Likes

- Screen is bright and sharp - Plenty of manual controls - ISO settings are easily accessible on camera body - Image stabilization active in movie mode - Controls are logically laid out and easy to use

Dislikes

- Screen is not as big as some other cameras: it’s not big enough to show photos to a group - No multipoint AF mode - Offers TIFF instead of RAW

Conclusion
The V800 packs a lot of features into its small case: it provides a high level of manual control, plus image stabilization that works effectively in still and movie mode, the latter of which is very usable mode for capturing video. It shoots high resolution images and would be a good choice for the shooter who wants the simplicity of a point-and-shoot in a small package, but with the ability to dip into manual control occasionally.

But is it too good to be true? Conditions at CES aren’t the best for serious testing, and Samsung does not yet have solid street credit as a big camera manufacturer in some circles. So far, it looks like they’re heading in the right direction, but only testing will tell if Samsung has seriously thrown down the gauntlet with this year’s offerings.