Digital Home Thoughts: Samsung Announces MV800 Multiview and WB750 Travel Zoom Cameras

"Now this week at IFA, the company just introduced yet another completely original (and practical) camera design with its MV800. The camera's image quality isn't much to speak of (though we've only had a chance to use a pre-production model), but its MultiView flip-up LCD is pretty darn fantastic -- in concept, at least."

Samsung has launched a couple of compacts, the first is the MV800, seen above. The 16 megapixel shooter packs a 5x 26-130mm equivalent zoom lens with optical image stabilisation, and comes with a 3" WQVGA (that's 432x240 pixels) capacitive touchscreen LCD that flips 180 degrees up. As gimmicks go, I'd rate either an articulated arm or a tilt LCD higher, because this only goes one way (up), and I'm mildly curious on how is the shutter release button meant to be pressed with the screen as above? The camera also does 720p videos, but does not seem to have much going for it. It is a bad day when a consumer site like Engadget says the image quality is not good...

Next up is the WB750, a 12.5 megapixel camera with a CMOS sensor and an 18x 24-432mm equivalent f/3.2-5.8 zoom lens in a compact body. The lens is optically stabilised, and the LCD is a 3" HVGA screen. 1080p videos at 30FPS is possible, and the camera can snap 10 megapixel stills while capturing a video. Interestingly the camera also comes with full manual controls. No word on pricing or availability. See a photo of the WB750 after the break.

Samsung MV800 hands-on at Engadget

Samsung WB750 at Engadget