Samsung TL320 Camera Review: The New AMOLED Screen Camera

When it comes to consumer electronics Samsung is a household name. From flat panel televisions, to next generation media to digital cameras Samsung has always been on the front lines developing new consumer technologies. A perfect example of this is their new Samsung TL320 point and shoot digital camera. This camera is the first to offer the power saving AMOLED screen. It was leaked a week early from Amazon and is just now officially on the market. Is that new screen worth it?

Product Overview:

The first thing you notice about my point and shoot TL320 is the brushed stainless steel finish. If you prefer to be a little less flashy they offer several finishes including the standard black. The other unique and immediately noticeable feature is the gauges that indicate battery power as well as memory card availability. They look like a gas gauge on a car and offer the consumer an easy to read view of the camera's availability of resources. Otherwise the controls are all easy to access via the finger dial on the upper right hand side of the camera. The screen menu controls are accessible from the back via a standard circular selector. I found that despite being on the rear of the camera the flash on / off as well as zoom options were quickly accessible during operation.

The unique thing about this Samsung Point and shoot camera is of course that AMOLED screen. This screen is 3 inches wide, and offers a 460,000 dot resolution. This screen consumes considerably less power while out performing the typical LCD display. If offers a striking contrast ratio of 10,000:1 providing clear and dark black levels. I found that this nice screen is especially important considering that the TL320 fails to have a viewfinder. The pictures are clear and crisp thanks to it's 12 megapixel image processor.

There are plenty of features that go above and beyond on the TL320. First is the Schneider lens which helps take those clear crisp photos. Next is the video recording which boasts a high definition resolution of 720p. Other photo capturing features include self portrait mode, Red-eye fix, Blink detections, a smile shot, as well as a full manual mode for those expert photographers out there.

Product Value:

Prices currently range from $379 to about $320 for a new TL320. Keep in mind that this is the first of its kind and it has just been released. I feel like we may start seeing some price reductions in the near future as more manufacturers start to release competing models. Basically if you have to be the first one on your block to have the newest and greatest then it is worth every penny, but otherwise if you can wait a few months I feel like we may see a more reasonable price. Ultimately It does take great photos and the battery life is improved I feel like most will be pleased with the performance and innovative controls.