Incredulously enough, no other major camera maker has come out and mimicked Samsung's
front-facing LCD approach found on the TL225 (or ST550 in some areas), so if you're in the market, it's either this one or the lesser-specced TL220 (ST500). If you're considering picking up the former as a bang-up gift for your special someone, you'd probably do yourself a solid by taking a peek at a few reviews around the web. The long and short of it is this: the camera's dual LCDs are well implemented, and they actually
do come in handy for those looking to handle the "self-portrait" duties in the relationship. Beyond that, however, there wasn't a lot of praise to go around. For starters, the camera relies only on microSD memory, so those spare SD cards you've got laying around are no good here. Then there's the so-so image quality coupled with the staggeringly weak battery life;
Photography Blog was only able to squeeze out around 100 shots while making heavy use of the touchscreen. Everyone seemed to agree that the cam wasn't for everyone, so be sure and take a look around before committing.
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posted December 12th 2009 5:01PM
Samsung Galaxy
@AndroidRokz Thanks for the valuable in sight. You bring so much more to this topic than anyone who ever existed, it's a crime you don't write for a photography blog. You should seriously consider a job there man.
@teapower
Stop it. All of your posts are negative. You're being a troll.
@LloydChiro
You should think about what teapower is saying before accusing him of being negative. He was making a statement about the context of AndroidRokz comment - this is not a discussion about Android phones.
This really is a great point and shoot. Image quality is comparable to higher end point and shoots like the Sony T900, and in some cases superior. And this is one gimmick that truly is ultimately useful. I can't even describe how frequently members of my family use the front-facing LCD. Those self-shots are much easier with this camera. Finally, the huge LCD on the back is very good. The colors are beautiful, and the UI is intuitive. Love this camera.
@darthsat Ur such a glorified fan boy. How much does Sammy pay you. Its ok to tell me, I wont tell aaaanyone.
@teapower
The Y and the O. The most elusive keys.
@teapower
To be paid by a large mult-national corporation in a recession. One should be so lucky. But no, I have been using this camera for 3 months now, and it is a very good camera. To assert that I am in love with a brand as a whole for liking a product is ridiculous. Use a product and judge it for yourself before you make a ridiculous comment about someone else's feedback on a product. If a camera impresses me and has features that I personally find to be useful, it is within reason to make a positive post about it.
@darthsat What's the battery life like? Can you get more than 100 shots out of it?
@JPeak
I was about to complain about your complaining but thought better of it so instead I would like to say this instead: Merry Christmas!!!
@(Unverified)
I don't know exactly how many shots I can take until the battery is completely depleted because I typically charge it before I get to that point. But the amount of time you have the rear LCD turned on should make a significant difference. But I think the estimate of 100 seems somewhat accurate. The most I have taken on a single charge is about 80 photos, and I am sure I could have taken a good amount more. I suppose the tradeoff for the large screen and small form-factor is battery life.
I have only Samsung S1060 :(
(this...)
http://vempaimia.net/samsung-s1060-digikamera-arvostelussa/
That's an adorable little smiley
@NickNick I thinks it's absolutely 100% vicious to be frank.
I considered this camera, even ordering one. But after using it in the shop and reading the early reviews, had to (reluctantly) decline for the following (important) reasons: a) MicroSD cards. b) Image quality not up to that of Samsung's competitors. c) Audio is cut when zooming while recording video. d) Battery life. On the upside: a) Excellent design and build quality. b) Very untuitive and fun user interface. c) Front LCD is useful as others have said already. I ended up choosing the Panasonic TZ7 (ZS3). Not as intuitive, but better video and still image quality. Rubbish battery life too as well alas!
Follow up to my last post. Samsung, like most relatively 'new' consumer electronic companies (newer than Sony etc that is!), are improving with each iteration of their product line. Their flat screen TVs are the best in the world (in particular their ultra thin semi LED backlit models) proving that they can do it. I got to use one of their camcorders and the usability and image quality was excellent, only declining to purchase as the lens was not wide angle enough. A year or so from now and they will have cracked image quality on their digicams. Watch out Sony, Panasonic, Pentax, Nikon etc!
Where Samsung have the edge - perhaps learned from their phones - is usability industrial design.
@Oflife
Why is is that Samsung are always in such a hurry to release a product that they just slap the parts together, pack it and ship it without testing the product or perfecting the features? It seems to me that with some Samsung products, there are always some feature (major or minor) that makes it unusable or just plain irritating to use.
The dual screen is incredibly innovative, don't know why it took so long. I would definitely buy this because of the dual screen but with so many other features that are sub par, I think I'll wait until the next model is released.
I'm sometimes embarrassed to say that I used to work for Samsung...
Ideal camera for Myspace whores who can't aim.
That's literally all this is. The front-facing LCD is way too small to be of any use outside the range of the legions of downward-angled emo-faces. The smiley face is somewhat ironic...
Whoops. Meant as a reply to TylerSmythe's Myspace whores comment.
I really want one of these. But I just bought a camera this past year and can't justify to myself the need for another. I've always bought Olympus though so I'm used to the proprietary memory card.
I think this is an interesting concept and it could work well for people who like to take pictures of themselves. However, I fail to see this product as anything more than a novelty. Instead of wasting space for an extra screen, why not give us a better sensor?
With all seriousness aside- I'm surprised the Japanese haven't figured this one out yet. I'm pretty sure all of those subway station upskirt shooters would like a little guiding light... >;)
I just ordered a TL225 from Newegg for $234. (they're doing a deal right now using a promotional code.) I am looking forward to getting this camera. I fiddled with it at a local Best Buy, and it handled really well.
The only thing that had kept me from considering it had been the price. Previously, I was originally going to go with the Panasonic Lumix ZS3, but this one just seems to have more features for what I am going to use it for. As a portable, fully featured point and shoot to bring to family get togethers and parties.
I solved the self portrait dilema with my Canon S5 IS - it has a rotating LCD screen. However, its not exactly pocketable (hence the included neckstrap). I forgot the model name, but there are smaller p/s cameras with a rotating LCD to avoid getting scratches on the front LCD while its in your pocket full of keys.
looks good .. wouldnt mind having one
I went to camera vendor fair recently due to my job as a part time camera salesperson, and this is what I pretty much got from it.
1)Samsung (at least their PR people) really do focus on gimmicks rather than image quality to distance their offerings from their competitors.
2)All manufacturers are looking to move to MicroSD for compact cameras.
Digital Camera HQ has a review too, pretty much echoing the sentiments in this post:
http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/digital-cameras/samsung-tl225-review_roundup.html