Which camera fits easily in a shirt pocket, takes good photos and can be used as a pure point-and-shoot or under full manual control? Well, quite a few, but this one also loads on 14.7 megapixels, has a wide angle to moderate telephoto lens, touch controls and an ability to record 720p HD video.

It’s the Samsung NV100HD, a camera that brings some mighty technology to your pocket or purse.

One of the features that interested me most was its touchscreen. It’s the first camera I’ve used with this facility, although these days it seems everyone’s offering it. These screens have been the subject of ongoing debate on photo websites. Detractors find them slow to respond, difficult to see in bright outdoor light and while wearing polarised sunglasses. And many don’t like viewing images through all the inevitable fingerprints and smudges on the screen.

Oh dear. And I got off to a shaky start because it takes someone like me with clumsy fingers a few minutes of training to hit a particular icon accurately and with the right pressure. But after all of 10 minutes it was easy, and unlike the chatroom whingers, I ended up really liking the feature. True, you can’t see the controls in bright sunlight, but you can’t see to compose a picture, either, so does it really matter?
A few of the NV100HD’s functions, such as zooming, still need to be performed using conventional controls, but make no mistake, a good touchscreen on a camera is not a gimmick; it helps make it more intuitive and faster to use. You can spend more time concentrating on what really matters: getting the shot.

Speaking of intuitive, how’s this: deleting a stored image is as easy as just drawing an X across it with a finger.

The Samsung seems to have a mode or scene for every occasion. Among them, Face Detection locates a face within the frame and automatically adjusts focus and exposure for better composition and image quality. In Blink Detection, a series of photos is taken to help ensure at least one captures the subject’s eyes open. Smile mode takes a shot automatically when a smile is detected. Beauty Shot, meanwhile, retouches facial skin to give a brighter and smoother skin tone.

At the other extreme, you can forgo the ‘auto everything’ and run the NV100HD under full manual control.

A 14.7 megapixel sensor means it’s possible to record high-definition videos that can be sent to a TV panel. For this you’ll need an HDMI cable – Samsung offers one as part of an optional accessory pack, which also includes a cradle. The cradle also has a DC connection/USB port and an AV terminal. Alternatively, video can be watched on the camera’s excellent 460k-pixel 3-inch hVGA LCD screen that occupies almost the entire back of the body.

The NV100HD boasts a Schneider Kreuznach 6-21.6mm f2.8-5.9 lens with a useful zoom range from 28mm to 102mm in full-frame terms, backed up by Samsung’s dual image stabilisation that integrates both optical and digital stabilisation. In conjunction with auto ISO, sharp photos can be taken in quite dim light without needing a support.

Top ISO setting is 3200, but there’s a lot of noise at that speed; 800 is about as fast as I’d want it set.

Adjusted to the highest quality JPEG setting, the NV100HD takes good pictures across its zoom range that require little post-processing to make excellent large prints.

As well as the camera cradle and HDMI lead, the optional accessory pack, which costs $99, comes with a useful remote control that makes the extra outlay highly worthwhile.

PHIL HANSON

TECH SPECS

NV100HD
Compact digital camera
$599

Effective pixels: 14.7 million
Lens: Schneider Kreuznach 6-21.6mm (28mm to 
102mm in 35mm terms)
Viewfinder: None
Monitor: 3-inch hVGA TFT LCD
Shutter: 8 sec-1/2000 sec
Aperture: f2.8-5.9
Media: 40MB internal, SD, 
SDHC, MMC card
File format: JPEG Exif 2.21, 
DPOF 1.1, MP4, WAV
Interface: A/V, HDMI and USB
Battery: 1100mAh Lithium-
ion rechargeable
Dimensions: 95 x 59 x 20mm (W/H/D)
Weight: 138g

Contact

www.samsung.co.nz

PROS

• Touch control screen
• Good-quality build

• Quality images

CONS

• Low-light shots can be noisy

VERDICT

• Well made, fully featured and easily used

This Review is from Tone Issue 75.

What do you think?