Samsung's TL500 Digital Camera (Black) is their most ambitious point-and-shoot yet: a 10-megapixel camera with a F1.8-2.4 Schneider-KREUZNACH 35mm equivalent 24-72mm lens that is one of the fastest and one of the widest lenses in this category. This gives the TL500 a decided edge in shooting under low-light conditions and provides a more professional look for your photos (the 24mm lens is a workhorse for many professionals, but rarely found in this class of camera). Coupled with ISO ratings stretching up to 3200 and the Dual Image Stabilization system, the TL500 can handle almost any situation that you encounter.
In addition to a wide range of shooting and focusing modes, creative color effects (Sketch, Defog, Soft, Vivid, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Classic, Negative, Custom RGB), automatic optimized settings for common situations (Night, Portrait, Fireworks, Macro, Sunset, Backlight, etc.), and a "smart" filter that gives you fish-eye, vignetting, and "miniature" effects; the TL500 gives you professional tools like a hotshoe for an auxiliary flash (in addition to the built-in flash), plus RAW and JPEG shooting capability for getting the absolute best from your photographs.
A 3" AMOLED VGA rotating display makes composing and playback a pleasure. The TL500 also features Single Image, Thumbnails, Multi-slide show, and Smart Album playback options, and in-camera editing options. And, you can shoot video at 15 or 30 FPS at up to 640x480 resolution.
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 10 Megapixel |
| Sensor | 1/1.7" CCD |
| File Formats |
Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Audio: AAC, WAV |
| Max Resolution | 10MP: 3648 x 2736 @ 4:3 |
| Other Resolutions |
8MP: 3264 x 2448 @ 4:3 5MP: 2592 x 1944 @ 4:3 3MP: 2048 x 1536 @ 4:3 1MP: 1024 x 768 @ 4:3 7MP: 3648 x 2048 @ 16:9 2MP: 1920 x 1080 @ 16:9 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3, 16:9 |
| Image Stabilization | Optical & Digital |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens |
Schneider-KREUZNACH (35mm equivalent: 24-72mm) Aperture: f/1.8 (W) - 2.4 (T) |
| Zoom | Optical: 3x |
| Focus Range |
Wide: 1.31' (40 cm) - Infinity Telephoto: 2.62' (80 cm) - Infinity Wide Macro: 0.03' (1 cm) - 1.31' (40 cm) Tele Macro: 0.16' (50 mm) - 2.62' (80 cm)Infinity |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 80-3200 |
| Shutter | 16 - 1/1500 seconds |
| Exposure Metering | Center-weighted, Multi, Spot |
| Exposure Modes |
Modes: Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority Compensation: -2 EV to +2 EV (in 1/3 EV steps) |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Fluorescent (Day White), Fluorescent H, Manual, Tungsten |
| Burst Rate | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Self Timer | 2 Seconds, 10 Seconds |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes: Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off, Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync |
| Effective Flash Range |
Wide: 0.66 - 17.06' (0.2 - 5.2 m) Telephoto: 1.64 - 8.20' (0.5 - 2.5 m) |
| External Flash Connection | None |
| Memory | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | 1GB |
| Memory Card Type |
SD SDHC |
| Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC/PAL |
| Video | |
|---|---|
| Video Clip Length | Up to 20 Minutes |
| Audio Recording | With Still Images & Video, Mono |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder Type | None |
| Screen |
3" OLED
1
Please Note:Rotating screen close |
| Connectivity/System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Connectivity |
USB 2.0 AV Output HDMI A (Full Size) |
| Environmental | |
|---|---|
| Operating/Storage Temperature |
Operating 32 to 104 °F (0 to 40 °C) Humidity: 5 - 85% |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery | SLB-11A Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| AC Power Adapter | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 4.5 x 2.5 x 1.18" / 114.30 x 63.50 x 29.97 mm |
| Weight | 0.4 lb / 181 g (Camera only) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
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Most Liked Positive Review
Perfect camera for DSLR users!!!
I use this camera as a everyday, don't want to lug around my DSLR, camera. I love street photography and this camera does it all. Wide angle is great for big street scenes....Read complete review
I use this camera as a everyday, don't want to lug around my DSLR, camera. I love street photography and this camera does it all. Wide angle is great for big street scenes. Also been working on some Landscape shots. With a little working knowledge of the camera OOC pictures are great. Scene modes are very accurate. Manual and Aperture modes are easy to adjust with wheels and dials. Build quality is top notch. It feels good and solid in my hands. The placement of the wheel, buttons, and dials seem nature coming from a dslr. I'm not saying this camera can take the place of your DSLR, but it was never meant to. I haven't been disappointed yet having this with me instead of my big boy. I can't tell you about the video because I don't use a camera for that.
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Most Liked Negative Review
raw converter not compatible with mac
i bought this camera thinking about shooting in raw.
i must say that i am very disappointed that the disc that come with it, is not compatible with mac.
it is a gr...Read complete review
i bought this camera thinking about shooting in raw.
i must say that i am very disappointed that the disc that come with it, is not compatible with mac.
it is a great camera to bad.
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Reviewed by 47 customers
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
This would be one of the fews thing I would save should my home goes up in flames!!
Pros
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
I did a extensive research before buying this camera. I was looking for an alternative to my SLRs for those times when I didn't want to carry a lot of gear, such as casual photography, street shooting, travel, or hiking/biking. I was not interested in an ILC (I do not need to buy more lenses!) My requirements were a solid (i.e. meal body) build, a larger sensor and 10 megapixel with a fast lens. The Schneider-Kreuznach 1.8 lens on this camera is superb. The zoom range is quite adequate for my purposes and does not sacrifice image quality for reach. The image stabilization is very satisfactory. Picture quality has been excellent. I appreciate the size and feel of the camera -not too small and has some heft (this is not a pocket camera). Controls are well thought out and intuitive settings can be manipulated without recourse to the menus. However, the menu lay out is very clear and accessible. Finally, the articulated AMOLED screen is fantastic. The ability to rotate the screen really facilitates shooting in those situations when you get a difficult camera angle. The screen itself is fabulously crisp and bright. I also appreciate that the screen can be turned in toward the camera body when it is not in use, affording it extra protection. I purchased the SEF15A external flash and the Samsung Remote for the camera. I am very pleased with both. While the on-camera flash unit is very adequate for what it is, the SEF15A gives you a little more reach and also saves the camera battery if you are in a situation where you are using the flash repeatedly. I have not tried the video features yet and don't really have much interest in shooting video. I really have no dislikes about the camera. On a 1 to 5 scale, I'd give the camera a 5. Purchased from B&H - always satisfied!
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
I must say Bravo to Samsung(and B&H for the package with Adobe Lightroom3)PRO'S: The great build and feel,its like my 35mm film rangefinders(Olympus 35RC and XA) only easier to use.The lens,24mm wide(in 35 format speaks)and fast!Raw capture!Very good jpeg photo's The screen is the best I have used,bright sun included.The menu is easier than most and has enough dedicated buttons and dials to make it easier.That being said NO camera is perfect.You can't assign a function to a different button,I don't take video,so direct iso or metering function?Firmware upgrade? Also the battery life is unremarkable, you NEED 2 it gives very little warning! All and all this camera is first rate,a joy to use plus Great photo's
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
Lack of built-in viewfinder is definitively the main cons
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
I purchased this for all the times I don't want to haul my dslr's with me but still may run into worthwhile photo ops. The TL500/EX-1 is perfect for the assignment. Super lens, extensive shooting options, fast/easy operation, relatively wide shooting parameters and RAW files to boot. The rotating LCD is dynamite...offering a multiplicity of shooting angles. (great for the street). Would love a viewfinder as well but this provides the ability to shoot like a waist-level finder, so far less limiting than fixed lcd p&s cameras.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
i bought this camera thinking about shooting in raw.
i must say that i am very disappointed that the disc that come with it, is not compatible with mac.
it is a great camera to bad.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
Wanted a point & shoot that offers some of the features of a SLR. It works. Some of the pictures look amazing and other look like a point and shoot camera. A little bulky but not bad.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
I brought the Samsung EX1,to photograph
flowers, landscapes and to take portait and create photos of daily life.
its has a great facilities, especially when in manual mode, I just love to shoot all my photos in manual mode, the raw file images has really taken me back. This camera took me one month of consider its features and facilities, I am so please that I made the right choice.It is a good semi-pro camera, with exceptional great facilities,it produces a great quality of images in all format, which can be enhance by adobe photoshop software, light room or Acdsee when using raw or jpeg files.
Hey one can complaint about the slowness to save to memory, it has its faults, however one should buy a faster sd card to over come this problem.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
Excellent camera, great quality, amazing photos!!! Worth every penny
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
It's a camera that could have been better. Great high ISO performance for its class. The lens is top notch (f1.8-2.4, 7 blades) although it does only macro at 24mm. The AMOLED screen is very bright and it's the only one in its class which is articulated. Also very good is the two control dials, the placements of the top dials, etc.
Now the big downside IMHO is the User Interface and firmware features. It simply doesn't live up to my expectations:
- no live histogram when changing exposure compensation
- the dials are not customizable.
- Features not available when shooting RAW (face detection, auto-bracketing -the most irritating one)
- no intervalometer
- Noise removal is not controllable in JPEG
- No program shift
- ISO is not displayed when in auto ISO
- No blinking highlights/shadows, no RGB histogram
It's still better than most compacts although I'd expect the likes of S95/LX-5 to be better in this regards.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
Nice Camera, ideal for pro photographer who needs a little pro camera for day by day use.
Has two dials, all manual, nice f1.8, and great manufacture.
Classic style design.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
My daughters gave me this camera on Father's day with my approval. This was the camera I thought would be near perfect. Fast sharp lens, best screen available in a compact, solid metal body. I really wanted to love this camera. It so much reminded me of my Contax T2 and Rollei 35S. I thought I was in Heaven. Well, I charged the battery and shot about a dozen or so Jpeg's and the thing froze up like a ice cube for no reason. I tried everything, changed flash card, recharged battery, remove battery overnight to no avail. Come on, really, this is unacceptable today! I have used many cameras over the years, and never had a problem with Leica , Contax, Nikon Canon, Fuji, Pentax, well you get my point. [...] I will never buy a Samsung product again! Sorry
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
I'm not an expert when it comes to photography. I do however know a good photograph when I see one. This camera takes perfect pictures in virtually every setting. I'm so impressed with its low-light photos that I find myself taking pictures of obscure objects in the dark just to see the results. It's quick, comfortable and extremely well made. If you're somewhat confused by all the expert reviews, as I was, and just want a camera that takes exceptional pictures without all the posing that a flash requires, this could be the camera for you.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
I use the camera to take pictures of documents. I bought the camera solely because of the tilting LCD screen. The camera takes superb pictures, it is awesome! The screen is amazing and does all that I want.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
This camera works well for low-light street shooting in a photojournalistic style. It is solid, mostly metal construction and has only a short lag time for shutter release. It feels like a quality, classic film camera. The hot shoe works well with generic flashes and you can get perfect flash exposure with a little testing. Yes, an auxillary optical viewfinder would be a plus (available in Europe). You can also use a 24mm optical vf sold through the Voightlander/Cosina brand. Although the screen rotates and can be used at waistlevel, in bright sun it is still impossible to see. It zooms only in the range of 24 to 72 mm (f1.8 to 2.4)--it would be nice to have 90 mm or 105mm at times! It shows a lot of integrity in design that it doesn't end with a 287 mm f10.6 like many of the poor quality digital cameras out there.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
I ordered this product a few weeks ago, and I love it! This carmera gives clear shots and has same quality as DSLR camera. Very easy to use and good in low light. limited zoom is the one thing I can point out for cons. Love it!
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
Great in low light, without flash. Color balance very nice.
Image stabilization good.
Would have liked more Zoom.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
It is my second camera, and I'm really delighted with it. Very strong form factor together with high quality lens and pivotal AMOLED screen make this camera a fantastic machine to take very good quality pictures. You can't simply find better for this price!
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
After searching for a camera with the following specs, bought this one and I'm loving it:
a)Vari-angle display (this camera has it, and is AMOLED)
b)Fast lens (f1.8 and it is ultra wide, 24mm)
c)Compact (smaller than the Canon G12)
So far, the only cons is that it does not record movies in HD.
I always take this camera with me, no matter where I'm going; take really great photos with low light conditions.
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Comments about Samsung TL500 Digital Camera (Black):
Sharp crisp images
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