Samsung Digimax i5

Reviewed September 2005

Characteristics

The 3X SHD zoom lens of the i5 provides a focal length range that covers from 6.6 to 19.8 mm, the equivalent of a 39 to 117 mm zoom on a 35 mm format camera, with apertures that start at f3.5 when the zoom is at the wide angle end, and f4.5 at the telephoto end. These apertures function with a shutter speed range that can be as long as 16 seconds — user selected — when the camera is set to the Night mode, or as little as 1/2000 second.

The Digimax i5 is capable of capturing images using any one of 6 image sizes:

• 2592 x 1944 pixels
• 2272 x 1704 pixels
• 2048 x 1536 pixels
• 1600 x 1200 pixels
• 1024 x 768 pixels
• 640 x 480 pixels

All images are saved using the JPEG format, and any one of 3 compression levels: Super Fine, the highest image quality; Fine, which offers an average compression; and Normal, which applies the strongest compression, making it possible to store more images in a given memory space but with a lower image quality.

Image size and compression are 2 of the options found in the i5's menu, a menu which is displayed when the MENU/OK button at the centre of the 4-direction control is pressed. The menu starts with the Mode selection, an option that gives access to the shooting modes, as does the M button (see the Ergonomics section of the review for detailed information about the i5's shooting modes):

• Mode provides two options for the short menu that is displayed when the M button is pressed:
  • Still And Movie: offers a choice between a currently selected still image shooting mode and the Movie mode.
  • Full: provides full access to all the shooting modes (see the Ergonomics section of the review).
• Mode Set serves to select the shooting mode (see the Ergonomics section of the review for a list of all the shooting modes available with the i5).

• Size (Still image): as indicated above.
• Size (Movie): 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels, or 160 x 128 pixels.
• Quality (Still image): Super fine, Fine, Normal.
• Frame Rate (Movies): 15 or 30 frames per second.
• Metering:
  • Multi: (default) meters a number of points in the frame to arrive at an average.
  • Spot: concentrates the reading at the centre of the frame.
• Shooting: Single or Continuous.

• Sharpness: controls the level of sharpening applied to images (Soft, Normal, Vivid).
• OSD (On-Screen Display) controls the level of information displayed on the monitor:
  • Full OSD: displays information about all the current camera settings around the periphery of the frame.
  • Basic OSD: displays only the most critical information.
  • Save Mode: activates the power save mode which lets the camera enter sleep mode after a specified period of inactivity.
• Effect: decides whether images are recorded in colour (Normal), Black and White, Sepia, Red, Green, Blue, or Negative.

• Special Effect provides three options, but is only presented when the i5 is set to the Manual shooting mode. By default all these options are set to Off, which is probably for the best:
  • Highlight: processes the image post-capture so the subject is sharp and the background blurred, making the subject stand out. 1 rectangular zone or any one of 3 portrait-type outlines can be selected as the areas where the subject will be and which will be processed once the image is captured.
  • Composite: allows capturing 2, 3 or 4 images, or a 2-part panorama and saving them as a single image.
  • Photo Frame: this option serves to add one of 9 frame types to an image.

• Stabilizer (Movie mode only): turns on or off the digital image stabilizer.
• Setup: serves to access the Setup options. (Please see the Interface and Software section of the review for a list of the options contained in the Setup menu).
• Mycam provides a means to personalize the camera by:
  • selecting an alternative Start image which can be a user-shot photo, or none.
  • selecting any one of 3 Start Sounds, played while the camera starts up, or none.
  • or choosing one of 3 Shutter Sounds or none.

Set to the Playback mode, the i5 offers a menu with a similar and colourful appearance:

• Slide: makes it possible to create a slide show, repeating or not, with the images stored on the memory card. The on-screen time for the images can be selected (1, 3, 5 or 10 seconds), as can 1 of 4 transition effects between images or Random, which picks a transition effect randomly.
• Protect: protects one or all images against accidental erasure.
• Delete: to delete the image under review, or select images for deletion with the exception of those that are protected.

• Resize serves to create a smaller copy of the image under review, and save it as a new image: 4M, 3M, 2M, 1M, VGA, or User Image, which saves a copy of the image that can be used as a Start up image chosen in the Mycam option.
• Effect: decides whether images are recorded in colour (Normal), Black and White, Sepia, Red, Green, Blue, or Negative.
• Rotate: to rotate images (JPEG only) 90° to the left or right, or 180° or flip them horizontally or vertically.

• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) serves to select images that will be printed by a DPOF compatible service or printer. Worth noting, the i5 is PictBridge compliant and presents a special menu when connected directly to a similarly compliant printer. The following options are available for DPOF:
  • Standard: selects images one at a time or all images on the card, and how many prints to make of each.
  • Index: decides whether or not an index print will be made.
  • Size: selects the size of the prints to be made (3 x 5, 4 x 6, 5 x 7, or 8 x 10 inches) or Cancel, which cancels all selections.

• Copy to Card: allows copying images between the internal memory and a memory card.
• Setup: is the access to the Setup menu (see the Interface and Software section of the review for more information about the contents of the Setup menu).
• Mycam: offers the same options to personalize the camera as are offered in the Rec menu (see above).

When connected directly to a PictBridge compatible printer, an additional menu appears making it possible to set the printing parameters or use those set through the DPOF option.

The Samsung I5 is compatible with SD (secure Digital) memory cards, or MMC (MultiMedia) cards, and SD cards are housed in a slot that is next to the battery compartment, underneath the camera.

The i5 also features a 50MB internal memory, which makes the camera useable immediately out of the box once its battery is charged.

The chart below provides an idea of the number of photos that can be stored using the internal memory of the camera and, as an indication, with an optional 1GB card:

The i5 reviewed here included a USB dock which can be used to recharge the camera and, depending on the cable used, connect it to a computer via USB or to a television. Alternatively, the cables can be connected directly to the special connector underneath the camera.

The Digimax i5 is powered by a proprietary rechargeable Lithium ion battery (SLB-0737) which, as noted above, fits in the same compartment as the memory card, and is held in place by a small silver latch.