Samsung NV10 review

The shutter feels responsive, lagging just 0.7 seconds with our high-contrast target and 1 second with our low-contrast target. Burst mode disappointed, taking just six full-resolution photos in 8.8 seconds for a rate of 0.7 frames per second (fps).

Shooting speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Typical shot-to-shot time

Time to first shot

Shutter lag (typical)

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1000

1.4

1.2

0.4

Canon PowerShot G7

1.7

1.5

0.5

Samsung NV11

2.3

2.4

0.6

Samsung NV10

2.1

3

0.7

Nikon Coolpix P5000

3

2

0.9

 
Image quality
Despite some notable flaws, photos taken on the NV10 generally look good. Pictures appear crisp and full of detail, with vivid colour reproduction. Fine textures such as fur, fabric and text come out very clearly, with few artefacts. Noise stays manageable at low sensitivity levels, though shots taken at ISO 400 develop a distinct grain that can be easily seen on computer monitors and is accompanied by a minor loss of fine detail.

At ISO 800 and above, that grain becomes a prominent fuzz that obscures fine details and muddles colours. Fringing also tended to find its way into some photos, with pinkish auras developing on nearly every contrasting edge.

Conclusion
Though its Smart Touch interface takes some getting used to, the Samsung NV10 is a good compact camera. Its responsive shutter, manual controls and attractive images make it a fine choice for casual photographers who want plenty of options without a much bulk. If you're willing to spend a little more, though, consider instead the Samsung NV11. The NV10's bigger, slightly heavier brother boasts a more powerful zoom and both aperture- and shutter-priority modes, two much-appreciated improvements over this model.

Additional editing by Nick Hide