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-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from CNET Asia. --------------------------------------------------------------
How to select the right Samsung camera 
By Leonard Goh
09/09/2009 URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digitalcameras/0,39001469,62044707,00.htm
This article has been updated as of September 9, 2009.
You may not have known, but Samsung has been producing cameras since the early 1980s. The division was founded as an extension to Samsung Aerospace, and the Korean chaebol has been refining its imaging technology since. The design department has been working hard, too, and has delivered some of the most iconic profiles we've seen for a shooter.
 The Digimax 101 In 2002, we saw the Digimax 101 which featured a 1.3-megapixel sensor and 1.6-inch LCD display. Fast forward to today with the ST550 taking center stage, and we can see the company has gone a long way toward reengineering its cameras and reshaping the way consumers use them.  The ST550 and ST500 have an additional 1.5-inch LCD at the front. The firm feels that consumers should have a holistic experience when using its cameras, which is why it incorporated non-traditional features such as dual LCDs into its recent shooters. Also, the Smart Touch interface was an interesting innovation when unveiled as it provided an alternative method of navigating menus never before seen. If you've set your eyes on a Samsung point-and-shoot but not quite sure which one is suitable for you, we've put together a comprehensive guide for its lineup. Click on the images to find out more about the series.
Click on the brand names to find out more about their cameras.
The ES series The ES series is Samsung's entry-level lineup more suited for consumers purchasing their first digicam. These affordable cameras may not be the slimmest on the market, but we can see that effort has been made to make them look more stylish. However, shooters in the ES series lack a physical image stabilizer (optical or sensor-shift) and instead rely on digital IS which boosts the ISO sensitivity but can affect the quality of the shots. In this series
Samsung ES60 The 12-megapixel ES60 has a standard 3x optical zoom lens which is widest at 35mm and extends to 105mm. To make it more friendly for beginners, there are plenty of scene modes to choose from so anyone can take decent pictures. Other related model: ES55 
Samsung ES17 The ES17 has similar specifications as the ES60, except that this camera uses convenient AA-sized batteries for power. However, this adds to the bulk of the shooter and that may be a deal-breaker for some. Other related model: ES10 Click on the images to find out more about the series.
Click on the brand names to find out more about their cameras.
PL series Shutterbugs looking for something feature-packed yet easy to use can turn to the PL series. The highest-end model in this family boasts HD-quality video recording, 5x optical zoom with 28mm wide-angle lens and an optical image stabilizer. The wide range of scene modes can help beginners to take better shots, too. In this series
Samsung PL70 This sleek-looking point-and-shoot houses a 28mm wide-angle lens which is fast-becoming a norm for compacts these days. The 5x optical zoom is handy for both landscape and portrait shots. Other related model: PL60 Click on the images to find out more about the series.
Click on the brand names to find out more about their cameras.
ST series The ST lineup to Samsung is what the T series is to Sony: Sleek and stylish. Recently, the Korean company added two touchscreen point-and-shoots with dual LCDs to this family and implemented other cutting-edge features such as haptic feedback to the displays. For tech-savvy consumers, Samsung has a camera with GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity options. In this series
Samsung ST550 The ST550 is possibly the world's first camera to sport dual LCDs, and the lush 3.5-inch touchscreen at the back is equipped with haptic feedback and Smart Gesture controls. The onboard accelerometer not only detects the orientation of the shooter, it can also help to toggle between commonly used settings by tilting the snapper. Other related model: ST500 
Samsung ST1000 For shutterbugs who want to stay connected to the Web, the ST1000 may be the solution. It is equipped with a GPS module for geotagging, while the Wi-Fi option allows users to upload images to popular social-networking sites such as Facebook. 
Samsung ST50 The ST50 may not pack the bells and whistles that its siblings have, but this slim camera is set to capture the heart of fashionistas with its sleek styling. We marvel, too, at how Samsung has managed to implement HD video recording into such a small package. Click on the images to find out more about the series.
Click on the brand names to find out more about their cameras.
WB series Enthusiasts will be content with snappers from the WB series. These powerful cameras boast a wide range of advanced exposure functions such as manual and shutter/aperture priority. Some models have long-zoom lenses which are suitable for frequent travelers, while the HD-quality video-recording feature sweetens the deal. In this series
Samsung WB550 The WB550 is Samsung's offering for the long-zoom compact category. Besides 10x optical zoom, the 12-megapixel WB550 has a 3-inch LCD and HD video-recording function which is complemented by stereo-quality audio capture. Other related model: WB500 
Samsung WB1000 This point-and-shoot adds an old school touch to a modern design by utilizing analog gauges on top of the camera to show remaining battery life and memory space. The 24mm ultra-wide-angle lens has 5x optical zoom, while a good mix of exposure modes completes the package. Click on the images to find out more about the series. |
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