Samsung S850 review

IN DEPTH REVIEW
(almost)

Models of S series from Samsung (S 650-750-850) are at the moment the cheapest cameras with full manual control over exposition in most of markets, with unrivaled equipment. Beside that they offer fair picture quality (with low ISO), good focus (even in low light), good macro, plenty of exposition programs, lively vivid colors and large 2.5'' LCD with high resolution. Friendly use and good results at automatic setting makes them ideal entry-level point-and-shot camera.

Problems:

Unfortunately, there are serious problems with this product. (Pleas, stop that bullshit talks about batteries! they are NOT a problem - just buy a rechargeable one)

Biggest and crucial problem is construction: camera is build of plastic, as well as lens, which is wobbling even on brand new models. Poor sealing is other victim of low costs - after four months of mainly indoor use I noted dust grain spoiling all pictures, apparently from lens/or/sensor area. The poor construction resulted in one more failure in fifth month - corrupted focus (servo of focus is moving, but there is no adjustment of lens, so some mechanical problem brings camera to standstill). In other reviews people complain about occasional "freezing" of camera, where only rough restart (taking out batteries) helps. Apparently, Samsung needs to do a lot of more work to create not only cheap, but reliable and usable camera as well!

Beside hardware problems per se we can figure out some "weak points" - first one is noise level, acceptable only at 80 and 100. With iso 400 we come to a level performed by Fuji by 1600, or even worse one!

ASR stabilization is something beyond my understanding - every time I had better results with manual setting as with this feature, which resulted in most cases in even more blurred picture as without it!

Other problem is insufficient freedom for user to correct the result - exposure compensation is available only in semi-automatic "PROG" shooting program. At manual setting (M), only limited number of aperture values could be selected while A and S priority programs are missing at all.

The last thing to mention is simple control panel, which is definitely friendly for those users, who will never use it, but for a person, who use it extensively (and wants for example to change ISO and correct exposure) it means lot of browsing in menu, easily missing a target line.

My biased conclusion: to buy a new point-and-shot by Samsung proved to be a problematic decision. Initial effort to find a good value for price, which Samsung really offers, was crowned with serious setbacks in build quality and need to replace the product. With this knowledge I would rather invest to buy some 1/3 to 1/2 more expensive camera of established brand (like Nikon,Canon,Sony,Fuji,Panasonic), which (hopefully) provide more expertise and better quality, especially if you use camera on everyday basis, indoors as well as outdoors.

Samsung on the other hand, is solution for those, who use camera only rarely and would keep it most of time on a shelf. Nice pictures in and chance to play with many individual settings will be the reward.