Samsung have unveiled a new range of cameras, the premium NV series, in an attempt to promote itself as one of the leading camera brands. Results of a two year research study have led to the creation of the NV brand, which includes:
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A new design concept
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A new user interface
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Three new cameras (the NV10, NV7 and NV3)
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A unique photo experience.
The new design concept is pretty obvious - thin matt black aluminium/stainless steel bodies, pop-up flash and a Samsung-blue ring around the lens barrel. The latter mainly being a mark to signify the presence of Samsung quality and design. Even the brand name is stylish, with the whole concept designed to inspire feelings of eNVy in other people (unfortunately I was not the one to make up that poor joke, a two year study already achieved that).
“Smart Touch” is the name of the new user interface, which sets out to completely change the way you navigate and use the camera. The name suggests the LCD on the back is touch-screen but photos say otherwise. A row and a column of buttons around the LCD are used to navigate and select instead. Whichever the eventual method (touch-screen makes more sense), it certainly looks interesting and cuts down on the number of other buttons required. Only the NV10 and NV7 offer Smart Touch, the NV3 uses the typical buttons you expect as usual.
All the three cameras are significantly different from each other to justify their inclusion in their range. The first, the NV10 is Samsung's big and obvious jump into the 10+ MP scene, with 10.1 effective MP, 3x optical zoom and a 2.5 inch LCD. It also introduces the Samsung ASR system (Advanced Shake Reduction) that allows better photos in poor light, auto-red eye reduction and TV quality video.
The NV7 is a 7.2MP camera offering the most photographic freedom of the family due to its 7x optical zoom lens. In addition to ASR it has an Optical Picture Stabilisation system too for double the protection, and TV quality video, motion capture and gif animation modes. Of the three cameras this is likely to be the most popular, as it seems to be the best in terms of functionality.
Lastly there is the NV3, the black sheep of the NV family, as it's less digital camera more multimedia device. It includes an mp3 player with equaliser settings, a PMP player, a camcorder quality video recorder, voice recorder, text viewer and tops all this off with two stereo speakers on the camera's top. As a camera the NV3 has a 7.2 MP sensor and ASR, but lacks the Smart Touch of its brothers. This camera looks the most interesting of the 3 NVs, more because cameras like this haven't successfully been released before.
Samsung aren't one of the big manufacturers but the NV range should help push it into that select group. Whether is offers a unique photo experience is yet to be seen, but at least it's pushing the ideas of camera user interfaces. Opinion here is divided over them, especially over the styling - personally I'm already a fan of the funky blue lens rings. Unfortunately pricing and dates haven't been released, but as soon as they are we will let you know.
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