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Samsung's TL500 digital camera. Photo provided by Samsung Electronics America Inc. Samsung TL500 has f/1.8 lens, enthusiast-friendly specs
By
(Saturday, February 20, 2010 - 15:00 EST)

Samsung has today unveiled its new TL500 digital camera, with an impressive looking 3x zoom lens offering both a very generous wide angle and bright maximum aperture.

The Samsung TL500 is the company's latest offering aimed at enthusiasts and advanced amateurs, and its lens is clearly the hook intended to draw interest to the camera. With Schneider-Kreuznach Varioplan branding, the TL500's lens offers 35mm equivalent focal lengths ranging from a 24mm wide angle to a 72mm telephoto. Maximum aperture varies from f/1.8 to f/2.4 across the zoom range.

The Samsung TL500 also offers several other features intended to gain interest from enthusiasts. These include a 3.0" AMOLED tilt / swivel display, a flash hot shoe, fully manual shooting, and a Raw file format. The TL500 isn't the camera for videographers though, with its video shooting function limited to just standard definition VGA resolution.

The Samsung TL500 goes on sale this spring, priced at around $450. More details can be found in our Samsung TL500 preview.

Samsung TL500
Samsung's TL500 digital camera. Photo provided by Samsung Electronics America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
General
Camera TypeMid-Sized
ManufacturerSamsung
Model NumberNorth America: TL500
Dimensions4.5 x 2.5 x 1.1 in.
(114 x 63 x 29 mm)
Planned Price$450
Planned AvailabilityApril 2010
Image Capture
Sensor TypeCCD
1/1.7" (approx. 0.59 in. diagonal)
10.00 megapixels (effective)
Aspect Ratio4:3, 16:9
Image Dimensions3648 x 2736 (10.0 megapixels)
10.6 megapixels
8.3 megapixels
8.0 megapixels
4.9 megapixels
3.1 megapixels
2.1 megapixels
0.8 megapixels
Image Preview / Review
ViewfinderNo
LCD3.0 in. diagonal
Lens
Lens TypeSchneider-Kreuznach Varioplan
3x optical zoom
Image StabilizationYes
Focal Length5.2 - 15.6mm (actual)
24 - 72mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture Rangef/1.8 (wide) / f/2.4 (tele) - ???
Focusing SystemContrast Detection
Exposure
Exposure ModesAperture, Shutter, Manual
White BalanceImage Sensor - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent H, Fluorescent L, Tungsten, Manual
Creative
Self TimerYes, 2 or 10 seconds
Movie FormatMPEG4 (H.264) with audio
Storage
Recording MediumSD/MMC including SDHC, Built-in
File SystemComplies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File FormatRAW, JPEG (Exif 2.21)
Connectivity
ComputerUSB 2.0 High Speed
Other
Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) compliantYes
PictBridge CompliantYes
Tripod MountYes
Remote ControlNo
NotesUltra- Bright f/1.8 lens , 3x 24mm Ultra-Wide-Angle Lens, 3.0" Swiveling AMOLED, Dual Image Stabilization (Optical + Digital), Manual Controls: A/S/M, RAW support, Smart Auto 2.0 (Still & Movie), Large 1/1.7 inch, high sensitivity CCD, Front Wheel Control.
More Photos
Samsung's TL500 digital camera. Photo provided by Samsung Electronics America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
Samsung's TL500 digital camera. Photo provided by Samsung Electronics America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
Samsung's TL500 digital camera. Photo provided by Samsung Electronics America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!
Samsung's TL500 digital camera. Photo provided by Samsung Electronics America Inc. Click for a bigger picture!

Original Source Press Release:

Samsung Launches The TL500 - A High-End Compact With An Ultra-Wide And Bright F/1.8 Lens

Fast Operating Speed and Ultra-Sensitive 1/1.7” CCD Will Impress Enthusiast Photographers

Anaheim, CA (February 20, 2010) - Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, proudly introduces the 10 mega-pixel TL500, a high-end compact digital camera designed specifically for today's advanced and enthusiast photographers. The new flagship of the company’s compact digital camera family, the new TL500 incorporates a full-range of advanced features, including a high-performance imaging sensor and one of the brightest lenses ever featured on a compact camera – a 24mm ultra‑wide angle Schneider KREUZNACH, f/1.8. The TL500 will be on display during PMA 2010, February 21‑23, in the Samsung booth, #2227, in the Anaheim Convention Center.

"With the TL500, Samsung further differentiates its lineup from the competition and achieves yet another milestone in the industry," said Mr. SJ Park, CEO of Samsung Digital Imaging Company. "With ultra-wide angle capability and unparalleled speed, the TL500’s lens offers a new level of versatility allowing the user to be more creative and take better pictures."

High-Quality Optics and Images
The Samsung TL500 is sure to turn heads thanks to its ultra-wide, f/1.8 Schneider lens – one of the brightest ever featured on a compact digital camera. The impressive f/1.8 lens offers photographers a wider range of aperture steps and shallow depth-of-field, giving them the ability to blur out the background of their images while maintaining focus on their subjects. The ultra-fast, f/1.8 lens also allows users to take better photos in low-light environments as more light is passed through to the new high-performance 1/1.7” CCD sensor. Larger than the sensors typically found in compact digital cameras, the TL500's 1/1.7” CCD offers unrivaled sensitivity (max ISO 3200/full-resolution). Together with Samsung’s re‑engineered and fast, DRIMeIII imaging processor, the TL500 captures high-quality images, regardless of the lighting environment.

The high-end Schneider lens offers a 24mm, ultra-wide focal length and 3x optical zoom. Much wider than traditional compact cameras, the TL500’s 24mm ultra-wide angle lens allows photographers to capture more of a desired scene, such as beautiful landscapes and large groups of friends or family. For blur‑free images, the TL500’s lens is also paired with Samsung’s Dual Image Stabilization technology.

Versatile Display Enhances the Viewing Experience
Composing and reviewing images on the TL500's three-inch, swiveling AMOLED screen is a pleasure. The rotating AMOLED display will allow photographers to precisely frame their images the way they want and shoot from just about any angle, including overhead or low‑to‑the-ground shots. Compared to the traditional TFT-LCD found on most digital cameras, the TL500’s AMOLED provides users with a higher contrast ratio, deeper blacks and more accurate, vivid colors, even when viewed from an angle or in direct sunlight. The TL500’s AMOLED display is also more efficient when it comes to power consumption, allowing photographers to maximize battery life and shoot longer on a single charge.

Multiple Shooting Options
The TL500 supports RAW and gives enthusiasts full control over their images thanks to its shutter‑priority, aperture‑priority and full Manual shooting modes. When using these settings, shooters can experiment with features such as slower shutter speeds and depth‑of‑field; however, for those who prefer ease-of-use over manual controls, the TL500 also offers Samsung’s Smart Auto 2.0 (Still & Movie) scene recognition technology. Applicable for video recording (640x480 / 30fps / H.264) and taking digital stills, this intelligent feature analyzes the scene and then automatically selects the appropriate settings for the best results po
ssible. Using this mode requires minimal effort and does not sacrifice image quality for simple operation.

* Specifications are subject to change without notice.

About Samsung Digital Imaging
Samsung Digital Imaging Co. Ltd. is a leader in photo imaging technology, digital cameras and optical devices. The company offers a range of high-performance digital compact and DSLR cameras, introducing cutting-edge features to meet consumer needs. Samsung began developing film cameras in 1979 and has led the growth of the digital imaging market through its advanced technology and innovation. For more information, please visit www.samsungimaging.com

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and washing machines. A recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader in the U.S. Please visit www.samsung.com for more information.

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