With the annual Photo Marketing Association tradeshow in Las Vegas around the corner, it is being presumed that Samsung just might showcase a prototype of its first 'hybrid' camera, which will have the functionalities of a dSLR and the compact marks of a point-and-shoot!

As per a press release, the hybrid camera, which is still at the conceptual stage, will fall under Samsung's new NX-series, supporting a structure that would allow users to install interchangeable lenses. The perceived camera will apparently include a fixed-focal-length 33mm or 35mm lens for a 50mm-corresponding angle of view.

According to the few details coming from the Samsung quarters, the proposed camera will be based around APS-C-sized sensor, which would result in an effectual 1.5X focal-length multiplier, similar to the one presently used in most consumer dSLRs. A bigger-sized sensor implies greater surface area for light to fall on, which invariably results in better image quality.

The camera, being conceptualized by Samsung's newly-created Samsung Digital Imaging Company, makes use of the ultra-accurate EVF - electronic viewfinder, rather than the regular optical one. The company expects the camera to be shipped in the second half of the year.

Though at present, Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 happens to be the only contending hybrid available in the market, Samsung anticipates hybrid cameras to account for almost 20 percent of the market share by 2012.