NX Pancake Lens£201 at Amazon UK, which has an f/2 aperture, did earn our Editors' Choice award, it doesn't zoom.

More Digital Camera Reviews:
•   Canon EOS M50
•   Snapchat Spectacles 2
•   Phase One IQ3 100MP Trichromatic
•   Google Clips
•   Sony a7 III
•  more