Review: Samsung ST700

The Samsung ST700 camera offers 16.1MP photos and five times optical zoom. It's a compact camera with great additional features that make it perfect for amateur photographers.

The ST700 has a lovely sleek design. When not in use, the lens is almost flush with the surface, which makes the camera easy to store. It also fits comfortably in most trouser pockets. In addition, the camera's USB and HDMI ports tuck away neatly.

The ST700 is fairly easy to use, with auto settings for focus, aperture and shutter speed. The capture button and the power button can be easily distinguished. The capture button can also be rotated to zoom in and out when taking photos.

Tapping on the display when in camera mode brings up a menu, where the user can easily customise settings.

It also has a wide-angle feature, which gives the equivalent of 26mm. This is significantly wider than most point-and-shoot cameras. With the hi-res 16.1MP images, this wide-angle mode renders great landscape shots, perfect for showing off one's travel and holiday destinations.

The camera also features image stabilisation technology, which makes it easier to keep people in focus when taking quick snaps.

The camera comes with a wide range of special effects, filters, advanced shooting modes and Photoshop-like editing all built into the camera.

The ST700 comes with some great apps, including filters and frames. Filters like vignetting and 'old film' add a great touch to otherwise ordinary photos. There is also a negative filter, which adds an interesting perspective to everyday scenes.

The frame option lets users see how the photo will be positioned in the frame before they capture it. I found this really useful, especially when selecting possible frames for photos I wanted to take.

The photo editor application lets users edit their photos on the camera. There is also a dedicated 'Beauty Shot' application, which stops skin blemishes from showing up in photos.

Thanks to the front display, users can take photos of themselves without cutting off their foreheads. The display also shows cartoons when the 'Children' app is activated, which makes it easier to keep children smiling and inside the frame.

While using these features is certainly fun and practically eliminates the need for passing the files through a computer and a photo editor before heading off to the printers, the extra processing certainly slows the camera down. While any of the advanced modes are active, users won't be snapping off multiple shots of high-speed action, as each special filter or frame needs at least a second or two to process.

The ST700 comes with a mini USB port as well as an HDMI port. A USB cable and a two-point plug adaptor are included with the camera. I found the battery life adequate; the camera can easily hold out through a full day's heavy use.

Samsung's ST700 is a great camera. I have not been this excited about a point-and-shoot camera for a long time. It is easy to use and the filters and photo editor give a professional touch to photos.