Samsung Reveals WiFi-enabled Digital Cameras

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Samsung has announced a pair of new point-and-shoot digital cameras today. The ST5000 and ST5500 are both ultra-slim cameras that measure in very thin and offer ‘da Vinci-inspired design’ in the lens technology. The whole camera is angled at 7-degrees for a unique design.

Samsung says they added the 7-degree angle body to allow for more comfortable use and help in capturing intuitive photos. Sounds a bit strange, but granted, we haven’t tried the camera hands-on. As for the screen, it’s an (surely) impressive 3.7-inch OLED touchscreen. By combining the gorgeous OLED screen and the oversized lens on the front, Samsung is hoping to “create a chic package that will define the future of the compact camera market”.

As for that ‘da Vinci-inspired’ lens, when the camera is on and the lens barrel is extending, the image’s specifications – notably focal length and aperture – will appear in lens ring instantly, via a reflective surface. Samsung says it’s inspired by da Vinci’s habit of writing messages to himself backwards in a mirror.

It’s worth noting here that the cameras are in the “ultra-compact” form factor as they’re very slim, measuring in at just 0.77 inches thick. Samsung has managed to include a 14.2-megapixel photo sensor in both cameras, which is impressive for a point-and-shoot of this size. The cameras both offer a 7x optical zoom and lens from Schneider-Kreuznach.

Notably, the ST5500 model comes with WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. It’s DLNA compatible for sharing your photos across a network with other DLNA devices and allows you to one-click upload content to Facebook, Picasa or YouTube. The cameras come with Smart Gesture UI, which sounds very iPhone-inspired as it uses finger swiping to navigate the menus. An on-board accelerometer also can detect tilting of the camera and that is also used in menu navigation. As great as that stuff sounds – this is a camera, Samsung, not a mobile phone or a gaming handheld. I wouldn’t of minded seeing them leave that stuff out, but this phone seems to be catered to the young Facebook/Twitter crowd who probably will appreciate it.

These cameras won’t be cheap. The ST5000 ships this month for £279 ($371) while the ST5500 (WiFi model) ships next month for £349 ($465).