Samsung has added a new camera ES75 to its affordable ES series, known for its slim looks. The ES75 is definitely a good looking camera with an impressive shape and design. ES75 claims 14 megapixel, 5x optical zoom, DIS mode for steady shooting and auto face detector. All this sounds very exciting, but needs a scrutiny on the user?s part as well.
The first striking aspect of Samsung ES75 is its weight (it is astonishingly light!), matte body and smooth curves along the edges, which makes holding it quite comfortable. This camera features a 2.7-inch LCD display display that is quite bright and a control panel towards its right. To switch on the camera, you have to press the metallic button on the top, adjacent to which lays shoot button.
The control panel has a unique zoom switch which zooms in when moved up and zooms out when moved down. This is followed by Menu and Mode selection button, placed side by side. Below the buttons rests the D-pad with an OK key in between and the display, timer, macro and flash around it. Below this is the Play and Function key and at the bottom, is the slot for the tripod along with a closed panel for the SD/SDHC card and the Li-ion battery. To the front, there is the super zoom lens in black along with flash on its left and the LED AF assistant on the right. The rim also works as shortcut to flash, red eye corrector, timer, image detail, AF and macro mode. The only drawback in the control panel is that the buttons are black in colour and the signs on it are difficult to see. To the right is the USB slot, neatly covered by a snap on cover and to the left is the microphone.
Samsung ES75 sets expectations quite high with its 14.2 megapixel sensor, but, it cannot be termed as the ?ideal? point-and-shoot camera, mostly due to its irritatingly slow response time. It takes a lot of time to capture and process an image,
almost 3-4 sec, while scrolling through saved images is also a test of one?s patience. However, what is interesting, are the various features it has. Firstly, the DIS mode to reduce camera shake and click a steady picture. Secondly, the blink detector, which allows camera to automatically click two shots if the subject?s eyes are closed. Thirdly, the auto smile detector, which readily detects a smiling face and captures it. Fourthly, an effective Red eye corrector. All these add-on features work well and result in clear and effective images.
The menu button allows one to set the image size that is a maximum of 4320 x 3240 pixels (14 MP) and goes to as low as 1024 x 768 pixels (1 MP). The rest are the sound, display and other settings in the camera. Samsung ES75 boasts of Smart Auto mode, Program mode, Scene mode and Video mode. There is a photo help with a little tutorial about handling your camera better. Smart Auto shoots quickly but only allows modification in photo size and results in quite ordinary images. Program mode is engaging as it offers options like EV for brighter images, ISO, white balance, face detection, blink detection, fix focus area, photo effects, light metering etc. Picture quality in program mode is quite decent, but becomes blurred on being zoomed. In darker surroundings flash suffices for a decent output.
The Scene mode impresses with multiple scenarios like beauty, frame guide, night, children, landscape, close up, sunset, dawn, back-light, fireworks, etc. Each of the above has some specific functions according to the subject.
For instance, Children mode captures quickly moving subject well and beauty mode allows face retouch. Frame guide allows taking pictures through a frame and then clicking it one more time along with the frame to improve it if need be. Other attributes include the burst mode that allows up to six shots.
Video mode captures video at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps, EV, photo effect along with an option to record soundless videos. It captures the surrounding sound quite well. What is also disappointing is the 740 mAh Li-ion battery doesn?t even last a
day after a full recharge, which is disappointing.
This device has some high points and had it not been for its low speed response, it would have made an excellent package at its price. In the same range, Sony Cybershot W320, is another device with 14 MP camera and 4x zoom. If you can push your budget a bit more Canon IXUS 130, priced at 12k, offering 7x optical zoom, touchscreen, HD recording and HDMI port, is a marvelous option.
Samsung ES75 is available with instruction booklet, 750 mAh l-ion battery, one strap, one USB cable, one software CD, one AV cable and 2 year warranty card.
? CyberMedia www.LD2.in
Mail:talkLD@cybermedia.co.in