Samsung ST200F and WB150F: Zoom and Wi-Fi

At first glance, you'd be forgiven for confusing the ST200F with one of Samsung's existing ST-series cameras. This model is quite different, however, with a 10x zoom (27-270 mm), a slightly bulkier body and a heavier build.

It does still use a 16-Megapixel CCD, though, and the screen is still a 3-inch TN display with 460,000 dots. That means that viewing angles won't be all that good, which is a shame in a camera that's a step up from entry-level.

One slightly more original thing about this compact is that it has Wi-Fi connectivity, which, like in Samsung's F-series cameras, has several uses. For example, you can send photos to a computer or publish them automatically on Facebook, Flickr and other websites. You can also send pictures to a smartphone or a tablet or back pictures up automatically when connected to your home network. You even can line up shots on your smartphone or tablet screen instead of the camera screen.

As ever, we'll have to try these functions out for ourselves before deciding exactly how useful they are. We've seen plenty of cameras with Wi-Fi but, as yet, these functions have largely failed to impress. On paper, though, Wi-Fi certainly brings some interesting possibilities, especially for automatically sending pictures to a PC to save you the hassle of cables and memory-card readers.


The Samsung WB150F is another mid-range superzoom compact. From the outside, it looks similar to the WB850F also presented today, with just a few small differences in build and design (the handle is a bit more basic and it has a different finish).

On the inside, however, it's very different. First of all, the WB150F has an 18x zoom lens, equivalent to 24-432 mm, and a 14-Megapixel CCD, just like the WB700. The screen may have 460,000 dots, but it's still a TN panel, which just isn't good enough for this kind of camera—although we understand that AMOLED is too pricey for a mid-range compact, there are still better forms of LCD screen out there.

This camera also boasts Wi-Fi connectivity, offering the same functions as in other cameras in the range (see above). In the end though, we can't help thinking that we'd prefer this model with no Wi-Fi but with a decent screen.

> Digital Camera Reviews: Choose the Best Compact Camera

> CES 2012 Live from Las Vegas: See all news

> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products