Customer Reviews

Samsung EC-TL500ZBPBUS 10 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Black)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I actually have a great deal to say about this camera. I've written pages and pages prepping for this little review.

Instead, I'm going to wing it....
First, know this... I take these reviews seriously.
If you look at my other reviews you'll see that I do NOT hand out 5-star reviews like candy.
This camera just WALKS away with top credits, in my book. I've handled / owned a lot of cameras.
Ladies and gentleman, this is one high-quality piece of gear.

Since you've probably already familiarized yourself with all the dry numbers, specs, etc, I thought it would be of more value to a perspective buyer to get more of a "FEELING" about this particular piece of hardware. If you're taking the time to do all this research, you are probably one who knows how intimately one can "bond" with a piece of gear like this. It becomes rather instinctive, like driving a car.

Here's my guess... If you're looking at this particular camera, then you are probably hunting HARD for a worthy alternative to an SLR. You want something capable, that is going to give you SERIOUS control, SLR-like quality results, without having to drag along a big burly camera making you look like a tourist everywhere you go.

So I'm guessing you've found the standard top-of-the-line point and shoot offerings: Canon's G11, S90, and Panasonic's LX3 (or 5)
ALL OF THEM, WONDERFUL cameras.

My opinion: Samsung TL500 / EX1 bests them all. Broadly. And that is saying a LOT.

Fit and Finish: absolutely top notch.
Weight / handling: terrific.
aesthetics: I'm very utilitarian, so this is usually something I ignore, but in this case, I find the TL500 to be just a GOOD looking machine.

The only specific feature I really want to talk about is the articulated screen...

I consider a SIDE-MOUNTED, fully articulating screen to be the MOST important feature in any digital camera, and the screen
on this particular camera is hands-down the finest I've very seen on ANY camera. Just superb. If it had lips, I would kiss it.

(if you've never used articulated screen before, you're in for a treat, let me tell ya...)


PROS: all of the above, and a whole lot more.

CONS: Only one that impacts my shooting thus far: NO dedicated custom mode button. I like (and make use of) "custom" modes. I like to programm at least 2 modes as custom, generally I like to jump in and out of "macro" mode a lot; and I like to set a custom mode for high-shutter speed shooting if I want to catch some action real quick, which I generally seldom do. I like tripod / monopod / long shutter / low ISO work, even in bright light.

Easy enough to work around, of course. It's just something I'm fond of, and make use of regularly.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Nobody has yet managed to produce "the perfect camera" so you will find plenty of things to nit-pick about with ANY camera purchase.


I hope this somewhat emotional over-view of the TL500 was of a bit more use than dancing around about the lens and image quality.

Best of luck with your purchase decision.
Whatever you chose, remember, the only camera that MATTERS is the one you have with you when you need it.

-Berk

So i've had this camera for about a week now, i've taken about 500 photos with it. I'm still learning the ins and outs of it.
My review echoes many of the above points.
Those of you expecting a DSLR image quality compact, keep looking. You'll look for years.
This is not a comparison to a DSLR, the samsung is a nice substitute as long as you keep in mind it does not and cannot take pics like a DSLR.
As long as you keep in mind the limitations listed below, you'll be happy.
I bought this camera as an alternative to carrying my dslr.

If you want
-decent shots at iso800 (3200 is not usable, 1600 maybe if you convert to black and white or artistic qualities of noise)
-hot shoe (i'm playing with radio triggers and my speedlight)
-nice screen
-midrange zoom, largest aperture in class
-nice build, great ergonomics...
-nice two dial system, like a dslr
-moderately portable point and shoot (won't fit in your jeans pocket-maybe a jacket or cargo pants)
-you can turn off the electronic shutter sound, so essentially limiting the noise it makes to a "click"...for whatever purpose that may serve you...
-non HD video
-you can flip and protect the screen when you store the camera.
this is an excellent choice....

Some cons which i think are significant to consider, but are not deal-breakers for me....However, please understand that i shoot a DSLR in RAW/NEF
-WB is not consistent from shot to shot...so this could be an issue if shooting .jpg
-If you shoot RAW so you can adjust WB, RAW takes a long time to write (although i'm using a class4 and class 6 SD card)
-typical P&S lag time from shoot to capture (again i shoot a dslr)....not quite fast enough to catch my child like my DSLR
-please don't think a 1.8 lens will have the same DOF on a P&S as DSLR...the larger the sensor, the shallower the DOF. You just won't get the shallow depth of field or bokeh that you would get with a f1.8 or f2.8 lens on a DSLR, except for when doing macro or having a very minimal distance from subject photos....
-To say that this 24-72mm f/1.8-2.4 is faster than a nikkor or canon 24-70 f/2.8 is only taking into account numbers and not the sensors of their respective cameras. Not an equal comparison.
-You can easily hand hold this camera for low shutter speeds, but you're limited to low light photography by the amount of noise above 800.


So far, what do i think this camera is great for?
I think this camera is great for food shots! I think this camera would be great for static images like food or other product shots and architecture.
Not that great for capturing a playing child, but then again, most P&S are not.

I'll addend my review as i spend more time and test it with off camera flash.

Update-July 3 and 4.
So this camera is pretty good for macro photography, provided you can get up close to your subject. The minimum focal distance is such that you have to be careful not to touch the subject with the lens...
It works with my Cactus triggers a.k.a "poverty wizards" and Nikon speedlight.

I use this case-I think it fits perfectly.
http://www.amazon.com/Tenba-638-681-Large-Camera-Pouch/dp/B0029B01UM/ref=cm_cr_wr_img

Update Aug 2.
So I've gotten a little more time with this camera. The low-light is pretty good. I especially like the wide angle.
One negative is battery life. It stinks. Maybe at best you can get 200 shots or so...It takes a long time to charge with the included adapter as well.

Update 08/07/10
White balance...maybe i'm just used to raw and fixing WB in post (I think the D90 wasn't that great with WB) but I think the WB on the TL500 tends to be too cool sometimes....or at least those are the pictures i remember thinking the WB was off. So what i've done since i don't shoot raw with this camera as it takes a long time to write to the SD card (maybe i need a card faster than class 6), i set the bracket to WB and shoot. It automatically takes three shots with one click of the button. One warmer and one cooler. It only brackets in A,P,S modes though.

Another thing is i think it tends to overexpose, so i set the EV to -0.3.
I do like this camera a lot though. The lowlight ability really pleasantly surprises me and in the right setting ISO 1600 is usable.

9/7/10.
I played around with my cousin's panasonic LX3. Maybe I'm biased, but this camera feels like a tank compared to the LX3. Like the difference between a nikon d300 and nikon d40. I actually think that if i had the LX3 first, I'd like the layout and feel of the samsung more.

This camera is far and away the best point and shoot I have ever used. It takes beautiful pictures and has a great collection of controls so you don't spend a lot of time in menus. It is even better then the Canon G11 in adjusting exposure compensation because you don't have to move your hands to change the setting. It also has the best LCD on any camera I have ever used, including a number of DSLRs.

Anyone looking for an advanced pocketable camera would be wise to check this one out.

Having said that, there are four things you should know about this camera before you decide to get it:

1) Zoom range runs from 24mm-72mm.
2) The video is only 480p.
3) At this time (6/17/2010), the Mac software to support RAW file editing must be downloaded from Samsung's web site.
4) The camera is quite small, but it is larger then a typical P&S.

For my needs, these were not serious deficiencies. While I would obviously have preferred a longer zoom, most of my shots tend to be at the wider end. And while I would also have liked to have had HD video, I hardly use the video functions anyhow. YMMV.

Prior to owning this camera, my favorite small camera was the Panasonic LX3. The TL500 beats it in IQ, high ISO performance, controls and LCD.

If you are looking for a always there camera with the best possible still pictures in the zoom range of 24-72, this camera is the one to have.

First off - this thing is built like a friggen tank. It outclasses every other compact prosmuer camera like the Canon G12, Panasonic LX5, Leica D-Lux 5 and others WHEN it comes to build quality. As others have noted I will start with a list of cons.

1. Unless you turn off all shooting information - you cannot see entirely what you are composing - the information views have a black dimmed bar at the bottom that makes it so you don't see the bottom tenth of your frame. Doesn't sound like a big deal - but not very fun in use.

2. The flash hotshoe seems to be proprietary. It fits flashes without a problem - the form factor isn't whats different - but when I put any radio trigger I had on it - it simply wouldn't make it fire. Samsung seems to deactivate the hotshoe unless it recognizes the flash on the shoe to be Samsung.

3. It sounds like I got a bad copy - but the lens on mine was SOFT. I mean quite soft - looking like its actually out of focus.

Now after those unforgivable problems - on to what I do like about the camera.

1. Build quality - this thing is unbelievable. It's the first compact/prosumer that makes my 8 year old Canon PowerShot Pro 1 feel inferior (though not by much).

2. Amazing AMOLED screen. Contrary to popular belief - this thing is amazing in sunlight - knocks my G12 (what I kept) out of the park in this arena. High res with beautiful colors.

3. Flush hotshoe. Wish it worked for my purposes - but I like that the hotshoe has been sunk in flush with the top of the camera.

4. Lack of an optical viewfinder. That's right - I said the LACK - of an optical viewfinder. I hate the awful tunnelvision on the G12 - I wish they would have left it off and let me have the amazing screen.

5. Very bight lens. f/1.8 on a compact - nuff said.

6. This might seem childish - but it has VERY pretty menus - just makes it fun to use.

Overall if my cons don't break your interest in the camera - go for it - if it was sharp and I wasn't into off-camera-flash so much this would be a fantastic camera.

If I could, I would actually give this camera 4.5 stars. Why? I take a 1/2 star off because you can't use all features with all modes. Example, as noted maybe in other reviews, if you like face detection..and you like raw..Face detection is not available. If you like to add sharpness to your jpgs IN camera..again face detection is blocked out. Dual anti shake..I believe you can NOT choose iso. You CAN choose a million different settings with this manually, just some settings make others unavailable..something just to be honest here. Weird, I am telling you how great this camera is yet I am writing negative stuff. BUT!!! Here comes the GREAT.

The OVERALL camera is fantastic!! The image quality especially outdoors is second to none vs the S90, FUJI EXR200, and LX3. I owned all three, still own the s90. I LOVE the color on the TL500 as it seems so accurate. The biggest reason I just bought the TL500 is EVERY picture I took with my Canon S90 people's skin color is toooo pink. I have read other reviews that point to that fact as well. I shoot mostly pictures with PEOPLE in them. I am not the type to shoot a beautiful landscape,Garden, or a Mountain, unless I am also taking the pic with my wife or family also IN that picture.

The S90 though an amazing camera...NEVER has good skin tone outside,unless you like too much magenta (Pink/purple).I had to fix EVERY picture and that made me look elsewhere, hence I found this Samsung.

Still having both cameras being honest..the S90 seems just a wee bit more sharp,but pics are over saturated and too smooth?(Canon) and the s90 seems to have just a wee bit less noise at 200,400,800 iso etc indoors. But it's quite close and the OVERALL picture IQ, dynamic range, ACCURATE color goes to this TL 500 over the s90.

The Samsung just feels like you WANT to use it. I call it the IT factor not to sound like a nut. :) What I mean is something about it just wants to make you pick it up and take pictures. I did not get that feeling at all about the Canon. To me, the S90 feels more like a nice well made toy. Of course that is just my opinion. More to fact, at least to my eyes, the Samsung takes FANTASTIC pictures, image stabilization is very good, the swivel screen is GREAT and so useful in bright sunlight.

I used to own the LX3 and though a very nice camera..it too suffered from bizarre skin tones overall. There are forums that talk about how many could never get skin tone quite RIGHT on the lx3 even with raw. The TL500 so far in low to good light is producing excellent skin tone right out of the box, maybe my highest priority.

One more CON, the tl500 does take a fairly long time to actually write the file to the sd card..especially if using raw. It's not crazy long..but if you want to shoot shot after shot rapid quick..the s90 is the better choice in that regard.

When you pick up and use the TL500 it just FEELS and SOUNDS like quality! I really love this camera..so much so I will be selling my s90. I also recently bought the new Sony NEX-5 which I gave 5 stars too. The NEX-5 is in a different league than Every point and shoot because it has a full size dslr sensor. I wanted a medium sized camera..got it in the Nex..and a rather small one when even the Nex is too large, the TL500! As long as you are not expecting DSLR quality I think many will LOVE this Samsung. Also again, maybe just me, I like to be a bit DIFFERENT. The TL500 is never going to be a household name like the s90 I guess?) I enjoy owning "a hidden gem", that to me is out performing all it's similar competition.

The TL500 is a bit larger than the S90. If micro size is MOST important to you, you may want the s90. I personally LIKE the tl500's size better than the s90 as I LIKE the way it feels in hand, feel more in control of the camera, AND it's STILL actually a smallish camera and easy to take with you everywhere!. So keep this a secret..but the TL500 is a GREAT little camera..You won't want to put it down.

A case for the tl500:? If this helps any one I saw another review here recommended a small case. I bought it and it DOES fit like a glove..though it's a very tight fit! Nice quality case though.

http://www.amazon.com/Tenba-638-681-Large-Camera-Pouch/dp/B0029B01UM/ref=cm_cr_wr_img

Also Lowepro makes a dublin 30 case fits Perfectly but I feel was too cheapy

UPDATE: I had been using the TENBA case as recommended above, but it was always a fight stretching the case over the TL500's lens. I finally got to a store where I tried several cases for smallest size but easy in/out and protection. Found a case called SUMDEX Mini camera case. It fits like a GLOVE..a little larger than the Dublin and Tenba but it's like it was made for the TL500..also you get extra room for an additional battery and or memory cards in a small front pouch.. If link does not get deleted..have a look it fits "perfectly" seems well made

[...]

Returned it

First a couple things about me. I'm a serious amateur photographer. I've owned at least 15 cameras in as many years. I've used digital cameras for 10 years and I shoot primarily with DSLRs for the last 5. I have always had a compact camera as an "always with me" [AWM] and have had many flavors of them over the years. I eagerly anticipated, bought, enjoyed and can highly endorse the Panasonic LX3 as a top choice in that category. It's been my AWM since it's release nearly two years ago. I've used the Canon S90 and it is a fine camera too. If pocketability is your highest priority then that's the one to buy.

Recently I left my LX3 in a taxi. Gone. Damn shame. I'll miss it. Took many fine snaps with it. So I scoured the web, forums, etc. looking for choices for a replacement.

Criteria in roughly prioritized order:

1. Wide lens. I take a lot of city shots, landscapes, etc. I strongly prefer a 24mm equivalent but a 28mm might be ok.
2. Fast lens. I really want an f2.0 or faster but 2.8 might be acceptable. I take pictures in all kinds of conditions but I love taking city pictures at night. Need a super fast lens. Also I really want that aperture not to collapse on the zoom. There are no shortage of cameras that are relatively wide and fast but once you zoom your aperture is suddenly f4.x or f5.x.
3. RAW. Do I have to explain?
4. Sharpness. I want a sharp lens, corner to corner. Can be tricky with wide lens. LX3 is in general very sharp but at wide loses a bit of sharpness.
5. Sensor size. Bigger the better. Not a lot of choices in compacts but LX3 and a few others do have sensors a bit bigger than standard compacts. Also 10MP is about the sweet spot. I'm of the school that packing a lot more into the sensor really doesn't add much unless you're printing very,very large prints (and then should be using a DSLR anyway) and can impact noise and low light performance.
6. Form factor. I strongly prefer small, sticking with the AWM factor, but getting all the way down to the size of the S90 is not critical.
7. Noise. Want it relatively low but often kept my LX3 (not the best with noise) locked at ISO 200 or lower.
8. Image stabilization. They all have them but absolutely essential for dealing with low ISO, night shots, etc.
9. Zoom. Prefer 3x or higher. LX3 is 2.5. Not great but remember it's hard to build a lot of zoom in a small camera and still have a really sharp lens across the range. Also, as noted before, the aperture can drop off very quickly in some cameras on the zoom. Want to avoid as much as possible to keep the camera fast for night work.
10. Reasonable manual controls. I typically shoot in Aperture mode but full manual is occasionally essential.
11. Ergonomics. OK this is much more subjective... camera feel, build quality, controls layout, etc. I like the LX3 very much here but it isn't perfect.
12. Willing to spend a few $$ to get a good camera but would prefer to keep it in the $500 range

So what did I find on the market these days:

I now spent a lot of time looking at micro 4/3's cameras. Panasonic's GF1 gets raves. The Sony NEX series. But I do not want to deal with the larger camera size or swapping lenses. Boy I came close because of the quality of the lenses and the dramatically bigger real estate on those sensors makes a significant difference in image quality. But those cameras... it's just not realistic to carry them in your pocket and thus unlikely end up a true AWM camera. So again for the purposes of having a true AWM... pass.

There are a host of new compacts with lots of fun features but there's always some sacrifice in lens width or speed.

So surprisingly there were very few new cameras out there that I didn't already know about. It came down to the Canon S90, buying another LX3, the Canon G11 or this brand new Samsung TL500.

The S90: meets most of the above criteria nicely. As noted earlier I've used it (but do not own it) and it's a fine camera. The best form factor for AWM criteria. Nothing comes close there. Concerns: I'm not a big fan of the adjustment ring around the lens barrel. Not the widest lens at 28mm which is good but I really like a 24mm equivalent. Also the aperture drops quickly with the zoom (down to f4.9). Concerning but not a nightmare.

Buy another LX3: I really have liked this camera. It meets virtually every criteria above. Concerns: weak zoom (not critical) and noise really starts to come through at ISO 400. While not as truly a petite and pocketable package as the S90 it is certainly fine in a pocket. Some hate the external lens cover. Not ideal but no biggie for me.

Canon G11: Wonderful ergonomics. Controls are right where you need them. Very deserving of accolades. Concerns: not quite as fast nor as wide as I would like and noticeably bigger (but still just edges into the AWM category. Still a heck of a camera for a serious snapper.

And I discovered the newly released Samsung. After much consideration I bought it. I will not repeat most of what has been said already here but here are my results after a week of use:

Positives:

- Wow what a fast lens. Zounds! But as some out there have noted, with a small sensor, even lenses this fast don't alway do bokeh well. Wasn't impressed with bokeh on the TL500.
- Plenty wide lens. Sharp corner to corner (probably a tad better than the LX3).
- Good shots at ISO 400 (noise gaining ground at 800). Low light performance was very good but read on.
- Very nice white balance results (again edging the LX3)
- Overall build quality is very high. The thing is built like a tank.
- Most of the other qualities noted on Amazon are spot on. This camera has a LOT to like.

Mixed results or more minor annoyances:

- I am very mixed about the hinged screen. To some that feature is a godsend and I don't quarrel their valuation of it's utility but for me, it took away more than it added. Yes there were times it was useful and the OLED screen is really bright and easy to read in sunlight. But more often I missed having the extra real estate on the back of the camera for controls, it does add to the size and weight of the camera and it's quite a bit more awkward to snap a shot with the screen swung open IMO.
- The camera comes with no charger (can be ordered separately) and the charging cable (also used for data transfer) is yet another highly specialized variety (I work in Tech, I've seen them all) and is REALLY short. The camera must sit within about 2 feet of an outlet or you simply can't charge it. Minor in the grand scheme of things but just idiotic IMO.
- The rolling dial on the front is a nice feature for adjusting exposure. But the ergonomics are awkward. I have large hands but I'm not sure it's a hand size issue. You either have to take your index finger off the shutter to use it and in the process loosen your grip or you use your middle finger and then I felt like I was doing gymnastics. So really nice control but poorly implemented.
- Heavy for it's size. This is not a huge AWM camera but it is heavy.
- Shutter lag was neither impressive nor terribly long. LX3 felt a little faster.
- I care little about video on still cameras and as others have noted it's not why you'd buy this camera.


Negatives:

- On Screen Display: the live OSD when you're shooting masks the bottom edge of your live image unless you set the screen to show no information while you're shooting. The result is that you really can't frame a shot and know how your live histogram and other controls are doing at the same time. This is more than an annoyance, it's a serious design error. This more than any other issue interfered with my enjoyment of this camera and it's effective use for me.
- Macro is poorly implemented and you cannot get closer than 5cm. Auto-focus hunts endlessly to find focus unless you pull the camera significantly away from your subject then what's the point of macro. LX3 smokes the TL500 here.
- Time Between Shots using RAW is poor. I used a Class 6, 4GB SD card that performed very well in other cameras. Formatted it in this camera. The average TBS was about 2 seconds in RAW. Sometimes longer! The screen goes blank and you just stare at the camera waiting for it to come back to life. Disappointing. JPGs were quite a bit faster and TBS did not really interfere with camera use. LX3 and S90 much faster in RAW.

Look I can understand why some folks love the TL500. For some the screen is the best thing since sliced bread. I don't argue the point. The lens is truly excellent. Probably the best on the market in this class. It's why I bought the camera. After shooting with it I would still say the same thing. Best on the market.

But the OSD masking, the RAW TBS performance and, to a lesser degree, the poor macro and annoying cable bring what truly should be a 5 star camera down to a 3.5 for me.

So here I was enjoying the camera but having some serious concerns. Up pops the news that the rumors are now reality and Panasonic is releasing the LX5 next month.

Back went the Samsung. I've pre-ordered the LX5. Will write that one up after I've had a chance to use it.

I have wanted a compact camera for some time now, for those times when carrying a DSLR and bag of lenses just isn't appropriate or necessary. Like most photographers with a closet full of cameras, I needed another one like a hole in the head. Still, you don't always need to be loaded for bear. It does make you feel silly carrying $3k worth of gear to the amusement park to get snapshots of the kids- although the photographer in you just can't accept point and shoot quality with zero creative control over the shot. Until now I have not found a compact camera that I thought was worthy enough to leave my DSLR at home.

This camera is 90% of what I would consider a dream compact camera- and in the world of cameras you will almost never see a 90% anything. Cameras are always a compromise. I have a 4x5 view camera, several Medium Format cameras, DSLR gear, and now this. Each has its purpose because each one is better at something and worse at others. What would it take for this camera to be 100% of what I would consider the perfect compact? An APS-C sensor, manual focus, and an optical finder. After shooting with this camera, none of those are a show-stopper. The optical finder isn't necessary. The screen on this camera is incredible. You actually can see details while you are composing. Manual focus- not realistic unless the camera is a MILC, likewise the APS-C sensor. This camera does in fact have manual focus, but manual focus is selected by menu, then controlled via the rotating wheel on the back. Great for macro shots of flowers, but not so great if you are accustomed to twisting a lens to focus on moving objects or touching up auto focus. So, the choice is a MILC for $1200 or else this camera. I chose this camera and I am so happy about it I can't stop smiling. I realize that the MILC would simply take me back to a bag full of gear and $3k to take snapshots. Samsung TL500 = hands-down winner.

The Samsung TL500 (or EX1, depending on your market) is the best compact camera I have ever used. It is truly built like a tank. It has a classic rangefinder feel, heft, and appearance. It has nearly all of the creative control you expect in an SLR. Better yet, the swivel display is both incredible in visual quality as well as unbelievably handy.

Picture quality is better than I expected. Images at ISO 800 are fantastic and equal to those on my 14MP APS-C DSLR. I don't realistically plan to print anything from this camera larger than 8x10. I have cameras much more well suited to big enlargements.

The 1.8 - 2.4 lens is incredible. It is sharp, sharp, sharp. JPEG rendering yields realistic skin tones, although the JPEGs tend to give a smooth appearance. (Your wife will love pictures of herself, and possibly that was part of the design of the JPEG rendering algorithm.) The camera does offer RAW, so if you don't want the camera to process the image for you then you aren't stuck with anything you don't like. I can see that JPEGs will be perfectly acceptable for my needs with this camera, and I have RAW if I ever feel the need.

Shots handheld down to 1/10 second came out sharp due to the very fine stabilization in this camera. At ISO 1600, 1/10 @ f/1.8, this camera can darn well almost see in the dark.

The flash is a manual affair, which is exactly what I wanted. I despise cameras that think for me and do counterproductive things when I least expect it. The flash on this camera is a tool at your disposal, not an irritating shot-killer.

Oh yeah. It does video. That's neat. Not why I bought it. The video is lackluster due the nature of the sensor, which is optimized for low-noise photography. Compact video cameras are dirt cheap. If you want HD video, get one of those. With the money you saved by not buying a MILC, you can get a really nice video camera. Or three.

This camera is a Compact in every sense of the word. It is not, at all, a Point and Shoot. This is a photographer's compact camera.

Highly recommend.

Samsung is a second rate vendor with subpar products and worse support. My TL-500 stopped working after a few hours of use. It freezes up and you have to remove the battery to power it off. After jumping through the customer service hoops and being treated like a fool, I finally got authorization to return the defective unit. At least Samsung was willing to send me a pre-paid shipping label (the first time). After about a week I got an email from the service tech working on my unit. At first he tried to tell me that my SD card was bad... After explaining that I had tested the camera with 4 different SD cards all formated on that camera, the tech changes his diagnosis and said it must be a battery issue, promptly returning the camera to me without an explanation, just telling me that I needed to replace the charger. He would never answer the the larger question as to WHY... if the unit had a defective charger, the camera say the battery level was at 100% charge???. I know tech service BS when I hear it!!!! I've been in the electronics business for 30 years. When I got the camera back from service I re-tested the unit and suprize, same locking-up problem!!! Easily duplicatable, if the tech cared to try!!! So back on the phone to jump through more hoops. Like the first time, I was told that I would get the return labels and pre-paid shipping labels via email in a few hours. After waiting 2 days for the shipping label to be emailed to me, I called service again and was told ... Samsung would not pay for shipping. I have emailed every contact I can come up with and tried to reach someone in management at Samsung but all of my emails and calls have gone unanswered. My advice to all consumers.... Stay away from Samsung products. The real measure of a company is not what they do when things go right but how they handle customers when problems arise. Samsung gets a zero in my book!!! Buyer beware!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this camera but I ABSOLUTELY HATE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE. The camera started producing a small area of red pixels above ISO 400 and also caught dust underneath the lens. Samsung had me send it in for warranty. 2 weeks later the camera returned from Digitech Samsungs warranty company and it appeared as if a 2 year old did the repair. The dust was still under the lens, the articulated screen was loose and obviously reassembled incorrectly even though there was no request to replace the LCD the case of the camera no longer lined up as if the internal frame was bent. I immediately contacted Samsung who put me in contact with their "executive customer relations team". After I explained my experience to Tracy she said they would exchange the camera for a new one and they would send me a UPS label by e-mail in 1-2 days. I waited for the label and nothing came, so on day 3 I made a return call. I was then told by Kevin that my exchange was approved, which I was never informed it was pending anything for approval and again that the label should be in my inbox in 1-2 days. 3 more days go by no label. I then call again to inquire what was happening and am told it was approved the 14th of July and the UPS label would be in my inbox in 4-7 days......what??? I then asked to speak to a supervisor "Shawna" . I explain, I am a landscape / adventurer photographer and I use this camera extensively while climbing to save much needed space. I also explain I this camera is part of my livelihood and as we are at 4 weeks now since I sent the camera in and on multiple instances now on Samsung's fault I have been left out to dry. I ask if there is a resolution to expedite the replacement camera and am told she needs to contact the exchange department to find out what can be done. I say ok but had Shawna agree to call me back by the end of her day to inform me of what is going on. No return call is received by the mentioned time. So once again I call back. Through all these conversations I have also had to every time explain the details of what has happened so far as the notes left by the staff have been inadequate for them to pick up where the previous agent left off. So after explaining everything once again to a new agent and asking to be returned to someone who has helped with me before I am now on hold for a supervisor. This day totals out to 3 hours on the phone with them and then the call drops. Every time they answer the phone they ask for a number which is good to call you back. Well no call back and when I attempt to call them back .......closed ...after hours now. So as the TL500 is a great camera ....one of the best professional P&Ss out there, SAMSUCK should realize that if they want to be successful in getting part of the profesional camera market they had better have good customer service. This has been one of the WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCES I HAVE HAD IN MY WHOLE LIFE!!!

I mainly shoot with DSLR's (I own 5) and was hesitant to buy a p&s, but I'm glad I bought this camera. The lens and ergonomics are awesome. My fast mid-range zoom is a 24-70 f2.8. This one is a f1.8 - 2.4. My 24-70 f2.8 lens cost me $1300, this whole camera with a faster f1.8-2.4 cost me only $400!!! Gotta love it!!! The controls are very intuitive. It feels like a DSLR in my hands with all the buttons easily accessible. I love the dual wheels for manual control!

Also, the picture quality is better than any point-and-shoots that I've seen. The ISO noise quality is probably a stop and a half better than your average point and shoots and a half stop better than your new high end point and shoots like the S90 and G11. The colors are nice, not overly saturated. I did have to increase the overall sharpness setting. The default was a bit soft. Mega OIS works like a charm. My hand-held shots at 1/10 is decently sharp.

With the high quality build, this might be the last point-and-shoot that I would buy for a while!