The Samsung HMX-H100P was “Clickx Choice”, the best in a HD camcorder test in Belgium!

Clickx Magazine, a most well-known computer magazine in Belgium, recently awarded the Samsung HMX-H100P with the “Clickx Choice” awards.

Besides the HMX-H100P, the Samsung R10 was also able to claim itself a spot among the tested devices, finishing with a great score of 7, out of 10.
However, the praises of the Flemish publishers were reserved for the HMX-H100P:

Beautiful and handy
The HMX-H100P is quite a big guy.
The combination of the silver-white & black look of the body and the glossy black of the screen makes the H100P the most beautiful device in this test.
Thanks to the pleasant grip it is nice to hold this device. You can turn the grip 180 degrees to avoid a painful wrist.
The control keys are perfectly placed, under our fingers, what makes filming with this Samsung a real pleasure.

Good image
Thanks to the 37mm wide angle lens, this H100P gives us quite some HD image. You can also take pictures with this device and this till 4.7mp. We are very pleased with the moving images as well as with the still pictures.
You can zoom until 10x optical. The 2.7 inch touch screen is quite good, we do have the impression that the screen of the R10 reacts a bit better.

The menu’s are almost identical to those of the R10 and can please us all the way.

When you open the screen you can see some new buttons. This way you can activate the image stabilizer or start the Easy Q modus.
You can connect this Samsung to your TV set with a HDMI– or video cable. They only deliver a component cable in the box.

Especially the outstanding quality of the images, good grip and design of menu were emphasized and pinpointed as “the” products-strengths, stating: “[…] When we look at design, as well as, user-friendliness and image quality, our personal choice is the Samsung HMX-H100P.”

Editor’s pick their compact camera of the year: Samsung HZ15W(WB550)

June 17. 2009 – We are proud to announce that the world’s leading magazine for digital imaging “American Photo Magazine” has rewarded the Samsung HZ15W(WB550), with the “Compact Camera of the Year”-award, on its “American Photo – Special Issue – July/August 2009”-issue.

Popular Photography Magazine, who is also widely known for their top-notch internet community “POPPHOTO.COM”, tested no less than 150 new products in this special-issue, and ranked the Samsung HZ15W(WB550) on the very top of the crop of digital imaging devices.

To be precious, the article describes the Samsung HZ15W(WB550), as follows: “Samsung brings a rare view to the superzoom compact – and we mean that literally. The starting focal length on this 10X, 12-megapixel model is equivalent, in the 25mm format, to 24mm. That’s wider than the 28mm on other wide-angle models, and better for both big views and cramped interiors. And it seems to suit the HZ15W(WB550)’s HD video, which is, after all, a wide-screen format. You can output video directly to an HDTV by plugging in an HDMI cable. Another rare feature for a compact: manual control of both f-stop and shutter speed. About $330.”

The full article can be found on next month’s issue of the “American Photo Magazine”.

For more information’s, with regards to the Samsung HZ15W(WB550), please visit http://www.samsungcamera.com or http://www.samsungimaging.net

 

About American Photo Magazine

Photography, now known as Popular Photography & Imaging, also called Popular Photography or Pop Photo, is a monthly American consumer magazine founded in 1937, and the world’s largest imaging magazine, with an editorial staff twice the size of its nearest competitors.[…]

According to its auditors, the Audit Bureau of Circulations (or ABC), Popular Photography & Imaging has a rate base (that is, subscriptions and single copy sales) of 400,000 with a total audience of 2,0850,000.

The Accessory Catalogue for you!

Have you ever faced difficulties finding the appropriate accessories for your device?
Are you tired of new reserve-batteries, which are not working with your camera?

If so, we are happy to provide you with an accessory catalogue, including everything from battery kits and USB-cables.

Recently, we experienced that more and more customers are looking for specific accessories, in order to maintain their devices on the highest possible level. However, it has never been easy to know the perfect-accessories, unless you’re a professional, and, additional in a time, where batteries look identical.
So, we discussed and looked for a solution, to solve this matter and meet your highest demands.

Whatsoever, long story, short point.

Here is your “Samsung Digital Imaging Accessory Catalogue” for digital-cameras, camcorders.

Especially the cases, have been designed, based on the colors and product-designs, in order to match your products perfectly.

Below, please find the catalogue attached!

Digital Imaging Accessory Catalogue 2009

We hope this catalogue helps you, to even make better images and thank you for believing in our brand.

H106 SSD High Temperatur test

SAMSUNG HMX-H106 Review

HMX-H106 series have equipped SSD (Solid-State Drive) for the first time in the world. It supports 1920x1080i Full HD based on 1/4.5 inch CMOS sensor. In addition, it has 180° rotating full angle grip and easy-to-use built-in software Intelli-studio. It is a home camcorder with various high-quality features. The models released in Korea are H106 (64GB), H105 (32GB), and H104 (16GB). It will have different capacities.

Full HD Camcorder H106 series

Last January, Samsung introduced a new H106 series at ‘2009 CES’ in Las Vegas. H-series, HMX-H106 in the front, is a compact camcorder with Full HD. H106, which is introduced now, has two noticeable features. It has up-and-coming SSD (Solid State Drive) memory and 180° rotating full angle grip. And its full angle grip is very unique, creating a sensation. The difference among H106, H105, and H104 is their different capacity- as big as 64GB, 32GB, and 16GB.  Other than that, the specifications are same; Full HD recording, 10x optical Schneider zoom lens, optical image stabilization, interval recording, etc. In this review, let’s find out about how H106 series is differentiating itself from other competing products.

※ This review is based upon HMX-H106 model, and samples and photos on this review are taken with H104. In addition, all the video samples are resized to smaller size, so its actual resolution is different from them.

16:9 Full HD quality

Normally, the resolution is divided into HD(High Definition)와 and SD(Standard Definition). If you take a closer look, under 800×600 is SD, from 960×720 to 2048×1080 is HD. Out of HD, over 1080 in vertical is Full HD. HMX-H106 series supports 16:9 Full HD recording. What’s important is that you can take in 1920×1080 resolution which fills 16:9 wide screen. It is different from HD camcorder that takes in 4:3 ratio 1440×1080 resolution, and enlarges it to 16:9 screen. Full HD quality has a recording type which is accurate enough not to show any distortion.

1/4.5 inch CMOS sensor

HMX-H106 has 2,200,000-pixel 1/4.5 inch CMOS sensor. The sensor is not that big. So I cannot say that it is relatively a strong aspect since the size of sensor can decide the photosensitivity. What’s noticeable in HMX-H106 sensor is not its size but its kind. It’s not a traditional CCD sensor. CMOS sensor shows low energy consumption and efficient charging. Besides, you can take a shot in direct face of light like sunlight or street light. Smear, appearing of lines, and Blooming around the light source rarely show up.

Interlace type of natural movement

Camcorder video is recorded in two scanning ways. One is Interlace and the other is Progressive type. Basically, it supports both of them. 1080/60i type for Full HD divides 20 frames/sec into odd and even fields. And through the interlace way, the output comes on one screen. Fields image in 60n frames are shown successively. It is similar to two toothed wheels  engage with each other and turn rapidly. While interlace type supports Full HD, HMX-H106 series’ progressive type is limited to HD quality. 720/60p shows 24-frame type of movies, and shows 24 frames continuously like film. These two scanning ways end up showing different results. Normally, interlace type is good for natural movement, and progressive type shows good image quality.

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H.264 video Codec with high compression

Image quality of digital camera images is decided by its pixels or the capacity of a sensor. Likewise, pixels and sensor are important for videos in camcorder. But, more important factor for videos is Codec since it can change grade of image quality. HMX-H106 supports MPEG4 type H.264 video Codec. H.264 has excellent video format and data compressibility to compress and store high-volume HD quality video clips. Thanks to that, they can keep clear image and stored in small volume. High capacity SSD, HDD, and small capacity memory card of H106 series will be utilized well in digital media.

It supports stereo sound recording.

Meeting of video and photos, Dual recording,

Not only Full HD quality video, you can also take 4,700,000-pixel still images. Plus, it supports Dual recording; if you press a photo button during video recording, it takes a picture. However, the image by Dual recording is in 2,000,000 pixels. Its resolution is as low as cell phone cameras. The photos can be taken unlimitedly until the memory gets full.

Still shot is available in 4,700,000 pixels.        It has a wind sound removal function.

Stereo recording and wind sound removal

HMX-H106 series supports 2-channel stereo recording. But it’s a little disappointing that it doesn’t adopt 5.1 channel Dolby surround. However, compared to other models in same level, it has something unique. It has a detachable stereo mike. There’s one on the left of the lens, and another on the right. So there’re two mikes. Actually, we don’t know about the recording mechanism. But it looks different on the outside form one-mike-type. Compared to the same stereo recording type, it seems that its sound collecting range is different, rather than the quality of the sound. There’s a ‘wind sound removal’ function that blocks the noise around. So you can concentrate on recording even in the noise. It is some kind of sound filtering, and it will be useful when you do an interview.

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New storage medium in camcorder

HMX-H106 series is SSD (Solid State Drive) memory type camcorder as the world’s first. (*except H100 model) Samsung invented the new SSD memory in 2006 for the first time in the world. H106, H105, and H104 have 64GB, 32GB, and 16GB each. The reason SSD memory is worth to pay attention in the camcorder market is its capacity superior to HDD type. Above all, it’s 7 times smaller than HDD, 12 times lighter, with high capacity. It’s great for compact size devices. Besides, it’s not a physical type like HDD so results in low energy consumption, noise, and heat. Not only that, its high stability and durability help to prevent data loss. The biggest strength of all is high speed in writing and reading data. Compared to HDD type camcorder, its booting speed is a lot faster. It is better than HDD in every aspect except its price.

HMX-H106 has 64GB SSD of Samsung’s

SSD (Doild State Drive)

Unlike HDD which records information in physical way, it uses a semiconductor to store information. SSD is usually based on DRAM and Flash Memory. Flash memory-based SSD needs no separate power device and is not volatile. Therefore, even when the power suddenly goes off, the data don’t get lost. Thanks to its stable performance and high portability, it’s used in lots of compact digital devices like mobiles, MP3 players, and notebooks. Presently, memory semiconductor makers like Samsung Electronics, Hynix, Toshiba, and Intel are extending their SSD market.

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Applying Film effect out of nine types of video effects

Built-in software Intelli-Studio

HMX-H106 comes with built-in software, Intelli-Studio. So you don’t need to install software to transfer the files to a computer. When you connect USB, Intelli-Studio gets automatically activated, so you can easily edit or share the video clips and photos. When you go into editing mode, you can conveniently use ‘video effect, detailed adjustment, conversion effect, half-screen insertion, text insertion, and sound insertion.’ Especially, video effect offers 8 types of effects: ‘old film, sepia, enlargement, reduction, splendor, noise, slow, and fast effect.’ Its color tone is different from special effects. Also, using conversion effect, text insertion, and sound insertion, you can apply interesting effects applicable to Power Point. Video conversion can be selected by clicking the right button on a mouse. It kindly offers conversion standard for iPod users. But you don’t need to connect the camcorder with USB all the time only because of its built-in software. When you run the program, you can install Intelli-Studio on the computer by pressing the menu on the top. It won’t trouble you much because the installation is done fast.

HMX-H106 with new basis

HMX-H106 is a digital camcorder with Samsung’s new basis. Especially, its SSD memory, which outdoes HDD, will make it a ‘killer application’ in world market. In this respect, it definitely differentiates itself from other competing models. Besides, it has lots of advanced features that appeal to consumers: Full HD supporting interlace type of natural movement, H.264 video Codec with high compressibility, and built-in Intelli-Studio which is easy to operate even for beginners. Plus, it has 10x optical Schneider lens, optical image stabilization, its exclusive interval recording function, wind sound removal, etc. If you’re interested in camcorders, it is hard to pass. Until last year, Samsung’s SSD market share was almost 80%, and it is expected to be extended to camcorder market.

Samsung had introduced capsule-type HMX-R10 in CES 2009 and attracted lots of attention. Its unique design with ‘25º titled lens’ left strong impression to users. This time it’s introducing HMX-H106 series with ‘full angle grip,’ which is a new type. According to shooting angle, you can use wrist more freely. I guess it’ll appeal a lot in a way that the new grip will enable easier movement of viewing angle.

Style, susceptive motif

First impression of HMX-H106 can be defined as ‘soft rock.’ Overall, its dark color looks strong, but it harmonizes with smooth rounding. It seems quite fascinating with its smooth but intense appearance. It is finished with plastics in order to reduce weight. It is 63 X 60.9 X128.6mm and 352g. And its SSD (Solid State Drive) contributed in reducing its volume and weight. It has good portability, fitting right into a hand. Its lustrous and lusterless parts are mixed well in two-toned color, and its point like dots looks pretty chic. I think it appeals to susceptive feeling more than visual aspect. The form of H-SERIES look like traditional handy-cam, but it has Samsung’s cyber image.

F1.8 and 37mm Schneider lens

10x optical zoom, Schneider lens

As lens is important for cameras, it is for camcorders, too. So what kind of lens it uses can decide the preference for the camera. HMX-H106 is equipped with Samsung’s proud Schneider lens. It has long lens barrel with alloyed aluminum, and the lens is placed deep inside. It looks somewhat different from former styles that have lens on the front. There’s silver line as a point around the lens barrel, and stereo mike and flash on the side and top. What’s unique is it’s unevenly carved inside the lens barrel. It normally appears in lens hood of DSLR, and it prevents flare and diffused reflection. It is the first time that I see that in a camcorder. It has 37mm, F1.8 lens, which is quite wide and bright.

Left : Unevenly carved to restrain diffused reflection

Right : Built-in flash in Photo mode

180° rotating full angle grip

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High angle shot

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Eye-level shot

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Low angle shot

Ergonomics, full angle grip

You can see duo-back chair everywhere, at work or at home. The reason it got popular is its ergonomic design. Since it divides the power to support your back evenly, it helps to keep the stable posture. HMX-H106 series also gives stability to you wrist by ergonomic method. The keyword is ‘Full angle grip,’ a new type introduced for the first time. It didn’t adopt traditional fixed grip and had come up with creative way to help change angle easily. It is basically same in eye level and high angle shooting. However, when you change to waist level or low angle shooting, ‘Full angle grip’ works quite efficiently. It is 180º rotating grip. So you can stay in low angle for along time. Not only that, inside the leather hand strap is finished with suede material in order to reduce its friction against the skin. Along with useful ‘Full angle grip,’ you’ll have quite nice experience.

2.7 inch wide touch screen

It uses the hottest item of these days, touch screen type LCD. It has 230,000-pixel, 2.7 inch wide LCD, satisfying both clarity and size. Since it guarantees viewing angle in all directions, it is easy to check results. Especially, it is easy to check the screen outdoors. Thanks to 16:9 screen, room for menu interface arrangement is quite spacious, increasing the LCD touch recognition rate. There’s glossy lines on the border of LCD panel, so it doesn’t look too simple. And there’re Q.MENU, zoom button, and recording button on the left side of the panel.

Fast ready for shooting, Quick-on system

HMX-H106 series have Quick-on system that gets instantly ready for shooting when LCD gets opened. It takes about one second to get ready, which is very fast. Besides, even when you close the LCD during recording, it keeps shooting. So when the LCD gets closed by accident, you don’t need to worry. And LCD panel can be adjusted freely. The biggest strength of is you can rotate the angle in any direction you want, up-down/ right-left. On the basis of vertical axis, it moves 90º from left to right, and of horizontal axis, 270º from up to down. If you completely turn the screen and stick it to side, LCD also rotates 180º. It is called Free-View style which is made to guarantee stable shooting posture in any location. The hinge between LCD panel and camcorder is quite solid. So I like it that it can be securely fixed.

Interface on the backside

Hidden terminal on the back

Memory card / Battery holder

Interface, Direct in Soft

The backside with zoom lever, photo button, and mode button on is a bit protruding from the body. The reason is that it considers that location of thumb, index, and middle finger which are involved mostly in operation. When you put your hand in the grip, the three fingers naturally reach the buttons. It offers perfect interface without a bit of awkwardness. If you move your thumb a tiny bit, you’ll reach mode button, and recording button is right next that. Since the buttons are pretty big, size of your hand won’t get in the way. Right below the mode button, there’re HDMI, USB, DC, and AV terminal. Since they’re perfectly hidden, it doesn’t hurt the design. Also, HMX-H106 offers mini HDMI cable. It will make HDTV users so happy. There’s memory card and battery holder at the bottom. Since the battery isn’t exposed outside, it’s pretty safe. If you open the LCD panel, there’re power, shooting info, EASY.Q, flash, and OIS button. Overall, its interface is composed very efficiently

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Polished design with good functions

Samsung camcorders seem to seek two different types of design. If R10’s capsule type design was sensational, HMX-H106 is combination of traditional and futuristic styles. Especially, its simple but cool ‘Full angle grip’ seems to be the completion of ergonomic design. HMX-H106’s leather hand strap looks fashionable and is comfortable at the same time. And they aren’t all. Detailed decoration makes Schneider lens look better, and its color match is harmonious. Anyone who sees this will say ‘This is cool.’ It seems that Samsung’s design, which used to stay in safe range, has taken one step ahead.

● All the product images are taken by H104 model. H106 / H105 / H104 have same functions (only different in SSD capacity) and a little difference in design and color.

Various functions offer diverse experience like buffet. But, real gourmets don’t go to buffet. They find places which us famous for one food. It is to feel the depth of taste, not a variety. Compared to competing models, HMX-H106 doesn’t offer more various functions. However, its fundamental specification and capacity never fall behind. Especially, its interval recording and wind sound removal feature are exclusive at Samsung.

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Using zoom lever

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Using zoom button

Excellent close-up, 10x optical zoom

Schneider lens in HMX-H106 is 37-370mm in 35mm film equivalent with 10x optical zoom. It is ideal to close-up far-away subject. It has 100x digital zoom mode, but is not as useful because its resolution drops considerably. Zoom can be controlled with lever on the top of camcorder and LCD panel lever. Since both of them are lever type, it allows natural operation. If you use the zoom lever on the top, it’ll take about 1.6 seconds from widest angle to maximum zoom, which is very fast. Panel zoom lever takes about 6.5 seconds, and it works well for stable close-up shot. Zoom function also can be activated in interval shooting. But you’d better not use it in interval shototing.

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Image Stabilization On

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Image Stabilization Off

Optical Image Stabilization, OIS

When you use zoom, you must use IS function. But, IS functions defer according to its type. That’s why people classify optical, digital, electronic, or dual type. In camcorders, dual type is not yet used. So for now, optical image stabilization is the best option. And HMX-H106 series have OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer). The tremble through lens is fixed by moving the lens unit to the opposite side. It’s not creating image like digital type does but uses physical method. Since it solves the problem fundamentally, it is more stable than digital type.

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Backlight editing On

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Backlight editing Off

Backlight editing that brightens the darkness

HMX-H106 doesn’t have Face detection function, but it has backlight editing feature. It can be set through the menu on LCD. Backlight editing is used in backlight or in similar circumstances. As you see from the samples, its capability is quite good. But it brightens the whole screen, so it is different from DR (Dynamic Range) feature which optimizes the exposure difference between dark and bright area. It may brighten the main subject but lose some of the details of background.

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Sepia mode

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Black-and-White mode

Special effect in unique style

It may not offer various but unique special effects. There’re four types- black-and-white, sepia, reversal, and art. Instead of R10’s blur effect, art effect is added. Art effect simplifies the whole screen, giving it some illustrated effect. You’d better not use it with reversal effect for portrait shots. If the colors are distinct or there’s absolute difference between exposures, it can be used interestingly.

Fader mode setting screen

Beginning and ending of a video clip, Fader function

HMX-H106 series support Fader function. When you shoot videos, it notifies the beginning and ending. The mode can be selected out of ‘Beginning, Ending, and Beginning-Ending.’ If you use ‘Beginning-Ending’, the beginning part slowly gets brighter, and the ending part darker. It is a unique function that helps make your video clip more effective. When you shoot a video for a special event, like video letter, it can produce natural effect. In/Out time of Fader effect is about three seconds.

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Shooting in regular mode

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Shooting in interval mode

Interval recording in HD quality

There’re scenes showing constructing a building in quick moment, a flower blooming, and turning from morning to night in an instant, usually form environmental documentary program. But recently, these kinds of scenes are noticeable even on soap operas, movies, or news. HMX-H106 offers HD Time-lapse recording that can generate these movie-like scenes. It is also called Interval recording; it compresses the long time and shows in quickly and briefly. On every certain interval, it records video, and then they get put together. Based on the interval, it captures 30 images and compresses it to one second. That is, if you set the interval as 10 seconds, it takes at least 5 minutes to realize 1 second (= 30 images) video. It can be recorded in HD quality. However, it is fixed to 720/60p. It supports 24/48/72 for recording time, and 1/3/5 seconds for interval.

Convenient EASY.Q mode              iSCENE mode                  Setting Guideline

Video highlight                 Setting slideshow               Video editing mode

High-speed successive shots of 8 shots/ sec

Diverse modes for shooting and appreciation

HMX-H106 series offer convenience for shooting and appreciation in diverse ways. When you open the LCD panel, there’s EASY.Q inside the body. It automatically sets up focus, exposure, white balance, or image stabilizer. It’s similar to ‘Smart Auto’ in VLUU series, which is useful for beginners. In addition, it offers Q.MENU which is composed with six most frequently used set-up modes. When you select Q.MENU button, you can quickly operate iSCENE mode, white balance, exposure, etc. There’s also guideline for vertical-horizontal lines. Since there’re three modes, they can be used well to decide on angles for portrait or landscape shots. Plus, it supports enlarging close-up shot and successive shots. Enlarging close-up shot can be used in the maximum zoom. In the maximum zoom, you may close up a subject that is 40cm away. It will be perfect to capture a subject that isn’t easily accessible like insects. Successive shots speedily take 8 shots per second on the moment you press the shutter. You don’t need to hold the shutter like in camera; just one click is enough. Other than that, there’re video highlight with which you can enjoy BGM and scene effect, slideshow, and simple video editing function. It may be trivial but meaningful.

Outstanding performance of essential features

Many functions mean more options, both for consumers to purchase and users to shoot. In this respect, HMX-H106 series can be considered as ‘divergence camcorder,’ Divergence products skip extra and focus on essential features. Although the absence of Face Detection, Super Slow, DR (Dynamic Range), and some feature settings is a bit disappointing, it clearly provides well-sorted features. It has features more than enough to play a role as a camcorder. Especially, Samsung’s exclusive Interval recording is quite enough to attract consumers. OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), Highlight, and Fader function are also great.

Pixels as well as sensor decide the image quality in digital cameras. So, high pixels can be considered as an important factor in cameras. Pixels in HMX-H106 are 2,200,000. It is low compared to cameras, but enough to display on 1920X1080 Full HD screen. Other than image quality, movement according to scanning types can also be important. Users try to find out if it’s interlace or progressive type.

Interlace type of H106

Progressive type of H106

Interlace type of B brand

Resolution setting screen

Interlace and Progressive type

What is as important as image quality in video is motion expression. According to scanning type, it appears differently. HMX-H106 supports 1080/60i scanning type that is suitable for Full HD. In addition, it can be recorded in progressive type, though it’s limited. These two types have both strengths and weaknesses. Interlace type is good for expressing continuous movement naturally. On the other hand, progressive type is good for clear expression of details. However, it’s a little disappointing that it doesn’t support progressive way in 1080 resolution. I’ve tested the scanning types. I set 1080/60i and 720/60p for H106, and 1080/60i for the competing model.

Natural expression that goes well with Full HD

As a result, you could find minute difference between scanning types and models. Interlace type of H106 shows movement slowly but some discontinuity in progressive type. Image qualities weren’t that different, but interlace way felt a bit faster due to the difference in movement. B-brand’s video, which also uses interlace 60fps like H106, was the same. The running subject was well described. But H106’s video looked a lot clearer maybe because if the auto white balance. The difference between interlace and progressive way is not image quality but expression of movement. I recommend interlace scanning type to express smooth motions.

※ The video clip in this review is converted to lower resolution, so it is different from the actual quality of HMX-H106 series.

Noise level in indoor shot

AS digital cameras are popularized, regular consumers have recognized the concept about high sensitivity. So now when people purchase cameras, they don’t only look at the makers or design. They take high sensitivity/ low noise into consideration. HMX-H106 doesn’t have ISO set-up mode or R10’s Super C.Nite, a mode for low lighting shot. Sensitivity is set automatically based on circumstances. I feel disappointed about not being able to set the sensitivity manually. However, when I tested it in dark indoors, the result was quite awesome. The sample was taken inside under weak light with zoom. You can see with eyes that color noise is relatively little even under high sensitivity. Compared to competing models, its noise restraint ability is more than average.

4,700,000-pixel still image

HMX-H106 can take still image in 4,700,000 pixels (2888×1620). Its pixels are a lot lower than ‘True 2 in 1’ style, which definitely work well as both a camcorder and a camera. But if you just want to use it on web, it’s enough. For resolution test, I’ve used ISO 12233 Resolution chart. As the result, vertically nine lines could be distinguished up to 1,000 samples. On the other hand, in horizontal, between sample 1,000 and 900 seemed to be a limitation. Both contrast and clarity were the average level for 4,000,000-pixel camera. When you look at the image in small size, it looks smooth. But overall, the blur rate is high. It will be hard to print the image in large size, but up to 4×6 size, it’ll be good.

Original image is linked for each

Image quality in widest angle, and maximum zoom

HMX-H106 supports 37-370mm angle in 35mm film equivalent. It is quite wide. Wide angle means that pixels will play an important role in expression. In order to find out the image quality in widest angle and maximum zoom with 4,700,000 pixels, I’ve taken sample shots. Since H106 has low pixels, I each cropped only one part form the central and peripheral area each both in widest angle and maximum zoom. In both wide angle and zoom, clarity and contrast were better than expected. Overall, there was much blur. But the result looks better than ISO Resolution chart probably because it’s taken under sunlight. Auto white balance works pretty well, too. Compared to Custom mode with grey card, some green cast appears, but not as much as to bother. White is expressed fairly well.

Wireless remote control (BRM-D4) for HMX-H106 series is included.

Transition of form and method, ‘HMX-H106’

HMX-H106 doesn’t follow the trend. It’s rather leading the trend a few steps ahead. For the first time in camcorder history, it adopted SSD (Solid State Drive) memory. Its revolutionary change of storage seems to be successful. And with ‘Full angel grip,’ it destroyed the stereotype that grip must be fixed. It came out from creative thinking. Not only that, smooth-looking body, 10x optical Schneider lens, OIS, easy-to-use Intelli-Studio, and interval recording complete perfect conditions for a compact camcorder with Full HD in 1920×1080. Of course, there’s also a downside like 4,700,000-pixel photo features. But for the people who’re trying to buy a camcorder for the first time, I will recommend HMX-H106. It’ll be a good match.

 

SAMSUNG PL10 Review

Cute and pretty digital camera ‘PL10’ for women

Young women or students usually care most about design, fast operation, features, and convenience. They usually don’t care much about zoom, high resolution, or advanced functions. What’s important to them are how good the camera looks, how easy to use it, and how good their portrait shot looks with help of diverse functions.

 

PL10 is the prettiest, slimmest digital camera with various Smart functions that Samsung Digital Imaging has released in 2009. PL10 has many features that can appeal to women; it is an ultra-slim auto digital camera with splendid color, pretty body, small size, multimedia functions, and smart beauty functions.

 

 

Slim, Smart, Simple

PL10 has all the Smart functions that Samsung has. – Various Scene detections, Smart Auto mode that takes a clear shot under any circumstance, Samsung’s exclusive Smart Face detection that can register faces, Smile shot/ Blink detection/ Self Guide/ Frame Guide, etc.

Image Sensor	Type	1/2.5″ (Approx. 1.02cm) CCD
	Effective Pixel	Approx. 9.0 Mega-pixels
	Total Pixel	Approx. 9.2 Mega-pixels
Lens	Focal Length	Samsung Lens f = 6.3 ~ 18.9mm (35mm film equivalent : 38~114 mm)
	F No.	F3.5(W) ~ 4.5(T)
	Digital Zoom	Still Image mode : 1.0X ~ 5.0X Play mode : 1.0X ~ 10.8X (depends on image size)
Image Stabilization	Image Stabilization	DIS (Digital Image Stabilization)
Display	Type	TFT LCD
	Feature	2.7″ (6.86cm, 230,000 pixels)
Viewfinder	Viewfinder	N/A
Focusing	Type	TTL auto focus (Multi AF, Center AF, Face Detection AF, Face Recognition AF)
	Range	Normal : 80cm ~ infinity Macro : 5cm ~ 80cm (Wide), 50cm ~ 80cm (Tele) Super Macro :1cm~5cm(Wide) Auto Macro : 5cm ~ Infinity (Wide), 50cm ~ Infinity (Tele)
Shutter Speed	Shutter Speed	1 ~ 1/2,000 sec (Night : 16 ~ 1/2,000 sec.  AEB, Continuous 1/4 ~ 1/2,000sec)
Exposure	Control	Program AE
	Metering	Multi, Spot, Center-weighted
	Compensation	±2EV (1/3EV steps)
	ISO Equivalent	Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Flash	Modes	Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red-eye Fix
	Range	Wide : 0.3m ~ 3.8m, Tele : 0.5m ~ 3.0m (ISO auto)
	Recharging Time	Approx. 5 sec.
Multimedia functions	MP3	Frequency : 20Hz~20KHz Earphone Port : 20 Pin Port (Stereo Type) Output Maximum Volume : Left 40mW + Right 40mW (16Ω) Noise Ratio : 88 dB with 20 KHz LPF File Format : MP3 (MPEG-1/2/2.5 Layer 3), Bit Rate : 48 ~ 320kbps (Including VBR) Sound Effect :SRS
	PMP	Movie : Xvid MPEG4  (Using Samsung Converter S/W) Audio : MPEG Layer 2  (Using Samsung Converter S/W) Play Mode : Seeking in Play (Max 32X), Skipping in Play, Auto skipping after one file played, Remember                     last played frame.
	Text Viewer	File : Text file (TXT extension name,10MBytes and up to 99999 ) File Format : Window ANSI (Windows 98 or later), Unicode/Unicode(Big-Endian)/UTF-8 (Windows 2000/XP)                    Mac ANSI, Unicode(UTF-16) Function : Auto Scroll (1,2,3,4,5 level),  by 1 page/10pages
Sharpness	Sharpness Contrast Saturation	-2 ~ +2 (5 steps)
White Balance	White Balance	Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent_H, Fluorescent_L, Tungsten, Custom
Still Image	Shooting	Modes : Smart Auto(Portrait, Night Portrait, Backlight Portrait, Backlight, Landscape, White, Motion, Tripod, Night, Macro, Macro Text), Auto, Program, DIS, Movie, Scene(Night Scene, Portrait, Beauty shot, Children, Landscape, Text, Close-up, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Frame Guide), Multimedia Continuous : Single, Continuous, Motion Capture, AEB Self-timer : 2 sec., 10 sec., Double (10 sec., 2 sec.), Motion Timer
	Effect	Photo Style Selector : Normal, Soft, Vivid, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Classic, Negative, Custom RGB Image Adjust : ACB, Red-eye Fix, Brightness, Contrast, Saturation
	Edit	Resize, Rotate, Photo Style Selector
Image Play	Image Play	Single image, Thumbnails, Multi Slide show, Smart Album, Movie Clip * Slide show : Slide show with Effect & Music
Voice Recording	Voice Recording	Voice Recording (max. 10 hours) Voice Memo in Still Image (max. 10 sec.)
Date Imprinting	Date Imprinting	Date&Time, Date, Off (user selectable)
Movie Clip	Recording	Format : MPEG-4 With audio (recording time : memory capacity dependent) Size : 800X592, 640×480, 320×240 (3X Optical Zoom with sound recording) Frame rate : ((800X600- 20fps ))/ ((640×480, 320×240 – 30 fps, 15 fps))
	Effect	Color Style : Normal, Soft, Vivid, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Classic, Negative, Custom
	Edit	Movie Stabilization, Pause during recording, Still Image Capture, Time Trimming
Storage	Media	Internal Memory : About 196MB External Memory(Optional) : MMCplus(up to 2GB guaranteed 4bit 20MHz) SD (up to 4GB guaranteed) SDHC (up to 8GB guaranteed) * Internal memory capacity is subject to change without prior notice.
	File Format	Still Image : JPEG (DCF), EXIF 2.21, DPOF 1.1, PictBridge 1.0 Movie Clip :AVI (MPEG-4) Audio : WAV
	Image Size	9M : 3456X2592 pixels   8MP : 3456X2304pixels 7MW : 3456X1944 pixels 5M : 2592×1944 pixels 3M : 2048×1536 pixels 1M : 1024×768 pixels
Interface	Digital output connector	USB 2.0
	Audio	Mono
	Video Out	NTSC, PAL (user selectable)
	DC power input Connector	20 pin
	Cradle	N/A
Power Source	Power Source	Rechargeable battery : SLB-0937(900mAh) Adaptor : SAC-47,  CB20U05 * Included battery may vary depending on sales region
Physical Specification	Dimensions (WxHxD)	92.8mm X 59.7mm X 19.4mm
	Weight	120.7 g (without battery and card)
	Operating Temperature	0 ~ 40°C
	Operating Humidity	5 ~ 85%
Software	Software	Samsung Converter, Samsung Master, Adobe Reader
System Requirement	For Windows	PC with processor better than PentiumⅢ 500MHz (Pentiumlll 800MHz recommended) Windows 2000/XP/Vista 250 MB of available hard-disk space (Over 1GB recommend) Minimum 256MB RAM (Over 512MB recommended) USB port CD-ROM drive 1024×768 pixels, 16-bit color display compatible monitor (24-bit color display recommended) Microsoft DirectX 9.0C or later
	For Macintosh	Power Mac G3 or later Mac OS 10.3 or higher Minimum 256MB RAM 110MB of available hard-disk space USB port CD-ROM drive

Expensive digital camera with manual mode and high zoom is not always the best choice. PL10 is best for young people who used to enjoy taking pictures with a cell phone. With its 120g slim body and beautiful design will make it a diary that you can carry around everywhere like cell phone, make-up, or wallet. When you register faces, the camera takes pictures based on those, and it can also work as a MP3 player and PMP. It is the most reasonable NO.1 digital camera.

Beautiful five-color coordinator

Its rounded appearance and unique front side may not stand out on the photo, but it looks a lot prettier in real. It provides five colors- Titan Silver/ Black/ Arty Red/ Candy Pinky/ Purple. Black and silver will look good on men, and red, purple, and candy pink for women. PL10’s main theme is a variety of colors and ultra-slim design that appeal to your people. PL10 becomes a part of your fashion. Would you like to adopt this camera as your cute pet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arty Red

Its metallic body looks luxurious and smooth. Its glittering body and rounded edges look feminine and cute. Arty Red in this review is not a normal red but strong one with wine color. It appears in two-tone color according to lights.

Almost unnoticeable

19.4mm slim body of 92.8×59.7 fits right into one hand. You can carry it in the pocket of skinny jeans on summer days. It is that slim, like a card.

 

 

 

Its power button with blue ring lamp and shutter button are easy to operate. Mike and speaker are located on the top. Dark grey metallic line seems like it would protect its beautiful body with its strength.

 

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Finger slim design

 

 

Elegant flame, ‘La Fleur’ patter

Some patterns make cameras look bad, but its fierce flame engraved pattern looks very tasteful. It looks magnificent rather than looking antique. The grip part, which gracefully protrudes like women’s lips, supports the middles finger, and flash is on the center of the top so a finger never blocks the flash. AF assist light helps AF in darkness and is placed next to it. The surface material looks somewhat fragile, so you’d better be careful with coins or metals. When carrying PL10, you’d better protect it with a pouch.

 

 

 

3x inner zoom lens

The lens has auto cover which is in the same color as the body color. When you turn the power on, it operates very fast. So it protects the lens when you carry it around, and helps comfy shot. It has 3x optical zoom, 38-114mm in 35mm film equivalent, and F3.5-F4.5- fairly ok as an inner zoom lens.

 

 

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Auto lens cover

 

Smart 2.7 inch LCD

The LCD part is 2.7 inch and made with 230,000 pixels. It looks very clear without noise. It displays colors vividly and expresses in detail. It detects dark or bright places and automatically adjusts the brightness of the LCD. Its LCD quality is as good as high-end products. Its left-right viewing angle is great, and low angle’s good in high-low angle. A panel protecting the LCD makes a level with the whole back side, harmonizing with overall design.

Simple operation

The buttons are quite ideal. Options for 4-directional buttons and upper-downward direction buttons can be widely used, very instinctive and simple. You can quickly set basic functions using Fn key, and set shooting mode using a separate Mode switch button. Zoom button is moved upward or downward, and this button also works as a volume controller for playing MP3.

 

 

1.Zoom out/ Volume control   2.MODE button    3.MENU button    4.Select button

5.4-directional button (DISP/ timer/ close-up/ flash)     6.Play button     7.Fn button

Mode menu

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Mode menu

 

 

Full battery

Battery is stronger than expected. Its capacity is 3.7v 900mAh, but its performance is better. In CIPA standard, it can take 280 pictures, and play MP3 for 330 minutes and PMP for 250 minutes. Both PC USB charging and AC adapter charging are available. The battery capacity and charging is good, but the charging time is a bit long, 180 minutes. The charging jack is 24pin terminal on the side, and AV cable can also be used. Battery memory cover is on the bottom side.

 

 

 

 

‘Smart Face detection’ function that prioritizes the registered faces

Smart Face detection function is not just a simple face detection function. You can register faces using this function, and the camera sets AF and exposure according to these faces. When shooting with Smart Face detection, priority appears in three-color-graph next to a square box.

 

 

Prioritizing faces

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when the model is registered

brightens the face of model

 

When the doll is registered

brightens the white doll face, so the model looks darker

This function is useful because it always focus on you and your friends. This can be used only when the external memory is inserted, and you can register up to 10 faces. FYI, face detection graph may show up even when there’s no registered face, if face detection rate is high.

 

 

 

OK in one shutter! ‘Smart Auto’

Smart auto mode is becoming one of the essential features in Samsung Digital Imaging. When you use Smart auto, it provides smarter functions than the separate Auto mode, so you can take satisfying pictures under any circumstances.

 

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Smart Scene

 

When you take a shot with Smart Auto mode, it automatically detects shooting circumstances and select an optical scene; there’re 11 scenes like Landscape, White, Night Scene, Night Portrait, Backlight, Backlight portrait, Macro, Macro text, Tripod, and Action. In Smart auto mode, Menu option becomes simple and green Smart icon appears on the upper side, and this icon changes according to shooting scenes.

The basic theme of Smart auto mode is allowing all the photos without a tripod. It just automatically applies tripod mode when you shoot at night. In this case, the sensitivity is set to ISO160, and the shutter speed is adjusted for optimal exposure. If you want to shoot with long-time exposure, you can use Night scene mode in Scene mode, which automatically sets longest exposure of 16 seconds. Night scene mode in Smart auto is taken by short shutter in high sensitivity.

 

There’re few things that can be set in Smart auto mode. There’re only image size and flash setting. Besides, there’re only two options- Smart auto and off. Especially, if you’re indoors with lots of people, you’d better turn the flash auto off because it may disturb people next to you. I think it would have been better if it automatically turns on and off the flash in Night portrait or Night scene.

Smart AUTO (FLASH auto)                  Smart AUTO (FLASH off)

 

 

Smart Album which enables convenient image sorting

 

Smart Album sorts photos under various categories, and you may enjoy looking at them through this system. Images and video clips can be categorized into file type (photo, video, voice), date (day), date (week) or color. Categorizing by colors is pretty unique. Sometimes Smart Album takes some time. So when there’re too many image files, you’d better turn off the Smart Album function for fast operation.

 

 

 

Play categories

Play according to dates

Play 9 shots in colors

Play 20 shots in colors

Categorizes according to registered faces

Play according to colors

 

 

Restore files, deleted by accident, from recycle bin.

When you turn on the recycle bin function, deleted files are temporarily stored in internal memory. That is a recycle bin. You may restore deleted photos through this menu. But you can’t use it when the internal memory is full or when you’ve formatted internal memory. It’ll be useful when you have to bring back your precious images.

 

 
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Recycle bin function

 

‘Beauty shot,’ looking better than real

The most natural photo must be the most realistic one, but women are usually afraid of let their skin exposed as it is. Most of women, even with good skin, ask for editing. Especially, if you’re accustomed to cell phone camera which produces blur pictures, you really need Beauty shot. Now Beauty shot is included as a basic function like face detection. PL10 also has Beauty shot function, which can adjust face brightness and retouch in three levels.

 

AUTO mode                                   Beauty shot (Retouch+1,Brightness+1)

Beauty shot (Retouch+2,Brightness+2)   Beauty shot (Retouch+3,Brightness+3)

Beauty shot expresses clear skin like a doll without using Photoshop. In PL10, it is the first one on Scene mode, and its level can be set by Fn button. Especially, you can also use Smile shot or Self guide in beauty shot, so you can automatically capture smiley face and edit skin condition at the same time.

 

 

Beauty MENU

 

 

 

Powerful face retouch makes you more beautiful.

 

original                                    Brightness and Face retouch

 

But Beauty shot takes some time, so it’s also good to edit images after taking pictures. When you select portrait shot that you want to edit, you can apply the almost same effect using the internal editing function. In addition, brightness, color, saturation, and contrast can also be adjusted. If faces look too dark or red, you may change color and brightens as well as apply Beauty editing.

 

 
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Color editing

original                                     Color and beauty editing

 

 

Total face detection

Face detection function includes Face setection/ Self Guide/ Smile shot/ Blink detection. It also has Smart Face detection function, which can be used for face registeration shooting mentioned earlier.

 

Face detection off                         Face detection on

 

 

Face detection is a system that brightens faces both in back light and normal light by adjusting exposure. Especially in backlight, beginners usually don’t recognized this and end up taking dark shots. But if you use Face detection function in this case, it adjusts AF and exposure on faces so helps take better pictures. One more thing I’m hoping for is higher detection rate in completely dark backlight.

 

 

 
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Self Guide

Smile shot

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Smile shot catches smiling moment and automatically takes a shot without pressing shutter. So it may substitute Self timer. It automatically catches pleasant moment faster and more accurately than we can. Before its detection rate wasn’t always good, but now it seems to get improved.

Blink detection

When detecting blinking, it takes one more shot.

 

Blink detection detects face first and if it notices blinking in initial shot, it takes two successive shots. So you can sort out the one with blinking. If there’s no blinking detected in the initial shot, it only takes one shot.

 

 

 

Frame guide

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Frame Guide is one of the most attractive additional features of Samsung. When you are out or on trip, you can ask the third person to take a picture in your desired angle. You can set it in Scene mode; Once you take one shot and give it to another person, s/he can take a picture following the transparent frame on the sides.

 

 

3x optical inner zoom lens

Samsun’s inner zoom lens provides quite good image quality. As I knew it in NV3 before, its clarity and detail expressions are extraordinary. As in ST10, adopting inner zoom lens and 9,000,000-pixel sensor seems to be the best choice. Since it didn’t select too high pixels to small sensor, it shows good quality high-sensitivity images. And overall quality is appropriate to slim concept camera. Although its 38-114mm (F3.5-F4.5) lens is about average level, it has no problem for daily shooting. Close-up shot can be done as close as 1cm through Super Macro.

 

 

Strong image stabilization function, ‘Advanced DIS’

There’s no optical image stabilization, but it supports Advanced DIS. This function is not just increasing sensitivity to secure shutter speed or combining short shutter and long shutter in high sensitivity. But it takes a shot with high-speed shutter and removes noise in two steps. This is a new Advanced DIS way. It prevents the decrease of saturation and shortens saving time. Of all things, it uses a bit higher sensitivity, but its image quality is pretty great. With only Advanced DIS, it stabilizes images quite efficiently.

 

 

Sufficient 800×592, MPEG4 video

It supports three types of video specifications- 800×592 (20fps), 640×480/320×240(30fps). Frame number is a little low in 800×592, but still ok. It uses MPEG format and saves as AVI files. Plus, it can record for two hours. If it’s 1GB, you can take video clips in 800×592 or 640×480 for about 35 minutes. Is quality is pretty good, so you may use it for web or daily use. Also, it supports optical zoom function while recording. But during zooming, the sound isn’t recorded and the focus may get blur. So you’d better do that before starting recording.

 

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320×240(30fps)

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640×480(30fps)

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800×592(20fps)

 

 

Editing dark area ACB

Samsung’s ACB function pursues naturalness rather than strong modification. In the field, its effect may not be noticeable, but when you take a look at it when you get home, you’ll see the image with ACB looks more natural. I think it’s ok to apply ACB every time since it naturally makes a balance between dark and bright area.

Exposure variation success shot AEB

It is a useful function that looks for the suitable exposure in various situations. It takes successive shots in three different exposure value so that a user can select the one best image.

 

High-speed successive shot, ‘Motion Capture’

It takes speedy continuous shots in 640×480, so if you link them as GIF, you can make fun image that looks like a subject moving fast. Continuous shot can be taken 6 per second, and up to 30 shots.

 

MP3 Player + PMP + Text Viewer

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PL10 also has multimedia functions like ST10, so you can enjoy them in your free time. It has PMP and Text viewer as well as MP3 Player. If you want to use these functions, you need to make folders like MP3/PMP/TEXT in your memory, and then insert files in them. Its capacity is the same as ST10 or former models.

 

 

 

 

Multimedia menu

MP3Player

Text Viewer

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PMP

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Music + Slideshow

 

 

 

Outstanding image quality and high-sensitivity image processing

PL10 has 1/2.5 inch 2,000,000-pixel sensor like ST10. Their image quality is about the same. It may show low resolution compared to recent compact digital cameras with 10,000,000-12,000,000 pixels, but its high-sensitivity image processing is better. And its image quality is great both in the central and peripheral area. Especially, no color noise was noticed in high-sensitivity shot, and it supports up to ISO3200 without size drop. It means that it gives you more freedom even in poor lighting.

 

 

ISO80~ISO3200, good image quality in all sensitivity

 

As you can see from the image quality for each sensitivity, image processing over ISO400 is very impressive. It’s better than many high-end products which have too high pixels for small sensor, resulting in color noise and poor details. Not only ISO800, ISO1600 is also ok to use. In ISO3200, the saturation drops a little, but still not bad.

PL10’s concept is not for high quality. So its strengths in indoor shooting and excellent high-sensitivity quality will compensate brightness of the inner zoom lens. Plus, it has highly useful Advanced DIS.

 

 

 

 

Natural and sentimental color tone

Samsung is a brand that expresses the most natural color tone. It’s lively and warm pattern at the same time. And its excellent balance is absolutely trustworthy. There’re more and more people who choose Samsung just because of color expression, so I wish they would keep their strength for long.

 

Like other models, PL10 supports nine different types of color style. And contrast and saturation can also be set in 5 levels, plus RGB custom. In fact, its color is ok when shooting with basic setting, so you may use after-shot editing.

 

White balance offers 7 settings including Custom. Color expression in Auto white balance is pretty accurate, and it picks out white under yellow light pretty well. Personally, Fluorescent L white balance seems unique.

 

 

Sometimes, if red casting appears due to red light, it would be ok to take cold shot with Custom white balance. Also, you may remove red in afterwards-editing since the color may differ according to various light sources or background indoor. In the image below, I used Custom white balance to deal with reddish background as a result of warm color lighting on the left.

 

 

Perfect three factors- design, function, and image quality

PL10 is the Samsung digital camera with best efficiency. Its unique and slim design and artistic pattern show its best identity as women’s. Above all, various functions, high image quality, and stable color expression are the most attractive factors of PL10. It looks much better if you see it in real than from the photo, so I strongly recommend it to female users. It video functions are good enough to enjoy on web, and its Perfect Portrait System helps to make better image shot of you and your friends.

 

 

 

Slim digital camera satisfying in every aspect

Its AF is a little inaccurate at night, and Smart Auto in dark places needs to be improved, but other than that, I can’t find other weaknesses for PL10. It has good additional features and offers nice image quality. Considering its slim design, its lens and image stabilization functions are understandable, and Advanced DIS compensates for it quite nicely. Also, its multimedia functions like MP3 Player or PMP can get high credits. PL10 is not only attractive to women but also to young students and adults who prefer design that is antique but cute at the same time.

SAMSUNG WB1000

First Class WB1000

Samsung Digital Imaging released 13 new products, and changed the whole compact camera line-up. The goal was to invent cameras for anyone to easily take good pictures with, so they made 13 different cameras with various design, specifications, and features. And the last but least is WB1000. WB1000 is the first class out of new VLUU line-up, with attractive specifications and features. It is the first class camera coming out in the first year of newly starting Samsung Digital Imaging, so it’ll become a barometer for Samsung’s technology and possibility in the future. For the first time, it has introduces 5x optical zoom with 3 inch AMOLED screen and 24mm wide angle.

　

24mm ultra-wide zoom lens

WB1000’s Schneider lens starts from 24mm wide angle. Compared to regular cameras which start from 35mm, it provides attraction of wider view. At the same time, it extended the zoom up to 120mm. So it has 24-120mm in 35mm equivalent, 5x optical Schneider zoom lens. And it starts from as bright as F2.8. Lens, the most fundamental factor, is the best grade. And it also provides full manual exposure feature with which you can control aperture and shutter as you want. You may control the aperture and shutter using Smart dial, which is a convenient interface. There’re A/S/M exposure mode, USER mode with a user’s setting, and Smart auto mode which automatically applies the optimal shooting condition by recognizing the circumstances.

　

3 inch hVGA AMOLED

For the first time in the world, it adopted AMOLED type display device in digital camera. Compared to TFT LCD which is usually used in cell phones or digital cameras, it’s about 1000 times faster and is well seen in bright places since it shines itself, and its energy consumption is low. Another strength is that AMOLED can be made as 7times smaller volume than LCD. Compared to other cameras, it shows the screen pretty well even in bright outdoors. WB1000 supports 1280×720, 30 frame HD video function. And thorough HDMI connection, you can watch HD video and photos on HDTV without loss. Dual IS stabilizes image in both optical and digital way. Plus, there’s Perfect portrait system that helps portrait shots in many ways based on face detection features.

　

　

　

Stylish stainless steel

WB1000 looks a little different from former WB series style. WB series lineup have provided traditionally stable grip, wide angle, and high zoom lens. So body and grip part is usually thick, and wide barrel lens is located on the front. WB1000 also has 24mm wide angle and 5x optical zoom lens. But its body is slim and lens is also smaller than other WBs. Its surface is finished stainless steel which protects it from scratches, so it’ll stay safe for a long time. When you hold the smoothly processed body in your hand, you’ll get notice its durability. Overall, it looks more like NV series than WB. The edges are rounded, and there’s something put over the grip part for the anti-slip. In order to reinforce the grip of a slim body, hand strap loop is on the back of the camera to hold a thumb. And on the upper left side, there’s a part around the speaker, which is caved in for comfortable left-hand grip.

　

Classical body

If the former WB series had design for comfortable grip and operation, WB1000’s style focuses on classical code. There’re two color options: all-black version and silver one. In the silver version, two tones of the black and silver are matched. In the silver model, lens barrel, grip part, and the top side are black. Silver and black harmony seems a little unbalanced. Lens barrel, with Schneider logo printed, takes up much space and flash and AF assist light are placed on the top. Next to the grip part, Samsung logo is carved. And remote control reception is at the bottom. WB1000’s front looks solid without many curves, expressing its classical style.

　

　

Dash board for battery and memory

Two dash boards on the top show the classic code of WB1000. Those round boards with moving red gage display the capacity of battery and memory left. If you compare it to ca car, it’s similar to gas gage. WB1000 also provides battery and memory information on LCD like other digital cameras. But analogue boards provide you unique feelings. Three blue points for VLUU series, blue ring on lens, blue dot on shutter, and blue lamp on power button, are all applied. On the upper side of grip part, there’s a shooting mode dial so that you can easily change modes. On the back of the body, the side of the dial is exposed so you can easily handle it with your thumb. But maybe it’s too easy, because there were some occasions that the dial was turned by accident. There’re two mikes on the top. With WB1000, you can insert stereo sound to the HD video clips.

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Camera with the best quality screen

WB1000’s proud AMOLDED screen is 3 inch big and has hVGA image quality with 520,000 pixels. But more important thing is its screen is AMOLED which completely different type from the cameras’ LCD is so far. AMOLED shines by itself, so it’s brighter than TFT-LCD; but consumes lower energy. And it’s slim and is seen well even in bright outdoors. If the screen of regular digital cameras is recognizable about 30% under strong sunlight, in WB1000, you can check about 70%. It’s a big difference. (about 40% difference in lux) And since its response is quick, when you move the camera or the subject moves, the screen changes smoothly in real time. It is said that it is about 3,000 times faster. It is the next generation’s display tech that solves the common problems in compact cameras, difficulty to see the screen or slow response. AMOLED, adopted in WB1000 for the first time, should be used for all cameras from now on. AMOLED screen is better seen that TFT-LCD from above or sides. It has the most satisfying screen that I’ve ever experienced from compact cameras so far.

If you play the same image on WB550 with TFT-LCD, you’ll find that it distinguishes dark and bright area accurately.

　

AMOLED and TFT-LCD

TFT-LCD needs back-light under color filter, but AMOLED uses chemicals that self brighten. It is 87% more precise in its expression than LCD type with back-light. It is 150% brighter and shows twice contrast, 1:10,000 and 1:5,000. In short, it is bright and clear. There’s also difference in viewing angle. When you look at it from the front, if the contrast in AMOLED is 1:10,000 and in TFT-LCD 1:5,000, TFT-LCD’s contrast drops to 1:20 in 60º. On the other hand, contrast in AMOLED stays 1:9000. You can see WB1000’s screen accurately in any angles. Since it shines itself, the screen looks clear even under strong light. TFT-LCD under 3000 lux and AMOLED under 5000 lux seem about the same. There’s a definite reason that WB1000’s screen is the best out of all the digital cameras.

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Comparison between AMOLED in WB1000 and TFT-LCD in WB550

　

Wheel type Smart Dial

Because of 3 inch big AMOLED, the grip part is decreased the size of two thumbs. From the left, there’re zoom lever, menu button, Smart dial, play button, and Fn button. In Samsung cameras, WB1000 is the first one that has Smart dial. It can be turned and clicked in eight directions. When you select function, you click. When you change optional values like aperture or shutter speed/ exposure control, you turn the wheel. It is a convenient interface with which you can adjust options without clicking several times. The wheel turns very smoothly, felt quite loose. It is suitable interface for first class camera. Smart dial helps adjust many options quickly and conveniently; it heightens the efficiency of manual exposure functions.

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Improved battery performance

WB550 provides lithium battery only for SLB-10A. WB1000 provides the lithium battery in the same form only for SLB-11A, but with bigger capacity. The capacity of SLB-10A is 1050mAh (3.8Wh) and that of SLB-11A, 1130mAh (4.2Wh). Since it uses AMOLED with low energy consumption, the battery stands for a long time. It uses SD card and SDHC. There’s 34-pin terminal at the bottom, so you can charge and connect to computer or AV using a connector. It supports HDMI, but you need to purchase HDMI cable and cradle separately.

　

WB1000’s classical style

It shows different style from the WB series compact cameras; it’s slim and chic. It covers from 24mm wide angle to 120mm telephoto zoom, with 21mm slim 5x zoom. It even has optical image stabilizer. NV9, a slim digital camera with inner zoom lens released last year, has similar body type, but protruding type 5x optical lens WB1000 is even slimmer than that.

Its slim base body and analogue dash boards and many decorating elements completed the classical and elaborate design. But because of many decorations, the consistency in design seems somewhat weak. My personal preference is all-black model rather than two-toned silver. WB1000 has AMOLED, outstanding lens, and strong body.

Easy-to-use WB1000

If you think highly of image quality and want to express what you want exactly, DSLR is a right choice for you. On the other hand, compact cameras are easy to use. Considering that people put purpose before price, the biggest strength of compact cameras is convenience. So the ideal compact camera is the one that is easy to use but produces good quality pictures. WB1000 is a high-end product among Samsung Digital Imaging compact cameras. It also has detailed manual features that other cameras don’t have. In this section, I’ll introduce many smart functions of WB1000.

　

　

The world of 24mm wide angle

WB1000’s x5 optical lens starts from 24mm (35mm equivalent) wide angle. It kept the 120mm telephoto zoom, widened the angle, and heightened zoom. Compared to regular compact cameras that start from 30mm or compact cameras with 28mm wide angle, it shows wider angle and view. WB1000 is the world’s first 5x optical zoom with 24mm wide angle. It can express spectacular landscape and wide open view of horizon. Since you cannot change the lens in compact cameras, the angle supported by lens can become a very important selling point. Its wide angle and telephoto zoom lens is an important attraction of WB1000.

24mm                                120mm

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24mm  Sample

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo↑

　

　

　

F2.8 bright lens

24-120mm 5x optical Schneider lens starts from F2.8. It is amazing that it made the bright lens in this 20mm-small lens in slim body. Its image stabilizer also helps reduce trembling, but if the lens itself is bright, there’s basically less shakes. In dark places, you’d better use F2.8 in 24mm wide angle. Thanks to fast shutter speed with bright lens and wide angle effect, you can take stable pictures. WB1000’s lens can be used with F2.8 in 24mm, and gets darker to F5.8 in maximum zoom.

　

Fast moving lens

When you press the power button, the lens comes out forward. And it takes about 1.1 seconds to do that, which is very fast. It is a protruding type lens, but as fast as an inner zoom lens. It takes about 1.2 seconds to move from 24mm to 120mm. Lens movement is fast, too. And when the lens moves, it doesn’t make much noise, so you don’t need to worry at quite places. It is convenient that you can use zoom during shooting, but the sound isn’t recorded while moving.

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Schneider lens with optical image stabilization

WB1000 has optical image stabilizer as a premium compact camera. By detecting the trembling of the camera, it moves the lens unit to the opposite direction to prevent shakes. Since it offsets trembling, the stable light reaches the sensor. Generally, OIS can stabilize image in 2-3 step slow shutter speed. Considering that it doesn’t shake in maximum zoom if it’s over 1/60 sec, obtaining 1/15 sec can stabilize images with OIS. In 24mm wide angle, you can take a shot with your hands up to 1/3 sec. There’re only two options for OIS- on or off. There’s no panning mode or always working option. The basic setting is that OIS works when the half-shutter is pressed.

OIS off, ISO80, 120mm, 1/2s   OIS on, ISO80, 120mm, 1/2s   Tripod, ISO80, 120mm, 1/2s

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High-sensitivity for fast shooting

WB1000 supports from ISO80 to ISO3200. In ISO3200, 12,200,000-pixel resolution is well kept. If you use Auto ISO option, the camera automatically adjusts within ISO80 to ISO800. If you use high-sensitivity mode, you can take successive shots without noise processing time. It only goes through the basic noise processing that is set in image processing. But, if it is shot in high-sensitivity mode with low shutter speed, noise processing for long exposure follows.

DIS (Digital Image Stabilization) for good image quality

DIS (Digital Image Stabilization) is a function that applies strong noise processing in high-sensitivity. In Dual IS mode, it is used together with OIS function. If it’s a bit bright indoors, ISO200 or ISO400, and ISO800, if in dark places, are automatically set. If you use DIS function, strong noise removal is applied, unlike normal high-sensitivity shorts. Using high-sensitivity fast shutter speed, it reduces shakes, but prevents quality drop at the same time, which is the weakness of high sensitivity. But since it takes time to process noise, successive shooting is hard. It takes about three seconds to process noise. Samsung DIS used to combine high-sensitivity and low-sensitivity shots. Compared to this former way, the processing time has decreased.

　

OIS + DIS, Dual IS

In Dual IS mode, OIS and DIS work at the same time. Normally, indoor shots can be done with over 1/30 sec shutter speed. Even though your hand shakes, OIS stabilizes light and strongly removes noise. If you used Dual IS mode, you can take stable indoor shots with less noise compared to regular high-sensitivity shots. As I explained earlier, WB1000 has bright lens, so its Dual IS shows higher effectiveness than others. In widest angle, you can get stable image under indoor light without much care. When you take pictures of kids without using strong flash, it’ll be very useful.

Applying the best shooting method by recognizing circumstances

If you lightly press shutter in WB1000’s Smart Auto mode, the camera selects the right Scene mode based on the circumstances. It is a smart function that camera automatically do the set-up without users’ effort. If you put focus on a subject in short distance, it automatically sets close-up mode. If you press half-shutter towards snowy landscape, it automatically set snow (white) mode. There’re 11 Scene modes for that; close-up, text close-up, landscape, snow, tripod, action, night scene, night portrait, backlight, backlight portrait, and portrait. A variety of Scene modes is its strength. Out of those, portrait-related mode, close-up, and landscape show high success rate. Action and tripod mode have low success rate. Each Scene mode in Smart Auto adjusts focus or exposure options according to scenes. I expect that this feature will get stronger by adding detailed color expression soon.

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TEST : Smart Auto mode

　

WB1000’s Perfect Portrait System

The main purpose of compact cameras is portrait shots. Most of the time, a camera is evaluated based on the result of portrait shots. Based on face detection features, Samsung has invented and improved various functions to heighten success rate and satisfaction of portrait shots. All of those functions together are called Perfect Portrait System, and WB1000 has that, too. Not only Face detection, it has Smile shot, Self Guide, Blink detection, and Beauty shot that edits skin tone and texture.

Face detection function option

　

Increased success rate of face detection

There’s a Face detection function that detects faces on adjust focus and exposure accordingly. It has become the common function in most of digital cameras. However, what matters is its detection rate. Compared to the first time Samsung has introduced the Face detection function, Samsung’s newly released ones show success rate improved more than 50%. Within 2-3m distance, which is normal for portrait shots, it detects faces with no exceptions. However, if the face is tilted or seen in too small size, the camera may not detect it. It cannot be said to be in the best level compared to other cameras.

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Increased success rate of face detection

Smile shot that takes smiley faces

It offers Smile shot function that detects faces and automatically takes pictures of smiley faces. You can’t set the degree of smile, but when it takes a shot when your lips smile a little. But it differs depending on people’s faces, and there can be a little gap between detecting the smile and actually taking a shot. It is good that you can leave a happy moment as a photo. If you go on a trip with family or a lover, it would be good to turn on the Smile shot. You can press the shutter when you want to take a picture, and it automatically takes pictures of smiling moment; so you can leave pleasant memory as a record.

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Beauty shot for bright and clean faces

Beauty shot, one of the features in Perfect Portrait System, has become independent Scene mode. When you use Beauty shot mode, the camera automatically edits the subject’s skin tone and saves the image. The fact that it’s not afterwards-editing but on-the-process editing is unique. There’re two editing options- skin brightness and texture. You can set those in three levels. It is convenient since you don’t need Photoshop to remove your facial flaws and brighten it. If you enjoy uploading portraits on your homepage, you’ll love this feature.

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Automatically editing skin tone and brightness and saving

　

A camera for anyone to take pictures easily

Every camera maker probably would want to develop a camera for anyone to take good pictures with. WB1000 is also developed for users to take good pictures easily with its features and various technologies. I’ve emphasized this many times, but its24mm bright zoom lens will help you produce good images for landscape and portraits. And it has DIS which that adds noise processing to high sensitivity for better indoor shots. Plus, there’s OIS that stabilizes images by moving the lens. Bright lens and Dual IS make indoor shots stable, and it can be said the best among compact cameras. Samsung was not the first one to adopt face detection and Smart Auto function, but its completeness is rapidly growing to chase other brands. In 2009, the features are even more improved. Another strength of Samsung cameras is they have most of features that other cameras have. Self Guide and Beauty shot functions are Samsung’s exclusive. I hope that it will keep tuning the accuracy of features and provided options.

A                             B                           C

A. Regular shot in backlight, face looking dark

B. Face detection shot in backlight, automatically detecting the face and shooting it brightly

C. Smart Auto Backlight Portrait in backlight, detecting backlight and automatically turning flash on

Powerful features and convenient interface

It is hard to meet a compact camera with manual functions these days. That’s because most people use DSLR for manual functions. However, DSLR users also use a convenient sub-camera that is easy to carry every time. They hope for a complete manual functions in a compact camera. WB1000 has a manual exposure mode with which you need to set aperture and shutter, aperture first, and shutter first mode. The types of features are important, but what’s more important is how convenient to use those. If you have to adjust aperture and shutter speed one by one using the 4-directional button, it’s not that useful. In order for users to use manual functions easily, WB1000 offers Smart dial interface. So it has powerful manual functions and convenient interface to use them. A compact camera that can also satisfy professionals is a WB1000’s core aspect.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo↑

　

Smart dial and OK button

DSLRs that are better than middle grade usually have dials to control aperture and shutter one on the front and another on the back, so users don’t need to keep an eye off the view screen. With WB1000, you look at the screen instead of the view finder, so it doesn’t need dials both on front and back. However, button clicking type should better be avoided in compact cameras. So it chose a Smart dial that keeps horizontal with the back side. Instead of 4-directional button, this dial can be turned to clockwise or anticlockwise. And it also detects the click of 8-directional pressure. It is called Smart dial because wheel and button type are combined here. Through Smart dial, you can move through menu, select options, turn over photos, and select aperture, shutter speed, and exposure value. In M mode where you can control both aperture and shutter speed, press OK button to change modes. Users’ thumb does not slip to other sides, and every option can be controlled quickly and easily on a small dial. I think that it has the most convenient interface among the compact cameras that I have used recently. I’d like to give a high credit to the OK button in the middle of the dial with which you can control aperture and shutter speed.

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Live view and manual features in AMOLED

Compared to TFT-LCD, AMOLED can express color accurately and helps to utilize manual functions in outdoors. In M mode, if you changes aperture and shutter speed, you can check the expected image brightness on the screen. AMOLED displays the change in the screen more accurately and quickly compared to other compact cameras. Thanks to the screen’s outstanding quality, WB1000’s manual functions are easier to use. First you turn the Smart dial to adjust aperture and shutter speed. And then when the screen looks in the appropriate brightness, press the shutter. You don’t need to depend on only the experience to expect the combination of aperture and shutter speed according to lights. You’ll rarely fail even if you take pictures depending only on the AMOLED’s brightness. WB1000’s outstanding screen and convenient interface will heighten the value of manual functions.

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Live view and manual features in AMOLED

Compared to TFT-LCD, AMOLED can express color accurately and helps to utilize manual functions in outdoors. In M mode, if you changes aperture and shutter speed, you can check the expected image brightness on the screen. AMOLED displays the change in the screen more accurately and quickly compared to other compact cameras. Thanks to the screen’s outstanding quality, WB1000’s manual functions are easier to use. First you turn the Smart dial to adjust aperture and shutter speed. And then when the screen looks in the appropriate brightness, press the shutter. You don’t need to depend on only the experience to expect the combination of aperture and shutter speed according to lights. You’ll rarely fail even if you take pictures depending only on the AMOLED’s brightness. WB1000’s outstanding screen and convenient interface will heighten the value of manual functions.

24mm F2.8 Maximum exposure              24mm F7.2 Minimum exposure

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Shutter speed that captures the flow

With compact cameras, shutter speed change is more effective than aperture control in manual function. It’s because the aperture range is not that wide in small lens. On the other hand, the effect from shutter speed is not that different from DSLR. If you slow the shutter speed in bright outdoors, you can express the flow of people’s movement. In this case, use shutter speed mode which automatically sets apertures once you set a desired shutter speed.

Different image quality depending on aperture

Better lenses show less quality drop even with much exposure. So far, I haven’t done aperture test because it was impossible to control aperture in compact cameras. But you can control it in WB1000, so I’ve done some test for comparison. Normally, when you open aperture, image quality drops. But the result of the WB1000 test showed that the image quality was better when I opened the aperture than when I closed it. In the minimal closure, it showed lens diffraction. and ideal quality seems to be between F2.8 to F5.6. In the Auto mode, it is usually set for the best, so it’s ok to leave it Auto.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo

　

12,000,000-pixel stable image quality

WB1000’s resolution is the best quality that 12,000,000 pixels can ever express. In the chart, it definitely distinguished up to 2000^th sample. Samsung IT100 with 28mm, 5x optical zoom distinguished 20^th vertically, but couldn’t reach 1800^th horizontally. 24mm, 5x optical lens is more disadvantageous condition, but WB1000 shows superior resolution. Both of them are from Samsung, but premium camera has the lens that performs better.

Central and peripheral image quality

A camera with wide angle must produce good image quality in wide angle. That’s what WB1000 is like. In 24mm widest angle, it shows stable expression not only in central area but also the peripheral area. Dropping of the quality in peripheral area is inevitable in wide angle, but that area is very small and minute. Out of the competing models that offer wide angles, I think this one shows the best stability.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo

　

Stable image quality in zoom

It looks both stable in central and peripheral area in 120mm maximum zoom, too. Since the wide angle feature is so outstanding, the capacity of telephoto may not stand out. But it is also excellent as 24mm 5x optical lens. It offers attractive angle with high-quality lens.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo

　

Ability to pick out the light

IT100 was not able to pick out strong light well. But WB1000’s lens is great even in backlight. In backlight or tilted light, it rarely showed diffused reflection or quality decline. In the image that keeps the glittering light of backlight, the expression in dark area is not lost. It is a rare occasion that digital cameras have the clarity of Schneider lens.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo↑

　

Stable White Balance tuning

WB1000 is invented to satisfy sensitive high-end camera users. So its white balance function is tuned in detail compared to other Samsung cameras. You won’t see white balance inconsistent or unstable. It is stable in bright area or shadow, or under artificial light. In addition, there’re various white balance settings, so you can adjust it through color matrix in Preset mode. And there’s also Custom white balance and Color temperature setting mode.

Auto white balance       /       Cloudy Preset         /       Cloudy Preset+White Balance

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Detailed color tuning

Along with White balance, color expression is tuned in detail. Thanks to that, it shows accurate colors based on the stable White balance. Vivid color looks clear, and medium tone looks stable. It looks simple and refined rather than splendid. Personally, I feel that the blue tone seems to be brightly tuned compared to the former models. And overall balance seems to get very stable. There’s nothing to pick at the color expression. On the other hand, the unique feelings have become weaker.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo↑

　

From ISO80 to ISO3200

It supports from low-sensitivity ISO80 to high-sensitivity ISO3200. There’s no resolution limit in ISO3200. It looks quite clear in ISO80, ISO100, and ISO200. In ISO400, noise starts to appear. But considering it’s a compact camera, it is still stable; the particles are minute and unnoticeable. In ISO800 and ISO1600, the noise increases. ISO800 seems to be the suitable sensitivity you may use without concerns. In the standards of compact cameras, it seems stable.

　

Photo style

Eight preset Photo styles are provided, so you can change the color tone in many ways. The frequently used ones are Vivid mode with strong color tone, Cool mode, and Calm mode. The last option is Custom RGB with which the user can select the level of RGB channel.

　

WB1000 for better pictures

Not only it has the attractive angle, its lens is very stable. It shows stable expression in outdoors with strong light. White balance and color are clear, too. Recent compact cameras with high pixels don’t express great details when you look at the imaged 100% enlarged. However, WB1000’s image processing is good enough to express details well. If you look the several original images linked, you’ll see that how great the image quality of WB1000 is. Attractive angle, high image quality, good features, and convenient interface make the impression of WB1000 as a good camera to take pictures.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo↑

　

1280×720, 30fps HD quality video

It has HD video feature that records videos in 30fps in 1280×720. You can use zoom during shooting, but when the zoom movers, the sound isn’t recorded. Through the two mikes on the top, lively stereo sound is recorded. However, the sound through the small mike isn’t spectacular. Considering it’s a compact camera, its image quality is fairly good. It shows smooth movement, expressing the details well. It uses H.264 Codec. If you purchase a cradle separately, you can connect HDMI to HDTV, so you can enjoy HD quality video clips without loss.

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Smart Album and Recycle bin

You can turn over images using Smart dial in Play mode. And you can sort the images under various categories- by file names, dates, etc. Dates can be specified by days or weeks. Also, there’s a unique arrangement by color spectrum which analyzes the color tone of images. In addition, when you deleted images by mistake, you can restore those using recycle bin function. When you delete an image, it goes to recycle bin folder in the internal memory and can get restored later.

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CRITIQUE : Samsung Digital Imaging WB1000

Attractive 24mm Schneider lens

For me, 24mm wide angle was a big attraction of WB1000. 28mm is good, but 24mm is even more satisfying. When the angle gets wider, the image can carry more stories into it. With WB1000, you can express special landscape and be able to select the angle. Not only that, the capacity of Schneider lens is better than expected. 24mm-120mm high zoom in small size! It is small but stable. It deals with strong light well and gives clear expression. There’s some color difference on leaves part, but not that much. WB1000’s 5x optical Schneider zoom lens is perfectly satisfying.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo↑

　

3 inch hVGA AMOLED

I even question why they didn’t use AMOLED sooner. AMOLED is much greater than LCD. AMOLED solves the compact cameras’ long-standing problem- not seen well in where it’s bright. With WB1000, you can check the screen in bright places relatively well. Since it has wide angle, you can check the screen from various directions without turning the screen. LCD spends the most of energy in digital camera, but since its energy consumption is low, the battery lasted longer. From now on, it is expected all the cameras will adopt AMOLED type. WB1000 was the first one.

　

A compact camera with various manual functions

It has a manual mode with which you can adjust both aperture and shutter speed, and aperture first, shutter first mode. It is a rarely seen feature in compact cameras. It is a compact camera that can satisfy professional users, so you can tune white balance and control colors in detail. It selected Smart dial that senses 8-deirectional clicks, so it’s easy to control many features. The convenience of features and operation is almost as good as DSLR. But the effect that manual functions can create is not as big as DSLR. Rather than using it all the time, you’d better use it for special intention. The combination of outstanding AMOLED and manual exposure function is outstanding.

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Diverse speed

The speed for turning on, zooming, and saving is all satisfying. It’s fast to turn the camera on, control zoom, and take a shot. One thing disappointing is its AF sometimes fails. Especially in close-up shot, the focus is often pushed back than the desired point. To solve this problem, it supports selective AF for you to move the focus point and manual focus function. Also, it has Smart dial, so you can control focus easily.

Focus has been pushed backward.

　

Smart Auto that recognizes the circumstances

Smart Auto mode automatically selects the optimal Scene mode that is suitable for the current circumstance. What’s important in Smart Auto mode is the ability to detect the circumstances. A variety of Scene modes is strength of WB1000 Smart Auto mode, but it seems that its detection rate is not high enough. It’s ok in close-up, portrait, and night scene modes, though. Exposure, focus, and flash are adjusted in Smart Auto mode. I wish color tone or white balance, which affect the atmosphere of photos, would be added later.

　

Perfect Portrait System

A variety of features related to portrait shots in Samsung is the best. If you utilize Face detection with Smile shot, Beauty shot, or Self Guide, you can get much help in portrait shots. From now on, they have to focus on improving the success rate and adding options. It is a little disappointing that it doesn’t have a function to detect frequently appearing faces like ST10.

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Dual IS in high sensitivity

AS a first class camera, it has OIS function, so it makes 120mm telephoto more useful. Since you can use F2.8 bright lens, it rarely trembles. It supports from ISO80 to ISO3200, and noise restraint in high sensitivity is stable. However, it’s not the best level. If you use Dual IS mode, noise is reduced more than regular high sensitivity, since DIS adds noise reduction to high sensitivity. But its effect is not that big. Anyways, it is one step ahead than a competing model which has DIS combination of regular sensitivity and optical image stabilizer.

↑If you click picture you can see the original photo↑

　

Classical body

There’s an analogue dash board on the top that displays the remains of battery and memory. Including the dash board, its overall style is classical. It used stainless steel with high durability, and hair-lined finish is cool. It looks solid and classically stylish. In silver model, black is partially used for top of the body, lens barrel, and grip part, looking a little unbalanced. Since it used the former body design and added some points, it seems not so unique. I wish there would be new design which has balanced style in next line.

　

World Best WB1000

It seems for sure that it’ll be the best compact camera released in 2009. WB1000 is qualified for its lens specifications, screen quality, accurate functions, convenient interface, stable image quality, and HD video function. These many strengths are all in a small digital camera. It is one of the few compact cameras that produce satisfying photos. It’ll be perfect as a sub-camera for DSLR users. I’ve been curious about what WB stands for. But looking at WB1000, I’ve started thinking that it might stand for ‘World Best’ I cannot help but admit that WB1000 is the most superior one in the first half of 2009.

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The city where I live

Hello. This is my first post here.

I’m not a good writer so please understand.

First, thank you Nadia and Sean, that they’ve found me in the crowd – thanks!

The most famous building in the city.

My name is Daniel ( aka Daniel*1977)

I live in Poland – Central Europe. I live in Warsaw since 1999.

I moved here with my girlfriend which is now my wife.

[Samsung Pro815 1/200 ㅣf/3.5 ㅣISO 50ㅣ28.3mm]

It’s not us. We had a wedding in the mountains with snow 🙂

By the time I met this city well. Many things happened over time, but have always wanted to show what I see.

 

Check your weight

[Samsung WB1000(TL320) 1/125 ㅣf/5.1 ㅣISO 80ㅣ12.5mm]

On my pictures you can see that this city is depressing, but no, it is not such.
This is quite a large city, there are many interesting things to see.

Hole in the wall

[Samsung WB1000(TL320) 1/125 ㅣf/6.0 ㅣISO 80ㅣ4.3mm]

You can spend good time with friends or alone.
There are some places where it is better not to be. The place is full of contrasts, are rich, poor and avarege.

Under the city

[Samsung Pro815 1/15 ㅣf/2.2 ㅣISO 50ㅣ7.4mm]

I do not know why show it in such a dirty way.

Maybe it’s because most of the year here is all gray, all run.

Blue car

[Samsung Pro815 1/15 ㅣf/8.0 ㅣISO 50ㅣ14.2mm]

City during the Second World War have been destroyed, you can see how the new mixed with old.

Alone in the wall

[Samsung WB1000(TL320) 1/60 ㅣf/4.0 ㅣISO 80ㅣ5.0mm]

Old school new school

Head UP!!!

[Samsung Pro815 1/400 ㅣf/5.0 ㅣISO 50ㅣ34.8mm]

Wall of green

In many places you can see the memory. Perhaps this should not be forgotten, but so we do not have to remember.

Carriage of crosses

[Samsung Pro815 1/250 ㅣf/5.0 ㅣISO 50ㅣ12.9mm]

Let’s play

[Samsung WB1000(TL320) 1/90 ㅣf/4.7 ㅣISO 80ㅣ4.3mm]

Now comes the summer, my favorite season – I hope that I see a city from the bright side.

 

All of images had taken with WB1000

 

Buy me a Spaceship and Fly

The subject of today’s class was tarte. To make a delicious pie crust, our teacher put in the same portion of cake flour and butter so I had a really tough time fitting the pie crust into the tarte mold.

The crust was so loose that I had to sprinkle huge amount of flour to prevent it from sticking to the board, and eventually the tarte ended up becoming hard. I wouldn’t have gone through so much trouble if I had added enough flour in the first place!

This chocolate tarte is the finished product after all that fuss. It’s sprinkled heavily with cocoa powder so when you bite into it, the cocoa powder gets all on your teeth but it was so sweet and delicious.

[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/45sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 320ㅣ6.3mm]

 [Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/45sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 160ㅣ6.3mm]

This is a banana walnut tarte. It’s filled with banana boiled down in caramel syrup and decorated with walnuts on top. It’s so~~ good.

[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/45sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 240ㅣ6.3mm]

[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/45sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 120ㅣ6.3mm]

I never imagined that banana and walnuts would go so well together.

[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/60sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 100ㅣ6.3mm]

[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/60sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 100ㅣ6.3mm]

This is cream puffs pie. On the edge of the pie crust, I’ve squeezed out the choux paste, filled it with custard and topped it with whipped cream. The savoriness of the pie and the cream puffs and the sweetness of the cream make a fabulous combination and it was so delicious!

[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/60sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 100ㅣ6.3mm]

[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/45sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 100ㅣ6.3mm]

This is the mini version of the cream puffs pie made with leftover crust. They look like spaceships, don’t you think? 🙂 In Japan, people buy lot more of the individual pieces as to a whole cake.

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I’ve made a simple cake in a long time. It’s layered with whipped cream and chocolate cream between the sponges and then the surface is coated with caramel. It’s simple to make but totally delicious.

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Look at the layer. Isn’t it luscious?

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This is a blueberry cake with lots of blueberry jam in it.

On the bottom layer are apples boiled down in sugar so it’s refreshing and delicious.

[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/45sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 240ㅣ6.3mm]

This is a chocolate cake made with using the same sponge as the one above but layered with different cream. It wasn’t easy to spread a thin layer of cream on each layer but definitely worth the effort.

This is ‘Tenya’, a restaurant where I work part-time.

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It specializes in tendon (shortened word for tempura donburi) and it’s absolutely delicious. It’s so good that I would recommend tendon over sushi to foreign tourists.

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[Samsung ST10(CL50) 1/45sㅣf/3.5ㅣISO 320ㅣ6.3mm]

Doesn’t it look delicious??

 

All of images had taken with ST10

Visiting a friend near by

Once upon a time when I was bored as well as Brandy,

We stormed into the house of a friend living near by.

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Unfamiliar with the words ‘shy’ or ‘scared’,

Brandy roams around everywhere.

Leaving me exhausted trying to follow her to take pictures.. kkkkkkk

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This is SaAk, quietly observing Brandy’s moves. SaAk is the cat that lives in my friend’s house.

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Difficult to spot the cat sitting on the very colorful bedding – a bad hobby of my friend. Kkkkk

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And Lance, who travelled far to meet Brandy.

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Everything is bothersome to her. ;-(

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This is ShuYa, whose black fur makes it difficult to distinguish her eyes and nose.

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Taking photos of ShuYa is very challenging because she is very shy.

This is the very best I could pull off… heeheehee

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Meanwhile Brandy.. has made herself very at home.

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What are you doing Brandy?

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I am looking at you!!!!!!!!!!!

The cutest toes and a self-confident body.

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SaAk, the charismatic cat! Is that the best you can do?? kkkkkkk

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Maybe because of the stare, Brandy climbs up to the second floor.

Brandy.. are you sure you didn’t live here before? kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

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Lance, looking as if everything is annoying and unfamiliar.

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Of what use is a handsome face if you are so timid!! :-<

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“Seriously… Are you sure you are a male cat? Meow!”

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“Look at me~ow! The elegant appearance that never loses posture no matter what.”

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“Unbelievable… How can I be this perfect?”

…… :-<

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“Prrrrrrrrr!”

The ever-hard-to-please ShuYa picking a fight with Lance.

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And the upset Lance fights back!!!!!!!!!!!!

ShuYa, you look as if you are ready to fly!! Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

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Brandy, totally into the fight staring intently at the altercation.

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Looking very generous..

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Brandy makes herself towards Lance, probably to give a word of condolence.

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“I’ll kill you all!!!!!!!!!!!!”

ShuYa cries fiercely. kkkk

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Brandy, frightened, cocks up her ears and raises her tail. Kkkkkkkkkkkkk

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“Leave me alone….”

Lance – the one who is not bothered by anything or anyone.

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SaAk. Would you like to say a world?

“Stop taking pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Uh….

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And the crazy day was over… heehee

A few more shots of Lance as a bonus. Kkkkkkkkkkkk

 

All of images had taken with WB500