Samsung TL34HD

Movie Mode
One of the big selling points of the TL34HD is that is shoots high definition videos at 1280 x 720 resolution. That's somewhat less than a dedicated camcorder, though; most modern camcorders record that 1920 x 1080 resolution. At its maximum resolution, the TL34HD video is also interlaced; the camera only captures 30 frames a second, while many cameras can capture 60. In fact, the TL34HD can capture 60 frames per second video, but only at the lower 320 x 240 resolution.

We found the video mode to be generally straightforward and easy to use. However, to enjoy the full resolution of the video, you will need to spend a bit extra on the optional dock, as the TL34HD does not come with a digital video output as standard equipment. The optional dock adds an HDMI port and allows the camera to output 1080i video.

Drive / Burst Mode
Samsung claims that the TL34HD can capture three photos every two seconds for a frame rate of 1.5 frames per second. The maximum number of photos that can be taken at this speed is 30. These are acceptable, but not outstanding numbers; lots of cameras are slower than this, but there are plenty that are faster. However, these tend to be much more expensive than the TL34HD, so it's a pretty acceptable compromise. If you really need a higher speed, the M Capture mode can snap up to 30 frames per second, but at a much reduced one-megapixel resolution.

Playback Mode
The TL34HD has a good selection of features for playing back and editing photos; you can look at thumbnails of up to 9 photos, then  easily set up a slideshow. Some limited editing tools are also available; images can be rotated, cropped, colorized and resized. A number of automatic processing tools are also available for correcting exposure errors or removing red-eye, as well as retrospectively applying the beauty touch processing that tries to remove skin blemishes.

Custom Image Presets
A wide selection of scene modes are available; 15 in all, including the usual suspects of portrait, night and fireworks. These can be accessed by setting the mode dial to Scene, then touching the scene mode button on-screen and selecting the desired one. A brief text explanation also appears, politely suggesting what the mode would be good for.