Editors Choice 2005: Digital Point and Shoot Cameras

Samsung Digimax V700

Samsung's new flagship is seriously slimmed down; at about an inch thick, the Digimax V700 will slip into a shirt pocket but its specs and features are big and fat. Unlike other digital point-and-shoots that shall remain nameless, the camera's model number matches its high pixel count, seven million.

The LCD monitor is a two-incher, and battery life gets a boost with a rechargeable Li-ion wafer, which helps reduce the bulk caused by the previous AA cells. A 3X zoom, 38-114mm equivalent, is the usual Schneider.

To the expected Samsung surfeit of features and controls the V700 adds some unusual ones, such as a Text mode that works with supplied character-recognition software to convert photographed documents to editable text, and a Steadicam-style digital stabilizer for the camera's VGA-res video.

Fashion-conscious photographers should note that the V700 comes in silver, blue, or "noble wine" (pictured).

About $370.