Customer Reviews

Samsung Digimax 200 2MP Digital Camera

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is my first digital camera - and it's weird for me to have chosen this one as it is just a new release and it has never been on my list of digital cameras to buy. But when it came out and I liked how it looked and the price too (got it at [local store] w/ a [money] rebate)!

It's the price that actually took me in first, then the looks of the camera. Seeking for a at least a 2 megapix digicam w/ a budget below [money], I came upon this small wonder at [local store] for [money]. And they have a [money] rebate for it - and since I got the display (all the rest got sold out), the guys at [local store] were kind enough to take off another [money] - making the total price [money]! Now that's a real good deal for a quality 2.1 megapix camera!!

The unit uses a smartmedia card for storing pics, and uses only 2 AA batteries (as opposed to 4 listed in the specs here). For a sub [money] digicam, it has all the basic features a beginner would need, including manual adjustments for white balance and exposure (tungsten, flourescent, daylight, auto). The controls are well placed and it is quite small enough to fit a pocket!
And it has one thing that I really like the most - an LCD info display on the top that shows remaining shots, flash info, macro status, and battery meter. This kind of option you won't see even in most brands of digicams even in the [money] level. And I like it because it's easier to see the info you need at a glance, without having to turn on the LCD, thus saving battery life.

On the picture taking side, it takes good pics, with a max res. of 1600x1200 and low res of 800x600. Each resolution has three levels of settings too (normal, fine, super fine). The lens is AF, so you have to press the shutter button halfway first for AF, then press all the way to take the shot. Daylight pictures are great and with the adjustments to white balance available, it's easy to compensate. Low light shots are actually good, but the night shots are not that so good as the flash has a max range of up to 8-9 feet only. This is true for most cameras in this price and megapix range. Forget the 2x digital though, as is the case for digital zooms. Movie mode is also available (no audio) up to a max of 20 seconds. As for the shutter lag, it's acceptable enough (around a second or two)

The LCD is bright, sometimes choppy, but still good (except of course in bright sunlight as most LCDs are). The preview mode allows you thumbnails too. And it also has a DPOF option, for direct digital printing.

Transfer of images from camera to PC is great via USB, and thanks to the 'mass storage' driver - the PC identifies the digimax as another storage device, so it's easy to move your images to the PC. Though the software that comes is mediocre (MGI Photosuite) you can use any other graphic software available to edit your images as you please. Video output is also available to NTSC TVs via a video out port.

To sum it up, I highly recommend it as an entry level camera. For the price and the features, it's a very good buy (Samsung being in the optics/video business). The box comes with the camera, 2 alkaline batteries (forget this and get good NiMH rechargeables), 8mb smartmedia card (get at least a 64mb, I have a 128mb and at max res/fine mode can take 267 images)manual, USB cable, video cable, soft case and hand strap.

This is my second digital camera. My first was the awful Polaroid Fun Flash 640. My mom had a Samsung 130, and I liked the features (easy downloads) but the picture quality was lacking at the 800x600 resolution. I found the 200, which is essentially the same camera with higher resolution (1600x1200).
Your computer sees it as a removable drive, so downloading is as easy as cut and paste. You don't even need drivers for XP Pro.
A couple caveats-after you take the picture, you have to wait about 10 secs to take the next one. The other problem-just like others have said-battery consumption. Standard alkalines will last about 15 minutes if you use the LCD. Get the Ni-MH rechargables-they last hours and you then you can recharge them.
Overall, I am extremely happy for with this camera.

This is a very good cammera for the price. The features are good the size is perfect theres nothing more you really need. the only bad thing is the batteries they suck up fast so buy rechargables. and if your a bigginer dont worry about buying a new memory card 8 megabites is usually enogh and all you do is plug it in to a computer and boom they are there and your card is empty again! BUY IT

You can probably find this camera at a very low price. The picture quality is quite good, and once you get used to it, its fairly easy to use and gives good results.
Be aware that, when using flash, this camera uses up AA batteries very quickly. I'd estimate you can get 20+ flash pictures before you'll need to replace the batteries. You'll get better battery life when taking pictures in sunlight, without flash.
The camera does support a DC power supply, but finding a DC power supply that matches the specs listed in the manual may be difficult. I finally located one at a specialty camera store.
Finally the manual, Samsung web site, and Samsung customer support leave MUCH to be desired.

This camera is not so great. I received it as a present some years ago, so I can't really complain all that much. It's getting rather old anyhow, as far as cameras go that is.

Positives:
--It takes pictures.

Negatives:
--The camera itself is fairly bulky.
--The photos generally turn out pretty bad. Many of them have large lines running through them.
--It takes the camera quite a long time to turn on and then it beeps for a while.
--Batteries get the life sucked out of them. The batteries it came with couldn't even keep the camera on long enough for it to stop beeping and let me take a picture.
--The date and time is printed on every picture in large, orange font and it resets itself every time the batteries are taken out. I have so many pictures with the year 2055 printed on them and can't figure out how to remove the date.

Overall I would recommend you not to buy this camera, but that's up to the buyer.

I bought this camera as my second one. I had previously a Polaroid PDC640, image was really crappy with that one.
I was very happy with this camera, UNTIL I bought a 128MB smartmedia card. Camera turned very slow. It tooks me nearly 27 seconds to get the camera ready to take a shot, and flash fully charged. Indeed, as someone commented out here, this is NOT an action sports camera. But you get what you pay for.
Overall, I'm happy with it, despite the fact that is slow.

Just wanted to say that this camera has some great durability. I got it for Christmas when it first came out so I've had it for almost 7 years now or something like that. It still works, though I have a new camera now. I'd sell it if I thought I could get anything for it.

I picked it up for about a hundred bucks cheaper at Wal-mart.

I could not get this camera to transfer the images to my Vaio laptop or my desktop machine. Samsung's tech support site no help at all. Be warned!