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Samsung NV3 (black)

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  • Quick specs
  • Digital camera type: Ultracompact
  • Resolution: 7.2 megapixels
  • Optical zoom: 3 x
  • See full specifications

Add to my list Product summary

The good: Solid images; handy media-player functions.

The bad: Heavy fringing; awkward movie format in media-player mode; unresponsive zoom rocker.

The bottom line: This camera-cum-media player doesn't excel at any of its functions, but the Samsung NV3 could be a solid choice if you don't want to buy both a camera and an MP3 player.

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CNET editors' review

  • CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
    Detailed editors' rating
      Design : 7.0
      Features : 8.0
      Performance : 6.0
      Image quality : 7.0
      Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
  • Reviewed on: 08/22/2006
All-in-one devices seem like a good idea on paper, but when they finally come out, they tend to disappoint. Historically, putting a camera together with an MP3 player cripples both functions. Samsung tries to change that with the NV3, a 7-megapixel snapshot camera with media-player capabilities.

The Samsung NV3's stylish, metal, iPod-size body is not even an inch thick and weighs less than six ounces, making it eminently pocketable. Samsung hides stereo speakers under twin metal discs on the camera's top edge. Both the power and shutter-release buttons, also atop the camera, are smaller than the speakers, and it might take a few tries before you train yourself not to press the speakers.

As a camera, the NV3 has fairly standard features for a high-end compact. Its 38mm-to-115mm-equivalent lens zooms entirely within the camera. The camera's sole display is a 2.5-inch LCD screen that washes out easily in bright light. With both antishake and ISO 1,000 modes, the NV3 is well suited for low-light shooting. It also comes with a video mode that can capture MPEG-4 movies in both standard VGA and 720x480 wide-screen modes. While it can't replace a dedicated camcorder, the movies are good enough for e-mailing and showing to friends.

Though it has a bit of a learning curve, the NV3 is a competent media player. Music and text files are easy to work with; just dropping them onto your SD memory card in their respective directories will make them readable to the camera. Video files are a bit more awkward. The NV3 uses a modified XviD MPEG-4 file format, and nearly every video you want to view on your camera has to be converted to that format with the included software.

Once on the camera, a simple media player interface lets you play, pause, fast-forward, and navigate your songs, movies, and documents. While functional, the controls aren't nearly as intuitive or as direct as those of an iPod or other dedicated media player. MP3s and movies play back effortlessly. Unfortunately, the camera lacks any useful playlist features for your music.

Unfortunately, the NV3's e-book abilities are poor at best; the camera reads only plain text files and displays those files in a harsh green-on-black interface. Simple notes and directions are handy and legible in small doses, but don't expect to read any Camus or Durkheim on your camera.

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Samsung NV3 (black): $249.95
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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

  • alaTest.com

    Editors' rating: 88

    Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 318 reviews of Samsung NV3 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 74/100 and users 82/100. Comparing these reviews to 555063 other Digital Compact Cameras reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 88/100 = Very Good.

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  • stuff.tv

    Editors' rating: 80

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  • digicamreview.co.uk

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  • photographypress.co.uk

    Editors' rating: 90

    Summary: The NV3 is a killer camera that oozes style and performance

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  • pcworld.com

    Editors' rating: 73

    Summary: If you're looking for a good $250 digital camera, you have bunches to choose from--and many candidates offer better image quality than the NV3 does. On the other hand, its novel multimedia capabilities come at no significant price premium, giving it ...

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  • tech2.com

    Editors' rating: 70

    Summary: The bottom line - The Samsung NV3 although sleek and equipped to be used a personal media device for music and movies at a price or approximately Rs. 22,000, considering the performance, I'm gonna have to say thanks but I'll pass. These days almost ...

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Samsung NV3 (black)