Samsung ST600

Extending the DualView concept to the ST series, Samsung has hit the market with ST600 that comes with a 3.5-inch WVGA touch LCD and 1.8-inch front LCD. The dual display feature lets you frame your subject as you shoot.

The camera's functions and settings can be accessed and adjusted using the touchscreen. You can also use the touchscreen during playback to scroll through photos.

The camera sports a built-in motion sensor that allows you to switch between shooting and playback mode by tilting the camera.

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For example, if you tilt the camera forward while touching the motion recognition icon (along the right edge of the LCD screen), the movie mode is activated.

The camera also has an angled base that is useful to capture close-up shots. When placed on a flat surface, the camera's base tilts back about seven degrees and allows you to shoot self portraits.

Complementing the 14- megapixel image sensor is a Schneider-Kreuznach 5x optical zoom lens that promises optimum quality and digital image stabilisation.

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Some notable features that make ST600 a delight for new users, is the Auto Scene recognition for still images and video recording that analyses key composition attributes such as colour, motion, brightness and subject of the image.

The Auto scene recognition also chooses the appropriate scene mode for best results. The Jump Shot mode provides a visual queue to people facing the camera to jump together. As they do so, the camera takes three shots consecutively. This mode strives to capture results of subjects mid-air.

VERDICT

If you wish to say goodbye to tripods while clicking self portraits or close-up shots, then you can't get a better deal than ST600.

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Samsung SH-100

It is now common to have a camera that lets you automatically upload pictures to the internet using a wired connection to a PC, but a PC-independent solution is rare.

Here's where Samsung SH-100 makes its headway. Measuring a solid 93 x 53.9 x 18.9 mm, the SH-100 should not give you a reason to complain.

The SH-100 is equipped with a 3-inch touchscreen that shows camera functions in "app-style" icons. It's very easy to control multiple camera functions by dragging and clicking the icons on the touchscreen display.

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A 14.2-megapixel sensor, digital-only image stabilisation, 720p HD video recording and a 26mm wide angle lens with 5X optical zoom magnification, complete the package.

The SH-100 performs basic Wi-Fi functions that Wi-Fi-enabled cameras of the past have offered - images can be viewed on HDTV via DLNA connection or you can upload photos to your PC or a site like Facebook, Picasa or Photo Bucket directly.

You can also use Wi-Fi to connect to the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S smartphone that allows real time preview of the shot.

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The SH-100 can also use your phone's GPS to add the location of the shot to its metadata. Since SH-100 can take 720p HD video, you can upload it straight on YouTube.

To make it easier to upload photos and videos from different locations, the SH100 includes an account with mobile hotspot provider Boingo that gives you access to over 200,000 Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide.

VERDICT

This isn't a high-end camera for serious enthusiasts but the built-in Wi-Fi capability is definitely a feature that will appeal to Gen Y.

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Kodak Slice

Measuring 4 x 2.3 x 0.8-inches, Slice is fashion-friendly but sturdy. It's definitely a winner with its looks and barely has a button to spoil its clean lines.

A 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen on the back looks fairly decent but is not exactly the best touchscreen interface. The camera has a 2GB built-in flash storage.

Something as simple as flipping the Slice into macro mode or switching off the flash can take a gruelling 15-20 seconds while most non-touchscreen cameras with dedicated buttons takes two seconds.

Most of its 2GB storage, is used for the internal software - you'll only be able to take 10 pictures at 12 megapixels, before using the memory card.

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Some welcome features include the in-camera face tagging with face recognition. It's also possible to upload photos on Facebook and Flickr with the in-built software.

More megapixels don't necessarily mean better quality and the 14-megapixel sensor does not produce anything amazing. Shots look sufficiently crisp and colour-rich in good lighting but low-light snaps are noise-heavy with lifeless colours.

VERDICT

People who cannot get enough of social networking will definitely find this camera useful.