Samsung's WB5000 24x camera shoots RAW, gets real

Hey, remember that squat WB5000 superzoomer that got spotted over the weekend? Samsung has seen fit to make it official, with specs that line up perfectly with the earlier report, including a 12.5 megapixel sensor, a 24x optical zoom lens (26mm - 624mm equivalent), and the ability to shoot 720p video recorded in H.264. It also includes a suite of intelligent modes for detecting faces, smiles, dimples, beards, and genetic abnormalities (just kidding about those last three) and can capture them all to JPEG or RAW files. Samsung hasn't officially announced availability details, but word on the street is this one will ship later this month (yes, it's September already) at a price of around $550.

[Raghav Posted Sep 1st 2009 8:46AM]

why does all this gadgets costs a lot less on the other side of the atlantic :(

[Big Al Posted Sep 1st 2009 9:15AM]

I wonder the same about the same thing, though i'm on the other side of the Pacific...

[Techie Posted Sep 1st 2009 1:07PM]

No to be honest, it actually cost more in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. This might be odd but technology in the US is probably the cheapest in the world due to extremely high customers. So if you buy more in quantities then obviously you will get it cheaper. I work in the reseller/retailer/trader etc stuff so =D Yah

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2009 9:02AM]

Because they are poor .
They don't have any money.

[csnoke Posted Sep 1st 2009 9:35AM]

I've never been one to buy a super zoom p&s, but with with HD being added to these it's starting to look like a good idea. I have a DSLR that doesn't shoot video and an 18-200 super zoom. I want to upgrade to a DSLR with video and I'm like a little more zoom range... this camera does both for the cost of my super zoom.

I probably wouldn't buy this Samsung, but I'm really interested in the new canon SX20, it has a CCD sensor, shoots 720p and so doesn't have a problem with rolling shutter. At $399 I think it could be a very handy camera to keep in my bag and it's small change in the DSLR world.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2009 9:51AM]

No thanks Samsung ! .A $550 price tag isn't justifiable unless it has a bigger sensor than any typical super-zoom which is highly unlikely .

[Freak mojo Posted Sep 1st 2009 9:51AM]

Maybe check out the new Panasonic one... the FZ 35. Also very nice specs on it.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2009 10:35AM]

I'd rather look at the Panasonic ZS3

@hsbalbaid

Be prepared to be proven right.

@Freak Mojo

FZ 35 is IMHO not much better than the FZ 28. (Not speaking from personal experience, it's just what I have heard from others. Grain of salt)

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2009 11:48AM]

Detecting beards? That's mighty impressive technology, right there...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=beard&defid=2585418

[rebelscum Posted Sep 1st 2009 12:28PM]

No articulated screen, no CMOS, no 1080p, no HDMI...no thanks :)