So what can you expect from a compact?
This is a still life shot... click to see it full size at 8MP
I'm impressed, but what are the limitations? ... I get shots where the focussing is just out, and some where the detail is mush, but that may be because I am on 'day two' (it was!).. certainly the above shot shows what you can get. There was no adjustment at all in the full size shot, that was 'straight from the camera', the small shot has had '8' added in 'Blacks' in Lightroom and nothing else!
I've now discovered that there is a menu line I previously missed... the focussing now is 'multi' not just centred and the file size can be less compressed than shown above (but since that gives a 3-4Mb file size I'll leave it as is) - it appears that the Samsung lacks the intelligent compression of my Nikon that makes small file sizes when there are large areas of common colour in an image.
I've now had this little camera a while and I am very impressed. It's not a pro camera, but because you can take it and use it and not feel encumbered in doing so, you get shots that you would otherwise not get. The quality is acceptable to me, and I am certainly very picky when it comes to these things!
Downsides: auto ISO limited (it's great that it has it at all), zoom too slow at times, it doesn't replace a '3 chip' movie camera (well what do you expect!), battery life gives only 200 or so shots (it's a rechargeable = good, but Li ion which has to be charged slowly in camera = not so good) - I would suggest that if you are the sort who needs more than 200 at a sitting, than buy a spare or get something else. BUT, the charge process is very flexible either USB (your computer will likely have a few of these slots) or plug the USB lead into the supplied mains plug and you have that option too!
Upsides: everything else really...
Just to re-state (sorry Samsung!) the higher pixel variants of this gem are marketing fluff to fill your computer storage faster - see my pixel density page here to see why 8MP is quite enough for a sensor and lens this big!
Buy it via this link - you pay no more and it helps me help you with reviews and in hosting this site, thanks....!
Computer Shopper said,
"Our image tests revealed some of the sharpest detail we've ever seen from a compact digital camera. Its ability to capture fine textures such as skin and hair was as good as - and often surpassed - the best 10- and 12-megapixel compact cameras, including the more expensive NV11, a camera we praised for its sharp detail in our labs test.
Noise levels were even more impressive, with barely a hint of noise at ISO 800 except in areas of solid dark colour. Detail in fine textures was preserved extremely well, though, which indicates that the NV8 doesn't rely on heavy noise reduction processing to keep noise at bay. Results were still perfectly usable at ISO 1600, and even ISO 3200 photos were good enough for viewing onscreen and small prints - something we have never been able to say about a non-SLR camera before. The key to the camera's success is its generous 1/1.7in sensor size and relatively modest 8-megapixel rating - this means that each pixel on the sensor is physically larger than those in most compact cameras, allowing it to capture more light and measure it more accurately."