The
new Samsung Digimax V4 is compact, sleek, and offers a 4-megapixel resolution
coupled with a 3X lens by
Schneider-Kreuznach, one of the most reputable and respected
lens manufacturers.
The
top of the V4 supports only the shutter release which is 2-stage with
AF/AE lock at mid-course, the power switch — a push on, push off
type — and a microphone. All other controls are placed on the back
of the camera.
In the upper right, the V4's zoom control provides wide angle on the left
and telephoto on the right. Moreover, the zoom control serves to display
an index screen (thumbnails) of the photos in the camera when pressed
to the left in playback, or can be used to zoom into an image when pressed
to the right.
The
upper back of the V4 is dominated by the Mode Dial, used to select the
recording modes. A total of 8 modes are available:
The
Program mode sets both aperture and shutter speed, but provides
control over other camera settings.
Aperture
Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual mode. With
the Mode Dial set to A/S/M, the specific mode can be selected in
the menu. When the V4 is powered off the last mode in use is recalled.
My
Set provides 3 sets of user-selected preferences that can be
recalled or altered as desired.
Easy
is a point-and-shoot mode that handles the majority of settings
and which provides only a few options.
Portrait
mode gives preference to the aperture, and can be used to capture
both portraits and landscape shots.
Night
Scene uses a slow shutter speed and slow synch flash to record
a well-lit foreground and a clear background in low light.
Movie
mode can capture video clips as long as there is space on the
memory card.
Voice
Recording turns the V4 into a digital voice recorder.
A large oval
5-function button is embedded to the right of the 1.5 inch, 117,600 pixel
LCD screen. The control serves to navigate the menus, and a blue button
at the centre
calls up the menu and confirms selections. In addition, the control can
be used to set:
Macro
mode: allows a focus range of 30 to 80 cm (11.7 to 30.2 inches)
and the zoom is usable.
Super
Macro mode: locks the lens to the wide angle setting and allows
the camera to come as close as 6 cm (2.34 in) to the subject.
Self-timer:
provides two delays, 2 or 10 seconds.
Remote
Control: sets the camera so the shutter can be released using
the optional infrared remote.
Voice
memo: captures a 10 second annotation that is attached to a
still image.
The lowest button on the back of the camera
starts the playback mode. Note that if the button is held in for a couple
of seconds the V4 will enter the Playback mode directly and the lens will
not deploy.
Three more buttons are aligned on the left edge of the LCD monitor, and
the two uppermost offer a dual function.
Exposure
Compensation: has a range of ± 2EV in 0.5 EV increments.
In playback the button serves to Play and Pause movies and sound
recordings, including voice annotations attached to a photo.
Manual
Focus: activates manual focusing which displays a distance scale
on the left side of the screen.
Delete:
erases one image, video clip, or sound recording at a time in playback.
LCD/Information:
cycles through monitor On with an information display overlaid on
the image, monitor On with no information display, or monitor Off.
The V4 is
equipped with an optical viewfinder, devoid of markings such as focus
point or parallax, and which is slightly recessed in a dark plastic housing
flanked by two LEDs.
The top one indicates AF and recording, the lower, red one, flash charging
(approximately 7 seconds to charge). Both LEDs are visible when looking
through the viewfinder, but are not distracting. Moreover, as they are
recessed with the viewfinder's exit pupil, they remain visible in bright
sunlight.
Although
equipped with a fair number of controls and modes, the Digimax V4 is very
easily mastered. The controls are well-organized, and their position avoids
confusion. The camera does have one drawback however, it does not remember
most settings when turned off, unless set to A/S/M or a specially configured
My SET mode. With this test camera — a production model —
and contrarily to indications in the accompanying manual, only a few settings
such as image size and quality, were recalled in the Program mode. Similarly,
in the program mode, the flash setting would return to Auto every
time the camera was powered on.
This aside, the V4 is a nicely finished camera and to protect it, Samsung
includes a light grey pouch with a leather look, which is a nice touch
too often omitted by manufacturers.
calls up the menu and confirms selections. In addition, the control can
be used to set:
starts the playback mode. Note that if the button is held in for a couple
of seconds the V4 will enter the Playback mode directly and the lens will
not deploy.
