Following is a review about Samsung ST10 digital camera.
New lineup to Samsung camera, Haptic.
In 2009, Samsung Digital Imaging released a new lineup starting with WB500 and then a variety of series have followed. Recently, new lineup such as PL series, ES series, and ST series have been introduced to meet rapidly changing digital camera market and consumers. Especially, ST series is a multimedia digital camera exclusive form Samsung; there’re two kinds, ST50 and ST10. ST10 is a digital convergence camera like NV9 and has multimedia functions like MP3, PMP, text viewer, voice recorder, and portable disc. And it is a new digital camera with unique Haptic effect which was popular in Samsung cell phones.
Haptic effect that pleases eyes and ears
ST10, a new camera with Haptic effect, offers touch operation and vibration and sound when you move in the menu. Samsung’s touch type was formerly introduced in 100HD, but ST10 chose a different way to deliver touch using static electricity. And it uses newly equipped hTSP LCD, so it is clearer than regular TSP. But it leaves afterimage for 2-3 seconds, and in order to prevent this phenomenon, you’d better use touch pen in the packet rather than finger.
Rotating lens cover
Using hidden inner zoom
Samsung ST10 is equipped with Samsung lens. It is x3 inner zoom lens with 6.3-18.9mm focal length, 38-114mm in 35mm film equivalent, and F3.5-4.5 brightness. Shooting distance is fairly ok, but lens brightness is somewhat low. However, close-up shot (Marco) can be effectively done as close as 1cm. And you can easily open and close the lens cover since it is a rotation type.
Smart Face for perfect portrait shot
Smart Face effect in Samsung St10 is an upgraded version of face detection function. It not only detects people’s faces but also distinguishes faces and automatically controls focus and exposure. Smart Face can save up to 10 faces and prioritize them over others when shooting group shots. The closest face is displayed in white, and others in grey focus frame. Other than Smart Face effect, there’re regular face detection function, Self guide, Smile shot, and Blink detection functions for portrait shots.
※ Smart Face shooting screen (left) and image (right)
▲ MP3 and PMP screen / MP3 equalizer
Continuing history of convergence cameras
What is a convergence camera? It means a compound multimedia camera that can be also used as MP3, PMP, text viewer, video recording, voice recording, and portable disc. Samsung already has introduced three convergence cameras, starting from NV3, and NV9, now ST10.
Unlike former convergence cameras, ST10 added equalizer to MP3, so you can enjoy high-quality music in SRS system, LIVE, classic, jazz, dance, or rock sound. Also, as before, you may enjoy watching videos on PMP after converting files into SDC files using Samsung converter. But, it may take a little long time depending on the capability of conversancy computer.
Smart Auto that automatically detects 11 scenes
The camera analyzes shooting environment such as portrait, landscape, night scene, or macro and it automatically selects a scene mode out of 11 options. So the user doesn’t have to change modes every time.
Depending on the brightness or background or focus length, the green part displays shooting environment, and the user only needs to press the shutter. And most of the time, it works pretty accurately. Especially, it works very effectively in close-up, portrait, and night scene, but the it is a bit inaccurate in sports or text.
Slim design and 3.0 inch touch LCD
Samsung ST10 has 91(W) X 60(H) X 19(D)mm body, and it is very portable. Also, it is as light as 124.2g. Since it has touch type LCD, the backside is composed with very simple functions, looking simple and clear overall. Haptic 3.0 inch LCD is hVGA TSP touch type that expresses clear image, and it has 460,000 pixels, almost twice as much as regular digital cameras. Touch operation is pretty accurate, but it leaves afterimage for 2-3 seconds as I mentioned before. But, it doesn’t bother much, and using a touch pen in the packet can solve the problem. In addition, rotating lens cover is coated for reflection, so it can be useful when you take self-shots.
Haptic’s various functions, then what about its performance?
Samsung ST10 has Haptic function for the first time for Samsung cameras, and Smart Face, Smart Auto, and Convergence system. Then what about its performance and quality? Is it better than the former models? In my comparison of it with other digital cameras, its image quality, close-up ability, and shutter speed was satisfying. But compared to today’s over 10,000,000-pixel cameras, it has 9,000,000 pixels, and the lens is somewhat dark and AF accuracy is a bit low. There’re three kinds of AF: central, multi-split, and Smart Multi. Especially, in Smart multi AF, if you choose where you want to give focus with your finger or pen, it focuses on that part.
This is what I cropped 100% of the picture I took with ST10. If you see the image, you cans see the clarity of central area is pretty good, considering it is popularized digital camera. I can say it’s almost as good as the high-end models. But the clarity of peripheral area is somewhat low like other popularized models.
ISO ranges from 80 to 3200. Especially, unlike other popularized digital cameras, the image size doesn’t change much when you take high-sensitivity shots, and you can take it in 9M best quality. The noise and color change seem to appear form ISO 800. If you want clear image, IS) lower than 400 is recommended. Of course, if it is for web-use, up to ISO 800 is fine, but image gets mashed a little. So if you want detailed image, you’d better not to use ISO higher than 800. In fact, noise restraint doesn’t seem to be improved compared to former models, and color change and image mash still appear in high-sensitivity shots.
ST10 has 9 color settings same as other digital cameras, plus three custom setting. Color settings work similarly with former models, so there’s no difficulty using it.
In white balance, there’re auto, sunlight, Fluorescent-H(orange), Fluorescent-L(white), Incandescent, and custom. The accuracy of white balance is pretty good. In addition, exposure can set within -2~+2, and it can be used only in P mode.
View editing menu
ST10’s 460,000-pixel 3 inch hVGA LCD makes it possible to display clear image and support various functions including editing functions. You can also appreciate images in the category of file names, dates, or colors.
ST10, full of fun and pleasure
ST10, which has interesting functions and convergence system, is not only for shooting pictures. It satisfies your sight, hearing, and touching. Compared to former convergence cameras, it has better multimedia functions and image quality, solving some of the problems before. Especially, I’d like to give high credit for its improved functions and features as a popularized camera. But its 9,000,000 pixels, inaccuracy of AF, insufficiency of battery capacity, and design that appeals only to youngsters can be its weaknesses. However, ST10 Haptic offers many fun functions, and you can feel it with your senses. It is one of the best newly released cameras.
This review represents the sole opinion of their individual authors and KIMDONGSOO and don’t express the opinion of Samsung Digital Imaging Co., Ltd., Samsungimaging.net or the opinion of any affiliates unless specifically marked as such.
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