The Samsung Vega 170 belongs to Samsung's Vega/Evoca line of mid-range 35mm compact cameras, sold in some export markets as the Evoca 170se. It sat toward the top of Samsung's film point-and-shoot range for buyers wanting a long zoom without an SLR.
It uses 35mm DX-coded film behind a Schneider-designed 38-170mm zoom lens (f/4.7-13.5, 10 elements in 7 groups, two aspherical). Shutter speeds run 1/3 to 1/400 second plus bulb, autofocus works through a real-image viewfinder with 83% coverage, and the flash covers 0.6-4.4m wide and 0.9-2.1m tele. Power comes from a CR-123A lithium cell.
The long 170mm reach set it apart from shorter Samsung compacts of the same generation, useful for candid portraits and travel shots. Shooting modes include portrait zoom, continuous, landscape, spot metering and panorama, giving more control than a basic point-and-shoot.
Used examples turn up at car-boot sales and film-camera listings rather than dedicated shops. Check the zoom barrel for smooth extension, the battery compartment for corrosion, and that the flash and shutter fire correctly, since light seals often perish with age.