Samsung TL34HD Digital Camera Review

Samsung TL34HD

Digital Camera Review

2.4 The Samsung TL34HD (or the NV100HD as it is known outside of the USA) is the new flagship of Samsung's point and shoot lineup, with 14.6-megapixel resolution and a large 3-inch touch screen LCD. And it looks like it could be a flagship performer; apart from a few handling quirks, we found lots to like in this pocket-sized point and shoot.
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Samsung TL34HD

Model Design / Appearance
The TL34HD is definitely an attractive camera; the thin profile and big screen will make it a talking point at parties. And we liked the different color schemes that are available, as the color accent on the top adds a touch of style without being garish. At about 6.4 ounces (181g) and just 0.78 inches (18mm) thick, the TL34HD is not the smallest camera out there, but it is definitely pocket-friendly.

Size and Handling
The TL34HD fits comfortably into the hand, with the shutter button falling under the index finger. However, the zoom controls are poorly placed, as they did not fall under the thumb. And moving the thumb to reach them meant that the camera slipped, so we found ourselves using two hands if we had to adjust the zoom. The touch-screen menu also means that you will need both hands if you want to change any settings on the camera. So, one hand is fine if you just want to point and shoot, but two will be needed if you want to zoom or change the settings.


The zoom control of the TL34HD does not fit
comfortably under the thumb

Menu
The TL34HD uses an on-screen touch menu, which can be both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that it means there are a minimal number of buttons, but the curse is that it can be a pain if the touch screen does not work well. We found that the blessing generally outweighed the curse here; the touch screen was responsive to a light touch and seemed to be accurate in our limited testing. To change the features of the camera (such as the exposure mode or the face detection mode), you touch the icons around the edge of the screen. To access the main menu, you hit the menu button. In either case, the options then appear on screen, and you can use a touch to select, or the on-screen scroll bar to move down the list. Overall, the menu system seems well designed, if a little complex. Using on-screen icons does make the screen look somewhat cluttered, but it provides for quick access.

 


 

Ease of Use
Overall, we found the TL34HD to be a mostly easy to use camera. The touch-screen approach is mostly well executed, and puts the settings you need to change mostly within easy reach. The zoom control is a problem, though, since it can't be comfortably used with one hand.
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