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Steve's Conclusion
Samsung has continued introducing new models each year. The cameras now have a "DV" moniker in their names, and they're no longer officially called DualView models. Although the dual LCD cameras haven't changed that much in appearance in the past few years, one of the biggest changes has come in price. The original DualView cameras carried a cost of between $300 and $400, typically, a few years ago. However, one of the latest Samsung dual LCD models, the DV300F, carries a sub-$200 price tag.
For beginners who want to shoot self-portraits, there are few cameras better for this task than the DV300F, especially considering the price. This model does a nice job with portrait photos, and its focus is sharp the vast majority of the time. Having 16-megapixels of resolution in this Samsung camera is also great for shooting photos that can be printed at a variety of sizes. You can choose from eight different resolutions when shooting photos, which is another nice feature.
Certainly, the 5x optical zoom lens on this camera is going to be unappealing for many beginning photographers. Having a small optical zoom lens is going to be a disappointment when thin cameras on the market today routinely have 10x and larger zoom lenses. However, you do have to keep in mind that the dual LCD design of the DV300F means that this camera is aimed as one that excels at portrait photography. So, with that in mind, a large zoom lens really isn't as important as it might be with a model that's designed more for general photography needs.
Speaking of the DV300F's photography features, they're also pretty solid. Image quality is pretty good across the board. I felt like the image quality for outdoor photos on sunny days was very good, with bright, realistic colors. On cloudy days, the colors were a bit muted for my liking, but the focus remained sharp.
Indoor photos were also pretty good, especially for a camera in the sub-$200 price range, with or without the flash. Even though the DV300F's flash unit is pretty small, it's located in a pretty good spot, and it performs well most of the time. As with most small point-n-shoot camera built-in flash units, you need to make sure you aren't too close to the subject to avoid washout problems, or too far away to ensure proper illumination.
If you want to try to shoot without a flash by manually bumping up the ISO, Samsung has given this camera the ability to shoot at up to an ISO 3200 setting. However, you will start to notice noise in the images at ISO 400 and ISO 800. The noise is pretty prevalent at ISO 1600 and ISO 3200, so this won't be the best option for recording low-light photos, if you can avoid it.
Manual settings are also available for the white balance and exposure value when you're in Program mode, but you may not need them. After all, this is an easy-to-use point-n-shoot camera. Considering the audience at which Samsung is aiming this type of camera, it's not surprising that advanced features aren't a priority.
Samsung cameras typically have the best looking menu structures around, and the DV300F follows suit. The menus use a lot of icons and graphics, which is great for beginners who are just trying to learn how to use a camera for the first time. The 3.0-inch LCD screen on the back of this model is very bright and sharp, and you can pick from three different brightness settings.
The LCD on the front isn't quite as bright, large, or sharp, measuring 1.5 inches diagonally. However, it serves its purpose very well. Since you won't be reviewing images on this smaller LCD screen, it doesn't necessarily need to match the high resolution you'll find on the larger LCD on the back.
If you're planning to shoot a lot of movies with your camera, and you want to view them on your large-screen HDTV, you may be disappointed that the DV300F can only shoot video at a maximum 720p HD. However, for sharing videos with social networking sites or on YouTube, 720p HD video resolution should be adequate. There's no HDMI slot on this DualView camera either.
I found it very easy to set up the DV300F with my Wi-Fi network. The camera quickly detected the network and walked me through the process to make a connection. One issue I did notice was that extended use of the Wi-Fi capabilities of this camera tended to drain the battery more quickly than standard photography work.
In addition, Samsung did not include a separate battery charger with this model. You will charge the battery inside the camera with a short USB cable (2 feet long) and an AC adapter. Because the DV300F can drain the battery fairly quickly if you're using the front LCD and the Wi-Fi network quite a bit, you probably will want to have a second fully charged battery available. You'll also need to make sure you have a microSD style of memory card on hand, as that's the only type of card that will work with his model.
There are a few other drawbacks to the DV300F. Obviously, in this price range, it would be nearly impossible to include a touch-screen LCD on the back of the camera, but such a feature would be great for a model that's aimed squarely at beginners. It also would be nice to be able to work with the on-screen menus using a touch screen, as Samsung did not include a mode dial with this camera, nor did the manufacturer make the control buttons a comfortable size. The four-way button on this camera is far too small, and all of the DV300F's buttons should be raised away from the camera body a little bit more. With all of the on-screen menus and the large number of commands that require constant use of the four-way button, having larger control buttons would be extremely helpful.
The power button also is a little small and is a bit too tight to the top panel of the camera, which can make it tough to turn on the camera when you're in a hurry to capture a spontaneous photo of your children. However, the DV300F does have a fast start-up, so you may be able to overcome any issues with the power button.
Beyond these issues, this DualView model is a fun camera to use. In addition to the LCD on the front of the camera, you can apply a wide variety of special effects to your images, either as you're shooting them or after they're recorded. Picture-in-picture, superimposed frames, "funny face," and more than a dozen other special effects are available with the DV300F, all of which contribute to the way this camera works well with social networking sites.
It fits easily inside a pocket, measuring less than 0.8 inches in thickness. The lens retracts fully inside the camera when it's powered down, with the lens glass protected by a cover. When in use, the lens extends about an inch away from the camera body at its maximum length, which means that the DV300F remains a very small camera, even when you're shooting images.
Considering its market, the color scheme with the DV300F is a bit odd. An all black camera is the most likely configuration for the DV300F, although you may also see a silver model with a red, blue, or purple back, which is a look I don't really like. For a camera that tries to be really fun to use, having better color options would be nice.
Bottom Line - The Samsung DV300F is a really fun camera, which is important for the market at which it's aimed. This camera, with a sub-$200 price point, has basic photography features and is only going to work well for beginning photographers who are looking for a camera that's easy to use. In that segment of the market, though, the DV300F has quite a few really interesting options that will make photography a lot of fun. This camera offers special effects that will allow you to turn an ordinary photograph into something special or funny for your Facebook page. It also features a Wi-Fi transmitter, making it easy to upload your photos and videos to social networking sites as soon as you shoot them. Samsung included a fully graphical menu interface, complete with automatic help screens, to make it easier to find the exact feature you want to use. Best of all though is the 1.5-inch LCD on the front of the camera, which makes it easy to take self-portraits or to keep the attention of children as you're trying to shoot their photos. Considering all of its fun features and its price point, the DV300F provides a great value. It won't work well for everyone -- especially those people looking to shoot a lot of landscape-type photos that require a large optical zoom lens -- but for those looking to create portrait photos that can be shared electronically, the DV300F is a great, inexpensive option.
Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.
| Samsung DV300F 16MP Dual View Camera - Black | |||
| Product | Price | Information | Seller Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
 Seller: Sears | $200 | Condition: New In Stock: Yes |  1276 reviews |
