Following is a user review about Samsung WB1000 (TL320) digital camera.
Why do people use DSLR despite its inconvenience? Some people just like to show off, but most of the DSLR users want various manual functions and fast operation to take more satisfying pictures. (In my case, since my camera and lens weighs more than 3kg, if I take shots for a long time, my hand hurts for a few days. In spite of that, I keep using them because I can take pictures more accurately and quickly with them.)
Recently released compact cameras have video recording function and other additional functions that are not supported by DSLR. So for snap shots, they’re a lot more convenient than DSLRs. But for more professional shooting, it is not as satisfying because of its lack of manual functions. (It’s not simply about image quality. Nowadays, compact cameras have image quality as good as DSRLs.)
WB1000 in this review has both strengths of DSLR and compact digital cameras. It supports perfect manual functions and has portability and various additional functions of compact cameras.
I have high expectation for this because this one shows the best capacity among the Samsung Digital Imaging products on market. Through various tests, let’s find out its image quality and how its operation differs from fromer compact cameras.
Design & Feature
This is how FULL KIT looks. It offers quick manual, warranty, S/W CD (Samsung Master, Quick Time Player 7.5, Adobe Reader, and manual included), battery, power adapter, USB cable, and AV cable. (Cradle, wireless remote control, and HDMI cable are separate KIT on sale, so you can make output with HDMI. Case and memory card can also be bought sepertaely.)
It is 97x 61x 21mm and 160g; its portability is more than satisfying. (Regular high-end digital cameras have good features but usually quite big. But WB1000 supports perfect manual functions but smaller and lighter than regular digital cameras, maximizing portability. It is good to carry in pocket or bag, and also ok to hang around your neck using strap.)
Its design is also very chic. (Unlike thick and big products, it’s very slim. Also its color and material looks luxurious. It doesn’t look shallow but grave.)
@ Other than black color in this review, silver color will be released.
This is how it looks on the front side with 24mm ultra-wide Schneider lens. (It support 24mm ultra-wide angle. Compared to most of digital cameras with 35mm angle, it’s absolutely outstanding.) It is protruding type lens with 5x optical zoom, so you can freely set the angle. (It supports 24-120mm in 35mm film equivalent, so it works so well both for wide angle and regular shots. Personally, I think it’s such an ideal angle.) As a high-end product, it supports Dual IS, protecting any camera shakes. F2.8-5.8 aperture helps retain good shutter speed in dark places. (Most regular products start from F3.0)
In order to improve grip, grip part is made pretty thick. (Unlike other products, your fingers would feel more stable to hold the camera.) On the upper left side, there’s a reception for remote control. (Wireless remote can be bought separately.) On the upper right side, there’s flash and AF assist/ Self-timer lamp.
Top of the camera looks fancy. You can see a speaker and two mikes (supporting stereo sound recording) and mini dash board (status display gage), that cannot be found in other products, on the center. (A few years ago, I saw the status display gage on EPSON R-D1s, and it’s good to see it again. It brings the feeling of analog and it will satisfy users by letting them know the capacity of battery or memory instantly.)
There’s mode dial on the right side. Not only the Auto mode, it also supports S (shutter speed), A (aperture), and M (manual) mode so you can set exposure freely. And there’s USER mode, with which you can set frequently-used shooting options in advance, for users’ convenience. (It satisfies both convenience of compact camera and variety of DSLR.)
3 inch hVGA+ AMOLED is on the back of the camera, so you can check the subject in detail. (AMOLED is much greater than TFT LCD. Many products have 230,000 pixels, but it supports 520,000 pixels, so much clearer. And it offers good viewing angle, so you can accurately recognize the subject in any angle.)
There’s zoom lever on the upper left side, and MENU and other setting buttons on the lower part. @ In order for users to use manual functions easily, it has Smart dial. Unlike other models, the cross button is not fixated but is rotating, So you can easily control shutter speed, aperture, exposure, white balance, focus, and color temperature. It will be easy to understand if you think it’s similar to mode dial in DSLR.
hVGA + AMOLED quality is superior to TFT LCD. TFT LCD cannot express color accurately due to the viewing angle and shows low clarity. (It looks blurry on the photo and its expression is not accurate.) On the other hand, WB1000’s hVGA+ AMOLED shows outstanding color expression and good viewing angle. (I’ve tested under sunlight several times but I could recognized the subject well thanks to hVGA+ AMOLED.) @ WB1000 has 3 inch hVGA+ AMOLED for the first time in the world, and it shows dark/bright contrast 20 times better than TFT LCD.
There’s strap hoop on the right side, so you can connect hand scrap in the packet or other straps for necklace.
There’s a mount hole for the tripod on the bottom and 34-pin terminal for connecting USB and A/V cable. (It seems that it used 24-pin, not 20-pin, so cradle can be installed.) And there’s battery and Card Slot on the side. (It supports maximum 8GB SDHC. It will be good enough for taking photos and videos.) @ It also supports 76MB internal memory.
As I mentioned earlier, it is very compact. It fits right in one hand and as compact as Smart phone or MP3P.
These are basic accessories like quick manual, warranty, S/W CD, hand strap, A/V cable, USB cable, power adapter, and battery.
UI & Function
We’ve checked the design and features of WB1000. Now let’s see what kinds of functions are supported through UI interface.
As the most high class line product, it supports various modes. Including Smart Auto, Auto, Program, Dual IS, Scene, and Video mode, it also supports A/S/M manual mode. (It is one of WB1000’s specified features. In addition, you can select frequently using shooting options on USER mode. So it will heighten users who want a variety of functions.)
When setting mode, you will find the icon on the upper left side change according to mode. (In Smart mode, there’re 11 modes like Macro, Macro text, White, Landscape, Action, Tripod, Night scene, Night portrait, Backlight, Backlight portrait, and Portrait. It automatically detects the scene and makes settings. It may be called Auto Scene mode.) Compared to other products that only supports DIS, it supports OIS as a high-end product. @ Depending on mode, it supports different functions. In Smart Auto, you can only control image size, but in Program mode, you can control all the functions manually.
Unlike in other modes, when you select A/S/M mode, you’ll find shutter speed and aperture value displayed on the upper left side. Using Smart dial on the back, you can easily change the values to get photos you want. (High-end products often support manual functions. But many times, it is complicated to operate when you want to change aperture or shutter speed. But with WB1000’s Smart dial, you can set them as easily as with DSLR.)
It supports Scene mode which makes setting according to circumstances, resulting in high quality pictures. (It supports various modes like Night Scene, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Text, Close-up, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Firework, Beach/Snow, Frame Guide, and Beauty Shot.) @ In Beauty shot mode, it supports separate condition setting as the photo shows. By face retouch and brightness adjustment, you can take make people to look like models.
This is how video mode looks. It supports 1280HQ and 30fps, and you can record videos looking clear and natural. (It seems to be good enough for snap use. Let’s take a look at it more closely at test.) @ It supports 60fps in 320x 240.
Shooting Option
From now on, let’s find out about various functions. Frequently used functions can be controlled not necessarily through MENU. (Smart dial supports direct access.) You can decide whether you want to see shooting information or not. And you can also decide on Self-timer. (It supports 2 sec/10 sec self-timer, double timer that takes shot in 10 seconds and 12 seconds for better result, motion timer that detects the movement 6 seconds after pressing shutter and takes a shot when motion stops, and remote control mode.) There’s also macro and manual focus function for close-up shot, and flash (auto, red eye reduction, compulsory light, slow syncro, no light, and red eye removal) for indoor or night shot. @ Also you can quickly select frequently used functions using Fn button.
Shooting Function
If you select Program mode, you can freely select most of the functions. (You’ll find menus that never exist in former models. So you can see that it’s not just about controlling aperture and shutter speed.)
It offers exposure control function and various white balance settings. Unlike the products before, it added WB detailed adjustment function to express accurate colors. And using the color temperature control, users can express cold or warm atmosphere as they want. (It is very impressive that it has color temperature control, which is usually found only in DSLR. Please check the change according to color temperature in test part.)
It supports up to ISO 3200, so you can take pictures without flash in dark indoors or at night. (But in ISO 3200, you can not select resolution higher than 3M.) Also, it offers ACB function that naturally edits the dark/bright contrast.
Samsung Digital Imaging has been strong in taking portrait shots, and it supports various face detection functions. There’re Regular mode that detects faces and automatically controls focus and exposure, Self Guide that helps taking self-shots by making beeping sound when detecting faces, Smile shot that detects smiley face and automatically takes a shot, and Blink detection that takes two successive shots when detecting blinking.
It supports 12 mega high-resolution shot, many photo sizes, and three types of image quality setting. (Considering image capacity and quality, you may select image size and quality.) @ As a high-end product, you can see it supports high resolution. So it seems good enough for professional use.
It supports multi-split and spot AF as well as central AF. Also it supports regular shooting, successive shooting, and motion capture. Plus, AF that lets you select a part for focus. Not only that, it supports flash light amount control, which never existed in former models, so you can get more satisfying result when you use flash in indoor or night shot.
You can take unique pictures by photo style setting, and you can express colors as you want using image editing function. Also, it has OIS function to minimize camera shakes, and it supports voice memo and sound recording.
On the custom setting, you may save frequently using shooting options and utilize it as your own shooting mode. (This is a menu for using USER mode mentioned earlier.)
SOUND
This is what sound setting menu looks like. You can select volume for operating sound (in three levels, or off), and it supports start-up sound, shutter sound, and operating sound. Also, you can activate/deactivate AF sound, and select beeping sound for Self Guide.
Screen
This is what screen menu setting looks like. It supports many languages and has instructional function of displaying options and explanations. (It is very useful for beginners to learn about functions.) Also, you can select image that is displayed when you turn the camera on. (Users can freely register images.) Plus, you can select screen brightness, preview time, and power-saving mode. (When you set power-saving mode, LCD turns off, LED blinks, and it goes into saving mode if the camera doesn’t work for a while.)
Option
From the setting menu that controls the overall functions, you can see that it supports various functions. It supports the format of memory or reset of the machine. If you enter date and time, you can display it while shooting. Also, worldwide time zone can be set, and you can select file numbering way. And it supports auto power off, video output, activation of AF assist light, and various USB connecting ways. @ Unlike WB550 with HDMI terminal, WB1000 has separate cradle to support HDMI output. After setting HDMI resolution, you can easily connect it to digital TV and use it.
Play Option
If you press play button on the back of the camera, you can check photos, video clips, and voices. (Even when the machine is turned off you can check them by pressing the play button.) @ While you play a video clip, you can pause and capture a screen by pressing cross button. Also, you can check Exif info of photos using cross button.
It supports image magnifying function, so you can check the photos in detail. You can also cut out the image when you magnify it. As you can see from the picture above, it offers 20 thumbnails so you can easily select a photo you want.
It supports four types of photo arrangement system. You can categorize under dates, file forms, and colors, so it is easy to spot the pictures or videos even among lots of them.
There’s editing function in setting menu of play function. You can change image size (It also supports start-up image setting, but the image cannot be changed from small to big), and it offers various rotating functions. Also, after taking pictures, you can apply photo style effect and image editing functions like ACB, red eye removal, brightness, contrast, saturation, face retouch, and noise effect.
Through the play menu, you can select photo, decide on effect, interval, and background music for multi slide show function. (It’s not like monotonous slide show but more dynamic one. If you use TV-OUT function, it’ll be more satisfying.) @ There’ll be multi slide show in the video preview. Please refer to it.
Through file management, you can delete, protect files, leave voice memo, DPOF (By saving image output info on memory card MIDC folder, you can easily select photos and decide on how many to print.), and copy. (It has recycle bin so you can easily restore the data you accidentally deleted.)
TEST
We’ve looked into design and functions of the camera. Now let’s find out about the capacity of WB1000 from each test.
Angle TEST
It supports 24mm ultra-wide angle, allowing much wider angle than former models. Most of compact cameras support from 30mm or more, so when you take landscape shot, you have to move a lot due to its narrow angle. But with WB1000, you don’t need to move much to get satisfying result. (Its x5 optical zoom makes it possible to take far-away subject without difficulty.)
Manual TEST
If accurate exposure and good image quality are the most important factors to you, Auto mode is good enough. But if you try to take unique photos in mind, there’s limitation in Auto mode. (The only reason I carry the heavy devices is that I want to take a shot more easily and quickly. If it was for image quality, I wouldn’t have to carry all of them.)
The photo above is taken with ‘Smart Auto.’ And it looks too flat, far from my intention. (Exposure and image quality have been optimized.)
But when you apply manual function, you will be able to take photos totally different from Auto mode. In the top photo, I lowered the shutter speed to express the water flow more naturally. And the photo below, I increased the shutter speed to capture the exact moment of water dropping. (Can it take only good pictures? Can it take both good pictures and desired pictures? I think this is the same question as whether it supports manual function or not.)
If you use manual function, you can take a picture like below one more easily.
Exposure TEST
@ If you click picture you can see the original photo.
This is an exposure function test, and its variation range is quite bigger than expected. (You can see the image blows with over exposure under regular sunlight. But at night or in indoor shot, it wasn’t like that at all.) @ It’ll be convenient to users who want to set exposure easily without using manual function.
Motion Capture TEST
I made animated GIF after taking 5 shots/ sec with Motion Capture. (When you take shots of sports or something, it’s hard to press shutter. In cases like this, Motion Capture will be useful. Also, it can be used to make animated GIF like I did.)
Face Detection TEST
@ If you click picture you can see the original photo.
You can see it supports various face detection functions for satisfying portrait shots. If you Beauty shot in Scene mode, it expresses clear skin like models’. It also supports Smile shot that detects smiley face and automatically takes a shot, Blink detection that takes two successive shots when detecting blinking, and Self Guide that helps taking self-shots by making beeping sound when detecting faces.
Photo Style TEST
@ If you click picture you can see the original photo.
Photo style that is basically supported in Samsung Digital Imaging can be useful when you want to take unique pictures. (It is hard to see the difference from thumbnails, but you’ll definitely see the difference on original image.)
Image Compensate TEST
@ If you click picture you can see the original photo.
WB1000 also offers image editing functions. If you don’t like the colors or tone of image, you can modify saturation, sharpness, or contrast to realize the color you want. (Like in Photo style, please check the original image. You’ll see the difference.)
White Balance TEST
@ If you click picture you can see the original photo.
You must have felt disappointed about the color change due to the light at least once. WB1000 supports various while balance setting so you can express accurate colors under any circumstances. (It also offers white balance detailed setting. If you need professional shot with accurate color expression, it’ll be a satisfying function.)
Not only while balance, it also supports color temperature control. As you can see form the image above, it will look cold if you set low temperature, and warm in higher temperature. (It ranges form 3000K-10000K. If you don’t like preset WB, you can control color temperature for accurate color expression.)
Flash TEST
You can set flash light amount freely according to the location of subject or exposure. (But it seemed that it didn’t show much difference.)
Macro TEST
It doesn’t support Super Macro like in PL10, but its basic macro is pretty good. (Exposure, detail, and focus are all satisfying.)
OIS TEST
I’ve tested the capacity of OIS. In regular shot, you can see that there were serious shakes. But when I set OIS, even though the shutter speed was lowered, there was no shaking. (It supports not only OIS but also Dual IS combined with Advanced DIS. If your hand tends to tremble a lot, or for users who take lots of indoor shot, it will be useful.)
ISO TEST
@ If you click picture you can see the original photo.
In ISO test, when I did resizing, it lost some details but showed quality good enough for web use. (It’s similar up to ISO 400. But after ISO 800, noise starts to appear and some smudged. But if you resize it, it doesn’t look that different. I think ISO function can be widely used.)
SAMPLE
@ If you click picture you can see the original photo.
A/V TEST
You can appreciate the videos or photos on external digital devices. (It supports HDMI output, but you need to buy a separate cradle for HDMI connection.) @ I used the A/V cable in the basic contents and did the test.
This shows playing the video clip recorded in 1280HQ resolution. Noise, stairwell condition, or buffering, which usually happen in low resolution, don’t appear at all. (It cannot be compared to FULL HD camcorder. But considering it is a camera, it offers outstanding video recording function. It’s good enough for snap shots. But if you use zoom during shooting the sound is not recorded. So you’d better not use zoom during recording videos.) Also, the photos showed satisfying clarity.
Movie Preview
[WB1000 Design & Using Videos]
Epilogue
Since there are too many functions, I had to put in twice as much time as other cameras. I spent the whole weekend doing test shots, and I think it was worth it.
WB1000 has countless distinctive features. 24mm ultra-wide angle and 5x optical zoom helps take good pictures both in wide and regular angle. And OIS function prevents hand blur that frequently happens when there’s lack of exposure. Using Smart dial on the back, you can access menu and functions more easily and quickly. And mini dash board on the top helps check battery and memory status instantly. (It was especially useful to check battery. Compared to most cameras that only display simple battery form on LCD, it gives more accurate info about how much the battery is consumed, resulting in more planed shooting.)
Manual function that’s better than most compact cameras was very satisfying. (Not only A/S/M mode, you can set WB, color temperature, or flash, so you can take diverse pictures.) And 3 inch big hVGA+ AMOLED enables accurate recognition of the subject even in outdoor shooting. (With regular TFT LCD, you usually have to block sunlight with your hand to take a good shot.) Refined and stylish design and high portability are highly credited.
It supports various functions to enable taking a good shot under any circumstance. I’d like to recommend this to users who want to pass over the limitation of regular compact cameras.
This review represents the sole opinion of their individual authors and NOTEFORUM and don’t express the opinion of Samsung Digital Imaging Co., Ltd., Samsungimaging.net or the opinion of any affiliates unless specifically marked as such.
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