The high end means the best, and the best technology is put in this camera!

High end digital camera from Samsung

The WB1000(TL320) is the highest compact digital camera from Samsung. The high end means the best, and the best technology is put in this camera. The WB1000(TL320) from Samsung digital imaging which has shown the great result in the compact digital camera market. Let me show you if the high end fits the WB1000(TL320) with this review.

Like I already told you, the WB1000(TL320) is a high end compact digital camera representing Samsung, and has adopted the Schneider lens (24mm), world’s first 3 inch AMOLED, smart dial, A,S,M, and full manual mode. Below is the specification.

Design

What is the most important point of compact digital cameras? It’s the design rather than function or resolution. Many people want slim body with great design. Samsung digital cameras have focused a lot on the design, and got a good evaluation from many users around the world. The WB1000(TL320) is also with the good design of 97×61x21mm of size and 160g of weight.

In design, from the WB500(HZ10W) to WB1000(TL320), they have similar design. This is called a family look, and selected from a large number of makers in a lot of field from car to camera. Like the phrase “We can see the company by the design”, the firm and strong image of the WB series can be engraved on lots of users.

There’s a part noticeable, and it’s a mini dashboard and smart dial. The mini dashboard was firstly shown from the NV9(TL9), and because of the good evaluation, it’s installed again on the WB1000(TL320). The smart dial allows users to set menu, iris, and shutter speed more quickly. However, the plastic tripod hole is a little unexpected.

World’s first 3 inch AMOLED hVGA

As a high end digital camera, it seems focused on the display much. For the first time as a digital camera, it has adopted the AMOLED and solved the weak points of the TFT-LCD such as afterimages and viewing angle. The inappropriate color on the earlier model looks arranged. And the high resolution for 3 inch size shows the smooth screen.

Advanced image processer in quality with 12M pixels

By adopting 12M pixels, pictures can be developed with the large size, and remain the image quality after cropped. With this strong point, users can take tele angle images using crop, and for macro shots, it can be developed closely. The image processor has also been upgraded, so it shows better gradation and noise.

World first 24mm, 5x zoom Schneider lens

The WB series from Samsung has adopted the Schneider lens, and WB1000(TL320) has also the Schneider lens. The WB1000(TL320) supports 24mm~120mm. The difference between 24mm and 28mm is quite big, even though it looks a little. The FOV is F2.8 for maximum wide angle and F5.6 for maximum tele angle.

It’s the photo with 24mm. Like you see, the ultra wide angle as much as DSLR could be taken by the WB1000(TL320).

Using the 5x zoom, it’s good to take leaves or birds in a long distance. Outfocusing effect can be made.

Wide and tele angle

The detail in wide angle is so good. It describes each grass, and so vivid on the initial setting. It’s a little bit obscure in tele angle, but compared to other cameras, it’s not bad.

Full manual mode (A/S/M)

It’s not common to supports full manual function as a compact digital camera, but the WB1000(TL320) supports it as a high end model. Iris and shutter speed are adjustable like DSLR, and fosus and white balance can be 100% manually operated. With the smart dial controlling this manual function, they are considering the users’ convenience.

From the top, focus, white balance, iris and shutter speed adjustment.

In fosuing picture by setting the iris and shutter speed manually, and adjusting the focus manually

Dual IS

Before the WB1000(TL320), I thought it could be better if the IS works double. The WB1000(TL320) can activate both OIS and DIS at the same time, so it can prevent shake under low light conditions.

Looking at the pictures, you can see the big difference. Without IS, pictures were shaken much, but with the OIS, minute shake was prevented, and in Dual IS mode, it’s perfect. But on Dual IS mode, the ISO is automatically set, and noise increases.

Smart dial

The smart dial is almost the same as the quick control of Canon which is only seen from high level products. By turning the smart dial, you can adjust the iris and shutter speed, and when focusing with MF, it’s so convenient and easy to control.

It’s good as a second digital camera having DSLR performance for DSLR users.

And it’s also good for beginners as a digital camera supporting manual operation.

Smart auto function

The difference between the smart auto and normal auto function is AI. The smart auto automatically set the mode optimized for the situation. After the actual test, it showed the good result. There are 11 scene modes such as scenery, white, night scenery, night portrait, backlight, backlight portrait, portrait, macro, macro text, tripod, and action.

Perfect portrait system

Recently a lot of compact digital camera focused on the portrait function, and the importance of portrait has been mentioned much. The WB1000(TL320) supports the mode focusing on portrait called the Perfect portrait system. It has a lot of functions regarding portrait such as face recognition, blink detection, smile shot, self guide, and beauty shot.

Face recognition

It takes about 5 sec to recognize a face, and the recognition rate is quite high. Setting this mode, exposure and focus are optimized on the face. Therefore, this would be very helpful when the difference of exposure between faces and background. (Up to 9 faces can be recognized at the same time.)

Beauty shot

Beauty shot is like a handsome mode taking out flaw on your skin and making it smoothly. There are 3 levels to adjust. This function makes faces handsome and deletes flaws. Level 1 or 2 is appropriated. 3 is too much.

Other than these, a lot of useful function such as blink detection, smile shot, and self guide are supported.

HD video recording

Samsung camera is famous for the strong video recording function. The WB1000(TL320) also has an HD video (720p, 30fps) function, and optical zoom is possible during recording.

HD video takes a lot of memory space, but the WB1000(TL320) has adopted the H.264 format, and it allows users to take much more time than MPEG-4. While other makes still adopt MPEG4 or MJPEG, supporting the H.264 format is a good advantage, I guess.

It’s the video recorded outside. Large resolution video of 720p HD can be recorded and also optical zoom can be applied. While zooming, the sound keeps silent. I think this is because of the operating sound of lens, but I wish users could set the sound on. Strange thing is that the sound is also getting louder by zooming.

If you want to pause the recording, you can push the OK button on the smart dial. Pushing the OK button again, the recording resumes.

OIS on

OIS off

Applying the OIS for a video recording, you can prevent the minute shake. The difference is so noticeable. Other than that, it supports various video functions like a camcorder such as stereo voice, video extraction, image captures, and so on.

Smart Secretary, smart album

Sorted by Schedule, theme, color and week

The WB1000(TL320) supports more organized album function. This is not just a basic album. Users can sort pictures by schedule, theme, color, and week. Especially, the sort by color will be very useful.

Image quality

Recently, compact cameras support high ISO. A few years ago, high ISO can only be made by DSLR, but the WB1000(TL320) also supports up to ISO 3200.

The high ISO resolution is just normal. From ISO 80 to 200, it shows the clean images without noise. From ISO 400, there’s some noise particle on the dark part, and some rough expression on bright spot. From ISO 800, rough expression shows up on both dark and bright spot, and from ISO 1600, details are lost a lot with much noise. On ISO 3200, the image size is reduced with a lot noise and details are destroyed, so this will be limited for some special case. The Max ISO considering the quality is 800.

Color feature

The WB1000(TL320) shows the high contrast colors and it doesn’t need color compensation. It supports 10 photo styles such as normal, soft, vivid, forest, retro, cool, calm, classic, negative, custom RGB. On the custom RGB mode, users can adjust R, G, and B channels.

Like you see, the dark contrast is the WB1000(TL320)’s own color feel. If you don’t like this, you can adjust it from the image setting.

WB1000(TL320) good for everyone

The WB1000(TL320) supports full manual operation with various function, so is very good for those who want to buy DSLR, but don’t have enough much, experience manual operation before DSLR, and look for sub camera for DSLR. Also with a lot of convenient functions such as OIS, perfect portrait system, and smart auto system, the WB1000(TL320) is suitable for beginners, I guess.

I have found some weakness. Non-intuitive interface and tripod hole made of plastic material are not suitable for a high end digital camera. However, the WB1000(TL320) has more strong points than weak points certainly, so I’m expecting the reaction of the market from now.

Sample