In burst mode, we took nine 10-megapixel photos in 10.9 seconds for an unimpressive rate of 0.83 frames per second. The slightly lower resolution S850 outshone its bigger brother in almost every category of our tests, with a scant half-second shutter lag and a 2.1-second shot-to-shot time.
The S1050's higher resolution probably
contributes at least partly to that slower speed, but even a
10-megapixel camera shouldn't be this slow. Both the 10-megapixel
Image quality
Noise plagues the S1050's photos, and
grain shows up in shots taken at settings as low as ISO 80. Almost any
noise at that level could be considered unacceptable but in fairness
the noise only becomes apparent on computer monitors. Any noise found
in prints will remain unnoticed to most eyes.
Unfortunately, even prints start to look noisy around ISO 400, and photos shot at ISO 800 and ISO 1,600 look like televisions with poor reception -- regardless of the format on which they're displayed. Worse still, this noise takes the camera's otherwise good colour reproduction and horribly mutes the blues and reds.
One of the biggest benefits to any 10-megapixel camera is the ability to produce large prints, yet the S1050's noise renders that nearly impossible. Though the S850 sports a lower, 8-megapixel resolution, its much lower noise means its prints still look good at the sizes where the S1050's prints start to show grain.
On top of its terrible noise, the S1050 also produced a heavy amount of fringing in our photos. High-contrast edges, like a building against a bright sky or a piece of paper against a dark desk, looked pink and fuzzy. These fringes might seem irritating but compared to the camera's excessive noise, they present only a minor nuisance.
Conclusion
The Samsung S1050's photos are
noisier, it shoots much slower, and it's almost £50 more than the S850.
If you want an inexpensive camera with manual exposure controls, the choice is obvious. Go with the Samsung S850, and leave this one alone.
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday
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