With a 26x optical zoom lens, the Samsung WB5500 has even more telephoto reach than the existing 24x HZ25W model, which was the company's first megazoom digicam. Known as the Samsung VLUU WB5500 in some markets, the new model's body design seems to be little changed from that of the HZ25W, beyond the new lens. Maximum aperture varies from f/2.8 - f/5.0 across the zoom range, and 35mm-equivalent telephoto gives it a 26x focal lengths are from a useful 26mm wide angle to a very powerful 676mm telephoto. The HZ25W's twelve megapixel image sensor has been replaced with a slightly higher-res 13.8 megapixel chip, yielding images up to a maximum of 4,288 x 3,216 pixels. As you'd expect with such a powerful zoom, the WB5500 also offers sensor-shift image stabilization. For framing and reviewing images, there's a 0.24-inch electronic viewfinder plus a 3.0-inch LCD display, both with 230,000 dot resolution.

Most other features of the Samsung WB5500 are similar to its sibling, the HZ25W. European availability is slated for May 2010, with pricing of around €429 -- roughly equivalent to US$525 (ignoring exchange rate fluctuations, taxes and duties.)

Samsung WB5500
General
Camera Type	EVF
Manufacturer	Samsung
Model Number	North America: WB5500 Europe: WB5500 Japan / Other: VLUU WB5500
Dimensions	4.6 x 3.3 x 3.6 in. (116 x 83 x 91 mm)
Weight	14.0 oz (396 g)
Image Capture
Sensor Type	CCD 1/2.33 (approx. 0.43 in. diagonal) 14.50 megapixels (total) 13.80 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio	4:3, 16:9
Image Dimensions	4288 x 3216 (13.8 megapixels) 4288 x 2848 (12.2 megapixels) 4288 x 2416 (10.4 megapixels) 3264 x 2448 (8.0 megapixels) 2592 x 1944 (5.0 megapixels) 2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels) 1920 x 1080 (2.1 megapixels) 1024 x 768 (0.8 megapixels)
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder	Yes, 0.24-inch, 230,000 dot LCD electronic viewfinder
LCD	3.0 in. diagonal 230,000 dots (approx. 77,000 pixels)
Lens
Lens Type	Schneider-Kreuznach lens 26x optical zoom
Image Stabilization	Yes
Focal Length	4.6 - 119.6mm (actual) 26 - 676mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Range	f/2.8 (W) - f/5.0 (T) - f/8.0
Focusing System	Contrast Detect: Center, Multi, Face Detection, Tracking, Selection Has AF assist lamp Manual focus possible
Focusing Range	Normal: 33" - 4,081" (80 cm - 9,999 cm) Macro: 0.4" - 4,081" (1 cm - 9,999 cm)
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity	Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400* (*3 mpix or below)
Shutter Speed	16 - 1/2000 second
Exposure Modes	Aperture, Shutter, Manual
Metering Modes	Multi, Spot, Center Weighted, Face Detection
Exposure Compensation	+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance	Image Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent_H, Fluorescent_L, Tungsten, Custom, Kelvin
Internal Flash	Modes: Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix Range: AUTO ISO: Wide: 0.3m - 6.0m, Tel : 0.8m - 3.0m
Creative
Scene Modes	Frame Guide, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Close Up, Text, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow
Digital Zoom	Up to 5.0x
Self Timer	Yes, 2/10/2+10 seconds
Time Lapse	No
Movie Format	MPEG-4 (H.264 ) with audio
Storage
Recording Medium	SD/MMC including SDHC, Built-in
File System	FAT16, FAT32, complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File Format	.DNG 1.1, JPEG (EXIF 2.21)
Connectivity
Video	High definition: Yes (HDMI) Standard definition: Yes, NTSC / PAL switchable
Computer	USB 2.0 High Speed
Other	DC Input
Power
Battery Type	Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Form Factor	Proprietary SLB-11A
Product Bundle
Flash Memory	8.0MB Internal
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliant	Yes
PictBridge Compliant	Yes
Internal Microphone
Internal Speaker	Yes
Tripod Mount	Yes
Remote Control	No
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