Samsung's new NV line of fashionable cameras

It looks like the design department at Samsung has been working some overtime lately. Barely a week after they busted out that sexy line of Ultra Edition phonage, they're adding a new "NV" line of functional yet fashionable digital cameras to their portfolio. The three cameras, the NV3, NV7 and NV10 are looking sharp, sporting black aluminum and 2.5-inch LCDs, but there's plenty going on under the hood. The real headliner is the NV7 (pictured), with optical image stabilisation and a 7x optical zoom, yet measuring a mere 0.8-inches thick. We're guessing they didn't include the lens in the measurement, but it's slim all the same. Both the NV7 and NV10 have an interesting "touch pad" row of buttons along the sides of the LCD to provide quicker access to menu options. All three cameras feature Samsung's Advanced Shake Reduction feature, but the NV7 is the only one to augment that with optical. The NV10 takes the megapixel cake, at a cool 10, and it's tied with the NV3 for slimness at 0.7-inches, but its 5x optical zoom is a bit more mundane. For sheer pocketability and versatility, the NV3 features a 7 megapixel CCD, 3x zoom and PMP functions, much like its Digimax i6 predecessor. Sadly, Samsung isn't slashing prices with all those designers to feed, and the NV line retails at some fairly steep prices. The NV7 for $450, NV10 for $400 and the NV3 $350. All three should be available this Fall. Keep reading for pics of the NV3 and NV10.

Read - Samsung NV3
Read - Samsung NV7
Read - Samsung NV10

Samsung NV10

Samsung NV3

[Leomar @ Jul 3rd 2006 9:55PM]

"Slimey yet satisfying"

[G-Unit @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:02PM]

fashionable??

[Walter Cho @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:15PM]

This is butt ugly!!!

[Jeff @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:24PM]

The NV10 is pretty slick, and yes, it's as fashionable as any pocket cam I've seen (and I've seen em all). It's got sort of a retro thing going on, but with clean, modern lines (without being just a plain box) and that photo street cred that comes from a real Schneider lens.

I'd have to see how the sensor holds up under testing, but this is the way I want my next pocket cam to look. None of those goofy Sony-esque curves and sliding front garage doors (seriously, who actually thought that was a good idea?). Just clean and simple, with the lens taking all the attention - as it should.

[a1210 @ Jul 3rd 2006 10:55PM]

The NV10 and NV7 look cool. The NV3 is starting to look common and not very intriguiging.
But I guess we'll have to wait for some proper reviews before we know if they're any good.

[Zach @ Jul 3rd 2006 11:02PM]

I think I speak for many people when I state.... thats not a camera I'd call "fashionable"

my 1950s agfa is nicer looking then that. really. its plain. boring black. ugly.

[sean @ Jul 4th 2006 1:53AM]

wow!! so sexy!!
I'm dying to wait it's review. Hope good review.

[Jeff @ Jul 4th 2006 2:25AM]

BUTT UGLY is right!

[confuciou @ Jul 4th 2006 3:08AM]

It doesn't look bad, but it doesn't look good either.

Write "designer" or "fashionable" on a cardboard box and the paris hiltons of the world will rush to buy it.

[pbase @ Jul 4th 2006 3:55AM]

I don't know if this thing is actually being touted as "fashionable," but for most serious amateurs, fashion isn't a concern.

I can't tell you how many unexpected shots I've missed because I don't feel like carrying around my EOS Rebel and 3 lenses everywhere I go.

If this has manual features compable to the mid-range Olympus digitals, It'll be in my pocket 24/7.

[neXus @ Jul 4th 2006 4:52AM]

Certainly doesn't make me NVous :|

[Nick @ Jul 5th 2006 3:08AM]

I agree totoally with Jeff. Totoally retro-esque designing. I give the guys over at Samsung a big thumbs up & a pat on the back for a job well done with these & the super-record-breakingly slim phones you guys reported on a week 'er so ago.

You gus are doing a great job. keep it up! :)

P.S.: One Last Question: No one mentioned the nubmer of Megs we're gonna get on the NV7???

[Nick @ Jul 5th 2006 3:11AM]

I agree totoally with Jeff. Totoally retro-esque designing. I give the guys over at Samsung a big thumbs up & a pat on the back for a job well done with these & the super-record-breakingly slim phones you guys reported on a week 'er so ago.

You gus are doing a great
job. Keep it up! :)

P.S.: One Last Question: No one mentioned the number of Megs we're gonna get on the NV7???

[Kenundrum @ Jul 5th 2006 9:23AM]

How about no mention of a memory card format? SD (hopefully)?

[GirSaysDOOM13 @ Jul 5th 2006 2:30PM]

i should be getting the NV10 when it comes out, hopefully.

they're all really retro-looking and beautiful, and they have spectacular lenses. drool.....

[John Henry Brown @ Jul 6th 2006 8:34PM]

I'm glad to see Samsung taking some chances with their packaging instead of following the herd. The buttons on the back near the screen might actually be an improvement over joystick button layout that everybody else uses.
Negatives:
The small NV3 doesn't let in enough light, just like every other folded optics design (f3.5).
The big NV7 has a zoom that starts at 38mm. That's not a very wide angle lens. Maybe it's a mistake and they really mean 28mm. That would make me a lot more interested in this camera.

[w foster photo @ Jul 10th 2006 10:36PM]

Looks like something that belongs on that old Mike Myers skit on Sat. Night Live, Sprockets.

Vould you like to touch my camera? Time to dance!

Have to admit that Schneider glass is a nice feature.

--Bill

[potter @ Aug 22nd 2006 1:21PM]

I recently purchased the nv3 in korea, and i have to say, its pretty great. the mp3 and pmp functions are such a great feature. I can take pictures and listen to music at the same time. the speakers have an amazingly loud maximum volume. the menu and functions are easy to understand and the converting process for movies is very simple. its got a sd memory and battery life is pretty good: i listened to music with it through the entire night and it was still not out of battery. all in all, i recommend this product as a multi-media device.

[Steve @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:05AM]

Yes, but when is it available?!?!?! "This Fall" doesn't really tell me much. You would think that considering the fact that it is almost "this Fall", they would be able to tell us a date.

I need a new camera and this is exactly what I need. Do you know how hard it is to find a pocketable camera with auto exposure bracketing these days? Not to mention one as sleek and cool-looking as these. All I've been able to find so far is a couple HP's, and who would want to buy and HP camera ;)

[potter @ Sep 7th 2006 2:06AM]

I recently purchased the nv3 in korea, and i have to say, its pretty great. the mp3 and pmp functions are such a great feature. I can take pictures and listen to music at the same time. the speakers have an amazingly loud maximum volume. the menu and functions are easy to understand and the converting process for movies is very simple. its got a sd memory and battery life is pretty good: i listened to music with it through the entire night and it was still not out of battery. all in all, i recommend this product as a multi-media device.

[peter @ Sep 10th 2006 12:39AM]

Features on this NV10 camera are like those of an SLR. This camera allows me to adjust the ISO, Aperature and exposure settings as well as many other features. I can take B/W pics and more. The camera seem to shut off by itself on ocassion. not sure why. plan to call samsung to find out. The video quality is very good alowing me to shoot XVID mpeg 4 movies that are better than broadcasrt quality at 640 by 480. I think the camera is a bit buggi and a software upgrade from Samsung these issues would be resolved. The camera is very usable even with the bugs. An example of a bug would be that the camera would not take pics at 10 mega pixels in negative mode( that is shooting the pic as a negative) however this worked with 7 MPIX. the B/w and SPIA settings worked fine at 10 MPIX. it dint win the European Compact Camera 2006-2007 by The European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA). Along with the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) award for nothing.

[frank @ Sep 20th 2006 11:53AM]

hi, i bought the nv3 cam because i am a longtime traveller and it seemed to match my needs...

1.)now i cant find out anywhere if the SBP-4442 Battery Pack is also compatible to the NV3 everywhere it only says its compatible to the NV7 and NV10. Bad information if it is...

2.)why you dont specify if it is at all possible to use 4 GB cards? I want to buy one but dont know if there is a chance that it will work...i know for the digimax i6 only 2GB were possible...what about the nv3?

3.)Is it possible to open the API? On every mobile Phone i can play games and run programs, why not on this cam?
I would like to see an open API so an NES or MAME emulator cold be ported...wouldnt be the first time.

thank you for helping me
frank