Samsung ST95 review

Samsung's current camera range includes a number of highly pocketable models, including the ST95, which is just 17mm thick. At around £150 and sporting a resolution of 16.1 megapixels, the camera certainly offers a good megapixel-per-pound ratio. But what else is there to distinguish it from the competition?

Thinner than thou

Despite its slender body, the ST95 has a decent set of specs and comes with most of the latest mod cons. The 16.1-megapixel sensor allows it to capture still photos at resolutions of up to 4,608x3,456 pixels, which is pretty much the top figure for compact cameras at the moment. The 5x optical zoom lens has a focal length of 26-130mm (35mm film equivalent), which isn't exceptional but offers a reasonable balance of wide angle and zoom reach.
The video mode records clips in 720p high definition, at 30 frames per second. You'll find cameras capable of higher quality than this elsewhere but, again, it's perfectly acceptable given the ST95's size and price. It's worth noting, though, that the ST95's mono-only microphone means your movies will have poor-quality audio. Additionally, the camera doesn't have an HDMI-out socket, so there's no easy way to play back your videos on your HD Ready TV.

Colours are very strong, although bright reds and oranges can look rather luminous. The contrast is good too and fringing is largely kept at bay (click image to enlarge).

On a related note, the only output socket available is a dual USB/AV port. It's a proprietary socket, which isn't necessarily a massive problem but could be annoying if you misplace the special cable and find that you can't use a regular one instead. Similarly, the camera stores images on microSD cards only. If you were hoping to re-use a standard-sized SD card from your old camera, think again.
Read more : http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/compact-digital-cameras/samsung-st95-review-50003679/