The ST100 with a Newly Improved Dual LCD!!! It has Captured both Style and Efficiency?!

It’s back with a bling bling new image, the best for taking self-pictures! Loaded with a dual LCD ST100, this compact digital camera can disregard any prejudice of it being made for only simple fun and convenient use and to say that it threw away the simple characteristics of the previous model, the Dual LCD ST550, and to say it was newly reborn is not an understatement. The some what masculine ST550 that came to global fame through the front side LCD screen, was not able to grab the attention of the ladies, but with its new bling bling look, I think that it will now be able to get the attention of the ladies. With the ST100 inner zoom len’s picture quality and efficiency, let’s take a look at what kind of upgrades the front face LCD came back with.

With the bling bling style and as the top self-picture taking capabilities of the ST 100, one can operate this camera and it 1.8 inch LCD screen with both function buttons and a touch screen capability. On the top there is F.LCD button and the smile icon on the front allows you to easily take self-shots, couple self-shots, idol (music icon) photo shoots, and jumping shots. For touch screen capabilities you can only take photos while activating the LCD screen. The front surface LCD that hides inside the UV protecting high-gloss finish, also holds the ability to give a surprise event to users who do not know details about the ST100. For example, when taking a picture of someone, they will be surprised when the LCD screen on the front side activates for them to see what they look like while you take their picture. Same goes for the other way around—if one is taking a picture of people behind them, as you would while taking a self-shot, the photo taker will be able to use the LCD screen while taking the shot—another plus to this device!

To say that the 1.8 inch front side LCD screen is simply just for previewing pictures, does not do the capabilities justice. Especially in cases of young children or babies who are always moving from being distracted or not being able to focus, made it impossible to take a decent shot. But when you select the ST100’s “Child” Mode, Borroro (a favorite Korean cartoon character and most popular among children), appears to be able to grab the attention of the children back to the camera. To get a decent picture of your child, you needed to gather together all those around you and coax your child to look into the camera, but now with the help of the ST100 and Borroro, you can get the job done in one shot.

When you take pictures you always find yourself hollering “1,2,3!” or “kimchi”, but where there are many people around or if you are in a quiet place, it is a bit embarrassing to do this. If you activate the ST100’s smile icon and press the shutter button halfway, the smile icon appears and gives you a cute little “smile please” face. Also, if you have a fear of cameras or tend to avoid owning one, you can now easily pick one up and use the sensible ST100 who does all the work for you.

On a KBS variety show called “1 Night 2 Days,” I saw a segment where the cast used a camera, tripod and a timer to achieve the not so easy missions where they had to take group pictures or a jumping shot. It is quite the feat for the cast of a variety show like this to be assigned missions where they have to take a group picture or a jumping shot. But if they had the ST100, I think they would have had a much easier time in fulfilling their mission in just one try. Within the F.LCD function, if you select the jump shot mode, the front side LCD acts like a timer and numbers appear, and even an arrow appears to tell you when to jump. If you jump at that moment, the ST100 automatically takes 3 pictures in a row so you are able to capture the jumping moment you want. This shows that the dual LCD is not just a simple device that helps you when taking self-pictures, but it goes beyond just the simplicity and fun—you can consider it to be a hot item for better picture sessions.

Although there were worries in terms of picture quality with the adopted inner zoom lens in the ST100, but after taking some actual test shots, I noticed that there was no real significant lack in the quality of the pictures. Of course it would be easier to take pictures in darker places if we had a brighter inner zoom lens because it would allow for faster shutter speed, but I believe it to be a good thing that I don’t have to worry about the financial burdens of affording that kind of technology. The ST100 is not a high-end digital camera, but an ordinary compact digital camera that is supposed to be fun and more comfortable to use. So if you were expecting the ST100 to be similar to a DSLR or Mirarus, you may want to consider other models.

picture taken at an ISO of 80-400

The ST100 ISO ranges from 80-3200 and in the picture above you can see a picture taken at an ISO 80-400 setting. You can notice that there is almost no difference in the noise or picture quality. To test out the ISO, there were no extra or artificial lights that were used during the session, but despite the lack of light, I was satisfied with the noise and quality from the test shots.

Picutre taken at an ISO of 800-3200

Within the ISO range of 800-3200, there is a noticeable difference in the noise of the ISO 800 and ISO 3200 pictures. Although the noise in most compact digital cameras are reducing, in the ST100’s ISO 3200 pictures, most of the noise and overexposure that is seen in the pictures is a result of the worries we had of the inner zoom lens. I don’t know how many pictures you plan on taking at an ISO of 3200, but I don’t think you need to make a final decision based on the ISO or level of noise. Up to an ISO of 800, the noise is not that noticeable, but at 1600 and 3200 you do notice a lot of noise in the pictures, but no real problems from the exposure.

Normal optical zoom

35mm-175mm (35mm film camera change) inner zoom lens has a 5X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom and is much better than the standard models. I know it’s not fit to say it’s a wide angle lens, but when you are taking a picture, it feels just like one.

Optical zoom magnified 5X

Digital zoom magnified 4X

From the normal to 5X optical zoom, to the 4X digital zoom , we took some test photos up at all zoom levels. The results of the test shots were quite pleasing. As the inner lenses vary from F3.6 to F4.8, so will the quality of the pictures. And although this will result in a decrease in shutter speed, the ST100 is able to adjust and not falter and snap a clean picture when needed. It is even more convenient than the using the popular compact digital automatic mode or the Samsung camera’s smart or scene modes. Even though the results of the 4X digital zoom test shots were somewhat disappointing, I don’t think you need to worry about that because the likelihood of having to shoot digitally zoomed in 4X, is very little and the test shots of the 5X optical zoom were good.

Whether you are a professional photographer or someone who doesn’t even know what a “cam” (camera) is, the ST100 does not discriminate. Samsung prides itself in having a smart automatic mode that has many more advantages than just a standard automatic mode. Creating a new standard even for Samsung, they now have 17 models of smart cameras that can help you take a quality picture. In the past, if you look at a picture taken in automatic mode, all you can see is the lack of a professional camera and picture taking skills that were no better. But now the smart auto mode is not like the one we used to use, so we are able to see only good things in a picture that comes from the cleverness of the smart mode. As you close in on something, the smart capabilities of the camera are able to recognize that object. I think it’s fair to say that the smart ability to identify written words as text and people as people, can be a new important standard and trait for compact digital cameras.

As the youngest of the VLUU Mirror Series, I think that the appeal of the bling bling style and the quality dual LCD characteristics of the ST100 is an ideal model of how a camera should be approachable and allow people to comfortably use it. I guess it’s easy to carry around a rather heavy DSLR or a Mirarus everywhere you go, but why take the pricey risk and put up with the uncomfortable haul? You can have the convenience of pulling out a compact digital camera anytime, anywhere, and easily take the picture that will capture the moment. I think that this is a reason that you must at least have one of the two. Han Hyo Joo (a famous Korean actress) says “both”! She started with the ST100 that finished off the continually upgraded VLUU Mirror Series. With its style, weight, design, picture quality, efficiency, and price the ST100 seem to suit ladies better than men. The easy and simple-to-take-pictures characteristic of this item allows for a fun time of picture taking and is probably the most appealing aspect and the charm that makes the ST100 stand out from other compact digital cameras.

*NOTE: This blog post is from JUNE’S‘s Blog, Korean IT & Cars Blogger, on December 17, 2010. If you have any further information about this blog post please contact us.(AdvancedTechKR@gmail.com)We will be happy to help you to get the related information. Thank you.