Ridgefield Park,
N.J. – Samsung Electronics America this week
unveiled a pair of digital still cameras and three compact digital camcorders
for its 2009 line.
The new still cameras- SL720 ($230 suggested retail) and SL502
($150) – will ship in August as part of the firm’s SL-Series. Both feature 12.2
megapixel resolution, 5x optical zoom lenses, new styling and face-recognition
circuitry.
The SL720 incorporates a 28mm wide‑angle lens, while the SL502 offers
a standard 35mm lens.
The optical zoom lenses are paired with image stabilization
technologies. The SL720 employs optical and digital Dual Image Stabilization,
while the SL502 uses only Digital Image Stabilization.
The SL720 features a 3-inch LCD screen and the SL502 features a
2.7-inch LCD screen.
Both cameras include
Smart Auto shooting mode, which automatically chooses the best of 11
scene modes for the image.
Also included in each camera is a Smart Album feature that allows
searching for a specific image.
The new Face Recognition technology automatically stores up to 20
preferred faces to each camera’s internal memory. While taking a portrait, the
cameras will automatically identify one of 20 preferred faces for priority in focusing
and exposure.
“These are two of the most full-featured compact
digital cameras on the market,” said Reid Sullivan, Samsung A/V and digital
imaging marketing senior VP. “Typically, consumers may feel like they have to
sacrifice functionality in order to find a digital camera priced within their
means, but that’s not the case with the new SL720 and SL502. Samsung is giving
consumers the ability to experience the latest and most advanced digital
imaging technology, helping them step up to a more robust, feature-packed
camera which will help take their photography to a whole new level.”
Advanced video recording options in the SL720 includes 720p, high-definition
video capture and playback when using an optional HDMI cradle. The camera uses
H.264 compression, an advanced codec that allows users to record video for
longer periods of time.
The SL502 captures video in MJPEG video at 640-by-480 resolution.
The three new
camcorders include the HMX-U10 ultra compact Full HD 1080p model, and the
standard-def SMX-K40 and the SMX-K45, both with 720-by-480 resolution.
The HMX-U10 ($200 suggested retail) features a bar-style design
and records video in Full-HD 1080p resolution and takes 10 mega-pixel still
photos. It stores video to removable SD/SDHC media and incorporates a
fixed-focus lens.
Shipping in September, the mini-cam also allows users to easily
share content online with its one-touch “upload” button to YouTube. Included is
a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor and 2-inch LCD screen.
Meanwhile, the K Series SMX-K40 ($330 suggested retail) and
SMX-K45 ($500) record video in standard definition but will upscale the footage
to near full-HD when viewing through an HDMI output (cable sold separately).
The SMX-K40 and SMX-K45 both ship in August, and feature a more
traditional vertical design with flip-out LCD monitors. A built-in HDMI output enables
connection to an HDTV for “near HD playback” using the built-in video up-conversion
system, Samsung said.
Also included in each model 65x Intelli-Zoom with a 52x optical
zoom range and digital extension that is said to be “reduce digital artifacts
common to other digital zoom systems.”
The K-Series also features Samsung’s advanced Optical Image
Stabilizer, and Schneider‑Kreuznach lens elements.
The SMX-K45 offers an
internal 32GB Solid State Drive (SSD), with
up to 20 hours and 40 minutes of recording time;
The SMX-K40 stores
images only on removable SD/SDHC Flash memory cards.
All of the new camcorders include Samsung’s built-in
intelli-studio software, animated thumbnails, and a versatile charging system.
The HMX-U10 and
the K-Series models feature Samsung’s play-edit-sharing program called intelli‑studio.
The program
allows consumers to turn a computer into a mobile studio, giving users the
ability to edit and play their video without having to install supporting
software.
