Samsung this morning revealed what it says is one of the world's smallest high-resolution cameras yet. Although capable of 8-megapixel shots, the new camera is roughly as wide as a coin and a third of an inch thick, allowing it to fit into far thinner and more compact phones than even many 5-megapixel cameras. The sensor is also more powerful than most at its size with up to ISO 1600 light sensitivity, anti-blur and noise correction, and both face and smile detection for portraits.

The optics are also said to be flexible with a 30mm wide-angle equivalent and extremely close macro shooting up to 0.4 inches away from the lens. Samsung explains that the new camera will be used both in Korea and abroad and that it should find its way both into cellphones as well as digital cameras and other portable media devices. Production samples will start arriving for customers in May but should reach shipping products sometime in the second half of this year, though the company has not named any launch partners.