Samsung EX-1/TL-500

This camera is heavily benchmarked on the the Lumix LX-3, a sign of the soundness of the concept developed by Panasonic: a bigger small sensor coupled with a wide fast lens (and IS).

By sporting a fully rotating LCD, Samsung may also try to lure G10/11 owners looking for a more compact camera with wider and faster lens but retaining high degree of control.

Feature highlights

• A  f/ stop to max 1.8
• The zoom reaches a little bit over 70mm
• The major plus is the screen which is high def, AMOLED and movable (Canon Powershot G style)
• Has a rubber grip
• Some more control options, incl.

1. A selector control index wheel in front
2. two mode dials which are flush with top cover
3. A click wheel on back (similar to Canon and Olympus EP-1)

The minuses are that camera dimensions do not make it exactly compact and it is roughly the same size of the Lumix  (actually a couple of mm bigger here and there).

The lens has a rubber ring but it is not a custom control ring as in the Canon S90, rather it covers the ring for attaching optional lens complements that can enlarge the lens angle of view to a 18mm equivalent.

And the lens cap is separate and can be attached to the camera via a piece of string (same as lamented by almost every single LX-3 user - or is it another piece of retro design…?).

Main characteristics

• 10 Megapixels
• 3x  zoom / ultra-wide 24mm f/1.8 lens Schneider Kreuznach
• 3.0” swiveling AMOLED high def LCD screen
• RAW mode
• 11,4 x 6,3 x 2,9 cm

While interesting the Samsung offering will probably not have LX3/D-Lux-4 owners rushing to switch/upgrade.

Also with Panasonic possibly upgrading the LX-3 this year, and the S90 around, the EX-1 will need to demonstrate some serious advance in term of image quality compared to its direct competitors or, as usual to out cheap them.

The f/1.8 advantage is partly annulled by the size of the 1.7” sensor which has much more depth of field than a bigger sensor. So if someone hopes to use this camera for super defocus (bokeh) rendition, they may have to lower their expectations. Although, the fast lens may actually come handy in shooting in low light situations.

In terms of camera body design also improvements could be made. While this is not Sigma-sort of “East-Germany was fun” style, the shape is still a bit bulky and lines a bit too complicated (in an attempts to lightens the ensemble perhaps).

Also don’t like blue light around power switch when camera is on.

The rubber grip, while  probably functional, does not match very well the dark polished metal front, in my opinion.

Exist in black or gun metal color finish.

Finally, the marketing Dept is lagging behind in promoting the new camera – still nothing (so far) on their global site.

From the conceptual point of view, Samsung basically took the LX-3 and simply added a movable LCD screen (I am oversimplifying). Now LCD screens are certainly one of Samsung’s strong points. But the more I think about it the more I wonder whether it was not a mistake to include a fully articulated  screen in such a compact camera. For the following reasons: first the AMOLED screen has already an better angle of view, second, it makes the camera bulkier and compromises pocketability, third it is more a video cam sort of option and here apparently video is not really the priority (no HD).

Or maybe Samsung’s idea is actually to position the EX-1/TL-500 between the LX-3 and the G-11.

They could have made such a better product by building on the Lumix concept and improving its weak points (high iso performance, lens cap, controls, pocketability, etc…) and then price it lower to attract a larger audience, basically those tired of lugging DSLR around and that are looking for good image quality in a compact package for everyday situations.

To be released in May 2010 for 450 Eur/$