Samsung PL50

I was looking for a compact camera for my daughter, one which I wouldn't be THAT bothered if it was dropped on a school trip, or lost down the back of the wardrobe - so this meant that I was looking for "cheap".
Of course, as in most things, you get what you pay for, so I wasn't going to go for too cheap, you can get a digital camera for £30, but you just wouldn't.
So I was hoping to find something around the £70 mark, which ...
...thrown in.

Sony's are really to be given a wide berth - they take memory sticks which prove non too cheap - and for the extra outlay, you might as well get a better camera to begin with.

Fuji are cheap and plentiful, but....well, I've had a lot of experience with Fuji, and every single time I've been very disappointed with the shoddy design, and frankly unacceptable picture quality. A "test drive" of a budget one ... more

I was looking for a compact camera for my daughter, one which I wouldn't be THAT bothered if it was dropped on a school trip, or lost down the back of the wardrobe - so this meant that I was looking for "cheap".
Of course, as in most things, you get what you pay for, so I wasn't going to go for too cheap, you can get a digital camera for £30, but you just wouldn't.
So I was hoping to find something around the £70 mark, which really left offerings from Fuji, or Samsung, with perhaps Sony thrown in.

Sony's are really to be given a wide berth - they take memory sticks which prove non too cheap - and for the extra outlay, you might as well get a better camera to begin with.

Fuji are cheap and plentiful, but....well, I've had a lot of experience with Fuji, and every single time I've been very disappointed with the shoddy design, and frankly unacceptable picture quality. A "test drive" of a budget one at Jessops proved my fears (And if you could pay a higher price, you'd get a Canon or Panasonic, you certainly wouldn't get a Fuji!).

So upon walking into a certain electrical store, I was at first apprehensive when recommended a Samsung. Isn't this after all the camera which they say isn't the best, gives doubtful picture quality etc?

Well, I was greatly surprised. The camera for a start had the look of a classic compact - they all look somewhat similar nowadays. Quite attractive really, some good easy to use controls on the back, and best of all, a very large lcd screen. So far so good.

Of course, the main question is - does it take good photos. Well, this one certainly doesn't let us down. A quick test, and firstly the colour reproduction is spot on - I couldn't tell any difference between the photo and the colourful poster I photographed. Similarly some pics of people were very sharp and very good indeed.

Granted, they were good - but not exceptional. However, it's a budget camera - if anyone wants to get a better camera - they get a Canon, and pay possibly double the cost, but the quality is ramped up.
This however, I'm almost surprised to say, the quality isn't far off a compact cheaper Canon.
Compared to the other camera for the same price - a Kodak, this was evidently and immediately superior.

The minus sides - well there are as has already been said by another reviewer, some quite silly "useless" features. Hey - you can take good pictures on auto mode - why on earth include these other sometimes ropey features!

Another minus side, if you zoom into a picture you've taken, for a 10mp camera, it's surprisingly soon that you encounter grain and artifacts. Having said this, you have to REALLY zoom in.

A good feature - there's a built in memory, which won't take many pictures - two if you're lucky - but it's a good stopgap if you just happen to fill your memory card.

So to summarise, I'd give this 9.5/10. It's got good looks, it feels good, it has a huge lcd display, there are some interesting modes to play with (As well as some frankly useless modes you should just ignore and pretend they aren't there)

If this was more expensive, it wouldn't get 9.5/10. For the price though (£89), it's got to be up there for consideration, and possibly one of the best sub £100 cameras.
It's a great point and shoot, and with it's facial recognition, low cost, great pictures - this is possibly the ideal "party going out" camera.

For an upgrade camera, or for someone wanting to be experimental, then it isn't for you - it's purely one for the point and shoot snapshot brigade - and why not, it does a stirling job.

Are there better out there for the price? There probably are.
 

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