Samsung's 2003 4MP enthusiast compact — Schneider 38-114mm equiv f/2.8-5.0, 1/1.8in CCD, AA or Li-ion power
The Samsung Digimax V4 was announced on 10 February 2003 as one of Samsung's more ambitious early digital compacts, sitting above the budget Digimax models thanks to a German-designed Schneider-Kreuznach lens and a relatively large sensor for the class. It represented Samsung's push to be taken seriously in cameras during the four-megapixel era.
It paired a 4-megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD with a Schneider-Kreuznach Varioplan 7.7-23.1mm f/2.8-5.0 zoom, equivalent to 38-114mm in 35mm terms. Maximum still resolution was 2304x1728, sensitivity ran ISO 100-400 with contrast-detect autofocus, and video recorded at up to 640x480 at 15fps. Images went to SD cards, framing used a 1.5-inch LCD, and power was unusually flexible: AA alkaline, NiMH or lithium cells, CR-V3, a dedicated I-pack Li-ion battery, or mains adapter. The body measured 106x55x38mm.
The bright f/2.8 wide end and the larger 1/1.8-inch CCD give the V4 more headroom than typical 2003 compacts, and the flexible power options make it forgiving to run today. It suits collectors of early-2000s digicams and anyone after the dense, contrasty colour of big-pixel CCDs, though the small LCD and slow video date the handling.
On the used market check that some usable power option is included — the dedicated I-pack batteries are old, but plain AA cells will run the camera, which is a real advantage. SD cards are still easy to find, though older cameras may need smaller-capacity cards. Inspect the lens for haze, confirm the zoom and flash operate, and look for LCD deterioration typical of twenty-year-old compacts.