We've been generally unimpressed with the latest round of basic point-and-shoots, including those from Samsung's mid-range Smart series, but we do tend to take heed whenever a manufacturer opts to focus on optics rather than bumping up the megapixel count to boost sticker appeal.

ENGADGET: Samsung EX2F point-and-shoot with f/1.4 lens hands-on (video)

Shortly after we caught wind of Android "consideration" within Samsung's camera division, a report surfaced that implied a change in course for the Galaxy giant -- the Korean company was ramping up mirrorless camera production at the cost of scaling back point-and-shoots, and the move appeared to represent a general shift away from compacts with a heavier focus on improving optics in smartphones.

ENGADGET: Editorial: Android cameras -- could Samsung's Galaxy gamble save the point-and-shoot industry?

The small size of the LED light chip allows another advantage arising from the physics of optics: Engineers can employ collaterally small lenses making it possible to efficiently extract, direct and focus the lumens, achieving useful illumination with far fewer lumens--and far less energy--wasted.

FORBES: The LED Illumination Revolution