Samsung WB850F Pro Reviews

The Samsung WB850F is a compact superzoom camera with a wider-than-average lens, GPS, and Wi-Fi, but its a little slow to start and shoot, and image quality suffers at higher ISO settings.

The 16 megapixel, 21x optical zoom Samsung WB850F is a feature packed metal build pocket camera that offers just about all the must-have features one would want from a travel zoom compact in 2012 - including a 3-inch AMOLED screen, GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity - plus delivers images straight from the camera that non enthusiasts will be perfectly happy with. But before that has you reaching for the credit card, consider also that there are plenty of other long zoom alternatives.

Samsung packs a lot (and we mean a lot) into what is essentially an average point-and-shoot camera: Its specs are fine, and image quality is good, but not outstanding. But as we noted with the WB150F, Samsung’s forwarding-looking features and UI seal the deal, not image quality. Wi-Fi – done right – is quickly becoming an absolute must-have for point-and-shoots, and an engaging, easy-to-navigate UI is always in demand. You can check those both off with the WB850F. Of course, extras like an AMOLED screen, manual settings, and the super zoom only make this a more attractive package – and the $330 price tag is relatively low. If you’re spending less than $230 on a digital camera these days, you may as well kiss utility beyond a year goodbye. But the WB850F definitely isn’t going to be left in the dust anytime terribly soon.

The Samsung WB850F scores really well for features, given its ample zoom lens as well as both GPS and Wi-Fi functionality. It is currently available for around £215.00, which represents decent value for money. We did find the battery ran out quickly when the camera wasn't in use and it is frustrating to switch to GPS and be told you needed to download maps, although it was easy enough to do via PC. Image quality is good, with excellent colour reproduction. Overall it's an ideal travel zoom camera, if you are able to charge the battery regularly.

I found a lot to like in the Samsung WB850F, including an ample zoom range, well-implemented controls, innovative Wi-Fi capabilities, and good image quality. The camera's GPS features are very good, too, though having to load them onto the camera yourself is a bit of a hassle. The WB850F certainly provides a lot of bang for the buck in terms of features. But the camera has a few downsides in usability, such as iffy stabilization at the telephoto end, laggy reaction times for some in-camera selections, and so-so low-light performance. The overall result is a good, versatile megazoom that's easily the best Wi-Fi-enabled camera we've tested so far.

I found a lot to like in the Samsung WB850F, including an ample zoom range, well-implemented controls, innovative Wi-Fi capabilities, and good image quality. The camera's GPS features are very good, too, though having to load them onto the camera yourself is a bit of a hassle. The WB850F certainly provides a lot of bang for the buck in terms of features. But the camera has a few downsides in usability, such as iffy stabilization at the telephoto end, laggy reaction times for some in-camera selections, and so-so low-light performance. The overall result is a good, versatile megazoom that's easily the best Wi-Fi-enabled camera we've tested so far. But aside from its futuristic features, it comes up a bit short of the usability bar set by the Canon PowerShot SX260 HS.

If you're looking for a compact megazoom as a companion to a smartphone camera, the WB850F is one of the best options you're going to find. The Sony Cyber-shot HX30V, has better shooting performance and photo quality, but for some users the differences will be slight and Samsung delivers a better Wi-Fi experience. For snapshooters looking to enter the world of connected cameras, the WB850F is a good place to start.

The WB850F arrives with a ‘Smart’ moniker and more features than you can shake a stick at. Unfortunately several usability issues hamper the shooting experience but overall its pros outweigh its cons.

The GPS system in the Samsung WB850F is a fun addition for tagging your images with their shooting location, but the mapping isn't as easy to use or as effective as the Maps app on the iPhone. This plus the additional battery drain means it is likely to be turned off for much of the time. Smartphone users are used to uploading and emailing images as and when they like. The Wi-Fi capability in the Samsung WB850F makes this more-or-less possible with a decent dedicated camera, and we think it will prove a big hit. While the Samsung WB850F wouldn't be our camera of choice for shooting in low light, it turns out good quality images in normal lighting conditions. In some cases the images really leap out from the screen, but in others, reds can look a little over-cooked.

The Samsung WB850F is a compact superzoom camera with a wider-than-average lens, GPS, and Wi-Fi, but its a little slow to start and shoot, and image quality suffers at higher ISO settings.