Review: Samsung ST700 Digital Camera

The Samsung ST700 digital camera represents the ultimate in dual screen innovation from Samsung. This camera boasts a 1.8″ front LCD screen, giving even more opportunities for portrait self-shooting, which has become the hallmark of the DualView camera.

The impressive front screen is complemented by a 3.0″ touch screen with Smart Access UI on the back of the camera for seamless usability and clear, crisp image display. The ST700 doesn’t lose out on quality either, with the 16.1 Megapixel image sensor and the 26mm 5x optical zoom lens for innovative image capturing.

ST700 features Samsung’s interactive Smart Access User Interface, which allows for easy use of key features with simple touch recognition. Just like apps on a touch-screen smartphone, the ST700 integrates easy-to-operate touch-screen menus and functions.

Samsung was nice enough to loan me this camera for an extended period of time so that I could really put it through the paces! For years I’ve relied on my trusty Canon PowerShot SD200, but it finally died. I don’t always want to lug around my DSLR, so I was looking for a quality camera that was small enough to fit in my pocket.

The ST700 performed superbly in taking landscape and macro shots. Because of its optical 5x zoom with 27mm wide angle lens, it can take wider and closer shots better than other compact digital cameras out there.

In addition to taking large, sharp still images, the ST700 also records 720p HD video at 30 frames per second. Now I can leave my Flip cam at home, and that’s one less thing to carry!

For those who like to stylized imagery, Samsung offers both Smart 2.0 video filters (soft-focus, cinema, fish-eye, miniature, etc.) and Smart Auto modes (16 for still images and 4 for video) to help customize the look of your photos and video recordings. Smart Auto modes analyze key elements of your shots (such as brightness, color, and motion, and adjusts the camera’s settings accordingly.

The camera really exceeded my expectations! If you’re looking for a compact digital camera that can do it all, the Samsung ST700 is your answer..

Samsung ST700 features:

• 16.1-megapixel 1/2.33″ CCD Image Sensor
• 5x, 26mm wide optical zoom lens
• Dual IS system (Optical & Digital)
• Easy Self shot (power off the main LCD)
• 3.0-inch Touch LCD (230K pixels)
• 1.8-inch Front LCD (61K)
• Front Display Feature modes
• Smart Access UI
• Magic Frame
• Magazine Album
• Face Detect & Tracking
• Smart Face Recognition
• Smart Auto 2.0 (Movie & Still)
• Smart Filter 2.0
• Smart Album, Magazine Album
• Beauty Shot
• High Definition Movie Recording – 720p
• HDMI CEC
• Built In SW (Intelli-Studio)
• Multi Slide Show
• High Sensitivity ISO3200 (Full Size)
• Compact body measures 98 x 55 x 19.8mm

The Samsung ST700 camera is currently on sale at Amazon for $199 – $80 less than MSRP!