Korean Job Discussion Forums

SpedEd · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Location: ROK

Hello people:

I'm in the market for a mid-range digital camera (something with 5 MP). There is a neat Samsung factory outlet in Namgu district that carries Samsung cameras, but I 'm wary of buying one for w300,000 - w500,000 when I don't know a lick about Samsung as a camera maker. I know they make good TVs, but what about digital cameras? What brand would some of you recommend?

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I'm not sure about brand but these are the features I look for:

1) Size. Smaller the better. If it's too big, you don't keep the camera handy, and you'll take less pictures.

2) Optical zoom. 3x optical zoom is a good minimum.

3) Movies with sound.

4) Memory.

5) Megapixels.

Unless you're a professional photog and you want to make a lot of high quality prints, you don't need many mega pixels. My camera set on 1 mega pixel does just fine for sharing photos over the net.

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

I didn't hear anything good about Samsung cameras..

I would stick to Canon and Sony..

I have a Sony T5 its a great little Camera.

The folowing link is for digital camera reviews. You should check it out.

www.steves-digicams.com

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

I find that a lot of people go for the highest number of mega-pixels, and then complain because the files they get are too big and have to be reduced.

Unless you're going to make prints bigger than A4 paper, you probably won't need any more than 4 mega-pixels (IMO).

Here's an interesting article about a professional photog who uses the kind of camera you're in the market for

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-6468-7844

I like the Canon Sureshot too.

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

I've read the CCD and the lens on Samsung cameras are generally lower quality than the more mainstream brands such as Canon and Nikon. Dont discount Panasonic either, they use Leica lenses which are good too.

I'd give Samsung a wide berth, but dont tell any koreans!

gdimension · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Location: Jeju

A website that I found very helpful when purchasing my last 2 cameras: http://www.dpreview.com/

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

Samsung's newest models are good. They're putting tons of money into their camera and research development because they have a long-term plan of being a top 3 camera manufacturer.

I have a samsung #1 ultra thin that is a great camera. I did get a wicked deal through a friend that's a samsung engineer but I would recommend it. I did my research and in the ultra thin cameras it's generally considered to be a better camera than the sony t5.

kimchikowboy · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

Samsung now has phones with 5 megapixels. LG just introduced one, too. Combine two purchases!

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

SpedEd · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Location: ROK

I think the links some of you posted are better than good! Thanks for the feedback Smile

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

Would I buy a Samsung camera? Never.

For point and shoots Id go with Canon, Sony or Olympus.

I know Samsung is trying to get into the camera biz and they will be coming out with a DSLR. Interestingly, I was able to spend a couple hours with the photo editor of one of Korea's digital photography magazines and he was testing the Samsung camera. Reaction? Not favorable.

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

it just depends on what you want it for and how serious you are about your photography.

I don't want to carry a bulky dslr around to parties and stuff too. I'm not a serious photographer and never plan to be one. I hate people who buy ultra expensive dslr's when they in no need ever need what they buy.

I have an ultra-slim that I can always put in my pocket. I'm learning more about photography and I might eventually buy a dslr but....why buy something I don't need?