Simplify your laptop buying
CNET editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 09/10/2009
There are very few ultracompact cameras that offer the amount of control over your photos as the Samsung TL320. Whether you want to play with shutter speeds and apertures, adjust white balance, color, and exposure beyond presets, or tweak sharpness, contrast, and saturation--all of those things and more are available. The combination of features makes it a fine pocket camera for digital SLR users accustomed to having such things at their fingertips as well as those simply looking for a broad-featured point-and-shoot. However, don't expect the photo quality and performance to measure up to dSLR levels.
| Key specs | Samsung TL320 |
| Price (MSRP) | $379.99 |
| Dimensions (WHD) | 3.8 x 2.4 x 0.8 inches |
| Weight (with battery and media) | 6.5 ounces |
| Megapixels, image sensor size, type | 12 megapixels, 1/2.3-inch CCD |
| LCD size, resolution/viewfinder | 3-inch AMOLED, 518K dots/None |
| Lens (zoom, aperture, focal length) | 5x, f2.8-5.8, 24-120mm (35mm equivalent) |
| File format (still/video) | JPEG/H.264 (.MP4) |
| Highest resolution size (still/video) | 4,000x3,000 pixels/1,280x720 at 30fps |
| Image stabilization type | Optical and digital |
| Battery type, rated life | Lithium ion rechargeable, 280 shots |
The TL320 has an upscale design suited to its price tag. The all-metal chassis has a pleasing heft to it and a textured grip on the right both looks and feels good. Adding to its beauty is a gorgeous 3-inch active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display (AMOLED), which is very bright and presumably better on battery life than an LCD. On top are two analog gauges: one for remaining battery life, one for available space on your SD/SDHC card. Also on top is a small power button ringed in blue light, a shutter release, and a sunken shooting mode dial. The dial is exposed at the back for easy changes with your thumb. Below it on back is a lever for the 5x zoom of the 24mm-equivalent wide-angle lens. Moving down the back is a Menu button, navigation dial/directional pad, and Playback and Fn (function) buttons.
The Fn button brings up a context-sensitive shooting menu, and pressing the Menu button pulls up an attractive interface for access to all shooting functions, sound, display, and settings. The whole system can be navigated quickly using the dial or more controlled with the directional pad beneath the dial.
Really, the only weak part of the design is the proprietary jack in the bottom for data, power, and AV output. A USB cable is included for charging from a wall outlet or computer as well as an analog cable for connecting to a TV. But, you'll have to shell out for a cradle (SCC-HD2) if you want to connect by HDMI. This isn't unusual, but it does take away from the package on the whole.
| General shooting options | Samsung TL320 |
| ISO sensitivity (full resolution) | Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 |
| White balance | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent H, Fluorescent L, Tungsten, Custom, Color Temperature |
| Recording modes | Smart Auto, Auto, Program, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual, User, Dual IS, Movie, Scene |
| Focus | Multi AF, Center AF, Selection AF, Manual Focus, Macro |
| Metering | Multi, Spot, Center-weighted |
| Color effects | Normal, Soft, Vivid, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Classic, Negative, Custom RGB |
| Burst mode shot limit (full resolution) | Unlimited continuous |
The TL320 is overflowing with shooting options with all degrees of adjustability. The Smart Auto mode automatically chooses the appropriate camera settings based on 11 scene types. Want to pick your scene type? There are 13 to choose from including a Frame Guide option that lets you compose a shot, capture part of the precomposed scene onscreen, and then hand the camera off to someone else to take the picture while you get in the shot. Those who don't want to touch any settings can put it in Auto, which locks most options from being changed. Then you get the other end of the shooting spectrum with manual and semimanual controls for aperture (with 12 stops to choose from) and shutter speeds from 16 seconds to 1/2,000 of a second. There's also a User selection on the Mode dial for assigning a collection of settings that you frequently use.
There is a bunch of little extras hiding in the camera, too, like the capability to fine-tune white balance and color temperature, self-portrait face detection that emits a beep from the camera so you know when you're in focus, effective backlight compensation, exposure bracketing, and a motion-sensitive shutter-release timer. That last one is particularly interesting, letting you set the timer and then trigger it to start counting down by waving or making a motion in front of the camera. About the only glaring omission is an auto-orientation sensor for righting photos taken vertically.
Continue readingMost helpful user reviews
-
Average user rating:
0 stars
Not yet available
Back to product review - My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 2 of 2 user reviews
-
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
- See all 2 user reviews Write review
Submit your review
Samsung TL320 (black):
%20Digital%20camera%20reviews%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/samsung-tl320-black/4505-6501_7-33581774.html){kind=small}