Here is a user review about Samsung ST50 digital camera.
The first ultra-slim Smart auto digital camera with protruding-type lens
Samsung cameras’ new targets have been noticeable with the new start with 2009 Samsung Digital Imaging. Starting with 24-340mm WB500, there are multimedia convergence digital camera of SAMSUNG CAMERA, high-class ultra-wide angle slim manual digital camera, and casual and active ultra-slim ST50 targeting youngsters. New cameras from Samsung Digital Imaging show distinct targets according to their concepts. It seems 2009 of Samsung starts out a bit bustling, but it shows more energy and passion about its products than any other brands.
Taking a look at the Samsung’s new lines, we can feel its enthusiasm to compete with best sellers from other brands that focus on compact digital cameras. ST50 is the first highly efficient ultra-slim digital camera with protruding-type lens. With its fast start-up time, slim and stylish body, easy operation, and smart auto function, it appeals to young students or active and sensitive gentlemen or career women.
Stylish and luxurious slim body is relatively new image to Samsung. ST50 supports every kind of smart functions of auto digital camera, so you can capture what you see, feel, and talk about in every day life, just like in a diary. In charge of a new line-up, ST50 will be remembered as the first ultra-slim auto digital camera with protruding-type lens from Samsung. Form now on, let’s take a look at the product.
Strong stainless steel body
Red ST50 was given to Popconet. It is vivid red color with strong impact. The color changes according to the light angle, and it reminds of red passionate wine. The whole body is light-weighted and strong stainless steel. The front side is with hairline design, and it is glossy-coated on the surface, so it looks smooth and luxurious. ST50 arouses users’ desire to own it.
Front side
Classy red color and black lens barrel look harmonious. The lens barrel and the front side are smoothly rounded, and light reflected here makes the body look greater. On the upper part of the middle area, there are an assist light and a self-timer lamp. And flash is located on the opposite side of grip so that the hand will never disrupt flash.
Put in a pocket! 14.2mm ultra-slim
It has 14.2mm protruding-type ultra-slimness. It is a bold change for a Samsung camera. It may remind of card series from Casio, but if you take a closer look at it, what ST50 is seeking is somewhat different. The grip part where you put the thumb is around 14mm, and from the monitor to the front side is around 16mm. From the monitor to the lens barrel is around 19mm.
Top
Slim top part looks dynamic with black lining. There are Smart/Power button, shutter button, zoom dial, and a speaker.
Spring is coming up soon, and now it’s time for easy-to-carry ST50 that fits right into any pocket in your pants or jacket. It doesn’t get scratches easily by frictions, so you can carry it in your purse with other stuff without worries.
2.7inch 230k, pixels, wide view angle monitor
I wonder if it will turn into 3inch in later lines, but 2.7inch monitor looks suitable to ST50. It fills the entire back part, and still is compact as size of name cards. The 230k pixels LCD quality and wide view angle help express a variety of angle shots outside. It looks a little bluish and contains a cool grey Contax tone. It’s hard to find color noise even inside, so it’s always nice to take pictures. There’s a reflected light but also a good transmittance, so there is not much inconvenience in outside shootings.
Back side
On the back side, there are a camera status lamp, a mode switch button, a menu button below that, 4-directional function buttons, and play and delete button.
Hardy and solid grip
Being slim doesn’t necessary mean bad grip. The important thing is how strongly and stably it supports the thumb area on the back and the middle finger area on the front. Of course, it cannot compare to thick high-end digital cameras, but compared to other slim bodies ST50 has better grip. A thumb and a middle finger feel a solid grip. When shooting, if you lightly support the monitor area with the opposite hand, it gets more comfortable to operate zoom dial or other buttons.
AC adapter and USB dual charging system
You can charge it by connecting the body directly using 20pin connector. The AC terminal is also a USB/AV terminal and it is located on the side of the grip part with a camera strap. It can be charged by putting USB terminal into AC adapter or by directly connecting to PC suing the USB terminal. It is ok to use at work or at home, but having to use the body can be inconvenient at times.
Lithium ion battery lasting 200 shots
The battery is 3.7v 720mAh, good capacity as a slim body camera. The actual shooting capacity is about 200 shots CIPA standard. It is enough for daily use, but if you are on a trip or go away for photographing, you might need an extra battery for backup. Charging with AC adapter takes about 120 min. and it is inserted at the bottom with SD memory.
Battery/Memory cover is opened by a lock switch; it is very elastic and securely supports battery latch as well. The maximum memory capacity is as big as 8GB, but if you own memory larger than 16GB, you may feel a bit short.
Auto scene detection function is becoming a basic function of auto cameras. Samsung also equips this Smart mode as a main theme that does everything when pressing the shutter. Smart mode activates when you press the Smart button on the top. Then, the menu option becomes simplified, green Smart icon shows up on the top of the screen, and the icon changes according to shooting scenes. What you set up on Smart mode is size of pictures, flash on/off, and timer. If you switch to Smart mode, you can just rely on the camera without considering this and that.
Smart mode can automatically detect up to 11 scenes. Depending on the place, the kind of subject, and the distance from subject, it automatically selects scene mode. When it cannot select one, it shoots as a Smart auto.
Scenery, White, Night Scene, Night Portrait, Backlight, Portrait, Macro, Macro Text, Tripod, and Action
Out of these, White mode is used for very bright background. And Tripod mode automatically detects the stabilization at night shooting and applies low sensitivity (ISO160) and long exposure (maximum 8 seconds). Action mode applies when the subject is moving fast. It is hard to provide the detailed review of the features because the product I’m reviewing is not an official version. But it showed high detection rate in Scenery, Portraits, Night scene, Backlight, and Macro. Also, Macro Text quickly detects subjects with letters in white background in short distance.
The lowest shutter speed, which works when the flash is off at inside or night scene snap shots, is 1/8 sec, and the maximum sensitivity is ISO800. Those are figured out considering the quality decrease and trembling. I think it would be efficient if indoor high sensitivity mode is added to the kinds of Smart mode scene detection. If the range widens up to ISO1600, it would help image stabilization.
With Smart Album is a managing system for you to categorize the images and videos under kind of files (image, video, and voice), dates (weekly), and colors for the later search. Thumbnails are available in 3, 8, 20 divisional display. It is a convenient system for those who use large capacity memory. They can set the thumbnail style using a zoom lever when they play back files, and move thumbnails using the left/right button. But it is inconvenient that it takes some time to change thumbnail styles. Especially, categorizing under colors is very unique. It detects the colors of central subject and the whole picture, analyzes them into red, yellow, or green, and distributes them. If the color is ambiguous like white background, it goes into ETC. You can appreciate the pictures taken when you have free time such as in transportation or during break time using slideshow. If you apply various sounds and play effects, it could get more dynamic.
Various face detection functions for pretty face
Other than Beauty shot, there are many face detection functions, including smart and interesting ones like Face detection/ Self-portrait/ Smile shot/ Blink detection.
ACB that brightens dark part
ACB is function to modify the dark area. On sunny day, it presents natural contrast in the whole picture by editing the dark part of people or scenery. The editing intensity is just good when applied to people or scenery, making the result very natural. For the portrait shots, if you are not used to controlling exposure, take advantage of ACB and face detection function. It’s also effective in backlight.
Optical 3x zoom lens
ST50 is equipped with slim and small optical 3x zoom lens. The focal length ranges 25-105mm and aperture ranges F3.0-F5.6, which are good enough for daily use. In the wide angle, 3x zoom operation time is about 1.5 sec, and the zoom is a protruding type. And the size of lens barrel is same in wide angel and telephoto zoom. The lens barrel is pretty small and cute. The peripheral area tends to show lower quality in wide angle, but the overall quality of central area is fairly good from wide angle to telephoto zoom.
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