The Samsung NX Mini is a compact camera that many photographers overlook today. What really makes it shine, however, is the 17mm f1.8 OIS lens. Ever since I got my hands on this rare lens, it has transformed the way I shoot, turning a tiny, forgotten camera into one of my favorite travel and everyday carry setups.
This lens has a roughly 46 millimeter equivalent field of view, perfect for portraits and street photography. Once I understood what it could do, I was hooked.
The Hunt for the Rare 17mm Lens
Finding the 17mm lens was not easy. With the NX Mini system long out of production, used copies are rare and expensive. When it first launched, the lens sold for around two hundred to two hundred forty dollars. Today, good condition examples sell for at least five hundred, while like new copies with accessories can reach six hundred fifty.
I finally managed to score a like-new copy with filters, a case, and caps for five hundred ninety-five dollars. I hesitated at first, especially since I had just spent the same amount on a Fujifilm XF10. For the same price, I was essentially buying two completely different setups. Still, I could not resist. This 17mm lens promised a unique shooting experience that the XF10 could not match.
Why the 17mm Stays on My NX Mini
Since owning the 17mm, it has become the default lens for my NX Mini. I carry it everywhere: concerts, client sessions, events, walks, and even simple outdoor moments. The camera is so compact that I can toss it into any bag, pocket, or sling and still capture high-quality images in seconds.
Even the NX Mini’s other lenses, like the 9mm pancake, are sharp, but it is the 17mm lens that defines the camera for me. Its combination of sharpness, portability, and versatility makes it irreplaceable in my kit.
Image Quality That Defies Its Size
The 17mm f1.8 lens is sharp, wide open, smooth, and natural. It carries a sense of depth and color accuracy that feels true to life. On top of that, it includes optical image stabilization, making it a fantastic choice for low-light situations. Handheld night shots, indoor events, and quick, spontaneous photos all benefit from this feature.
Other notable specs:
- Minimum focusing distance: 0.18 meters
- Weight: 55 grams
- Field of view: 46 millimeters
Aperture: f1.8, wide open for smooth background separation
Despite its small size, the lens delivers detail that seems impossible. I find its autofocus more responsive than the XF10, and combined with the NX Mini’s compact form, it encourages shooting in ways that larger setups cannot.
If Samsung had made this lens with an APSC sensor in the same body, the XF10 would not even matter.
Samsung NX Mini | Samsung NX-M 17mm f1.8 OIS lens
The Everyday Carry Lens You Will Actually Use
The 17mm makes the NX Mini an effortless everyday carry camera. It is always ready, and taking a photo is as simple as pulling the camera out, snapping a few shots, and putting it away. I have captured concerts, city streets, casual portraits, and client sessions without ever feeling burdened by gear.
This lens brings fun back into photography. There are no complicated settings, no heavy bags, and no sacrifices in image quality.
Final Thoughts: A Lens I Wish I Had Ten Years Ago
I rarely have regrets, but I wish I had the NX Mini and the 17mm lens when it was new. It is amazing how society pushes photographers toward certain brands, but this little Samsung combo quietly proved its value.
The 17mm f1.8 lens is more than just a piece of equipment. It delivers joy, portability, and stunning image quality that even modern compacts like the Sony RX100 or ZV line struggle to match. For me, this lens defines the NX Mini and keeps me reaching for it every day.
Samsung NX Mini | Samsung NX-M 17mm f1.8 OIS lens