Travel gadget: Samsung SH1000 camera

Samsung SH1000 digital camera. Photo / Natalie Slade

I got my first camera aged six and had to send the film away for processing: it took three weeks to get my pictures back.

Forty years on I can view my pictures immediately and even share them with the world in a matter of minutes, via the web.

We can now post pictures to online social media instantly using camera phones but this is costly when overseas. We've all heard about $1000 plus internet roaming bills.

In addition, camera phones have limited function and quality and require constant recharging.

But the Samsung SH100 is a real camera which lets us share our experiences no matter where we are in pictures that you'd want to keep and without breaking the bank.

It's fairly basic with scene modes, flash and ISO control and has auto mode and video, too, accessed by a nifty touch screen on the rear. Controls are easy to use but seem tailored to smaller-fingered users.

There's basic photo manipulation in-camera and the battery life is decent. The camera's real worth is the ability to connect to the web via wi-fi allowing instantaneous posting of snaps wherever you are. Except Auckland, however, as I struggled to find a decent hot-spot.

Opportunities to connect this camera to the web should be a breeze overseas, though. Imagine being able to share your holiday experiences with friends and family as you live them.

The Samsung SH1000 has a RRP of $399.

Alex Robertson is the Herald deputy illustrations editor