Samsung has introduced the ST80 Wi-Fi enabled digital camera allowing users connect to wireless networks for uploading or emailing images and videos. A simpler version of the company’s CL80 and CL65 Wi-Fi cameras, it has a smaller 3.0" touch-screen LCD and more limited un-stabilized 3x zoom lens with no real wide-angle capability (35-114mm equiv.) rather than the existing models’ 7x and 5x stabilized zooms. Beyond this, it continues to offer 720p HD video recording with H.264 compression. The ST80 will be available from September 2010 at a suggested retail price of $249.99 in charcoal black, white, fuchsia pink and mint blue.
Samsung has launched the PL200 budget compact camera. The 14.1MP camera features a 3.0 inch LCD and comes with 7x image-stabilized zoom lens (31-217mm equiv.) and records 720p HD videos using H.264 compression. The camera will be available from September at a retail price of $179.99.
Samsung has launched 14.2MP versions of its dual LCD compact cameras in the shape of the ST600 and ST100. Both feature larger 3.5" rear LCDs and slightly bigger 1.8" front LCDs compared their DualView predecessors (known as 2View in Europe). The ST600 comes with a 5x image stabilized zoom starting at a useful 27mm equivalent, while the ST100 comes with a 35-175mm equiv. lens. The ST100 is a departure for the DualView series, being a card-style camera built around a periscope lens. Both cameras are designed around touch-screen interfaces. The ST600 and ST100 will be available from September at a retail price of $329.99 and $349.99 respectively.
Just Posted: Our review of the Samsung TL500 (EX1 in Europe). The future of the enthusiast compact camera is under threat from the small mirrorless cameras that are starting to encroach on their territory. However, the Samsung TL500′s smaller sensor (compared to the mirrorless models) means the company has been able to include a lens that not only offers a useful 24-72mm equivalent range but also a phenomenally bright F1.8-2.4 maximum aperture range. This lens flexibility is combined with a tilt/swivel OLED screen in a package smaller than any mirrorless camera with zoom lens. So does the camera live up to the promise of its specifications?
