It was never my intent to feature an abundance of ultra-compact camera reviews in this blog particularly since I don’t especially care for these types of digital cameras that squeeze so many features (albeit successfully) in such a compact space. However, since the trend in ultra-compact digital cameras is growing at such a rapid pace I would be doing potential fans of these digicams a disservice if I simply ignored their presence on camera store shelves.
With that said here are two more ultra-compact digital camera options that have become hot sellers in recent months:
SAMSUNG NV10
I know what you are thinking: Isn’t Samsung the company that makes TVs? You’re right. But now Samsung is also trying to make its mark in the camera world with the introduction of its new New Vision (NV) line.
The Samsung NV10 is a small but sleek piece of digital architecture. It features a brushed black exterior and weighs only 5.2 ounces. Yet it still offers 10mp resolution and a 3x zoom lens. You’ll notice the power button right away given it has a cool blue glowing ring around it. You also won’t be able to miss the incredible array of tiny black buttons that partially frame the 2.5-inch LCD screen in the back of the camera.
They are where you control the camera’s settings. Run your finger over them, and the screen offers you options. For example, if you press one of the buttons you can set the shutter speed manually. Then you can run your fingers along the bottom row of buttons to scroll between the fastest and slowest times (from 15 seconds to 1/1,500 of a second).
Despite the fancy packaging the NV10 is still a snapshot camera. Don’t expect professional grade photos from the tiny package, but you can expect to get a lot of attention when you point and shoot because of the camera’s stylish good looks. For a price of $330 you can turn heads and snap a few nice pics to boot.
Canon PowerShot A710 IS
This tiny turnout from Canon is tiny but it still features a 6-to-1 zoom lens, a 2.5-inch screen, and a 7.1 megapixel sensor inside. I’ve discussed Canon’s “image stabilization” technology in previous blogs and this camera contains the same great feature that makes shaky shots obsolete.
The one major complaint I have with this camera (as I do with most mid-range digital cameras) is that it suffers from noticeable shutter lag. If you have a child who will only sit still for a fraction of a second then this camera will likely not capture the shot you are looking for. Still, if you are shopping around for a capable camera with manual override features and want to spend less than $350 to get it, then this is the camera for you.
Related Articles:
More Ultra-compact Digital Camera Options
Choosing The Perfect Ultra Compact Camera
The Pros and Cons of Ultracompact Cameras