New Digicams Have LCDs Front and Back

CreativePro Staff

Samsung Digital Imaging announced the ultra-slim ST550/TL225 and ST550/TL220 compact cameras. The hidden 1.5” LCD located on the front of the camera lets you take accurate portraits using the front image as a guide – whether it’s a group shot with friends or a snap of yourself on holiday. There is no need to even press the shutter button –- a big smile will trigger the cameras to take the picture.
On the reverse, the Samsung ST550/TL225 features the world’s highest resolution 3.5” wide touch screen LCD, almost four times the size of many other cameras, complete with haptic feedback for ease of use.
Complementing this, the 12.2 megapixel cameras also use the perfect combination of a 27mm wide angle Schneider KREUZNACH lens with 4.6x optical zoom. This gives the photographer a wider shooting range from a shorter distance, producing clear, clean images with even resolution from the centre of the picture right to the edges.
The ST550/TL220 is available in silver, red and blue; the ST550/TL225 is available in black, gold, orange and purple colours. All will be available in September 2009. The ST550/TL225 will cost $349.99, and the ST550/TL220 will be $299.99.

Smart Gesture User Interface (UI)
Showcasing further innovations, a Smart Gesture User Interface (UI) with built-in orientation sensor, means a simple tap or hand gesture allows users to access key features quickly. A simple tap can also turn the front LCD on instantly, ready to take the perfect self portrait photo.
One touch shooting and Auto-Focus
Sometimes the focal point of your picture is not always in the centre of the frame. The ST550/TL225 and ST550/TL220 ’s One Touch Auto Focus feature allows you to focus on a different part of the shot by simply touching the desired area. Once you’ve selected the focal point, you can simply leave your finger on the screen for two seconds or push the shutter button to take the picture.
Smart Auto (Scene Recognition)
Take professional-looking photos with Samsung’s advanced Smart Auto feature so you never have to worry about your photos being washed out, too dark or out of focus. Smart Auto analyses key elements of your composition such as colour, brightness, motion and subject and then automatically adjusts to take the perfect shot.
Smart Face Recognition
Samsung’s innovative Smart Face Recognition technology actually remembers faces it sees frequently and then prioritises them when focussing and exposing future shots. It can store up to 20 recognised faces in the cameras’ internal memory and allows users to search for their favourite faces in playback. This can be done quickly by using the ‘Face’ search in Smart Album, instead of viewing every single photo on the memory card.
In “Blink Detection Mode” the camera will take a series of shots when closed eyes are detected so everyone is captured with their eyes open; in “Smile Mode” a picture is automatically taken when smiles are detected and, in “Beauty Shot” mode, facial skin is retouched to three different user defined levels for brighter and smoother skin tones.
HD Movie Recording
The ST550/TL220 and ST550/TL225 record HD video in 1280x720p resolution at 30 frames per second in H.264 format. This format allows more than twice as much recording capacity as the MP4 format, so gives you more room on your memory card for images and movies. The ST550/TL225 also features HDMI connectivity via an optional adapter, so you can see your HD video creations in glorious HD on an HD TV.
Dual Image Stabilization/Perfect Self Portrait & Perfect Self Timer
Samsung’s Dual Image Stabilization technology combines advanced Digital and Optical image stabilization to ensure outstanding photos without blur – even in low light conditions. Couple this with the new front facing LCD screen and Samsung’s Perfect Self Portrait & Perfect Self Timer functions, and taking professional looking pictures of yourself and others is easy.