#Rio2 World Premiere and Celebrity Photos Through the Lens of my Samsung #NX30 Mirrorless Camera

I’m far from a professional photographer but I love taking photos and used to think I needed to upgrade to a DSLR from my point-and-shoot for better shots but was hesitant to make the purchase. Not only was a DSLR an investment but the camera body felt huge in my hands and their size made them less than ideal for toting around in my purse to capture moments as they happen. Just as I resigned myself to making the leap and investment, I was given a new option to consider- mirrorless cameras.

If you’ve never heard of a mirrorless camera, PCMag.com defines them as “a digital camera that accepts different lenses.” In Mirrorless 101, Imaging Resource describes mirrorless cameras as “SLR quality in a compact package” and provides the following information:

‘Mirrorless’ camera is a bit of an unfortunate term in that it defines the tool by what it lacks: the moving-mirror found in every DSLR. Mirrorless cameras (more accurately called mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras) do retain one attractive feature of DSLRs: their interchangeable lens mount. By discarding the mirror, but keeping the interchangeable lens, mirrorless cameras can provide a cheaper, smaller package with image quality and shooting flexibility that can rival their older DSLR uncles.

FYI you may also hear mirrorless cameras referred to as mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC), hybrid camera, digital single lens mirrorless (DSLM), and compact system camera. Don’t let the many names confuse you!

For the past three years I’ve been shooting with mirrorless systems my most recent love is the Samsung NX30. Yes, Samsung. The company that is renowned for the Samsung Galaxy smartphone line (including the eagerly anticipated Galaxy S5 coming later this month), tablets, laptops, new televisions such as 4K ultra high definition and curved OLED displays, and home appliances has an incredible line of SMART cameras that take stunning images, fit nicely in my hand, and makes uploading photos to different devices easy.

Since December I’ve been a member of the Samsung #Imagelogger team, shooting images that are going to be part of a photo map of the United States as we educate consumers about mirrorless systems as an option to #DitchtheDSLR. Traveling for work affords me a lot of opportunities to shoot great content but it’s even more fun when I have a new camera to use.

Last weekend I was in Miami for the Rio 2 world premiere that included a screening and a star-studded after party where the celebrities who voice the characters walked the blue carpet in honor of the movie’s cerulean macaw mega-star, Blu, and samba dancers were on hand to set the Guinness Book of World Records record for the most people doing a choreographed samba at once.

Using my NX30 and alternating between the 18-55mm kit lens and 50-200mm one, I shot these images on auto in continuous mode (continues taking photos when pressing the shutter) and simply cropped. Even though the NX30 and NX300 come with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, the crisp images and vibrant colors of the photos speak for themselves! For more images from my trip, visit my #Rio2 #Rio2Event Flickr set.

If you’re tempted to upgrade your point-and-shoot and still can’t decide between a DSLR and mirrorless, even though the above images speak for themselves, you might find TomsGuide.com helpful since they break down the strengths and weaknesses of each in DSLR vs. Mirrorless Cameras? Which is Better for You?

For more information about Samsung’s line of SMART Cameras, including the NX30 and NX300 that I use, find Samsung Camera USA on Facebook, Twitter, and follow their SamsungCamera and SamsungUSA Instagram accounts where you may see one of my images featured in the stream!

I was a guest of Fox for the world premiere event of Rio 2 and as a Samsung #Imagelogger, I receive Samsung gear for my photos but I am not required to post and all opinions are my own.