Source: Samsung WB550 Digital Camera there's the:
...Beauty Shot mode, which Samsung claims "brightens and evens skin tone and removes blemishes." Though it sounds like an ad for a facial serum, I found this feature works remarkably well - even when zooming in as close as you can get, your skin looks flawless and your crow's feet disappear into oblivion (in my case it looks like I've highlighted my hair bright red). Compare that to the standard Portrait mode, and you'll see a big difference. The crow's feet are back.
...Face Detection, which can detect up to 10 faces and automatically adjust focus and exposure - handy for group shots.
...Smile Shot only takes a photo when everyone in the shot is smiling.
...Blink Detection fires three consecutive shots if the camera detects the subject's eyes are closed.
...records HD video at a resolution of 720p, even while using the 10x optical zoom. Samsung has also added functionality that allows you to pause mid-record and then resume recording, so you can perform some rudimentary editing. HDMI connectivity allows you to connect the camera directly to an HDTV.
When it comes to colour tones, a 35mm film camera still beats out small-sensor digital compacts, but the Samsung performs well for a camera in its class, making it a no-brainer to take decent photos with Smart Auto. It's easy to use, with minimal setup required, and the 10x optical zoom provides a marked performance improvement over a 5x. And you can take about 280 shots with a fully charged battery, which is pretty decent.
Thanks for the great work Vawn Himmelsbach PCWorld.ca Tuesday, September 08, 2009
