Samsung’s new NX10: HD video as well as stills

As Samsung lifts the wraps off yet another digital stills camera to offer HD video recording and playback, we’re prompted to ask whether or not such convergence consumer technology really does represent the beginning of the end of the camcorder as we know it.

Samsung NX10 Digital Stills and 720p HD Video Camera

In an announcement that’s perfectly timed to coincide with the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where, no doubt, it will be on show, the Samsung NX10 camera incorporates high definition video capabilities as well as high quality digital stills. It’s only 720p video rather than the full 1920×1080 video being offered by other leading brands, but at its price point it will definitely find a market among users looking for a good, reasonably-priced all-in-one stills and HD video camera.

Notable features

It boasts one of the fastest auto focus (AF) on the market, 14.6 MP APS-C size CMOS sensor and a 3.0” AMOLED screen which is designed to offer increased visibility of images even in bright sunlight. More importantly (for SimplyDV readers) is the fact that the NX10′s users have an MPEG4-H.264 HD Movie recording option too. Its APS-C size CMOS sensor combines with a mirrorless interchangeable lens, for a sleek, lightweight camera that users can easily take with them everywhere they go.

Samsung continues to extend the usage of AMOLED screens across many products, using a large 3.0” AMOLED screen in Samsung NX10. AMOLED provides easier viewing even in bright sunshine and at acute viewing angles, meaning users no longer need to shield their screen with their hand.

“The new Samsung NX10 marks the start of the next generation of cameras,” comments Mr. S J Park, CEO of the Samsung Digital Imaging Company in a press release. “With specialist equipment open to everyone and no longer restricted solely to the professional, more and more people want to capture something creative and tell a story through their camera – but they also want something compact that they can carry round with them all day. The large sensor and the ultra fast auto focus give consumers the quality they demand as well as the compactness they want in one exceptional package.”

Rear view of Samsung NX10

The Samsung NX10 has been given a range of intelligent features designed to put professional quality images within reach of the amateur photographer, we’re assured. The Samsung NX10 includes in-depth manual controls and also a Smart Auto function which automatically detects the surrounding environment of the shot and selects the right shoot mode. Its Smart Range feature also enables the user to vividly express both bright areas and dark areas in the same frame, and the Supersonic Dust Reduction system keeps those dust particles clear of the image sensor that can often impair an image. It even senses when the user brings the camera close to their face to look through the viewfinder, and puts the AMOLED screen on standby to conserve power.

Specifications

• Available in Noble Black and Titan Silver colours
• 14.6M APS-C CMOS Image Sensor
• Samsung NX Mount
• 3.0” AM OLED (VGA) Display
• Electronic viewfinder
• 720p HD (MPEG4/H.264) Movie Mode
• Size 123mm x 87mm x 39.8mm (excluding the projecting parts of the camera)
• Weight 353g (without batteries and card)
• ISO 100 – 3200
• Built-in Pop-up Flash
• OIS Lens Shift
• Supersonic Type Dust Reduction
• Special Features
  • Smart range
  • HDMI (Anynet +)
  • Fast & Decisive Contrast AF
• New DRIMe II Pro engine and advanced AF algorithm

Availability

We understand that the Samsung NX10 will be available late January 2010 (subject to confirmation).

Source: Samsung Press Release

Like

Unlike

Related posts:

1. New Full-HD, SSD cams from Samsung
2. Samsung Full-HD “S” cams to get Wi-Fi connectivity
3. Sanyo debuts “smallest, thinnest” HD camera
4. More Sony DSLRs with AVCHD in 2010
5. Sony reveals new HD and SD Handycams