Pros: 24X Total Zoom (4.8X Optical) 28mm Wide Angle Lens, MPEG-4, Fully Featured Camera
Cons: No Carrying Case
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for wide angle lens 4.8-5x optical zoom, mpeg-4 movie recording and USB2 pictbridge support then this is the camera for you.
tipstir's Full Review: Samsung Digimax A55W Digital Camera
SAMSUNG DIGIMAX A55W
Review by Albert Ashton
I personally use Samsung Digimax A55W for taking high quality digital MPEG-4 movies and still images in both low light areas indoor or outdoor shots and wide angle shots also!
My personal thoughts are, that the Samsung Digimax A55W is an excellent digital camera with more than enough features for everyone to use if configured correctly? The default settings are excellent in low light areas, but not for daily outdoor usage. Here is where you have to change the default settings to get this fun and easy to use digital camera to wake-up and perform like it was intended to do in the first place.
What you need on the PC?
OS: Windows XP Pro or Home Edition
CPU: PIII 850MHz min, P4 or AMD XP/64 or better
RAM: 512MB
Video: 8MB 24-bit or higher
Monitor: 1024x768 (for 1M to 4M) (5M 2582x1944 )
Hardware: USB 2.0 or 1.1 the cable is included for free and works on both types of USB
What’s in the Box?
Samsung A55W Silver Digital Camera
32MB SD Built-In with Optional Expansion Slot
Two AA Batteries Duracell Ultra (rather use Rayovac NiMH High Capacity 2000 mAh)
Set of USB2.0 and 1.1 PC or Printer with a PictBridge cable (black)
Set of USB 2.0 and 1.1 TV A/V cable (black)
Camera Strap (for carrying the A55W around safety)
CD for Drivers and Software
English 6-Steps Quick Guide
Espanol 6-Steps Quick Guide
English 131 page Manual (more like a book, but well written)
Espanol 131 page Manual (more like a book, but well written)
What’s not in the Box?
No Camera Case (I use Targus DLMC00) I also fitted the case with soft packaging sponge to protect the LCD 2.5 Lens) The SHD Wide Angle Lens has a full shutter cover built-in that covers when you turn off the camera.
What are the features?
5.1 Mega-Pixel
28MM Wide Angle
Samsung SHD Wide Angle Lens f=4.6 ~ 22.2mm (35mm: 28~135mm)
Total Zoom: 24X
Optical Zoom Lens: 4.8X (5X)
Two Digital Zoom modes 5X for Picture Taking and 8X for Playback of PICs
VGA 640x480 30 Frames Per Second
MPEG-4 AVI Recording with no time limit based on the size of your SD card
2.5 Color TFT LCD with 200,000 Pixels for taking movies and still images and playback
Camera Anti-Shake Features for both Picture taking and Movie Recording
Supports: CR-V3 Photo Battery, Samsung Recharge Cell, Rechargeable AAs or Alkaline
USB 2.0 and 1.1 PictBridge Direct Printing Mode
Built-in Picture Editing Features
10 Scene Shooting Modes
5 Shooting Modes
9 Function Modes
Sound Effects for Menu and Taking a Still Picture
Samsung Logo Display on LCD (Optional and by default is turned off)
Various Special Effects Modes
Auto Battery Saver
Easy to use Buttons and Menu System
Lightweight without the Battery
Voice Memo Recording
Picture Announcement Recording Tags
Double Self-timer Functions
Can also playback AVI like a video player depends on the Size of the SD Card (2GB)
Note: There’s much more to list but you get the idea of what this camera can offer.
Installation
Since the A55W does come with a CD, you should install Camera USB driver for XP and Xivd codec to playback the MPEG-4 AVI on your PC. For those of you who don’t use Windows Media Player 9, 10 or higher, then you can download a freeware media player called Media Player Classic that doesn’t really need to be install and it can playback what your record on your A55W. Better performance, less system resources and memory usage.
Then there is the Digimax Viewer software that runs automatically when you attach the USB cable from A55W to the PC. Basically it’s a fancy program that does the same thing that you get from Windows XP Scanner/Camera features tools. I had installed the Digimax Viewer just to see what it does, I must say it’s not bad very functional. But I still use Windows XP Camera Tools instead for copying and deleting the pictures I had taken and AVI with A55W works just find for me.
One more program included is Photo Impressions Image Editing Program. Another fancy program to use to edit your images taken with the A55W and anything else you had already. It works nicely and not hard to learn the features and it play sound effects when you press certain buttons. You can also add text to your images if you want too.
Begin using Samsung A55W
To get the most out this digital camera you need to setup some recording schemes to try out. What I would recommend you do first is take some nighttime shots in a room. Try out the different settings and to see what works for you. Also take some Macro shots to see how what settings work for you. Try taking close-up shots of the face on your currency or words on pill boxes. This way you get the idea of how good this camera is. I’ve tested all types of objects and everything looks so sharp. There is a setting for sharpness but the default works the best, if you change it VIVD you might get to much grain in the picture.
Also there is a setting to have the Camera Shoot at shot at a time (Single) Continuous or AEB (Exposure Compensation Function & Auto Exposure Function)
Optional sound effect features can be use when you take a still picture the camera can play a sound effect of a snap shot, I use this feature just to let me know that the picture was taken. Just to let you know that the camera does not have an optical view finder, you’ll use the LCD screen instead it does have a box to line up images to the center. I find that out of all the digital cameras on the market that the Samsung A55W has better live action motion meaning the LCD can pickup live action video quicker.
You’ll mostly fine that the default settings mostly the AUTO mode is just fine for nighttime shots indoor. But when it comes to taking shots outside this is where I think the other reviewers had seen blurry pictures when using just the AUTO mode and slow shutter. In my test and a recent 7-day cruise I was able to try out all the settings on the Camera to get the best results.
This is what I did!
Outdoor Shooting
On the front of the Camera
Slide the button over to the right to turn on A55W
On the rear of the Camera
Press the [M} button on the camera on the rear near the LCD
Set the camera from Auto to Program Mode
Switch Up and Move to the Left or Right
Set the camera to Landscape Mode (faster shutter and no flash to charge)
Press the [(+) /-] and scroll down
Set the camera ISO to 100
Press the Menu OK button on the lower right side
Change the SIZE
Set the camera from 5M (2592x1944) to 4M (2272x1704) (this optional but I do this so I can view at 1024x768)
Note: The camera has no problem shooting at 5M that’s only if you need larger prints and since I don’t 4M is just fine for me!
Change the QUALITY
Set the camera to S.Fine (best setting) or FINE (which I use) there is a normal setting also which is the lowest.
Change the METERING
Set the camera to MULTI there is a SPOT mode also, but MULTI is better to use.
Change MYCAM
Set the camera to S.IMAGE (LOGO), SH.SOUND (SH.SOUND1), S.SOUND (SOUND2) this is optional you don't have to turn these on, but I do.
Everything else is set to the default mode, you can always change the settings to your own taste.
That’s it!
Picture Quality
Note: There’ll be a few samples of my Samsung A55W digital camera shots of my cruise posted on: http://www.picturetrail.com/tipstir
To show how well the camera as performed by just changing the shutter and ISO settings.
Picture quality has been excellent everyone that I’ve taken shots of have turned out very well. My main focus for getting this camera was for night shots and longer optical shooting. 3x just isn’t enough to me. 4.8X (5X) is much better and with 5X digital zoom giving me 24X is still not bad for a camera of this size and weight.
Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, well you're better off with NiMH rechargable batteries. I use Rayovac NiMH High Capacity 2000 mAh, and will be using 2500 mAh when it becomes available? I also kept and extra pack of 4 just in case. Tested with Rayovac 1600 was fair the 1800 was better but the 2000 mAh lasted the longest. Just make sure you start off with a fully charged battery for best results. Since the 2 AAs have to power the shutter, the 2.5 LCD and the flash.
Last Words
I’ve really enjoyed using my Samsung A55W during my vacation and for transferring the images quick and easy on my laptop. A55W was very dependable for taking over 400 shots including AVI MPEG-4 movies. Once you start using it you’ll soon see what I mean. Lightweight feature is a plus, the wide angle and longer zoom features are really needed today.
The camera was one of the best I can find with all the features I had needed like the 4.8X (5X) Optical Zoom, USB 2.0, large 2.5 LCD full playback motion, anti-shake in both digital stills, movie recording, 32MB SD built-in with an optional SD slot for more storage.
On-hand I had two SD Cards 256MB and 512MB. You get more images on the 512MB about 400+ of them including MPEG-4 video which I did fill up, then switched over to the 256MB as a backup until I was able to get back to the laptop to transfer over the still images and MPEG-4 movies. Next time it will be SD 1GB or 2GB for the A55W.
The last feature that was most important to me was the USB 2.0 PictBridge direct printing system which I’ll review more on when my review on HP Deskjet 5420 printer for photo printing.
So far everything is working and the pictures, and recording in sound are smooth plus the video and audio do sync up well! Try out the camera for yourself and see how easy and fun it is to use!
Update: I've finally got those Rayovac 2500 mAh 1.2V Rechargeable AA NHM Battery 4 Pack. So far so good. I must say they seem to be lasting better than the 2000 mAh. The 2500 mAh seems to last longer even after 100 pictures and 6 AVI Xvid that were taken. Charge is still strong.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 169.77 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
5.0-megapixel sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints 4.8x optical zoom, 5x digital zoom; 2.5-inch LCD screen MPEG4 30-fra...More at Amazon Marketplace
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