Samsung NV40 Digital Camera Review

Samsung NV40

Digital Camera Review

2.3 The Samsung NV40 is a compact point-and-shoot that impressed us with good results in our image quality tests, especially white balance, resolution, noise levels and dynamic range. It has a very capable automatic mode, 3x optical zoom, and both optical and digital image stabilization. The excellent results from this camera were marred by a difficult-to-use control system, which is a major hurdle for new users. To find out just how well the NV40 performed, read the complete review.
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Samsung NV40

Picture Quality / Size Options (9.33)
The NV40 shoots primarily at 4:3 ratio, the same as most point-and-shoot cameras, but offers 3:2 and 16:9 ratio settings for two image sizes, the latter of which is designed for widescreen televisions. The highest megapixel count setting is 10 megapixel, 3648 x 2736, which would print a 12" x 9" photo at 300 ppi. Unusually, the NV40 doesn't offer VGA size shooting (640 x 480), a useful size for sending small email snapshots.

Image Size
Resolution
Image Ratio
10
3648 x 2736 4:3
9
3648 x 2432 3:2
7
3072 x 2304 4:3
7
3648 x 2056 16:9
5
2592 x 1944 4:3
3
2048 x 1536 4:3
1
1024 x 768 4:3

The camera doesn’t offer RAW formatted pictures, and can only shoot JPEGs. The NV40 has normal, fine and super-fine compression.

Picture Effects Mode (7.75)
The majority of the picture effects for the Samsung NV40 are based around shifting the color of the image. To start with, the secondary control dial on the top of the body controls the Photo Style, which alters the color settings of your photo. First there's Classic (black and white), then Calm, Cool, Retro, Forest, Vivid and Soft. Unfortunately, none of these is ever explained in the manual except in obtuse phrasing such as "Vivid style is applied".

 

 A number of more intense color adjustments are accessible through the menu system while shooting. These are Black & White, Sepia, Blue, Red, Green and Negative. The contrast and saturation can also be adjusted through the menu. Finally, Sharpening can be set to Soft, Soft +, Vivid or Vivid +.

The color effects listed above are also available in Playback mode as are saturation and contrast adjustments, with additional controls for brightness, and Red Eye Fix as well as ACB (auto contrast balance), which attempts to fix images that are overly backlit. There are basic editing controls as well, such as rotation and resizing, and some more color effects. These additional color effects are in a Special Color menu, and are Add Noise, Elegant, Shaded and Color Filter. The nature of these effects is covered in more detail in the Playback section of this review.

Control Options Page 8 of 13 Connectivity / Extras Samsung NV40 Digital Camera Review Navigation

   
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