During the Developer Summit in Seoul, Samsung announced the features of their NX300M Smart Camera. Sure, the smart camera has actually been on sale in Korea for over a month, but now the entire world knows if its capabilities. As the first camera run by the company's open-source Tizan OS software, the 20.3-megapixel shooter marks a shift for Samsung, allowing the brand to drift away from Android (which has run many of their cameras in the past).
According to Samsung, the NX300M camera boots up twice as fast as other Linux-based cameras and snaps 9 shots a second at 20MP resolution — all thanks to Tizen. The gadget features phase detection AF, which gives the highest quality possible in its class, as well as a sensor that is idea for "out-focusing photography," meaning it collects light so you can get clear shots without any noise in low-lit settings.
As you can see in the photos, the view screen pulls out and can be shifted around various ways, including being flipped up to make selfies as easy as they are on your smartphone — only better quality. Over three inches wide, the tilt display has a hybrid user interface that blends an AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) touchscreen with a five-way button, allowing you to navigate the menu and share your photos quickly. Speaking of sharing, you can send your snapshots directly to a mobile phone, PC, tablet, or a Smart HDTV.
Thanks to the 1/6000 second shutter speed, which Samsung claims is the fastest in its class, you can capture quick moving subjects without a problem. The autofocus is quick enough to catch up too, so when your son speeds by on a skateboard, you won't get a blurred mess as a memento. Even better, if you want to capture an entire sequence, maybe when your son attempts a new trick for the first time, the NX300M allows you to shoot continuously at the rate of 8.6 frames per seconds. Oh yeah, this camera can also snap stills and record video in 3D.
The NX300M isn't available through Samsung in the U.S. just yet, but you can expect to pay over $800 if you manage to get your hands on one.
