ShyWriter Posted November 20, 2010 ID:348450 Share Posted November 20, 2010 A WiFi CameraBy WILLA PLANK | NOVEMBER 20, 2010, 12:02 P.M. ETI can't remember the last time I used my point-and-shoot. I take most of my photos with my iPhone because it makes it so easy to share photos by email or on Facebook.Now, some camera companies are trying to make it easier to share high-quality photos with WiFi-enabled digital cameras. I tested Samsung's ST80, a 14.2 megapixel point-and-shoot camera that lets you send photos straight from the device over WiFi.Video is playable from here - click on image.Wouldn't it be great if your digital camera made sharing those high-quality photos easier? That's what Samsung is trying to do with its ST80, a WiFi-enabled camera. WSJ's Willa Planks tests sharing photos with the ST80.The ST80 came out last month and costs $249.99. It's a tiny camera, measuring approximately 3.6 by 2.2 inches and weighing about 4 ounces. I actually found it difficult to get a good grip on the camera. The 3-inch touchscreen was responsive and easy to use, and the camera can also record 720p video.Shots came out best in bright daylight. At first glance, photos I took of the gold statue and ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center looked true to life. But people and scenery in the background looked murky, and the photos lacked crispness.I also noticed a slight capture delay after pressing the shutter button, which wasn't a problem until I tried to take a photo of an ice skater mid-jump. Even when I pressed the button slightly before she jumped, I was never able to capture the skater mid-air.I also had trouble taking photos at night or in low light. Even in Times Square, which stays fairly well-lit at night, most photos weren't sharp. When I turned on the flash to take a photo of my plate at a restaurant, it ended up washed out.A Samsung spokesperson suggested focusing on the subject of the photo while in "program" mode by using options like "one touch shooting," which allows you to select a specific area of focus using the touchscreen. I experimented with this option in my apartment at night, and the objects I photographed looked like they were in broad daylight.The ST80 can connect to free WiFi, your home network or Boingo, a network with nearly 30,000 hotspots in the U.S. (ST80 users get a 3-month free trial when they purchase the camera; thereafter, Boingo costs $7.95 a month.) The camera only attempts to connect to WiFi once you select "web" on the "wireless networking" menu.I tested out the ST80's photo-sharing capabilities in Times Square, one of the few places where I found a free WiFi connection. After a couple of tries, I got a connection through the Boingo network. To upload photos to an existing Facebook album, I had to sign into Facebook and select an existing photo album on my profile. Then, I dragged the photos into the album.The entire process took about two minutes, which was noticeably longer than it takes me to send photos to Facebook using my iPhone on the 3G network.But I was able to upload more than one photo at a time to Facebook with the ST80, which was very convenient. Of course, it takes longer to upload multiple photos.I also e-mailed photos and uploaded them to Picasa. The ST80 supports sharing photos on Photobucket and Samsung's imaging site and 30-second video clips on YouTube. Unfortunately, posting photos to Twitter isn't among the options.And finding a free WiFi network to connect to sometimes felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. I often couldn't get the camera to pick up a signal when I was out on the street in New York, even in the middle of Rockefeller Center and Greenwich Village.I was concerned that the WiFi connectivity would drain the battery quickly. But since the ST80 only searches for WiFi when you try to share photos, this didn't add extra strain to the battery life.One useful feature is that the camera has more than two dozen built-in editing options including cropping and face retouching. I liked being able to fix photos before sharing them with the world, and editing on the camera using the touchscreen was surprisingly easy and fun.So is the ST80 worth it? $250 can buy a lot of digital camera these days, and I wasn't wowed by the photos I captured, particularly action shots. The WiFi connectivity is a great feature in theory, but didn't perform well in practice. We'll have to keep waiting for a camera that perfectly pairs high-quality photos with easy sharing. --END~Shy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSnakeKobra Posted November 20, 2010 ID:348455 Share Posted November 20, 2010 Stupid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyWriter Posted November 21, 2010 Author ID:348551 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Stupid.People with more money than they know what to do with HAVE to have stuff to spend it on, yes? ~Shy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yardbird Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348614 Share Posted November 21, 2010 People with more money than they know what to do with HAVE to have stuff to spend it on, yes? ~Shydidn't we say something almost the same thing when we posted those homes on here! you posted Bill's, I posted Steve's? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSnakeKobra Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348646 Share Posted November 21, 2010 People with more money than they know what to do with HAVE to have stuff to spend it on, yes? ~ShyYep. That's not what it's for. Technology yes, cool maybe, but I don't see what the purpose is. That's not it's main function. Sure you share media over wifi, but it doesn't mean your camera needs it. Like buying a new seating interring for your car and using it as a couch. Similar function, but doesn't suit the purpose. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yardbird Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348647 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Someday my Powerball will hit Like buying a new seating interring for your car and using it as a couch thats a good one Buttons! I like that Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSnakeKobra Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348648 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Thanks. Took me a minute to come up with something. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yardbird Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348650 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Thanks. Took me a minute to come up with something. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyWriter Posted November 21, 2010 Author ID:348780 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Yep. That's not what it's for. Technology yes, cool maybe, but I don't see what the purpose is. That's not it's main function. Sure you share media over wifi, but it doesn't mean your camera needs it. Like buying a new seating interior for your car and using it as a couch. Similar function, but doesn't suit the purpose. You just haven't found the right girl yet Buttons.. The more comfortable the back seat, the better the ride.. *wink*~Shy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountaintree16 Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348792 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Cool idea I guess but I prefer to just connect my trusty 4-year-old Nikon digital camera to my computer and pull the pictures off that way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountaintree16 Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348793 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Like buying a new seating interring for your car and using it as a couch.That would be really nice though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyWriter Posted November 21, 2010 Author ID:348795 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Yep. That's not what it's for. Technology yes, cool maybe, but I don't see what the purpose is. That's not it's main function. Sure you share media over wifi, but it doesn't mean your camera needs it. Like buying a new seating interring for your car and using it as a couch. Similar function, but doesn't suit the purpose. I imagine it's more for people that have already purchased wireless Printers - Camera to Printer in one easy step. Besides; no wires or cables or computer or software.. Just hit share - and let's not forget the ubiquitous share-to-facebook if one passes through a WiFi or 4G area. *laugh*~Shy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yardbird Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348862 Share Posted November 21, 2010 @ ButtonsI bought this for the back seat of my car Let me know if you want 1 - theres a 2 for 1 sale Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShyWriter Posted November 21, 2010 Author ID:348888 Share Posted November 21, 2010 @ ButtonsI bought this for the back seat of my car Let me know if you want 1 - theres a 2 for 1 sale I got a HumVee Ed; PLENTY of room; I'll take TWO of them *and* a coffee table.. *laughing*Keeps the footprints off the ceiling.. ~Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yardbird Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348897 Share Posted November 21, 2010 I got a HumVee Ed; PLENTY of room; I'll take TWO of them *and* a coffee table.. *laughing*Keeps the footprints off the ceiling.. ~Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkSnakeKobra Posted November 21, 2010 ID:348914 Share Posted November 21, 2010 You just haven't found the right girl yet Buttons.. The more comfortable the back seat, the better the ride.. *wink*~ShyNo I have not. Not interested thank you. @yardbirdNowhere to put it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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