Samsung adds more pocket cameras for US

Samsung this morning formalized the launch of its new camera series with several US announcements. Following some earlier world introductions, the company now says the NV100HD will be released stateside as the TL34HD. The camera (pictured) is one of the sharpest point-and-shoots ever with a 14.7-megapixel sensor; it also shoots at up to an unusually high ISO 3,200 light sensitivity with the option of boosting to ISO 4,800 by dropping resolution to three megapixels.

The silver-and-red camera also promises a 28mm wide-angle lens with a 3.6X optical zoom and earns its HD moniker through an ability to record in 720p, including while using the camera's hardware image stabilization. A 640x480 three-inch touchscreen supplies more accurate previews and controls for content than most past cameras in the category. Samsung hopes to ship the camera in September for $330.

Three smaller-resolution cameras accompany the TL34HD. The TL9 is the farthest-reaching with 5X optical zoom to frame its 10-megapixel images, and boasts an 800x600 video mode; it also has the unusual touches of analog gauges to display battery life and storage independently of the on-screen display. Its sensitivity is capped at ISO 1,600 but as a result drops the price to $280 for its September launch.

The SL310W is the crispest of the simpler cameras with a 13.6-megapixel sensor, which also gives it ISO 3,200 sensitivity. A 28mm, 3.6X zoom wide-angle lens with image stabilization also helps the point-and-shoot, which launches at the same time as the above cameras with a $230 price.

The most basic camera of the series is the SL201, which shares the TL9's 10-megapixel sensor but is limited to 3X zoom and ISO 1,600. The change makes the SL201 the most affordable with a $170 price for its September introduction.