Samsung HZ35W review – GPS-Enabled Compact Megazoom
Thumbs Up:
Considering the price of the camera Samsung HZ35W has high-quality features, performance, design, and photo quality.
Thumbs Down:
The Samsung HZ35W has confusing GPS setup; then using the ASM mode is a real pain here, and the camera delivers middling low-light photos.
The Whiz Kid Speaks:
Manufacturer: Samsung
Part Number: EC-HZ35WZBPAUS
Price: $319.00 – $319.99
Product Type: Compact Digital Camera
Weight: 7.5 oz
Dimensions (W x D x H) in inches: 4.2 x 1.1 x 2.4 inches
Optical Sensor Type: CCD
White balance: Custom, Automatic and Presets
White Balance Presets: Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent light (daylight), Tungsten light and Fluorescent light (cool white)
Software: Drivers & Utilities & Samsung Intelli Studio
Cables Included: USB cable& A/V cable
Connector Type: USB, Composite audio/video output, DC power input and HDMI
Additional Features: DPOF support , Built-in GPS , Face detection , USB charging , Date/time stamp , Audio recording , Face Recognition , Built-in speaker , PictBridge support , Exif Print support , Recycle Bin function , Photo album function , In-camera red-eye fix , Touch-screen control , 720p HD movie recording , USB 2.0 compatibility , Blink Detection technology , Dual image stabilization , Auto Contrast Balance (ACB) and Smile Detection technology
Shooting Programs: Food , Cafe , Text , Snow , Children , Sunset , Dawn/dusk , Close-up , Landscape , Fireworks , Beauty shot , Back light , Portrait mode , Night scene and Self-portrait
Focus Adjustment: Automatic
Flash Modes: Fill-in mode, Auto mode, Flash OFF mode, and slow synchro and Red-eye reduction
Included Accessories: Carrying strap
Operating System Support: Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP, Apple Mac OS X 10.3 or later and Microsoft Windows Vista
Camera Flash: Built-in
Peripheral Devices: USB port & CD-ROM drive
Supported Battery: Samsung SLB-11A
Razzle Dazzle:
IN terms of design and build the Samsung HZ35W clearly is one of the biggest compact Megazooms we’ve tested this year. As a matter of fact, the camera has the longest and the widest lens in this class. The camera also has a 3-inch dazzling AMOLED screen with high-resolution, as well. The best thing is that the screen performed exceedingly well in direct sunlight as well. The body of the camera is a blend of chrome plastic and gray metal, and gives a sturdy feel when held in hand. With the lens retracted, the HZ35W is a good-looking camera and can easily slip into your jacket’s pocket or bag, but will be an awkward fit in a pants pocket. Despite the huge, heavy lens the camera is well balanced and is comfortable to use and hold.
Inside Dope:
The Samsung HZ35W came as a surprise to us, as its precursor the HZ15W, was kind of a mess and we actually doesn’t have any serious hopes with this camera as well. But happily, the HZ35W is, which it should be, an improved camera than its precursor. Samsung has made improvements in its photo quality and design, and has equipped the camera with some of the advanced features like a sharper, a GPS receiver, a longer, wider lens and higher-resolution display.
Though, on the downside, the shooting performance of the camera isn’t improved, but as the shooting performance was already good, there actually isn’t any major displeasure there. The menu system of the camera can stick use some improvement and the GPS setup for the camera still has got some wrinkles that needs to be addressed. Another downside here is the manual and semi-manual modes; they actually are pain to use. Also the low-light/ high ISO photo quality delivered by the camera could easily have been better.
The one thing that we can assure you here is that if you are someone who makes a lot of changes in settings changes or really wants the ASM mode, then this camera surely is not the right option to go with. But apart from this, on a whole the HZ35W is a solid compact Megazoom on a whole, particularly for those who are looking for a widest and longest lens in a pocketable body and built-in GeoTagging.
The biggest selling point for Samsung HZ35W is its en suite GPS receiver for GeoTagging photos while you are capturing them. Sadly, but yes, the experience of using the GPS out of the box is a tad less than instinctive. There is a switch given on top of the camera for turning the receiver on and off, which makes its operation fast and is surely better than going in to the menus and then doing it all.
The control panel for the camera is rather straightforward, and along with the GPS power switch positioned on the top are the power button, the shutter release button with a zoom ring and shooting mode dial. All these are angled, a bit downward which makes them comparatively comfortable to use. Positioned on the rear end, and at the top is a one-touch record button for movies that’s exceedingly more functional than the exposure compensation rocker button from its precursor HZ15W. Go further down and you will find a Menu button to access all the setup and shooting; there also is a four-way directional pad to navigate and to alter the display information, entering manual and macro focus, setting a timer, or for turning the flash on; a Function (Fn) button which brings up a context-sensitive shooting menu and a Playback button.
The controls on the camera are rather clear, but the same can’t be said about the menu system. Now, as for the outputs and inputs, the camera has a flip-open door positioned on its right side body. Under that cover is a Mini-USB/AV and Mini-HDMI ports. The camera also has a Mini-HDMI-to-USB cable included to connect the camera to a computer and charging.
The shooting performance of Samsung HZ35W is pretty decent for its class, but still we wont recommend it for shooting fast moving subjects like athletes, kids and pets, though you can use it for still subjects. The photo quality for the camera is pretty decent up to ISO 200, and the photos taken at these lower sensitivities are comparatively sharper, with very less to no noise, even when viewed at 100 percent. Though, by ISO 400 there is a significant shift in quality with the noise becoming apparent. The, photos taken here are decent enough for small or web uses, with very small or no cropping. Theirs is a significant detail loss at ISO 800. So on a whole the Samsung HZ35W is also like all the other compact cameras: impressive in bright light, but weak indoor and low-light photos.
Nitty Gritty:
The Samsung HZ35W is a completely refurbished successor of HZ15W, and hence is a worth considering GPS-enabled compact Megazoom.
