DSLRUsers.com

I know that this should be a place to share the first image off a new camera, but I have a nasty habit of firing off the camera on something stupid.....

I recently purchased a new compact camera. A Samsung EX1 (TL500) which combines a 24-72mm f/1.8-2.4 equiv lens with a 10MP 1/1.7" CCD in a all alloy body with a 3" vari angle AMOLED display. Having used one of these when I went away in Feburary, it was an easy choice to grab one now, knowing that how sharp that lens is, as well as how it performs in low light.

Great shots Cameron. IT does seem to handle the low light very well and you exposures look spot on.

Having been designed to compete with the LX3/5, S90/95, G11/12 it certainly does so proficiently so long as you dont need HD video. Given the current choices in this class of camera (ie. all the newer models + XZ1, P300, P7000/7100) this camera starts to look less tempting, however it met all my needs at a very good price.

It runs a bit like a Canon xxD series SLR or higher, AWB works well as does the metering, if need be the screen allows you to quickly judge exposure compensation (something Samsung was falsly accused of hiding deep in menus) with great accuracy.

I do have a few small gripes though.
-640x480 Video
-.SRF raw files just dont fit into my current workflow
-SilkyPix is appalling (limited to only coping with .SRF in the package)
-FPS is not wonderful
-Picture Style bracketing only allows you to pick and save one style instead of saving all files
-Strange menu lockouts due to AF mode options and the like
-high iso (400+) could be better (i would avoid going above 400)

Nice first shots!
In what context did you take the second? A model shoot for which you took a compact??

aim54x wrote:i would avoid going above 400

Cameron,
I wondered whether the other choices would give you a couple of stops above 400 which is usable thus perhaps negating the effect of the lens? Thoughts??

surenj wrote:Nice first shots!
In what context did you take the second? A model shoot for which you took a compact??

Burlesque show at "The Backroom", I only had my EX1 and my FM2n.

aim54x wrote:i would avoid going above 400

Cameron,
I wondered whether the other choices would give you a couple of stops above 400 which is usable thus perhaps negating the effect of the lens? Thoughts??

Price aside the overall package of the EX1 fits my desires (fast, wide lens with a swivel screen and no care for video) better than any of the competition. The Olympus XZ-1 has a 1.8 but is approximately the same at higher ISOs and is a 28mm. The S90/95 (and P300) is also a 28mm F2.0 (and F1. but as you zoom its 1/2-1 stop advantage is negated even faster. The LX5 would give me the same 1/2-1 stop advantage and a 24mm but lacks the swivel screen (which was the winner for me). The G11/12 and P7000 have their 1 stop advantage eroded by the f/2.8 nature of their 28mm end and forget about the zoom end (140mm F4.9 and 200mm F5.6 respectively).

Does that help?

Interesting choice. I think the second is the
best of the two shots.

Cameron, thanks for that extensive answer. You should seriously think about applying for a review type of role somewhere....

surenj wrote:Cameron, thanks for that extensive answer. You should seriously think about applying for a review type of role somewhere....

Yes that would be an interesting road for me to go down.....*looks at Leigh and Gary*....but I am not sure if it something that I could make a profession out of.

Excellent first pics Cameron! The camera seems to be responding to your demands!

I must have missed this post:

zafra52 wrote:Interesting choice. I think the second is the
best of the two shots.

Thanks!

Matt. K wrote:Excellent first pics Cameron! The camera seems to be responding to your demands!

Another week on, I am still very happy with this camera, and it has more attachments on the way!

That second shot is great Cameron! It does not matter what camera you took it with in my opinion.