Samsung 12 Megapixels HZ30W (WB600) 15x SuperZoom Review by BobAtkins

On Jaunary 19 2010, Samsung announced the world's slimmest cameras with 15x zoom and 24mm equivalent wide angle - one of the two even features built-in GPS and a 3-inch AMOLED screen. The Samsung HZ30W (aka WB600) and HZ35W (aka WB650), with the latter being the GPS/AMOLED model. The HZ30W has no GPS unit and comes with a more traditional 3-inch LCD screen. The two cameras are otherwise identical: both features a 12 Megapixels sensors, 24-360mm equivalent Schneider-Kreuznach lenses and 720p HD video recording capabilities. 

Both the Samsung HZ30W and the Samsung HZ35W offer semi-automatic and full manual exposure control, optical image stabilisation and HDMI ports. The HZ30W is currently selling at around $117. Here is the summary of a latest review by BobAtkins:

"As a small, light, inexpensive and versatile camera, I like the Samsung HZ30W. I can slip it into my pocket and carry it anywhere, it has a true wideangle 24mm coverage lens and if I need the reach I can zoom out all the way to 360mm for those elusive wildlife shots! Most of the time I leave it in Program mode and let the camera decide on ISO, shutter speed and aperture, but I can override any of those auto decisions if I have a need to. Image quality at ISO 80/100 is excellent, so if I want the best possible images and the light isn't bright I'll take along a small tripod and select a low ISO setting. The image stabilization is good, but there's nothing as good as a tripod and with such a small and light camera even the smallest and lightest of tripods work just fine.

I'd cite a somewhat convoluted menu path to some functions and lack of highly legible labels for the buttons as downsides, but they're really not major points against the camera since many P&S digicams share similar issues. I can't really cite loss of image quality at high ISO settings as a problem either since again that's something that all small sensor digicams share. It doesn't have a RAW image mode, but then again few P&S digicams do. Overall I'm pretty happy with the Samsung HZ30W, especially for the price I paid for it."

Nice camera, Ronald L. Hyman - Jan 20 2013
This camera takes very nice pictures and it's easy use. The price was right and i would recommend it for everyday picture taking. As alway's Amazon was a pleasure to deal with....

JUNK!!!, Richard - Aug 04 2012
I have owned two of these cameras. The first one was purchased a little over a year ago and wouldn't work out of the box. It wouldn't zoom in or out and when it did it froze and stopped working . Nothing would correct the problem so I returned it for a replacement. When the replacement arrived it worked OK; seeing very little use until now. Same problem as before; zoom froze in the op...

Takes great pictures, but not at max zoom, W. Reagan - Jun 12 2012
Excellent camera for the price. At standard zoom, the picture quality is top notch and crystal clear. When going to digital zoom and maxed out, quality of very grainy and sometimes not useable. Multitude of settings will keep camera fans happy, but the auto feature does and awesome job. Pictures are easily transferable but you will need a memory card with this, so plan a...

Worked okay for a year then problems, Nick "demon_f16" - Dec 24 2011
Purchased this camera last year (Nov 2010) based upon the favorable reviews. Gave it to my wife for christmas and she has been using it regularly for the last year. It worked good for at least 9-10 months then started to develop minor issues. I used it this fall at my son's basketball game and I had a hard time taking action photos. I tried all the settings and nothing improved th...