Samsung Digimax V700

Reviewed May 2005

Characteristics

Measuring 1/1.8" diagonally, the Samsung Digimax V700's CCD sensor is composed of 7.4 million pixels of which 7.1 million are effective when capturing images at the maximum resolution of 3072 x 2304 pixels.

CCD sensitivity starts at 50 ISO and can be increased to 100, 200 or 400 ISO in the menu. An Auto mode is also available, allowing the camera to increase sensitivity between 50 and 150 ISO as necessary to maintain a shutter speed fast enough to avoid camera shake.

The V700 uses a 3X Schneider-Kreuznach zoom with a focal length range of 7.8 to 23.4 mm, the equivalent of a 38 to 114 mm lens in the 35mm film format

Apertures start at f2.8 when the lens is at the wide angle end, closing down to f6.4, while at the telephoto end apertures start at f5.1 and end at f7.4.

The V700 is also equipped with a 10X digital zoom that crops the centre portion of the full size frame and then interpolates the cropped image to the selected image size, and which cannot be deactivated.

Shutter speeds cover from 1/2000 to 15 seconds, but with some restrictions for the Scene modes and the Auto mode. And, with all long exposures, noise reduction is automatically applied to the image.

The V700 can capture images at any one of 8 still image sizes:

While a number of settings can be made using the buttons and controls of the V700 (see the Ergonomics section of this review), a number of others are decided in the menu. The options presented in the menu are tied to the mode in use, and are quite limited with the Auto or even the scene modes. However, using the Program, Priority or Manual modes all the settings are accessible to the user:

• Size: selects the image size or the frame size of movie clips, according to the mode the camera is set to.

• Frame Rate (displayed only when the camera is set to Movie Clip): 15 or 30 frames per second.
• Quality serves to select the image quality: TIFF, Super Fine, Fine or Normal.
• Metering decides the metering pattern used: Multi or Spot. Multi Metering meters the entire frame, but gives greater importance to the centre of the frame, much like a centre-weighted pattern.

• Shooting selects the way images are captured:
  • Single: one image at a time.
  • Continuous: captures a burst of three images at full resolution, the frame rate varying with the shutter speed.
  • AEB (auto exposure bracketing) captures three images over ± 2EV in 0.3 EV increments, one with the metered exposure, one overexposed, one under exposed.
  • AFB: (auto focus bracketing) captures 3 images, one at the calculated focus point, one focused on the area before the focus point, one focused on the area behind the focus point.
• Sharpness: controls the level of sharpening applied to images (Soft, Normal, Vivid).
• Effect: decides whether images are recorded in colour, black and white, Sepia or as a negative.
• Special Effect provides three options:
  • Highlight: processes the image post capture so the subject is sharp and the background blurred, making the subject stand out.
  • Composite: allows capturing 2, 3 or 4 images and save them as a single image.
  • Photo Frame: this option serves to add one of three frame types to an image.
• Save MySET: using the P/S/A/M modes it is possible to save 3 sets of camera settings so they can be recalled later when the Mode Dial is turned to the MySET position.

• Load MySET: allows selecting one of 3 sets of camera settings when the Mode Dial is turned to the MySET position.
• Scene (only shown when the Mode Dial is set to the Scene position): serves as the access to any of the V700's 11 scene programs (see the Ergonomics section of the review for a description of the scene modes available with the V700).
• Movie Clip Frame Stabilizer: stabilizes the image electronically when the camera is set to Movie Clip mode, preventing camera shake from interfering with the image.

• 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: makes it possible to select the image shown when the camera is turned on (none, Samsung's logo, or any one of 2 images that are on the memory card. In addition, a sound can be selected to be played when the camera starts (any one of three sounds or none); or for the shutter release (any one of three sounds or none).

And, when the camera in Playback mode, the options presented in the menu are:

• 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.

• Protect: protects an image against an accidental erasure.
• Delete: to delete the image under review, or select images for deletion with the exception of these that are protected.
• Resize: to create a smaller copy of the image under review, and save it as a new image (JPEG images only).
• 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 a DPOF compatible service or printer:
  • 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.

When connected directly to a PictBridge compatible printer, an additional option appears in the Playback menu:

• Images: to select photos to be printed.
• Print Settings:
  • Auto Set: automatic printing with defaults.
  • Custom Set: allows defining the paper size, the layout (the number of photos per page), the type of paper, the print quality (auto, draft, normal, fine), whether or not to print the date, and whether or not to print the file name.
  • Print: starts the printing process either of the selected images or the index print.
  • DPOF Print: prints images that have been selected through DPOF.
  • Reset: resets all print and image settings.

And the last 2 options of the Playback menu which repeat those of the Capture menu:

• Set: accesses the Setup menu (see the Interface and Software section of the review).
• MyCam: offers the same customization options as with the Capture menu.

The Digimax V700 is powered by a proprietary rechargeable Lithium ion battery (SLB-1137) which fits in the same compartment as the memory card, and is recharged with a charger that is also included with the camera (SBC-L3).

The Samsung V700 is compatible with SD (secure Digital) memory cards, or MMC (MultiMedia) cards. The camera is retailed with a 32 MB SD memory card, which is limiting if the TIFF format — a format that creates large files — is used.

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

The V700 has two external connections, placed on the lower right side of the camera's back, and covered by a plastic door that is tethered at one end. The first jack on the left is to power the camera using an optional AC adapter (SAC-32).

Depending on the cable used, the other jack, on the right, is either the USB connection (compatible 2.0), or the AV (audio/video) out which can be NTSC or PAL as decided in the Setup menu.