Samsung ST500 and ST550 Dual LCD Digital Cameras [Front-Facing LCD, 12.2-Megapixel, 4.6x Optical Zoom, 720p HD video]

It’s not often that a new feature on a digital camera impresses me. For the most part, they are all the same. So they get smaller, the LCD screens get bigger (although with most of them taking up the entire back of the camera, they can only get as big as the camera, right?) and the resolutions get higher. Who cares. Besides, what do most people need with a 12MP camera anyway? Are there a lot of people making posters out of their digital images? My bet is that most people don’t take the pictures off of their computers once they take them. Anyway, the latest cameras from Samsung, the ST500 and ST550 actually have a truly unique feature, a front-facing LCD screen. So why? Read on.

Samsung’s latest digital cameras, the ST500 and ST550, have just shown up for sale at Amazon UK. Both cameras sport dual LCD displays and 12.2-megapixel sensors, 4.6x optical zooms and 720p HD video recording modes. So the neat thing is that they each have one large touchscreen display on the rear and a smaller secondary 1.5-inch LCD panel next to the lens on the front. I suppose it can be used to line yourself up in the image when you’re taking the ever-popular extended arm shots. It also displays the camera status which I am not all too sure is completely necessary.

What makes the two cameras different is the size of their rear LCD screen. The ST500 has a 3-inch touchscreen and the ST550 has a larger 3.5-inch touchscreen. Both have image stabilization and haptic feedback, and support Samsung’s “Tap and Take” system, which was first teased earlier this month.

As for pricing, the Samsung ST500 is listed for 249GBP ($411) on Amazon UK and available in black with red, silver or blue highlights. The Samsung ST550 lists for 299GBP ($493) in purple, gold or orange varieties.