Hasta La Gadget!

In these economically challenging times, we are forced to be more creative with the way we spend our money – getting the most bang for our hard-earned buck is always on the top of most people’s agendas. I guess this is why reviews on consumer electronics goods are so important, especially when they come from an unbiased and honest source so that the general masses know what one can expect. The Samsung EX2F that was announced in July earlier this year is now available for purchase, so to jog your memory, here are what the EX2F offers right out of the box.

Retailing for $499.99 a pop, it is a step up from the mass consumer point-and-shoot cameras, offering a bright f/1.4 24mm wide-angle lens for premium image quality and performance, carrying full manual controls, being able to shoot in dim atmospheres with a 1/1.7-inch 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, sport Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, a Dual Dial and front wheel key setup for one to quickly and easily adjust exposure for effortless manual control, as well as a compact and lightweight body.

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By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Samsung MV900F camera now available for purchase, Samsung EX2F camera price and release date announced,

Announced in the US early July, the Samsung’s new compact camera, the EX2F, is finally available in Korea as well! The EX2F comes with a nice 12.4” Mpix 1/1.7” BSI (Back Side Illuminated) CMOS sensor capable to reach up to ISO 12,800 and fitted with a nice f/1.4-2.7, 24-79mm lens. The EX2F also comes with with a 3” AMLOED VGA display and a nice Full HD 1080/30p video mode.
The EX2F comes with comes with Samsung’s “Remote Viewfinder” function that give you the possibility to stream your camera …

So we have smart cars as well as smart phones (and in some instances, smart windows as well on select buildings!), but how about a smart camera? Seriously, cameras could not come any more smarter than they already are at this point in time, don’t you think so? After all, how difficult is it to point and shoot at a particular subject, and with the kind of lenses and modern day performance, you know for sure whatever your DSLR or Micro Four Thirds shooter picks up, it is going to be the bomb.

Well, Samsung intends to improve on the digital camera front with their latest smart camera known as the Samsung EX2F, where their latest model is said to be the world’s brightest compact camera lens with F1.4 aperture, and will also be part of its growing collection of Wi-Fi-enabled Smart Cameras. It will continue where the Samsung EX1 with F1.8 lens left off, where this new model was specially engineered to deliver super-bright photography.

What stands out in particular would be its F1.4 lens that clearly makes this the brightest in any compact camera. Not only that, you can also store and share images remotely using Wi-Fi connectivity. Those who are more serious and are thinking about taking the next step can always check out the Full Manual Controls which is featured in a strong but lightweight body. DLSR owners who want something more portable to shoot images at impromptu moments would definitely want to consider getting the Samsung EX2F as part of their stable of extra devices.

Other hardware specifications include the ability to capture 1080/30p movies in Full HD quality complete with stereo sound, so that you are able to enjoy playback later on a Full HDTV. The EX2F will also snap 12-megapixel stills while shooting video simultaneously, where this is made possible thanks to the Dual Capture feature, making sure you will no longer lose a single precious moment down the road. There is also a 3.0” Swivel AMOLED display that helps you line out great looking shots, while all your captured photos can be stored on its SDXC/SDHC memory card slot.

Press Release

[ Samsung EX2F Smart Camera copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

We’ve been generally unimpressed with the latest round of basic point-and-shoots, including those from Samsung’s mid-range Smart series, but we do tend to take heed whenever a manufacturer opts to focus on optics rather than bumping up the megapixel count to boost sticker appeal. Compared to sub-$200 shooters, there’s a fairly limited market for $549 pocketable models — a price point that often prompts would-be owners to dig beyond superficial specs in search of full manual control, solid high-ISO performance, fast focusing and a lens that enables both low-light shooting and shallow depth of field. Samsung’s EX2F appears to fit the bill, offering a 12.4-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, a top extended ISO setting of 12,800, a 3-inch VGA-res AMOLED display and — the crown jewel — an f/1.4-2.7, 24-79mm lens. That optic delivers an additional one 2/3 stop of sensitivity over the EX2F’s predecessor, the two-year-old TL500. Other advantages include a lighter magnesium alloy body, an NX power pin-enabled hot shoe for adding an external mic or flash, and a new micro-USB trigger cable.

Though the EX2F was noticeably lighter than the 2010 model during our hands-on, it retains much of the TL500’s heft — at least from a size perspective. The camera’s footprint makes it too bulky to slip in a pocket, as we were able to do with the Sony RX100, though the flip-out AMOLED display is certainly a welcome addition. An NX-like smart UI mode enables instant access to key settings, as do the dual control dials, which let you adjust shooting modes (on the right) and capture speed (on the left). There’s also a new in-camera HDR mode which merges two back-to-back shots (one underexposed and the other overexposed) in order to retain additional shadow and highlight detail. The camera was quite responsive during a quick shoot earlier today, powering on, focusing and capturing an image quickly. We’ll need to spend much more time snapping outside of an office environment before passing any formal judgement, but it’s easy to see the appeal of such of device — and the advantage over less-abled point-and-shoots. For now, you can take a closer look in the gallery below, and in our hands-on demonstration after the break.

Continue reading Samsung EX2F point-and-shoot with f/1.4 lens hands-on (video)

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Samsung EX2F point-and-shoot with f/1.4 lens hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung’s been flaunting its WiFi-equipped Smart cameras throughout the last year, but with a generally significant tradeoff in image quality, we haven’t been terribly impressed. The EX2F, however, is a model we’re finally eager to get our hands on. This 12.4-megapixel CMOS shooter packs an f/1.4-2.7 lens — quite a feat for any point-and-shoot — along with a full-size hot shoe, dual image stabilization, a top ISO setting of 12,800 (extended), a 24-79mm 3.3x lens and a 3-inch swivel VGA-resolution AMOLED display. That’s in addition to the full manual shooting mode, RAW option, 1080/30p HD video capture and the standard plethora of WiFi options, including Remote Viewfinder and Auto Backup. Accessory add-ons include an optical viewfinder, external mic and a secondary flash (a smaller pop-up model is built-in, and retracts when not in use). There’s no hint of pricing or availability, but with that industry-leading f/1.4 lens, pro-level features and AMOLED display, we’re certain that the EX2F won’t come cheap. Full PR is after the break.

Update: It appears that the EX2F includes a 1/1.7-inch sensor, compared to the significantly larger 1-inch sensor on the Sony RX100. Samsung has also confirmed that the camera will be priced at $549, and is scheduled to hit stores in August.

Continue reading Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549

Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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