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Samsung's S85 digital camera. Courtesy of Samsung, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Samsung's S85 digicam revealed
By Zig Weidelich, The Imaging Resource
(Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 20:18 EDT)

In its final announcement of the day, Samsung has introduced its entry-level Samsung S85 with - as you might guess from the name - a sensor resolution of eight megapixels coupled to a Samsung SHD-branded 5x optical zoom lens.

This provides a zoom range from 38mm - a moderate wide angle - to a useful 190mm telephoto, with maximum aperture varying from a fair f/2.8 at wide angle to f/4.6 at telephoto. The S85 can focus to a minimum of one centimeter at wide angle in Super Macro mode.

The Samsung S85 features a 2.5 inch LCD display, USB 2.0 (full-speed) connectivity, 20MB of built-in memory, ISO sensitivity from 50 - 1600, shutter speeds from 15 - 1/2000 second, a maximum of 5x digital zoom and 12x playback zoom. The S85 also offers a Motion JPEG movie mode capable of recording at resolutions up to 640 x 480 pixels at 30 frames-per-second with audio, and optical zoom is supported while recording movies.

Other S85 features include multi, center-weighted or spot metering, seven white balance modes including custom, 14 scene modes (Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Close-up, Text, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Cafe, Food, Self Shot) as well as full Auto, Program and Manual exposure modes, and a five-mode built in flash. Samsung's S85 stores images on Secure Digital cards (including the newer SDHC cards), or the previously mentioned built-in memory. Power for the S85 comes courtesy of two AA batteries (with alkaline disposables in the product bundles), and the included software is Samsung Digimax Master.

The Samsung S85 will ship late September, at a suggested price of US$229. Dimensions, weight and some other details are unknown at this time, as specifications are preliminary.

Samsung S85
Samsung's S85 digital camera. Courtesy of Samsung, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
General
ManufacturerSamsung
Model NumberS85
Planned Price$229.00
Planned Availability 2007
Image Capture
Sensor Type1/2.5 CCD
8.30 megapixels (total)
8.20 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio4:3, 4:3
Image Dimensions3264 x 2448 (8.0 megapixels)
3264 x 2176 (7.1 megapixels)
3264 x 1824 (6.0 megapixels)
2592 x 1944 (5.0 megapixels)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
1024 x 768 (0.8 megapixels)
Image Quality3 levels
Image Preview / Review
ViewfinderNo
LCD2.5"
Playback Zoom12.0x max
Lens
Lens TypeSamsung SHD lens
5x optical zoom
Image StabilizationNo
Focal Length6.3 - 31.5mm (actual)
38 - 190mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Rangef/2.8 - ? (wide), f/4.6 - ? (tele)
Focusing SystemContrast Detect; Multi Point AF
Manual Focus possible (0) steps
Focusing RangeNormal: 33" - infinity (80 cm - infinity)
Macro: 0.4" - 33" (1 cm - 80 cm)
Exposure
ISO SensitivityAuto, 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Shutter Speed15 - 1/2000 second
Exposure ModesProgram, Manual
Metering ModesMulti, Spot, Center-weighted
Exposure Compensation+/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV increments
White BalanceImage Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent_H, Fluorescent_L, Tungsten, Custom, Manual
Internal FlashModes: Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off
Range: Wide : 0.2m - 3.0m, Tele : 0.5m - 2.5m (ISO AUTO)
Creative
Scene ModesPortrait, Night, ASR, Children, Landscape, Close-up, Text, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Cafe, Food, Self Shot
Digital ZoomUp to 5.0x
Self TimerYes, 2/10/2+10 seconds
Time LapseYes
Movie FormatAVI (MJPEG) with audio
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC, Built-in
File SystemFAT16, complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File FormatJPEG
Connectivity
VideoYes, NTSC / PAL switchable
ComputerUSB 2.0 Full (LOW) Speed
OtherDC Input
Power
Battery TypeAlkaline, Lithium disposable; NiMH rechargeable
Battery Form Factor2 x AA
Product Bundle
SoftwareDigimax Master, Drivers
Battery / Charger2x AA Alkaline disposable battery
Flash Memory20.0MB Internal
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliantYes
PictBridge CompliantYes
Internal MicrophoneYes
Internal SpeakerYes
More Photos
Samsung's S85 digital camera. Courtesy of Samsung, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Samsung's S85 digital camera. Courtesy of Samsung, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
 

Original Source Press Release:

Samsung Fortifies Designer Series with New 8MP S85 Digital Camera

S-Series sets a new standard for today’s new entry-level point and shoot cameras

Secaucus, NJ (July 11, 2007) – Samsung’s S-Series, part of its Designer family of digital cameras, has set a new standard when it comes to today’s entry-level point and shoots. With an array of advanced and fun controls, S-Series digital cameras give the entry-level photographer the ability to experience features commonly associated with higher skill-level cameras. With the launch of the 8 mega pixel S85, Samsung takes the S-Series a step further and again expands the options for beginners looking for a digital camera that is innovative, easy-to-use and stylish.

Powered by two common AA alkaline batteries, users can rest assured that they’ll always be able to find a replaceable power source wherever they go, without having to worry about forgetting a battery charger at home. The S85 features Samsung’s SHD lens and brings a 5x optical-zoom (35mm film equivalent: 38~190mm) right to shooters’ fingertips. With a focus range that starts at 1cm, the S85 also allows users to experiment with macro photography and get close up with subjects, such as flowers, and capture crisp, clear images with super detail. For fast-action photography, the S85 offers a maximum shutter speed of 1/2,000 sec. as well as a motion capture feature that allows users to take up to seven pictures a second.

With Samsung’s proprietary ASR (Advanced Shake Reduction) image stabilization system and Wise Shot technology, the S85 gives users the ability to minimize the effects of hand shake and ensure that the best shots are captured even in dimly lit conditions. Wise Shot automatically takes two consecutive pictures in rapid succession­—one with ASR image stabilization enabled, and one with the flash—and prompts the user to review both and keep the preferred version of the picture. Furthermore, the S85’s Face Detection technology also makes taking pictures of family and friends a snap. Samsung’s Face Detection feature detects up to nine faces and automatically adjusts focus and exposure to ensure better composition and image quality.

By using the S85’s 2.5” LCD screen, users can frame their subjects and can review, edit and customize their images right on the camera. A special effects "E" button gives users instant access to a host of creative controls, including options for resizing and rotating images, adjusting brightness, contrast and saturation levels, fixing red eye, and manipulating color such as saving captured images as B&W, Sepia, Red, Blue, Green, and Negative. The S85’s "Fun" feature also allows users to take their creativity a step further. This unique feature allows shooters to create a composite photo by saving up to four individual images as one, highlight an image by sharpening the foreground and softening the focus of the background, as well as customize their saved images with photo frames, stickers of various shapes, and cartoon text bubbles. All images can be saved to the 20MB of internal memory or to an external SDHC/SD card with a guaranteed maximum of 4GB.

With 14 scene modes to choose from, including Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Close-Up, Text, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Café, Food, and Self-Shot, shooters can rest assured that they’ll be able to effortlessly adjust the camera and capture the best image possible in any setting.

The S85 also boasts a high-resolution movie mode, with the ability to record at VGA resolution (640x480) at a maximum frame rate of 30fps. Additionally, shooters can use the camera’s 5x optical zoom while recording video and with Samsung’s Successive Recording mode, can pause, and then resume filming without having to save the clips as individual files.

Samsung Opto-Electronics America, Inc., Secaucus, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd., Sungnam Kyungki-Do, Korea. Samsung Opto-Electronics markets a full line of auto focus cameras, zoom and digital cameras for the amateur as well as the professional under the Samsung brand name.

For full specifications and hi-res images visit the Samsung Camera website at: www.samsungcamerausa.com

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