Here is a user review about Samsung ST50 (TL100) digital camera.
New start with Samsung Digital Imaging
On Feb 1st 2009, the digital camera department from Samsung Techwin put out newly as Samsung Digital Imaging. As the number one Korean digital camera maker, Samsung finally makes more progressive move. Actually, Samsung already has made its products one of the global hits. Samsung has become the number 3 brand in the global compact digital camera market. In Korea, Samsung stays unchallenged in compact digital camera market. Specialists analyze that its success results from its unique design and new interface, and differentiation from Japanese products. Samsung Digital Imaging is getting ready for lots of new lines to release. The first item of it is 14mm-slim ST50.
Slim digital camera with 12,000,000 high pixels
ST50 has ultra-slim thickness of 16.6mm, which could be said revolutionary. 16.6mm may not be new to slim digital cameras, but ST50 has something unique. It could be said revolutionary due to its use of protruding type lens. It is widely known that protruding type lens makes better results than inner zoom. That is why we cannot help but pay attention to ST50 style. So 35-105mm in 35mm equivalent 3x optical zoom seems rather weak. But 16.6mm slimness is not everything about ST50. 12,000,000 high pixels could be one of the outstanding specifications. Maybe it reflects the fact that only the slimness cannot attract consumers.
Clicking a button makes it smart. How easy!
One who has great senses never hangs one’s head anywhere. ST50’s Smart Auto function offers suitable recording mode for each situation. If setting up a mode is a trouble for you, just click the Smart button on the top of the camera. It’s that easy. It is the biggest strength of this camera that it can deal with any circumstance. Total 11 scene modes -Landscape, White, Night Scene, Night Portrait, Backlight, Backlight Portrait, Portrait, Macro, Macro text, Tripod, and Action- cold be set automatically. It is AI system that considers distance and exposure. This Smart Auto function that is equipped in ST50 for the first time will be useful for the beginning users who are not accustomed to various environments. However, you cannot expect 100% satisfactory result. Instead, you can set up many things on Program mode. If you’re an advanced user, you can respond to many situations depending on your experience.
Expect the best Portrait shots.
Face Detection offers functions such as Beauty Shot, Self Portrait, Smile Shot, and Blink Detection. Finally, with Red eye removal function from Flash mode, ‘Perfect Portrait System’ is completed. It offers strong retouch effect that is essential to female users who feel sensitive with portrait shots. Face Detection function detects faces on the screen and automatically controls focus and exposure. It can detect up to 10 faces, so there is no problem with group shots. Beauty Shot is a mode that edits facial blemish, and you can control the face retouch and brightness degree in three steps. When taking self-pictures, Self Portrait notifies you by beeping sound if your face appears on the screen. It prevents face cut-out and enables awesome self-pictures with auto focus and exposure. Smile Shot automatically takes smiley faces without pressing the shutter, and Blink Detection detects blinking of the subject during shooting and takes two successive photos. Red eye removal prevents the eyes of subjects turning red like those of rabbits’ when flash is used.
Advanced Digital Image Stabilization
ST50 offers Advanced DIS (Digital Image Stabilization). It may seem disappointing that it doesn’t offer Dual IS anymore because OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is out. However, Advanced DIS shows good enough performance. If the former DIS produced less-noise image by combining one with short exposure and the other with long exposure, new Advanced DIS captures one with high speed and then removes noise in the second step. Not only it removes color noise, it also keeps the image saturation as it is. Therefore, it can stabilize images a lot faster than former DIS.
Magical photo manager, Smart Album
Many times, you get lazy with managing the pictures taken. People enjoying taking pictures, but when it comes to sorting and organizing those, they easily get bored. ST50 offers Smart Album function that organizes picture for you and enables you to spot the one you want conveniently. It is easy to manage the picture because it categorizes them under files, colors, and dates (day & week). Especially, sorting by colors is very useful for doing photo works. If you press Menu button on Play mode, you can select 1, 3, 9, or 20-slide to see the photos.
Samsung that keeps transforming
Every spring season, new products with various features pour out. But sometimes, there come out some products with no difference from the past. Only difference may be the change of appearance like Chinese Bianlian. It could be analyzed as excessive attachment to design. Samsung might be not much different until last year. However, Samsung Digital Imaging from 2009 is definitely changing. Not only design but functions are certainly reinforced. This is proven by the review of WB500. The ST50 review could be the stage to reaffirm the strong will of Samsung cameras.
Stylish 16.6mm
ST50’s ultra-slim 16.6mm body seems to be as slim as it could be. (14mm excluding lens part) It is stylish as well as thin and small. The rounded edge is also very attractive. Except the LCD part, it looks simple using glossy-coated stainless steel overall. Metallic body is highly durable and also visually aesthetic. According to Samsung Digital Imaging, the color will come in 4 versions; silver, black, blue, and red. It will appeal to users in wide range of ages including young female users.
Protruding type lens hidden under slim body
So far, all the ultra-slim products in Samsung Camera had equipped inner zoom lens. But ST50 selected protruding type lens in 16.6mm slim body. The point is that it is well hidden so it wouldn’t distract the slim stylish look. The fact that it could reduce the volume without selecting inner zoom show how much Samsung’s technology has developed. When you turn on the camera, the little lens comes out quickly. But the operation latency is 2 seconds, which is a bit slow. It has 3x optical zoom lens that covers 35-105mm in 35mm equivalent, and aperture F3.0 – 5.6. It starts from F3.0, but comparing to other competing products, it’s fairly good.
Front side with no grip part
Whoever that sees the ST50 for the first time will think that it looks like a cell phone. They’re alike in that both fit in one hand. The clean slash-patterned front side excluded the grip part. I guess they decided to omit it for slimmer design. It may help look stylish but the one-hand grip is somewhat unstable. To hold it with one hand, you’d better use hand scrap for safety. But using both hands, you can better concentrate on shooting more comfortably. (The surface of it looks different according to the light angle.)
Metallic middle line
The metallic middle line certainly separates the border between front and back side. In addition, it gives strong impression overall and more impact on edge. On the upper side of middle line, there are Smart button, Power button, Shutter, zoom lever, and speaker in order. It is easy to reach the Smart and Power button since they are in close area from left and right hand. When you press those buttons, blue light turns on. But it seems weaker than blue ring, the symbol of Samsung Camera series.
6.9cm LCD that is definitely not small
It has 230,000-pixel 2.7inch TFT LCD monitor. Some might compare it to 3.0inch LCD monitors of recent products, but they can’t be in comparison. ST50 offers the most ideal LCD size in proportion to the body size, unless no buttons on the back plus touch screen type. If you expect a bigger screen than that, you must give up the small size of ST50. Reinforced plastics could be put on top of the LCD so it could prepare for scratches or exterior shocks. Intelligent LCD automatically controls the brightness depending on lighting. I like it that it offers good viewing angle no matter where.
20pin charging port and battery holder
There is a charging port on the right side of the camera. 20pin charging type enables using both the AC adaptor and USB. On the bottom, there are battery and memory card holders. It uses SC card for storage and Lithium ion battery made for ST50. Tripod socket is made with plastics so it could get worn away if you use tripod often. It could have been better if it used metal.
Instinctive interface with buttons
On the back of ST50, there is a manual-type button interface. You can select recording mode for photos and videos using a switch on the upper right side. Right below that, there is a menu button that enables controlling of recording functions, sound, screen, and other setups in detail. 4-directional ring button offers setting for recording information, timer, close-up, flash, etc. On the far bottom, there are Play mode and Delete button. You can easily check the images without turning the power on.
This is what ultra-slim is.
What would people who studies design or have good tastes will say when they see ST50? Probably ‘I’ve gotta have it’ even before saying ‘Simple & Stylish.’ Protruding lens form 16.6mm slim body gives beauty of unexpected reversal. And it deserves praise for keeping the good style. Somewhat weak grip feeling could be compensated with the aesthetic effect. Instinctive button-type interface that maximizes the use of your thumb will approach to touch-sensitive users rather honestly. It seems obvious that not everything that is thin can be called ultra-slim.
Fundamentals that is beyond Smart
Not everyone with high IQ is called smart. Likewise, ST50 cannot be called capable only because it has Smart Auto function. However, it is true that it offers various functions that are good as well. ST50 has fundamentals that help it become smart such as optimal exposure, right angle, video recording and editing functions, etc.
ACB that sets up the optimal exposure
ST50 supports ACB (Auto Contrast Balance) function. It automatically revises exposure under the circumstances where there’s huge contrast between dark and light area. It’s good when there is an overlap of dark indoor and bright outside area, and also works well in backlight. If you don’t know how to edit later or want to get the best picture simply by pressing the shutter, I recommend you to always turn the ACB on.
Guidance of composition, Frame Guide
When you want to take a picture of yourself with the awesome background during travel, you normally ask strangers to take a picture for you. But half the time the composition of the photo is disappointing. But it is hard to ask as many times as needed until you get the picture you want. Under this kind of situation, Frame Guide mode could be very useful. First, you set the background composition you want, and then just give it to the person who will take a picture. The picture-taker can easily get the intended composition by matching the frame and the actual scene.
Average level video recording
ST50 doesn’t offer HD video recording like NV400HD or WB500. However, it offers three types of video recording resolution in MPEG format; 800×592, 640×480, and 320×240. It’s good enough for recording daily lives. Besides, you can use many options like zoom, pause/retake, photo style, white balance, image stabilization, etc while recording. Editing functions cannot be used.
Fun way to look at the images, Multi-Slide show
ST50 offers a slide show function. You can select 7 different effects; Calm, Pleasant, Pastoral, Refreshing, Lively, Cheerful, and Cozy. The term to shift the images could be set as 1, 3, 5, or 10 seconds. To make the viewing more fun, it supports BGM for each theme of Haze, Spring nymph, Autumn, Dawn, Party, Water drop, and Journey. It’s good to enjoy appreciating the pictures, not just simply checking the pictures taken.
No comments:
Post a Comment