Samsung New Year releases

Over in Las Vegas the first big entertainment show of the year, CES, has begun. Our sister sites AVReview.co.uk and GadgetCentre.com are there covering their respective fields (check out their sites for more information). With the more photography-orientated PMA next up we thought camera releases at CES would be limited but as usual, Samsung has done its best to prove us wrong. Today they have announced seven new digital cameras and here is a quick round-up:

	Samsung i70 The successor to the i6, the i70 is not only a camera but a portable media player, mp3 player and text reader too to give you something to do with it when you aren't taking photos. In camera terms, the i70 has a 7.2 MP sensor, 3x zoom and Intelligent Face Recognition Technology, which detects the subject's face and automatically adjusts auto focus and auto exposure to ensure better composition and image quality. Finally, the design is very appealing with a sliding design that hides the lens and back menu buttons when not turned on - letting the back have a large 3 inch LCD. The camera is out in February 2007, click for the specification.
	Samsung L73 The first of two cameras in the “L” range, the L73 builds on the L70 (released in August 2006) by adding Intelligent Face Recognition Technology and “ASR image stabilisation”, which isn't image stabilisation as such but more a mode that takes the photo with and without the flash in quick succession so that you can choose the best result. It also drops the confusing 9 button interface of the L70 in favour of the Smart Touch interface of the NV7 and NV10 which has buttons running up and alongside the LCD. It has a 7MP sensor, a 3x optical zoom and is available in black or silver when it releases in early 2007, click for the specification.
	Samsung L700 The second L camera, the L700, goes back to a now retro curved rectangular metal design after the strange black angles of the L73 and NV series. Rather than doing just photography the camera seems designed for video too with the ability to record MPEG-4 at 640x480 @ 30 fps and has on-camera video stabilisation and editing functions. Unusually you can use the 3x zoom lens to zoom while recording as most cameras don't allow this. It has a 7MP sensor, 2.5 inch LCD and can take SD, MMC and SDHC cards. It is out early 2007, click for the specification.
	Samsung S630 and S730 Both the S630 and the S730 sit at the lower end of Samsung's Point and Shoot range but this doesn't mean that they are forgettable, under-specced cameras. Instead they are replacements for the existing S range and offer stylish, user-friendly photography with ASR at a reasonable price. The S630 and S730 are essentially the same camera with the same design and specifications, the only difference being the number of mega-pixels: the 630 has 6MP and the 730 has 7MP. Both are out early 2007, click for the specification of the S630 and the S730.
	Samsung S850 The S850 is the next S camera up the scale and has an 8MP sensor, 5x optical zoom (which is very unusual) and more advances features like PASM modes, Intelligent Face Recognition Technology at an affordable price. Like the S630 and S730 it has the black design inspired by the NV series but keep the standard 4-way menu design on the back. The S850 will be out spring 2007, click for the specification.
	Samsung S1050 The new flagship camera of the S series, this camera has a 10.1 MP sensor, 5x optical zoom, Intelligent Face Recognition Technology, ASR and a 3 inch LCD - proving that a standard camera range can have impressive specs too. The only give-away that the camera is for all situations is the fact it takes 2 AA batteries rather than specialised rechargeables, giving more versatility for travelling at the expense of battery life. It will be released spring 2007, click for the specification.

No price details have been announced as yet.