Samsung unleashes avalanche of new pointshooters

Korean electronics kingpin Samsung unveiled four new point-and-shoot digital cameras today, including a 14.7 megapixel model, the TL34HD, which supports HD video capture, and a 13.6MP snapper, the SL310W, with a wide angle optical zoom.

The TL34HD ($329.95) is the successor to Samsung's critically acclaimed NV24HD. With its ability to capture high-definition video at a resolution of 720P, dual image stabilization technology and three-inch touch-screen LCD, the TL34HD is being touted by the company as "the most advanced point-and-shoot digital camera in Samsung's history." The camera also features a 3.6x wide-angle (28 mm equivalent) optical zoom; maximum ISO 3200; and face, smile and blink detection technology.

The SL310W ($229.95) has the same wide-angle optical zoom as the TL34HD and a smaller--2.7 inch-- non-touch LCD. It captures MPEG-4 video, has 11 scene modes and will automatically fix red-eye in photos. It also has two self-help features, Function Description and Photo Help Guide. Function Description automatically provides a brief and easy to understand description of each setting when scrolling through the camera's menus. Photo Help Guide gives a neophyte lens jock a guided tour of how to take better pictures with the camera.

Two other cameras introduced by Samsung were the TL9 ($279.95), a 10MP shooter with a 5x optical zoom, and the SL201 ($169.95), a 10.2MP DSC with a 3x optical zoom and a 2.7-inch "intelligent" LCD which automatically brightens or dims based on available lighting.

The new cameras are expected to reach retail shelves in September.