The Samsung WB5000 is a new compact camera with a 26mm wide angle lens and 24x optical zoom. The WB5000 (also known as the HZ25W) offers RAW shooting, aperture priority, shutter priority and two User defined Modes as well as full manual shooting modes. The 12.5 mega pixel WB5000 records HD video in 1280x720p resolution at 30 frames per second using the latest H.264 format. The Samsung WB5000 will be available in the UK from September 2009, pricing to be announced. In the US the Samsung HZ25W will be available in October for $399.99.

Samsung UK Press Release

Samsung Gets You Much Closer To The Action With The New WB5000 Compact Camera

1st September 2009 Samsung Digital Imaging, leaders in innovation and digital technology, today announced the launch of the WB5000 – a camera which offers photography enthusiasts an unrivalled Schneider-KREUZNACH 26mm wide angle lens and 24x optical zoom, all within a compact camera.

The WB5000’s powerful zoom lens breaks new ground in offering users unmatched wide angle versatility, with the chance to take pictures much more closely than ever before. This cements Samsung’s position in the growing and important High-zoom category - compact cameras equipped with the sort of advanced zoom lens technology traditionally seen only in SLR cameras. Combine that with full manual control and taking professional looking shots is easy and fun. 

Full Manual Control and RAW Shooting
For the more advanced user who prefers to have more control over camera settings, the WB5000 offers aperture priority, shutter priority and two “User defined Modes” as well as full manual shooting modes. The ability to manually focus the lens and shoot in RAW format for maximum detail will also be a welcome addition for the budding enthusiast.

Dual Image Stabilization
The WB5000 combines Optical and Digital Image Stabilization into a Dual Image Stabilization function, providing fantastic quality photos without any blur from handshake - even in low light conditions.

HD Movie Experience
The 12.5 mega pixel WB5000 records HD video in 1280x720p resolution at 30 frames per second using the latest 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. With a dedicated movie button to allow an instant switch into movie mode, you’ll never miss a movie opportunity again.

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.

Smart Auto and Smart Album
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.

This advanced compact camera also features the ‘Smart Album’ Digital Contents Management system; a contents management program within the camera that makes it quick and easy to store and manage your photo collection. The clever navigation program automatically organizes photos based on the date they were taken, their contents, colour or themes making it quick and easy to locate your favourite images. 

The WB5000 will be available from leading high street and online retailers from September 2009. All Samsung cameras include a one year warranty. Customers requiring further information should call 0845 726 7864 or visit samsungcamera.co.uk.

Samsung Electronics America Press Release

SAMSUNG GOES LONG WITH NEW 24x OPTICAL ZOOM HZ25W

Samsung HZ25W Impresses With 24x Mega-Zoom, Full Manual Control and RAW Support

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – September 3, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today unveiled the HZ25W, a 12.5 mega-pixel point-and-shoot outfitted with the most powerful lens ever offered on a Samsung compact digital camera.  Joining the company’s advanced HZ Series, the HZ25W’s high-performance Schneider-KREUZNACH lens offers an impressive 24x optical zoom with a 26mm wide-angle focal length (35mm film equivalent focal range of 26mm-624mm), which can be used for shooting high-quality digital still images as well as recording 720p HD video in H.264 format.

“Photographers of all skill levels are going to be drawn to the HZ25W’s features,” said Reid Sullivan, senior vice president of audio/video and digital imaging marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “The versatility of the lens gives any user, whether you’re a soccer mom on the sidelines or an enthusiast looking to create a stunning image, the ability to be prepared for just about any shooting scenario.  Serious shooters will gravitate toward the HZ25W’s aperture and shutter priority modes as well as full manual control and RAW support. For the entry-level shooter, Samsung’s Smart Auto takes simplicity to a new level, ensuring a great shot every time without having to be concerned about camera settings.”

The HZ25W puts high-definition video recording in the palm of users’ hands. The camera can record 720p HD video using H.264 compression, an advanced codec that allows users to record video for longer periods of time. For added versatility, users can zoom in and out while recording video, taking full advantage of both the camera’s 26mm wide-angle focal length and 24x optical zoom.

The HZ25W’s 24x optical zoom, 26mm wide?angle lens is supported by Samsung’s Dual Image Stabilization, which combines both optical and digital stabilization to help reduce blur, especially when using the lens at its maximum zoom.  The HZ25W also provides aperture and shutter priority and a full manual shooting mode for those users looking to exercise more control over camera settings.  Additional manual controls include the ability to customize white balance settings from a temperature range of 3,000K to 10,000K as well as manual focusing. Users have the option to shoot in RAW (DNG1.1), JPEGs, or both right on the camera.

Users can frame their images using the HZ25W’s color electronic viewfinder (EVF) or three-inch LCD screen, which also grants access to the camera’s user interface. The HZ25W also features an easy-to-use Smart dial, which provides effortless navigation through the camera’s menu and simplifies the way users select various settings and review their images.

The new HZ25W also incorporates Samsung’s latest suite of intuitive and smart technologies which simplify how users take and view their photos, including Smart Auto. An advanced shooting mode which analyzes the current environment, Smart Auto will automatically choose from one of 11 optimized settings to produce the best possible image. After pictures are taken, users can easily search for a specific image they have saved on their memory card using the HZ25W’s Smart Album feature. Smart Album automatically organizes the user’s digital images and gives them the ability to narrow their search based on specific criteria such as the date or week the image was taken, the overall color tone, portraits or specific file types, including photos, videos, or voice memos.

Samsung’s Perfect Portrait System, which includes Face Recognition, Face Detection, Smile Shot, Blink Detection and Samsung’s Beauty Shot, can also be found on the HZ25W.  One of the most advanced on the market, Samsung’s Face Recognition technology automatically stores up to 20 preferred faces to the cameras’ internal memory. While taking a portrait, the HZ25W will automatically recognize if one of the user’s 20 preferred faces is in the frame and identify them as a priority for focus and exposure. Users can also save time sorting through their photos and instead search for photos that contain a specific face.

Mega-Pixels
12.5 mega-pixels

Optical Zoom
24x Optical Zoom / 26mm Wide-Angle Lens

Lens
Schneider-KREUZNACH

Focal Length : 4.6 ~ 110.4mm

F Number : F 2.8(W) ~ 5.0(T)

LCD
3.0-inch, 230K TFT LCD

0.24-inch, 230K Color Electronic View Finder

Movie Mode
720p HD / H.264 Format

Size
116mm x 83mm x 91mm

Special Features
·      Dual Image Stabilization: Optical IS + Digital IS
·      720p HD Video
·      High ISO 3200 up to 5M / 6400 up to 3M
·      RAW (DNG 1.1) Support
·      Full Manual / Aperture Priority / Shutter Priority
·      Custom White Balance
·      Smart Dial User Interface
·      Smart Auto (11 Scenes)
·      Smart Album
·      Perfect Portrait System: Smart Face Recognition (up to 20 faces) / Face Detection / Beauty Shot / Self Portrait / Smile Shot / Blink Detection

Estimated Selling Price
·      $399.99

Availability
·      October 2009

* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and washing machines.  A recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader in the U.S.  Please visit www.samsung.com for more information.

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

Your Comments