By Ian Burley
2nd October - 2001
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Samsung has announced a couple of pretty affordable new digicams with the unashamed intent of tempting Christmas shoppers this year. The two models include the Digimax 200, priced £229 and the Digimax 130, priced £189.
As their names imply, the 200 and 130 models have 2 megapixel (MP) and 1.3MP resolution sensors. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again - if you are choosing between a 2MP and a 1.3MP camera - we feel a 2MP version will almost certainly be worth paying more for, even if your budget is tight.
You might be forgiven for thinking that the pair were similar apart from their picture taking resolution. However, they are different in many ways. The Digimax 130 has, like HP’s new Photosmart 318 and 612 models (click here) and certain Kodak DX models, 8MB of fixed internal memory as well as a slot for external Compact Flash cards. The Digimax 200, on the other hand, has no internal memory and takes SmartMedia cards.
Both do have non-zoom lenses supplemented by so-called digital zooms, though the Digimax 200 benefits from true autofocus while the 130 has a ‘pan’ focus lens - fixed focus in other words.
Another curiosity is that the more advanced 200 model only needs a pair of AA batteries while the 130 needs four. Software for connecting to either Mac or Windows computers via USB is supplied.
Enthusiasts might not get too excited by these two, but at DPN we’re happy as Samsung are joining others in making digital photography accessible to more people by steadily reducing camera prices.
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DPN News service
www.dp-now.com
