The Bottom Line
This Samsung TL320 review shows a point and shoot camera that successfully manages a tough balancing act: It remains very easy to use while still offering some nice manual control options. Samsung has included a large number of cool features, including an in-camera help menu to explain the camera's various features.
I'd like to see the TL320 at a little lower price than the $379 MSRP from Samsung. (If you shop around, you might be able to find this model for less than $350.) And its chunky camera body will turn off some photographers. But the TL320 is another strong offering from Samsung for beginning photographers.
Pros
- Despite offering several manual control features, it's extremely easy to use with built-in help
- Image quality is very good, both indoors and outdoors
- Sharp and large AMOLED screen is brighter than LCD screens
- Can apply styles to photos before and after shooting
- Some interesting design features, such as a "power gauge" to see battery power remaining
Cons
- Price is a little high
- At this price point, I'd like to see more than a 5X optical zoom lens
- TL320 is thicker and heavier than most point and shoot cameras
- Flash recharge causes some shot to shot delays
- Battery only can charge inside the camera, without buying additional adapter
Description
- Resolution: 12.2 megapixels
- Optical zoom: 5X (24-120mm)
- LCD: 3.0-inch, 518,400 pixels (uses active-matrix organic LED technology, AMOLED)
- Maximum image size: 4000 x 3000 pixels
- Battery: Rechargeable Li-ion
- Dimensions: 2.4 x 3.82 x 0.83 inches
- Weight: 6.5 ounces (no battery, no memory card)
- Image sensor: CCD 1/2.33 in.
Guide Review - Samsung TL320 Review
Image Quality
With 12 megapixels of resolution, the TL320 can shoot photos for large prints. Its image quality is very good, both when using the flash or shooting in bright daylight.
Samsung has included a few different ratios for shooting with the TL320, including a rarely seen 1:1 ratio. Available resolutions vary from 12 megapixels to 2 megapixels.
It's fun to use the TL320's photo styles and other special effects, which allow you to apply special effects to your photos, such as black and white, sepia, and negative. You can apply the effects before or after you shoot the photo.
Performance
If the TL320 has a major problem -- beyond the price that's a little higher than I'd like to see -- it's in some slight shot to shot delays when using the flash. The built-in flash requires some recharge time. Otherwise, the camera's response times are very good.
The TL320's 3.0-inch active-matrix organic LED (AMOLED) screen is sharp and bright, and it is better than most LCD screens you'll find with other digital cameras.
Design
You'll find that the TL320 camera body is a little larger and heavier than most point and shoot cameras. It's not a huge distraction, but the size is noticeable in this model.
The TL320's design includes two dials along the top of the camera modeled after gas gauges in an automobile. The gauges measure the amount of storage space and battery power remaining, with a needle ranging between "E" and "F". The gauges are a cool idea, but they're so small that others probably won't notice them unless you point them out ... which kind of diminishes the enjoyment of having a really cool feature on a camera. It's more fun when someone notices your camera's cool features without prompting rom you.
The 5X optical zoom lens could be bigger, but I liked its 24mm wide angle option.
With the TL320, beginning photographers will learn more about photography than with most point and shoot models because of the camera's easy to use manual control settings. As with most Samsung cameras, the menu structure is logically organized.
