My first Samsung digital camera, still one of my favourites (Samsung NV10)

Member Name: eagleeyechief

Product:	Samsung NV10
Date:	21/10/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Looks fantastic, great features, excellent picture and video quality

Disadvantages: Don't like the flip up flash thats it!!

Two things that I like Samsung and photography, combine the two and I know I'll be onto a winner. The Samsung NV10 was the first Samsung digital camera that I bought having been using a Samsung Slim Zoom 1150 38mm camera for many happy years.

Samsung had launced the NV series with small compact, sleek black aluminium designs. I had looked at the Canon Ixus but decided to stay loyal and opted for the NV10. It features a 10.1 megapixel, with 3x optical zoom, 5x digital zoom, the main difference was the Smart Touch interface which uses 7 buttons underneath and 6 buttons up the right hand side of the 2.5 inch LCD screen. On the screen next to each symbol denoting the function, on pressing the button along the bottom it will bring up available options chosen by the vertical buttons; example pushing flash, will bring up flash, red-eye and off. This doesn't sound that simple, but really once you have picked it up and started using the camera it becomes second nature for adjusting settings. Other functions of the camera are chosen by the simple dial on the top next to power button. The dial lets you choose Auto, Photo Gallery, Movie, Scene (for choosing setting for conditions like night, landscape,beach/snow, dawn, sunset, fireworks etc, Effect (set your colour tints or use a photo frame template), ASR (Advanced Shake Reduction), Manual and Program. The lens is a good quality Schneider-Kreuznach with a built in sheild and motorized drive operated by a thumb lever on back of camera. No need for a viewfinder as framing is done by using the LCD screen.
The built in memory is 20Mb, but the SD card slot provides plenty of expansion options. The bundled software and simple USB plug in download is great and works with all Microsoft Windows/Vista and Apple Mac operating systems.
The battery life is very good and is only really drained by use of the video and playback. My only criticism was the flash, on the NV10 is a flip up design. After a time the pin had damaged so it was in a constantly upright position. This was probably my own fault because I never bought a case for it until I had already used and abused the camera for a couple of years.
The picture quality is excellent, even just reviewing on the LCD screen they look good and you can scroll through them by running your finger over the buttons under the LCD screen. The pictures I have taken have come out really well including night shots, in snow and long distance. Video playback is also good and once uploaded you realise how good the sound quality is as well, in terms of being from such a small microphone and due to its position you need to be careful you don't block it or interfere with the sound.
Overall a great little camera, fantastic point and shoot but with options there if you want to try effects etc. This was the first in a wave of great Samsung cameras and you can pick one up on Amazon for £250, but shop around for the best deal because I paid about £200 for mine back in 2006.

Summary: Fantastic little camera, packed with features, looks really stylish

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