Samsung EC-WB350FBPBUS 16.3Digital Camera with 21x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3-Inch LCD (Black)
Samsung EC-WB350FBPBUS 16.3Digital Camera with 21x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3-Inch LCD (Black)
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- Share your best photos instantly with Family and Friends with Built-in Wi-Fi with NFC
- SMART features - Social Media Upload, E-mail, Photo beam, DirectLink, Mobile Link, PC Auto-backup, Remote Viewfinder, All Share
- 21x Optical Zoom for great shots up front or from a distance
- 1080p HD Video
- MicroSD (up to 2GB guaranteed), MicroSDHC (up to 32GB guaranteed), MicroSDXC (up to 64GB guaranteed) - Class 6 and above recommended
Brand : SAMSUNG
Category : Electronics,Camera & Photo,Digital Cameras,Point & Shoot Digital Cameras
Rating : 4.1
Review Count : 1256
Samsung EC-WB350FBPBUS 16.3Digital Camera with 21x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3-Inch LCD (Black)
- First thing first - ***UPGRADE YOUR FIRMWARE**** to the latest version Samsung has made some improvements to image quality. This review is based on the latest as of 01-14-2015. When I received the camera it needed the upgrade. Also make sure you use a fast microSD card so the image write times are reduced.Picture Quality - You need to remember that this is a small 2.3 back lit sensor. You cannot compare this to a full frame, or even crop sensor camera. But back to picture quality. I\'ve had many compact cameras, even the \"not-so-compact\" Canon SV-50 so comparing it to other cameras with a 2.3 CCD this camera was a surprise after reading some of the negative reviews. Low-Light is actually handled very well with little noise up to about 800 ISO. The pictures compare well with my SV50 for grain and color. Those \"pixel peepers\" who bash this cameras picture quality need to tell me where you are going to get a camera with better features and picture quality in this price range. This is a travel camera for times when I don\'t want to carry my Olympus M4:3 System with all it\'s lenses.Build Quality - there are some reviewers who said that this feels like a toy... Really?... This camera feels very solid it\'s actually a bit larger then I expected. Not huge, and still pocket-able (for guys with normal pants, tightpants need not apply here LOL). Buttons, screen, lens, flash, all feel well put together the camera has a bit of heft. The rubber thumb rest is a nice touch. It would have been nice if they carried that to the front of the body. However, since I camo cover all my cameras it wouldn\'t have mattered anyway. The selection dial on the top is in a strange place and I could see how it may get switched from moving the camera around in your hand (note: this has not happened to me yet but I just wanted to point that out, it\'s really not a deal breaker).Lens - I am still amazed that they are fitting lenses like this in such a small package. Of course this is only made possible by having a small sensor. the f2.8 to f5.9 is really nice plus Samsung claims a 3 to 4 stop advantage from the on board image stabilizer and I have no reason to doubt that claim. Pictures taken inside without flash and with a steady hand are clear and crisp even in low light. I actually think this camera performs better then my SV50 did in low light. Towards the end of the zoom the camera seems to get a bit softer but I am still testing all of that. When you are taking pictures with a 21x (86mm) zoom on a small body any slight movement will effect any type of camera. Learn to use your environment, lean on a tree, post, or sign to steady up. Or the best option use a tripod if the picture is more critical (read: family photo). Zoom speed is a bit slow but functional.Video Quality - is superb for this type of camera, the mic is mono but picks up well. It is prone to wind noise so you may want some type of wind block device. Some reviews pointed at a slow motion capture mode. I have not found this to be true but I am still searching to see if it is burried deep in the menus some where.Remote Viewer Software - I am an Android nut so I cannot speak for I-phone or I-anything. It worked each time I tried it. Pairing was fast and the mirror image on my phone is only slightly laggy. This feature will be used for family photos or anytime I need a remote. You can control the zoom, photo size, turn flash on and off (if it is deployed), and shutter release. This same software also allows you to download photos directly to your phone from the camera. You don\'t need to be in wireless coverage the camera sets up an ad-hock style network (which was important to me).WIFI apps and implementation - Wifi works but the interface is a bit clunky. From what I can tell there is no way to see the networks you have remembered in the camera. There is also little to no way to tell if the radio is even on or attached to a network. But it\'s does work and I had no problems attaching it to my home network. The dropbox process is very weird but it does work. You need to log in every time you want to share and it doesn\'t remember your login or password. Facebook app I have yet to get it working, every time I login the camera tells me that there was an error. Facebook then tell me there was a login attempt from an unknown browser. I have not tried the other apps and honestly it really doesn\'t matter to me since I would share almost everything through my phone or my PC. The apps don\'t matter to me (hence the 4 star review) however you will need to know that the implimentation is not very well done. If these options matter to you, then you should look at the galaxy camera (1 or 2) which runs android and has the same sensor and lens.Battery Life - I am still on the fence waiting until I have a few more charge cycles. ( I have a trip coming up the camera will get a good workout)SD Card - Yes THIS CAMERA TAKES A MICRO SD CARD. I don\'t see the big deal but for some people it may be a deal breaker. I\'ve already got a library of both microSD and full size SD cards so it\'s not a big deal for me.Software - I am not going to review all the filters and options available. I am more of a camera nerd and rarely use in camera effects but there are some cool creative options there to explore. The internal Facebook, Dropbox, and youtube integration is a bit clunky but does work.---SUMMARY---The Good - Great Image Quality for a small sensor camera, f2.8 in a small camera lens, Great zoom range, image stabilization works well, build quality is great, Lots of filters and in-camera features, Video quality is greatThe Bad - WIFI and app implementation is very clunky but works
- ADDED Info: Because someone posted a question on this, I thought I would mention that this camera works fine with a 128GB Sandisk Ultra Micro SDXC card and reports space for 160,227 1MP images or 20.00 hours of 720p HD video.UPDATE regarding screen glare: I have found some ideas regarding dealing with screen glare. There are some magnified LCD extender viewfinders out there that basically allow you to use a screen only camera as if it had a viewfinder. Most are specific to some Canon DSLR models. I have ordered an inexpensive one to try out and perhaps modify. If I have any luck I will report back here. A simple and free solution that works reasonably well is to grab one of those corrugated cardboard sleeves they have at coffee shops to keep you from burning your hand. It is easy to hold the big end up against the LCD and look through the smaller end. It is not perfect, but if you have on a cap or wide-brimmed hat you can actually see the screen quite well. I try to keep the top flat by extending my index finger to seal off light entering from above. With a couple of minutes fooling with it you can figure out how best to hold it for your purposes. An added benefit is that it folds flat so you can just carry it in your pocket and whip it out when you need it. Nothing bulky to attach. Something a little longer would work even better as long as it is dark colored and probably best not glossy inside. Maybe just make a tapered cardboard tube. Just some thoughts.UPDATE: I have had a lot of experience with this camera in the last few weeks, including the last few days in Yellowstone. I am even more impressed with it than I was initially. There is not a whole lot to say except that it takes great photos and videos, including full HD video of Old Faithful erupting yesterday. I have also taken some very good images of distant wildlife at extreme zoom.The direct wifi feature works very well. It is very handy for transferring photos directly from the camera to my phone if I need to. I usually still use a direct USB connection if available, but the wifi has come in handy.I have come up with one con while using the camera at Yellowstone, but it is something common to all point and shoots. Trying to find and zoom in on a scene in bright sunlight is difficult to nearly impossible. I have a Canon SX50 which also has an electronic viewfinder. Having a viewfinder is very useful for difficult situations. I originally intended to bring both cameras, using the SX50 for the heavy work and the WB350F for pocketability. At the last minute I decided to take only the WB350F. It has been fantastic for 98-99% of what I needed, but when trying to find and zoom in on some distant wildlife in bright sunlight it has been a challenge. Please do not let this deter you from buying this camera. I have been able to use it for those shots, but the viewfinder would certainly have made it easier. Cameras with viewfinders are twice as expensive and usually much larger and heavier. You will not put one in your pocket.ORIGINAL REVIEW:This will be preliminary review since I just received the WB350F a couple of days ago. My main purpose here is to alert buyers that this camera uses micro SD. So if you need to buy media with the camera, don\'t buy full-size SD. I do not consider this an issue, but it might save someone the inconvenience of having to return a card and await replacement. The product description does not mention this so I assumed it used full size SD like the WB250F. This was not an issue for me because I had high capacity cards of both sizes anyway.I have a very nice Canon SX50 that I love for trips or other situations where I know I will be taking a lot of pictures, like a planned trip to Yellowstone, and will need the mega-zoom. There are a lot of more casual situations like trips to the playground with grandkids, day trips, birthday parties, etc., where it is nice to have something you can slip in your pocket just in case. I still wanted something with a decent amount of zoom. To me, the WB350F is a great combination of small size, plenty of zoom, and a decent price. I have a tiny Fuji camera, but it always felt too small in my large hands.The menu system is similar to most digital cameras. I was able to find all the settings I needed without using the manual. The hybrid system is pretty neat. You can navigate with the usual menu buttons or touch things on the screen. It is kind of handy. Once you get to a screens using the familiar buttons and get several selections on the screen, instead of moving to your choice with the buttons, you can just tap the one you want with your finger. At first I thought I would probably not use the touch screen, but I guess using smart phones and tablets all these years has me in the habit.The WB350F seems to create very good images. I confess that I am not overly picky. A crisp, clear image with good color is fine. Don\'t get me wrong. I do want quality images, but I don\'t pull out instruments and magnifiers to critique every shot. I am just more interested in the memories.
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