Samsung HZ1 packs 10x optical zoom into a point-and-shoot

Posted by John Brownlee, September 23, 2008 12:29 PM | permalink

Samsung's new 10 megapixel HZ1 crams in the usual features of a point-and-shoot digicam: digital image stabilization, face detection, even a welcome HD 720p video mode. But the eyebrow arches at the 10x optical zoom... which has &mdash' in this age of nearly indistinguishable consumer point-and-shoots — pretty much my primary consideration when buying a new camera, megapixels be damned. Another welcome feature: WiFi computer syncing. Alas, no price or date quite yet.

Samsung Unveils a New Point & Shoot Camera with HD Movie Capability [Akihabara News]

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Discussion

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#1 posted by w000t , September 23, 2008 12:36 PM

Looks interesting. I've thought the same thing: I'd really like a nicely long optical zoom on my next point and shoot. So far the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 has been at the top of the list due to its still-pocketable 10x. This seems to deserve a look, too.

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#2 posted by Harrkev

, September 23, 2008 1:10 PM

My wife and mother-in-law have the DMC-TZ5, and like it a lot. The 10x zoom is very handy. Low-light performance is pathetic, but I come from a film SLR world, so that is probably par for the course in small point-n-shoots.

I also suspect that the 10 megapixels are bogus too, as you will be limited by the sharpness of the lens.

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#3 posted by andvaranaut , September 23, 2008 3:14 PM

I have a Lumix DMC-TZ1, the poor (and older) sister to the TZ5, and I love it. Also, this looks more pocketable than the TZ5 (and, of course, than the TZ1).

Of course, I am not even thinking about buying one of these things until I see some shots taken by a serious reviewer - lens quality will be a very important factor here.

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#4 posted by Reason , September 23, 2008 6:43 PM

The Panasonic DMC-TZ3 is an awesome camera, with the 10x Leica lens...it's newer successors seem very well-reviewed as well. My TZ3 is easily the best cam I have ever owned, and that has been a lot. It produces shots better than many much more costly and bulky DSLRs. The Leica lens is really amazing...it gathers light like you can't believe.

Later,

Mike

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#5 posted by WalterBillington , September 24, 2008 5:13 AM

Sony, no contest. Reaction time is key. Samsung also on my blacklist, after selling me that crummy thin phone that broke in my pocket. Wouldn't refund. Thanks Samsung! Never again, no product.

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#6 posted by umgrego2 , September 24, 2008 8:33 AM

I'm going to throw in one of those annoying semantic comments. Sorry, but I feel the need.

The term point-and-shoot refers simply to a camera that is not an SLR. 10x optical point-and-shoots have been around for a while now. It sounds like what appeals to John is the compactness of this model.

I also want to echo what others are saying about the importance of the lens quality, especially on a super zoom.

Make sure to check out the Panasonic mentioned by others as well as Sony's H10 http://www.steves-digicams.com/2008_reviews/sony_h10.html in order to compare the quality and speed of the lens (which isn't described for the samsung).