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Samsung provides interesting feature set for new megazoom camera

Announced Wednesday at CES 2009, the 10-megapixel HZ10W has the makings of either a really great point-and-shoot digital camera or will possibly be a complete disappointment in all ways, trying to do too much for one model.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
Joshua Goldman

Samsung

The new 10-megapixel HZ10W from Samsung looks wonderful on paper. A compact camera with a 10x megazoom wide-angle 24mm Schneider lens and a whole mess of features.

You get 720p HD video capture at 30fps using H.264 for good-quality compression and the zoom works while shooting. The video mode also allows you to pause and resume capture so you don't end up with a bunch of small files. There's optical image stabilization, too, so your photos aren't a blurry mess when that lens is extended.

And for those that like lots of control, you'll be able to adjust the HZ10W's settings manually for things like shutter speed, aperture, exposure, and focus. I also wouldn't doubt the inclusion of multiple settings for color, sharpness, and contrast.

The HZ10W is available in January 2009 with a sub-$300 price tag.