01_stylish & Ergonomic

ST series with Design, Style, Lens, and Comfortable

Looking at the cameras from Samsung in 2010, design, comfortable functions, and great lenses are remarkable. Cameras become more camera-like, and various functions, design get better. Samsung has really great models in 2010 such as high performance WB series, EX1 for professionals, economic ES, and more practical PL. Among them, the ST series is a model with more stylish design, and as a representative premium compact camera with the front display, Bluetooth, stylish design, and great lens performance, it makes people want to have it. Let’s meet the ST5500/ST5000.

The performance of digital cameras get higher and higher, each makers focus on the design or additional functions when releasing a product. (Of course, the image quality is the most important in digital cameras. However, recent cameras have good image quality, makers need to concentrate on other things to get an attention from users such as the design and functions.)

The Samsung ST5500 and ST5000 I’m reviewing has a stylish design, powerful performance, and various functions, so will be very popular from those who want to have a high level digital camera. (I already confirmed that the ST5500 has a lot of great functions.)

It’s was so different from previous cameras. Let’s take a closer look through the test.

01_PREMIUM LIMITED EDITION

‘After a storm comes a calm’ I don’t think there was a camera having a lot of troubles as much as the NX10. A lot of things happened when it was released, and users said it was too early. However, the NX10 got over the critics and created its own category called mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. Samsung defines NX as a culture. There were a lot of negative reactions to the product such as it should have been slimmer without the viewfinder, not well finished, and so on. However, it has finally been appraised as an easy and convenient mirrless interchangeable camera, and I see a lot of the NX10 a round.

Resurrection of High end WB5500

26x zoom and easy operation

Recently, the growth of the DSLR has been lightly reduced. It was like a storm, and it has made birth of various DSLR cameras. The technology development has accelerated the launch of new DSLRs. A lot of users and pre-users were getting tired of this trend.

Professional photographers normally use DSLR cameras, because it has higher performance than compact digital cameras and the lenses can be changed to take shots they want immediately.

However, due to the poor mobility and higher price, they are not easily available for normal users. Therefore, recently, mirrorless interchangeable lens type cameras have been popular at a reasonable price, and I think they will have more market share. (Samsung has already sold the NX10 more than 20,000 cameras in the short period of time.)

The WB5500 from Samsung which I’m reviewing is the high end digital camera which is the highest level among compact cameras, and has the strengths of both compact camera and DSLRs. (Mirroless interchangeable lens cameras are also less expensive than DSLRs, but due to the various lenses and accessories, there will be a lot of additional costs. However, there’s no additional cost for the WB5500.)

I’m so wondering what has been updated compared with the WB5000 which was released last year. Let’s take a look at them one by one.

Due to the recent popularity of Mirrorless or hybrid cameras, DSLR cameras are not the outstanding in the digital camera market. A few years ago, people purchased DSLR cameras due to the difference of image quality between DSLRs and other cameras, but recent high end digital cameras have great enough performance and image quality to satisfy users. That’s why people consider buying mirrorless, hybrid, and high end cameras, I think. (A lot of my friends who purchased DSLR cameras following my recommendation don’t carry their camera except some special days, because of its poor mobility. Recently, I don’t recommend DSLR cameras, unless he or she uses a camera for a special purpose.)

The Samsung WB600 I’m reviewing has great image quality, performance, and various additional functions and it also has great mobility considering its specifications, so users can always carry it without any burden. (Compared to the WB650 I reviewed earlier, GPS and AMOLED are not supported, but in performance and quality, it’s almost the same product and considering the price, this would be much more satisfactory, I think.)

This will satisfy users who want all the mobility, image quality, and manual function. Let’s take a look at the design, function, and performance through the review.

01_High-end Style

26mm 26x zoom compact camera WB5500

In 2010, various compact ultra zoom cameras have been released from each camera brand. The ultra zoom compact cameras. The success of these cameras depends on the design and additional functions, not the performance or pixels. In the first half of 2010, 26mm 26x zoom cameras have been released from 4 brands with the same lens specifications, and it made users embarrassed. Among them, the Samsung WB5500 has the advantage in the light weight and user interface. The quality and lens specifications are not much different. The quality is not as great as high end cameras, and there are no many special features. The color feeling depends on users’ preference, because they have their own feature. The WB5500 has been upgraded from the WB5500 in pixels, zoom, and Smart Filter.

01_NX30mm F2.0

Ultra slim Pancake single lens from Samsung

SAMSUNG NX 30mm F2.0

When Samsung released their plan to develop a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera in 2008, they said they are going to use their own NX mount. Even though there was some positive opinion, but mostly were worries about the capability of Samsung to go through the competitive market. In 2010, there were 3 lenses together with the release of the NX10. They are 2 zoom lenses 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS and 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED OIS and a single lens 30mm F2.0. Now they become the representative standard lenses of APS-C Sensor Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.