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.
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.