Samsung NV7 7.2MP Digital Camera with 7x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

I am not a photographer or a tech geek. This is my second digital camera and compared to my 1st digital cam this is the best ever. The tech geeks at work all loved it as well.

I shoot professionally; have for over 35 years. Digital has been my platform of choice since 1998, but it really didn't come into it's own, until during the 2003-2004 season.

I've shot a lot of different digital cameras; both P-N-S and DSLR; and several digital back units on medium and large format devices. So, when I say this little camera amazed me, that's no small statement.

I was quite honestly... blown away!

I'll state upfront these things I do NOT like about the camera:

1) BATTERY LIFE is ABYSMAL ... when a digital camera offers the ability to record over 500, 7.2MP images or 1h30min+ of MPEG4 video + audio, the consumer should expect a battery to match this capacity; and this is with only 1GB SD card. How much more frustrating would this be with a 2GB or 4GB card? A lot!

2) AUDIO DISRUPT on ZOOM in VIDEO MODE ... this is disturbing and aggravating. It should not be a problem, but it is.

3) NO RAW FORMAT ... why the people at Samsung did not provide this camera with RAW shooting capability is a mystery to me. If it did, I would be shooting this camera at least 40% of the time over my DSLR's. I shoot 100% of my images - on the DSLR's - in RAW. I would shoot more w/ the Samsung if it were capable of shooting in RAW.

That's it. Yes. That's it.

The Samsung NV7 is not going to win the 'eyecatcher' camera award. It's not 'cute'. And the lens does not retract into the body providing the slick, credit card in the pocket fit most of today's budding digital consumers have been led to believe is good. It may look nice, but not if you're looking for quality photography.

The glass lens - yes, real glass - used is a very high quality lens. This is a full 90% of the quality of any image: digital or analog. So, if I can have glass over plastic - I take glass. It's heavier and bulkier, true. But the images are also worth the effort in capturing them.

I initially recommended this camera to my son. He purchased one and gave it a glowing report. Within a week we were vacationing together and I had opportunity to 'test drive it'; and I did. I was even more impressed. I ordered one for myself that evening. Within 3 days I was in full experimentation mode. I recorded over 1000 images, in nearly every conceivable condition: bright beach light to pitch black. Outside, inside, action, still. Static and dynamic backgrounds and subjects. In the full range of focus options, ISO and camera settings.

I was most impressed with it's ability to capture crisp images in low-light, hand-held conditions. Even when the subjects (little kids and animals!) were less than static! With a full range of WB, Fstop, Shutter, Focus and ISO ... many of these even in the auto-modes! ... capturing quality images was not difficult at all! And being able to read, clearly!, the large 2.5" (6.35cm) LCD screen was real joy; especially if you're like me and need a 'skosh more size' in reading the data!

Because it does not allow interchangeable lens use, I will not be going to this camera all the time. But I have found a very useful niche for it. With this one camera + a digital audio recorder, I can record an hour long interview, post produce and have it online in less than 20 minutes. All from a tool chest that cost less than $500! And I can still get publication grade JPEG stills, too.

I've read the other comments mentioning the image noise and the motor noise. Well, I've seen as much image noise in cameras costing 10X this one and as for motor noise.. those cameras (from 4 different manufacturers, BTW) make this camera's 'motor noise' sound like a gnat squeak! So, it's not really an issue. In all the variations in which I captured images in those 1000 shots, there would have been plenty of opportunity to see and hear - key word here - UNACCEPTABLE ... noise.

When you shoot at 400 ISO there is noise; that is to be expected. When you shoot with a camera that weighs in at less than 6 oz., it won't have the 'stability' of a larger camera. But most of them don't have image stabilization either. I did not find any unexpected or more than usual - or again - key word here - UNACCEPTABLE ... problems.

I would recommend this camera for anyone serious about taking excellent photos. I will also say, it's a very good teaching tool for anyone wanting to learn to take professional photos. If this camera recorded in RAW file format, I'd recommend it as a professional camera. However, in the hands of an experienced photographer, this camera will do a very fine job of fulfilling professional needs within its boundaries.

I do not list the CCD sensor as a problem, for the CCD is superior in quality capture to the CMOS sensor; when capturing static to limited dynamics subjects: still life, scenics, limited motion. But the CCD will not capture action shots as well as the CMOS sensor.

A common problem that plagues many in the 'family fun shots' category; missed batting swings, balls hit or caught, kicks made or passes caught, hoops made or great plays, facial expressions ... you name the action wanted in photographs ... that is simply missed by most photographers using the Point-N-Shoot CCD sensor cameras. The Samsung NV7 is a CCD, Point-N-Shoot camera. It has this weakness. But, knowing this and with a bit of practice, many of those lost images can be captured; and captured very well.

So, for $160 this is more camera than anyone on earth could have had 3 years ago ... at any price! This only serves to excite me about what we will have in the next 5 years. And I already know a lot of what is coming!

Enjoy. This camera is not only good, It's fun, too! At this price ... it's a LOT OF FUN!!


Samsung NV7 7.2MP Digital Camera with 7x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Allow me to start by saying that I purchased NV7 despite being aware of its limitations/flaws. When the price got right, I decided to add it to my toolbox. Indeed, its emotion-inspiring design has a very strong pull that's only slightly diminished since I bought it.

Pros:
If you think there is room/need for camera-driven inspiration in photography, then this is it unless you are prepared to spend 5x as much;
Decent optics;
Outstanding interface system--clever and all on the screen;
Class act look and feel;
Recharges through USB, the coolest/smartest regular power charger (small and functional);
Smart and effective flash;
Text preset--useful for capturing text in magazines and books--it's a kind of smart macro zoom.

Cons (or areas for improvement of a future hit):
Sensor that doesn't do justice to the generously cut lens hence noisy images even in daylight--for some this might be the biggest flaw;
No manual control of the zoom function;
Noisy motor (for zoom and image stabilization);
When in shooting mode, the lens comes out of the barrel you see in most pictures--I assumed this would not be the case since the barrel is so protruding anyway;
The lens cap comes out too easily.


Nothing special about image stabilization, video mode, and the software package. The Text preset, while useful, could have been really useful had this camera software come with an OCR (optical character recognition) capability...

All in all, if its design inspires you too, get it for anything under two_hundred. And, in case the Samsung folks read this too, fix the above issues and you could price a future version of NV7 all the way up to five_hundred.

I love this camera it takes wonderful pictures, and the different settings make it an amazing camera! The only bad thing about this camera is the flash doesn't always come up right away in bad lighting. Overall this camera is really good and if you are on a budget it is not to expensive. The 7x zoom and 7.2 mp help also to make the camera wonderful!!!

This camera is great! It has very sharp image quality. Only problem is that the lens are too big. It's better than my last camera Sony W100. My old camera produces very poor image quality. Schnieder lens rule and Carl Ziess lens is rubbish!