Samsung's 2012 budget 26x bridge camera — 16.2MP CCD, 22.3-580mm equiv dual-stabilised zoom, AA power
The Samsung WB100 was a budget bridge-style ultrazoom announced on 29 June 2012, sitting at the affordable end of Samsung's WB range beneath the flagship bridge models. Sold in black and red, it offered one of the widest starting focal lengths of any superzoom of its day and was discontinued around mid-2013.
It combined a 16.2-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD with a 26x optical zoom covering an unusually wide 22.3-580mm equivalent range at f/3.1-5.9, steadied by Samsung's dual stabilisation combining optical and digital systems. A 3.0-inch, 230k-dot screen handled framing, sensitivity ran ISO 80-3200, and video recorded at 720p and 30fps. Storage used SD, SDHC or SDXC cards, and power came from four AA batteries in an SLR-styled grip body.
The 22.3mm wide end is the standout — wider than nearly all rivals — making the WB100 as useful for cramped interiors and landscapes as for distant subjects at 580mm. It suits budget-minded travellers and beginners wanting one do-everything camera, accepting CCD-era low-light limits and the bulk of a bridge body in exchange for the range.
AA power is convenient second-hand — no charger worries, and NiMH cells are cheap — but check the battery bay for leakage residue. Run the zoom through its whole 26x travel checking for smoothness, verify the stabiliser and flash fire correctly, and look over the LCD and viewfinderless rear panel for wear; SD-family cards remain universally available.