Product Description

The new Samsung TL34HD is a powerful, sleek and compact digital camera featuring high-definition video capability. TL34HD boasts an impressive resolution of 14.7 megapixels and renowned Schneider lens yielding a 28mm wide-angle focal length with 3.6x optical zoom. The most advanced point and-shoot digital camera in Samsungs history, the TL34HD builds upon the success of its predecessor, the NV24HD, taking many of that cameras advanced features to a whole new level. Featuring an all-metal build, the TL34HD is pocket-sized but features a large, 3-inch touch-screen LCD screen that dominates the back of the camera and is sure to turn heads no matter where the TL34HD may be used. The TL34HD can also record video in 720p high-definition resolution, at a maximum frame rate of 30fps. Shooters can also take advantage of a movie stabilizer and optical zoom while recording video, as well as Samsungs Successive Recording mode, which allows the user to pause and then resume filming without having to save the clips as individual files. Additionally, the TL34HD utilizes H.264 compression, a codec for high-definition video that yields three times the recording length of MPEG4.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23677 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Black
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: TL34HD Black
• Released on: 2008-09-10
• Dimensions: 3.00" h x .90" w x 4.50" l, .90 pounds
• Memory: 40MB
• Display size: 3

Features

• 14.7-megapixel resolution for professional-qualify poster-sized prints
• 3.6x Schneider optical zoom lens; Dual Image Stabilization
• Face Detection AF and AE; Smile and Blink Detection
• 3-inch touch-screen LCD; HD movie recording in 720p resolution
• Capture images and video to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Amazon.com

The new Samsung TL34HD is a powerful, sleek and compact digital camera featuring high-definition video capability. TL34HD boasts an impressive resolution of 14.7 megapixels and renowned Schneider lens yielding a 28mm wide-angle focal length with 3.6x optical zoom. The most advanced point and-shoot digital camera in Samsung’s history, the TL34HD builds upon the success of its predecessor, the NV24HD, taking many of that camera’s advanced features to a whole new level.

Featuring an all-metal body, the TL34HD is pocket-sized but features a large, 3-inch touch-screen LCD screen that dominates the back of the camera and is sure to turn heads no matter where the TL34HD may be used.

The TL34HD can also record video in 720p high-definition resolution, at a maximum frame rate of 30fps. Shooters can also take advantage of a movie stabilizer and optical zoom while recording video, as well as Samsung’s Successive Recording mode, which allows the user to pause and then resume filming without having to save the clips as individual files. Additionally, the TL34HD utilizes H.264 compression, a codec for high-definition video that yields three times the recording length of MPEG4.

To enjoy the TL34HD’s high-definition video on an HDTV television, simply dock the camera into a Samsung HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) cradle (sold separately). For added versatility, when the HDMI CEC cradle is connected to a high-definition Samsung digital television, you can navigate the TL34HD’s menu using your TV's remote control. The HDMI CEC cradle also delivers the ability to display images in high-definition clarity, further enhancing the digital imaging experience. Additionally, the TL34HD is DLNA Compatible, allowing users to maximize the way they view and share their digital content over their wireless home network.

The TL34HD also pioneers Samsung’s next generation Smart Touch 2.0 user interface. With the Smart Touch 2.0, Samsung further simplifies navigation of the camera’s comprehensive feature set by incorporating touch-screen LCD technology. Besides serving as the portal to access the Smart Touch 2.0 user interface, the TL34HD’s three-inch hVGA LCD screen can be used to compose shots and review images in stunning resolution with 460K pixels. To help cut down on glare and enhance viewing outdoors and in direct sunlight, the TL34HD’s hVGA LCD screen features drastically improved anti-reflection coating.

Adding to the camera’s already impressive feature set, Samsung gives you the ability to capture more of a desired scene and fit it into the frame by including a high-quality 28mm wide-angle Schneider lens. Unlike a standard 35mm lens which is commonly found on compact digital cameras, the TL34HD’s 28mm wide-angle lens allows for more creativity. Ideal for a variety of scenarios, you can easily leverage the increased viewing angle, especially when shooting landscapes or groups of family or friends.

3.6x optical zoom is ideal for close up shots, and the camera’s Dual Image Stabilization reduces blur. Dual Image Stabilization combines both Samsung’s improved Optical Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization, which work simultaneously to provide blur-free images no matter how shaky the user’s hand may be. Along with the camera’s new DRIM Engine image processor, which yields outstanding image quality, enhanced sensitivity with the ability to shoot at ISO 4800 (at three mega-pixels), and blazing speed, the TL34HD redefines the advanced digital point-and-shoot category.

The new TL34HD also features an embedded contents management program called Digital Contents Management (DCM). DCM is a useful tool that significantly reduces the time to find a photo. The program automatically organizes photos based on the date that they were taken, their contents, color, and themes. You can search through images by month or by using a timeline. Based upon the theme of the image you're looking for, you can also search by portrait, couple, or group photos and can even find those images that are city or landscape shots. Additionally, the DCM program automatically sorts images based upon color tones, as well as whether it’s a photo, video, or voice/memo note.

The TL34HD also delivers a comprehensive suite of automatic controls designed to help capture better images, specifically portraits and group shots of family and friends. Face Detection technology makes taking pictures of family and friends a snap, as it detects up to nine faces and automatically adjusts focus and exposure to ensure better composition and image quality. Furthermore, Smile Shot automatically triggers the TL34HD to take a photo only when the camera detects smiles on the subjects’ faces, and Blink Detection will prevent a photo from being taken if the camera recognizes that a subject’s eyes are closed -- a useful feature, as it’s often difficult to distinguish closed eyes when composing a shot on an LCD screen. The TL34HD also offers 13 scene modes to choose from, allowing shooters the ability to effortlessly adjust the camera and capture the best image possible in any setting.

The TL34HD also puts an end to inadvertently lost images with a new feature called the Recycle Bin -- a unique functionality that allows you to retrieve images which were deleted by mistake. When the Recycle Bin function is in use, the TL34HD automatically creates a "trash" folder on the memory card which stores any image deleted from the camera. This special feature allows you to shoot, delete and restore images without the fear that they will be lost forever.

Customer Reviews

Camera is Underated
I recently acquired this camera and it has received mixed reviews around the web and not so good reviews here on Amazon. But after having spent some time with this camera, I have a very positive impression of it. Instead of blowing up the picture to 500 percent and looking for purple fringing, I looked at it from the aspect of "how good is an 8 by 10 printout? And, "How good does it look on a TV or a computer screen? Real issues and not the technical aspects of the output.

And to me, the photos it takes are excellent. Crisp and clean, with good color representation - not extreme or unnatural. The pictures have a decent amount of blowup range before becoming pixelated. Slightly ;less than a decent SLR, but still good. The flash is a bit underpowered, but still is sufficient for most needs. The touch screen is a superb idea. Most people won't bother with the manual comtrols of a point and shoot becasue they are usually buried in menus and difficult to get to. But the on screen system used here makes it very easy (and quick) to get to common manual controls. This is the first point and shoot camera that I felt like even bothering with the manual controls.

The video also seems to work and look fine. The 320 by 240, 60 frames per second output doesn't look much different than the 640 by 480 30 frames per second movie, other than the obvious resolution difference. But the 640 resolution looks sharp and with good color and is playable on most decently powered computers.

The camera also has a 1280 by 720 High Defintion (720p) resolution. It plays well on the camera, but you need a fairly powerful PC or Mac to play it on, and even then it's a bit jerky. But that's the fault with HD on a computer and not a camera problem. But the camera does not include an HD cable for connection to a TV (just RCA and USB cables are included) and that's a major downpoint since you must buy a fairly expensive dock to do that. A very bad call on Samsung's part. I also did not experience any lockups of strange problems that someone in Amazon have reported. Maybe a newer firmware?

But overall, this is a good, durable (metal body) camera to take with you when an SLR is just too inconvenient.

Nice for the discounted price but don't trade in your 10 or 12 mp camera yet
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Well, I'm going to see if I can return this camera. I took a few videos, this time with audio and the audio was AWFUL; broken at best and completely gone a lot of the time. I tried several videos, with and without using the zoom feature. It's really bad!!!!
I've read some disturbing reviews online, so I was a bit pleased to see the quality of the photos and the videos. I captured two videos, about one minute each and transferred them to my computer with a card reader. The videos are just fine. I find them to be as good as most other digital camera videos. They were smooth, the zoom works well and focuses quickly, though your image is out of focus during the zooming. The photos are crisp and shape, the flash works really well. As far as image quality, I'm as pleased with this camera as I am my twice as expensive Canon SD950IS.
The camera itself is a bit larger than I expected, but still a pocket size. The body is all light weight plastic and even feels and looks a bit cheap. I was disappointed in the general appearance of the camera.
The touch screen is fun and I don't activate the wrong feature too often. I did put a screen protector on right away.
My hands keep getting in the way of the pop up flash and prevent it from popping up, but I'm getting use to holding properly. It's comfortable to hold and use and I don't find any problem with the placement of the buttons.
This camera has a lot of manual options as well as special features like kid portrait mode. I haven't tried the blink or smile alert features yet but the stabilizer seems to work well.
All in all, for the $180 that I paid for this camera, it's a good buy and I'd recommend it to someone who is looking for a light weight, inexpensive digital camera that takes good photos and movies.

Not Bad at All
This is a neat little camera. It's a good backup for a SLR and works as a quick "pull-out" camera for those split second moments you'd like to catch on film (but I'm supposing 'film' isn't exactly the best choice of word here). Auto-sensing technology helps to seek out focus points for group pictures and the built-in menu is easy to navigate.

I'm not really sure what kind of math they're using to come up with a 14.7MP output but the pictures are clear nonetheless.

The movies are smooth as well--displaying nicely on a 720-capable screen.