Modern day gadgets are all about convergence; and so is our mindset. Samsung's newest addition to their i-series cameras is based on similar lines. The i85 is a digital still camera, a Portable Media Player (PMP), a voice recorder, a text reader and, the best of all, a tour guide all rolled into one device. I have high hopes for this one, let's see how it goes.

The Camera

The i85 is Samsung's third model to encompass PMP functionality. It has an 8MP CCD, a 5x optical zoom lens (36-180mm eff), and a 3-inch LCD screen at the back; among other things. The body of the i85 has a distinctive CMF (Color Material Finish) stainless finish and is available in a variety of colors like red, black, gold, and silver.
The PMP functionality in the i85 enables users to watch movies, music videos, television shows and even their favourite music while on-the-go. Another striking feature of the device is the World Tour Guide function, which provides travel information covering 4,500 sites in 30 countries; this should be helpful for users who want to plan trips and find their way around while on the road. The travel information files need to be downloaded separately though.

Design

The i85 is every bit sleek and compact it looks in the pictures. The CMF body is smooth and has a piano finish; it's a finger print magnet, in short. The slight curve in the body towards the right side of the camera makes it easier to grip while clicking pictures or shooting videos.

The back of the camera accommodates a 3-inch LCD screen (230,000 pixel resolution) and has small 5-way navigation keys and function controls along with the zoom rocker. Placed on top of the LCD are the Face Detection, Mode select and Review keys. The buttons seem to be rather small and can be a problem for those who have humongous fingers.

The speaker (boasts of SRS 3D acoustic technology), power On/Off switch, and shutter release button are placed on top of the camera. A headphone jack is placed at the right hand side of the camera, allowing you to use the included headphones for listening to your MP3 music files, movies, etc.

The battery and the memory card compartment are placed at the bottom of the camera. The spring mechanism that holds the lid looks delicate and needs to be used gently and carefully. Also, removing the memory card is a little tricky, given the position of the slot. There are chances you'll damage the battery compartment cover if you're not careful enough.