Go IT World: How to select the right Samsung camera

Friday, September 25, 2009

How to select the right Samsung camera

CNET ASIA posted information about Samsung digital cameras.

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

Being an electronics giant, the company also produces its own components necessary for putting a point-and-shoot together. From the image sensor, LCD, image processor to the Lithium-ion battery, Samsung has its foot in most parts of the manufacturing process, thus ensuring quality control. This is unlike other brands, whose cameras may be fitted with parts from different manufacturers.

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.

Samsung has, however, stopped using the name Digimax for its digital cameras, and opted instead to label its point-and-shoots by their individual series. For shooters in the current lineup, there is no definite naming convention, so it doesn't mean a three-digit point-and-shoot is better than its double-digit counterpart (e.g. ST550 and ST1000).

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.