Digital Camera News

Samsung CES Lineup Features OLED Touch-Screen, Wi-Fi and Dual View

January 6, 2010 – At CES in Las Vegas, Samsung expanded on technologies featured in its 2009 product line, with two more dual-screen cameras and a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth equipped model with a 3.7-inch OLED touch-screen display. Unfortunately, Samsung is not announcing pricing for any of the newly introduced cameras at this time.

The DualView cameras feature a standard LCD on the camera back and an additional screen up front, facing the subject, to assist in taking self-portraits and to amuse fidgety children. In the two new models, the 1.5 inch front screen can be used both in still image and video mode. The TL210 and the TL205 differ only slightly in resolution (12,4 megapixels for the TL210, 12.2 for the TL205), but the TL210 has a 5x zoom lens with a 27mm equivalent wide angle, while the TL205 lens is a 3x starting at 35mm. The TL210 provides both optical and digital image stabilization systems, while the TL205 is digital-only.

Another difference is rear LCD screen size: 3 inches for the TL210, 2.7 inches for the TL205, though both have the same 230,000-dot resolution. The TL210 also has an edge in video mode, with 720p high-def at 30 frames per second and an optional HDMI adapter, while the TL205 video is standard def.  Physical dimensions of the two cameras differ by only a hair’s breadth: the TL210 measures 3.9 x 2.3 x 0.78 inches, the TL205 3.8 x 2.2 x 0.79 inches. As for price difference, we’ll have to wait until we get closer to the March ship date.

The CL80 and TL240 are 14.2-megapixel cameras that share several specs (7x zoom, 720p video with HDMI out, 4.1 x 2.3 x 0.77 inch body), but differ in two key areas. The CL80 boasts a large 3.7-inch WVGA OLED touch-screen display; the TL240 also offers touch-screen control, but on a 3.5-inch LCD. The CL80 is also built for wireless connectivity, with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. The TL240 is scheduled for a February introduction, the CL80 some time in the spring.

Finally, one lower end of the performance spectrum, the SL600 and SL50 are 12.2-megapixel cameras with 5x lenses, starting at the equivalent of 27mm. Both have 230,000-dot LCDs, measuring 2.7 inches for the SL-600, 2.5 inches for the SL50. Video recording is limited to standard def, and image stabilization is digital rather than physical. The cameras measure 38 x 2.3 x 0.83 inches, and run on rechargeable batteries. They are due to ship in February.