Samsung Pro815 Camera Review – Huge LCD and Optical Zoom

June 8, 2009

In the modern age, when smaller is considered the smartest-Samsung dared to go otherwise. With the world’s largest LCD screen (3.5 inches) in a digital camera, the largest 15x optical zoom in a high end camera and the largest capacity lithium-ion battery, the Samsung Pro815 has created history. Having 8.0 million pixels CCD, a Schneider-Kreuznach lens and RAW mode, TIFF and JPEG shooting facilities, this is a real gem!

It’s an ideal deal for those who want every shot to be perfect like an SLR camera but don’t actually want an SLR. Having a nice body made up of plastic and metal both to lighten the weight, the camera has dimensions of 135.5X87X144.6mm with the lens included. It weighs around 910g with batteries quiet heavy to carry around which I think is its only downside. So keeping in mind the load of the appliance, the camera is provide with a rubber hand grip and a thumb grip at its rear end so that holding the camera with one hand is not totally impossible.

And then which camera offers such a magnificent lens and battery not tot mention the 8.3 million pixel sensor that produces world class pictures and videos. The mechanical zoom and the flash hot shoe connector that makes it a treat to photograph.

The large lens provides a wide aperture that allows more light to enter and thus the resulting shots are sharp and bright. Larger lens also increases the chances of chromatic errors. That may spoil the image but this lens is very smart. It has low dispersion glass and spherical elements to reduce any image distortion. The aperture is as wide as f2.2-f4.6 but is very fast, even faster than any equivalent SLR lens. Another great feature of this camera is the top LCD screen with the help of which you cannot only take snaps at waist level but can also shoot at different angles. The top LCD is 1.4 inch wide colored TFT screen which has dual functions. One being that of image preview for waist level shooting and the other is that of status LCD. This shows all the data about shooting an object on the screen and thus allows quick decisions that which function should be selected.

And then there is no such problem as having to stop shooting since you can take about 500 shots in one single charge of the lithium-ion battery. That’s a relief for all those enthusiasts who spend all day long outdoors looking for that perfect shot as now they don’t have to be disappointed if there is battery failure and when no power supply is available.

The price of Samsung Pro815 is around £520 that’s not too much to ask for since the camera comes with a whole kit including Lithium ion battery rechargeable SLB 1974, Charger and Optional AC adopter to sustain the power needs whereas the package also contains Battery charger, Battery Pack and a Compact flash card. An optical remote control is also provided so that you can fix the settings if the camera is positioned away from you such as in case of wild life photography; it will allow you to adjust the settings from behind the bushes as you wait for your target…isn’t it cool! You can easily transfer your pictures and videos to any PC or storage device since it can be connected to a USB 2.0, A/V out (stereo) and DC-IN.

The Samsung Pro815 is better in performance than the ancestor model having 500 mega pixel and 1/ 2.5 inch CCD as it has a larger 2/ 3 inch CCD that improves the sensitivity. As for with its large 2/3 inch CCD, is superior in sensitivity to the previous 500 mega pixel model with the 1/ 2.5 inch CCD. And that’s not it; it also prevents camera shake in case of tracing a fast moving object such as an animal as it supports high sensitivity and a very high speed shutter mode. So this makes it a master piece and justifies its price and value to quiet an extent. With all the advanced technologies that it has to offer its not at all a bad bargain.