Samsung ST5000

Samsung ST5000, not yet in the big league…

The Korean manufacturer, still young in the world of compact, fails to compete with the best.

This compact, wide-angle and HD design is both stylish design and complete. But its performance is far below the competition.

The expectations before test

In this case extra fine of only 2 cm, the Korean stowed everything expertise, not only in electronics but also in terms of ergonomics. For proof, touchscreen AMOLED, new generation, 9 inches diagonally, which is controlled not only the finger, but also the inclination. With the same intuitiveness like iPhone / iPod Touch but photo quality is well? Samsung is the challenge, but after ten days camera in hand, the ST5000 does not convince us.

The reality

In the photography world, Samsung has not the legitimacy of historical actors such as Canon and Nikon or Sony and Panasonic, which were very advanced in terms of quality. This is why the famous electronics plays on arguments sometimes unexpected. Thus the only devices to offer both touch screen and AMOLED, equipped, more importantly, accelerometers.

Cool effects

The gain, there is: better visibility in the sun, even if reflections still exist, and a wider field of vision and comfort. Furthermore, the touch interface from Samsung is by far the most successful and most reactive of all that has been given recently to test before the Nikon S4000, and far ahead Kodak Slice. Often disabling the use, the touch becomes, the ST5000, rather pleasant to handle, even if the gadget is still more likely than the revolution photo.

Navigating the menus is certainly reveals very fluid and intuitive, and the transition from one mode of shooting another, simple and convenient. However, the integration of accelerometers to change modes just by tilting the box is really a gadget, disconcerting at first, awkward in public, and not really necessary. The menus are worth especially for the integrated photo editor, and its many functions. Our heart is going to blow optical effects to create an impression of the miniature model, with very specific lines and background blur, vignetting effect with dark corners, so vintage photo or image distortion in the manner ultra-wide angle, that is to say, by rounding the center, as through the eyecup of a door, always funny.

Zoom disappointing

On the photos themselves, unfortunately, Samsung lags behind real train against the best current compact. Nothing to say about his shots outside and sunny, which are crisp. Instead, go indoors without flash, even in daylight, and here the picture becomes fuzzy, thick and rough grain, tints poorly calibrated.
X7 zoom is also poorly stabilized. In the terrible conditions of a concert from the top of the bleachers, he offered made the most mediocre of five aircraft that we tested. Almost as vague and meaningless, his pictures are coming as far behind the Canon PowerShot 210 IS zoom x14 stable, far behind the Sony HX5 If the sensor light, and behind the versatile Panasonic TZ10. The price difference is not huge, however: € 50 at most, only 10 € with the Canon.

The video, rather ok

The ST5000 is catching up somewhat on the HD video function. Without rival TZ8 and TZ10, remaining models in terms of flow and quality, it shoots smoothly most of the scenes, vague nuisance on the faces in focus. However, beware of the sound chaotic: the microphone is located under the camera, he is very tempting to butcher with his thumb without noticing. It would have been easier to put it more clearly …

A housing box

Finally, note that the finish of the cabinet is weak, the fault to a plastic coating very “cheap”, and connectivity annoying. No SD card, in effect, but mini-SD cards, although less widespread and less practical to read his files on a PC. The USB cable is for its owner, it is better not to lose it.

The test and review conclusions

The ST5000 is a camera catastrophic, far from it, but in its price range, we found much better, as the WX1 Sony. Indeed, the quality of its touch screen and its many publishing the same box is not enough to make up for poor quality pictures and a video mode, but the sound tricky. Moreover, the finish does not help the basic balance to fall from the best side.