Samsung has definitely achieved one thing with its NV10 ultra-compact digital camera model: The look of the NV10 is very different from other models in this class and price range.

The NV10 is an all-black, simplistic camera body with a centered lens and a plain front panel. (The flash pops up from the top panel of the camera when needed.) Even though the NV10 measures only about three-quarters of an inch in thickness, it's easy to hold and use, thanks in part to a small rounded grip. It's a design that might not appeal to everyone, but it's definitely different than most ultra-compact models. NV is short for "New Vision" as Samsung has aimed the NV series of cameras at users looking for all-metal models with high-end construction quality and features.

The model's 2.5-inch LCD is extremely sharp and bright and occupies much of the back panel. It serves as the camera's only viewfinder. Although the top of the camera has a mode dial, the back panel of the camera doesn't have the typical set of dedicated buttons or four-way buttons. It uses a series of buttons arranged around the LCD, but the buttons have no permanent labels. Instead, you pick the desired function by pressing the button that's aligned with the function displayed on the screen. The tricky part is the on-screen functions change as you make selections, meaning the function associated with a button will change, depending on your location in the menu structure. This type of menu structure can be tricky to master. Some of the layouts and design elements will remind you of a cell phone.

Beyond the NV10's cosmetics is a standard digital camera. The unit's best photography-related feature is its 10.1 megapixels of resolution, which allow for high-quality prints up to 20-by-30 inches (under ideal exposures). Typically, though, you won't need to make prints anywhere near that large. Most outdoor photos you'll take with this model will show excellent color and sharpness. However, you might find some problems with noise in low-light photos because this unit's flash isn't quite as accurate as it needs to be.

Response times are about average for the NV10. You can shoot your first photo a little more than 2 seconds after pressing the power button. Shutter lags can approach three-quarters of a second when using the auto-focus function. Shot-to-shot delays typically range from 1.5 to 4 seconds, although you might experience longer delays when using the flash and anti-shake technology. (The anti-shake technology in the NV10 isn't quite as effective as it could be, though, which leads to some blurry and noisy photos.) The NV10 does offer some nice continuous-shot modes.

The NV10 works best as a point-and-shoot model. Unfortunately, it doesn't give you many options for changing the settings to adjust contrast, for example. Intermediate and experienced photographers won't find many appealing capabilities in this ultra-compact digital camera. The NV10 has some nice features, and its look and menu structure set it apart from others in its class. But its occasionally problematic image quality makes it tough to give the NV10 a highly favorable ranking.


Pros: High resolution, unique look, unique menu structure, high-quality LCD, high-quality construction, easy to hold for ultra-compact model
Cons: Image quality is inconsistent, low-light photos tend to be noisy, some aspects of camera might be tough to learn to use, most camera features are only average, anti-shake doesn't work as well as it should

Warranty
1 year, limited