Samsung MultiView MV800 first look review

Samsung has announced the MV800, a 16MP compact camera with an innovative hinged LCD screen that allows you to take self-portraits with ease, as well as prop the camera up at angles which allow easy tabletop photography. We've had an MV800 in the office for a few days now - just long enough to prepare a brief hands-on first look.
(By AndyVandervell) 

Samsung MV800 hands-on first look

Samsung MultiView MV800 first look

 

What’s unique about the Samsung MultiView MV800?

We’ve seen lots of large cameras with adjustable or articulated screens, but the MV800 is the first genuine compact camera to sport such a feature. The MV800 has a 3-inch touchscreen that can be rotated upwards so the screen points in the same direction as the lens.
It’s designed to make it easier to take self-portraits or group shots, as you can see what you’re doing while holding the camera out in front of you. It may also be useful for taking photos low down to the ground, where you could tilt the screen upwards for more comfortable use.

The 3-inch screen is touch sensitive, and the on-screen interface is reminiscent of a smartphone with tiled icons that you can swipe between on the screen. Due to the touchscreen there are very few physical buttons on the camera. On the top are capture, zoom and power controls, while the back has a couple of shortcut buttons and a secondary capture button for use when the screen is tilted up.

What’s the Samsung MultiView MV800 like to use?

Overall it’s a neatly designed camera, though the lack of a grip and its small size makes it a little tricky to handle at first. The touch interface is intuitive, though, and there are lots of neat features packed in, such as the Live Panorama mode that takes panoramic shots easily by holding down the capture button and scanning the scenery.
The main cause for concern are the relative lack of physical controls. While the touchscreen interface is good, we did notice a small amount of lag that could prove frustrating during prolonged use.

What else do I need to know?

Besides the fancy flip-out screen, the MV800 sports an impressive basic spec. A 16.1-megapixel sensor could be deemed excessive, but it’s ample all the same. It’s the 26mm wide-angle on the lens that’s the highlight, though. That’s very wide for a compact camera, and the 5x optical zoom isn’t too bad either. HD video is supported as well.
It’s expected to retail for around £250 and go on sale later this month.

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