Samsung attacks the fun-zoom segment with the new HZ10w (aka WB500)

The "fun zoom segment", which was turned into a popular super-zoom sub-segment with the breakout success of the Panasonic TZ3 is getting more crowded. Just yesterday Olympus made its "fun zoom" debut with the 10X Stylus 9000. Samsung however is going wider, offering 24-240mm (in 35mm-equivalent of course) and thus creating some separation between its model and most of the other "fun zooms" that start at 28mm or more. Another spec-plus is that this camera allows for manual exposure control, which is something that the popular TZ-series from Panasonic does not allow.

Main Specs
+ 10-megapixel sensor
+ 24-240mm lens (10X) with optical image stabilization
+ manual exposure control
+ 2.7" LCD
+ LiIon
+ price of around $300 available for pre-order at Amazon

Further Reading
+ Photography Blog
+ Let's Go Digital
+ UberGizmo
+ DC Resource
+ Imaging Resource
+ Digital Camera Review
+ In some markets it is known as the WB500 - see AmPhoUK.