Following is a review about Samsung PL51 digital camera.
Definitely, the most important thing as a digital camera is the image quality. However, unlike before, popularized products also have great quality, so makers concentrate on their distinguished functions more. (In quality, there is no much difference between popularized and high grade models any more. It depends how various functions they have.)
The PL51(SL203) from Samsung Digital Imaging which I’m reviewing is not a product supporting as many functions as other high-end digital cameras. However, it supports various modes including Smart Auto and Smart Album, so when it comes to convenience, it’s a great camera. I’m wondering that what has been changed compared to previous PL series. Let’s take a look at it more closely.
It’s the Full kit and various accessories are included such as S/W CD (User manual), Warranty, Quick manual, Power adapter, USB cable, and Hand strap. (A/V cable, Memory, and Case are not included.)
It has 89 x 56.5 x 21.6 mm of size and 116.1g weight, so as you can see, it concentrates on its mobility. (Unlike other products heavy to hang on my neck, it was light enough to hang on my neck for a long time. I think its small size is very good.)
The design is not much different from previous models. (It’s similar to the PL70 which I reviewed before.) Frameless type back body is impressive, and the side body made of reflecting material of titanium silver gives a design point.
It’s the front body and 3x optical zoom protruding lens is located. There’s no inconvenience to take a shot by supporting 35-105mm of FOV. Flash, Self timer, and AF are located on the upper side, so there’s no problem to take a shot under low light condition. @ Because it has more than 10M pixels, it’s also good for development.
It’s the top of the product and a microphone and speaker are located. And LED is installed on the power button, so even at night it’s easy to see the status of the button. It has a shutter supporting half shutter and having a big difference between the half and full shutter.
Like I mentioned earlier, it’s impressive to have frameless type body. On the right side, Zoom lever, Mode dial, Menu, and Cross button are located and due to its ergonomic design, you can control them with one hand. On the center, there’s a sensor adjusting the brightness of the LCD by detecting the amount of light around. It can save up the battery and its visibility is really good when playing and taking a shot.
It’s the left side of the body and a 20 pin port is installed for data transfer, TV Out, and so on. Like other products, it supports USB charge for more convenience. On the upper side, there’s a strap ring to hang it on a neck or a hand strap.
It’s the bottom of the body and there’s a hole for a tripod. Like most other Samsung digital cameras, it supports 1050mAh SLB-10A Li-Ion battery and SDHC memory.
It’s very light enough to carry with one hand. It’s not as light or slim as ST series, but there’s no inconvenience to carry. (It’s smaller than other digital devices.)
They are accessories included such as USB cable, Adapter, Hand strap, Battery, S/W CD, Warranty, and Quick manual.
They are accessories included such as USB cable, Adapter, Hand strap, Battery, S/W CD, Warranty, and Quick manual.
It’s the main screen and various shot information is displayed on the screen. (On the left top, mode is displayed and on the left and right side, various settings are shown.) When recording a video, separate menu is displayed and with the Fn button, you can use each function more quickly without using Menu button.
For more user convenience, it supports various modes such as Smart Auto representing Samsung digital cameras, Auto, Program, DIS, Beauty Shot, Scene mode, and Shot Guide for video or learning functions. (Its mode dial allows us a faster mode exchange.)
Not by entering the setting menu, you can set frequently used functions buy by using the button on the back. Shot information displayed on the LCD can be hid and by using the cross button, Self timer, Flash, and Macro can easily be set.
Unlike the PL70 I reviewed before, it doesn’t support OIS, but DIS to reduce hand blur. By supporting Scene mode, you can get optimized results depending on the situation. (Through the perfect Smart Auto and Scene mode, you can take a perfect shot every time under any circumstances.)
By supporting Beauty Shot as a separate mode, I think it will satisfy users taking a lot of portrait shots. Like the picture, after setting the compensation and brightness, you can take a flawless face. (Please check this more closely in the test section.)
It’s the video recording menu and it supports 640×480 VGA resolution. 30 fps is also enough to take a video for web sites. (It’s good enough to upload on UCC sites.)
Shot Guide for beginners is also very impressive. (As you can see in the picture, the way to take a shot or control the camera is displayed with pictures and text, so it helps take good pictures for beginners.)
From now, let’s take a closer look at the various functions to take shots. The picture above is a program mode after pushing the menu button and various menus are supported. (4 menus are provided and for each menu, various settings are supported.)
It’s a shot function supporting exposure compensation and various White Balance settings such as Auto, Sunlight, Cloudy, Fluorescence H/L, Light Bulb, and Custom. It doesn’t support Manual function, but through ISO 1600, enough shutter speed can be secured at night and various portrait functions are supported.
Let’s take a closer look at Face Recognition functions. Not only Face Recognition setting exposure and focus by recognizing faces, but also Self Guide making a beep sound when recognizing a face, Smile Shot taking an automatic shot when recognizing a smile, and Blink Detection detecting blink are supported. (Like other high grade products, it supports various Face Recognition functions.)
Like the picture, various sizes of pictures (Up to 10M pixels is supported and enough for any usage, I think.) and 3 kinds of picture quality are provided. (Depending on quality and size) ACB function compensating contrast and Multi, Spot, and Central photometry are supported.
It’s a Shot menu and continuous shot, motion capture taking more than 5 shots per 1 sec (Up to 30 photos in VGA resolution), and AEB taking 3 shots with right exposure, overexposure(+1/2EV), and underexposure(-1/2EV)
This also supports Multi point AF setting focus from possible 9 ranges, not only central AF. And Image Correction menu such as Photo Style, Contrast, Sharpness, and Saturation is supported. (It’s like an EQ function in MP3P. You can make your own pictures by using them properly.)
Like previous cameras, it supports voice memo and voice recording.
It’s a sound setting menu. Volume of all operating sounds is adjustable (3 levels and off) and various starting, shutter, and operating sounds can be selected. AF sound can be turned on or off and Self guide sound can also be set.
It’s the menu screen. Various languages and self explanation function are supported. (It’s useful for beginners to get accustomed.) You can select the image on the LCD when booting the camera Screen Brightness, Reviewing time, and Power Saving mode can be set.
Lastly, let’s see the setting menu. Format and initialization functions are supported and time and date can be set. It supports the file numbering and you can leave date or not.
@ If you want to manage pictures in your PC, don’t forget to set it to ‘Continuous’. If setting ‘From the beginning’, file numbers will be overlapped.
Through Auto power off function, you can manage the battery more efficiently. AF, video output, and USB can be set.
By pushing the play button on the back, you can play pictures, videos, and voices. (You can even run it when it’s off by pushing the play button, and through the button on the back, shooting information can easily be checked.)
@ For videos, it supports a screen capture function.
Magnifying function is supported (You can cut it after magnification.), so you can check the details of pictures. Through the preview up to 20 pictures, you can quickly search and play pictures you want. (By using the zoom button on the back, you can control it.)
Pushing the menu button on the Smart Album, you can sort files by each category. Date, File, and Color categories are supported.
It’s the play setting. You can change the size of pictures (Not only size, but also starting image setting is possible.) and rotate them. You can apply styles on pictures already taken, and various retouching functions such as ACB, Red eye reduction, Skin Correction, Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, and Noise effects.
@ It’s not that good for those who use Photoshop, but for most other users who don’t use image editing software, this is very useful.
Preview can also be set. (Like I mentioned earlier, you can set it through the zoom button.)
This supports Multi Slideshow, so you can select pictures, effects, interval, and background music. (Please check with the video clip.)
It’s the file management. You can delete and protect them. (You can select files to protect or delete by watching preview.) Voice memo function is supported. DPOF function (By saving file printing information on the MIDC folder in the memory card, you can select files to be printed and the number of copies.) is also provided.
We’ve seen various functions supported. Let’s take a look at the quality by taking pictures.
Like other popularized cameras, it supports 35mm wide angle and optical 3x zoom. Compared to high grade cameras, you need to move around more, but there’s no inconvenience when generally taking shots. (Because this is not for professionals, I think 35~105mm shot angle is good enough to take a shot.)
It’s testing ISO. If resized to 600 pixels, photos with ISO 1600 can be used for web sites. (In ISO 1600, exposure becomes somewhat low.)
It’s an original image. There’s not much rough noise in more than ISO 800. (It’s quite good for noise reduction. Even though it doesn’t support ISO 3200, but I think you can take a good shot indoors or at night without flash.)
It’s also good for indoor and object shots. Especially, when taking indoor shots without enough shutter speed, no hand blur happens with the DIS mode. (5cm macro shot in wide angle is also a big advantage.)
Thanks to Smart Auto, it’s so simple to take a shot. It sets accurate exposure and has good color expression, so it’s great enough to be used for multiple purposes.
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