Samsung SL30/ ES15 Digital Camera
- Digital Zoom: 3x
- Camera Type: Compact
- Weight: 0.26 lb.
- LCD Screen Size: 2.5 in.
- Resolution: 10 Megapixel
- Optical Zoom: 3x
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So much for so little!
Pros
Tons of features for the price
Cons
Zoom and video are less than ideal
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
This is a great camera for the price. It is ideal for someone looking for an everyday camera or someone looking for more features than a starter camera.
I recently found myself needing to replace my digital camera after it met an untimely demise. I was at Target sampling each of the display models and ran across this Samsung SL30. As I began inspecting the camera's basic functions, I noticed that the zoom was only 3x optical. While the action was smooth and the image stayed clear I would have expected more options from a 10.2 megapixel camera. However, that's where my disappointment ended!
The camera itself is very light yet felt sturdy and durable in my large hands. It has a large 2.5-inch Intelligent LCD screen and a collection of convenient, clearly marked buttons. If only used as a point-and-click camera, this model would do everything a novice photographer might need. Upon navigating the easy-to-use menus, I found that this camera offered an Auto Mode that sets everything for you and a Program mode amongst others.
The Auto Mode made all the necessary adjustments for lighting and flash usage while creating consistently clear, well exposed images in all lighting conditions and at varying distances from subjects.
The Program Mode allows a user to select specific settings for everything from exposure to white balance, face detection to drive options. The menu even exposes options to do some styling to the photos as you take them. Some examples are a black & white mode, retro mode or negative mode. These modes style the image without having to export the image to an expensive photo editing software and apply filters or processing there. It also provides digital image stabilization and supports SD/SDHC/MMC cards (not included). We're talking about features that are typically found only in higher priced models.
Speaking of price, for all the features that this camera comes packed with and the efficiency with which it uses its two included AA batteries, it should easily cost over $150. However, this unit was purchased for $89.95! A better bargain for this many features would surely be hard to find.
In closing, I would like to mention that this camera also captures motion videos with or without audio. In the testing I did, the videos came out clear and smooth and the audio was audible and nicely leveled. I did notice that during zooming, the audio cuts out and returns as the zoom function is complete. Also the video function did not handle low lighting very well. Keep in mind that while this is not a camcorder and is not being rated for that aspect of its functionality, I thought it would be helpful for prospective consumers to get the full picture of this product.
The camera itself is very light yet felt sturdy and durable in my large hands. It has a large 2.5-inch Intelligent LCD screen and a collection of convenient, clearly marked buttons. If only used as a point-and-click camera, this model would do everything a novice photographer might need. Upon navigating the easy-to-use menus, I found that this camera offered an Auto Mode that sets everything for you and a Program mode amongst others.
The Auto Mode made all the necessary adjustments for lighting and flash usage while creating consistently clear, well exposed images in all lighting conditions and at varying distances from subjects.
The Program Mode allows a user to select specific settings for everything from exposure to white balance, face detection to drive options. The menu even exposes options to do some styling to the photos as you take them. Some examples are a black & white mode, retro mode or negative mode. These modes style the image without having to export the image to an expensive photo editing software and apply filters or processing there. It also provides digital image stabilization and supports SD/SDHC/MMC cards (not included). We're talking about features that are typically found only in higher priced models.
Speaking of price, for all the features that this camera comes packed with and the efficiency with which it uses its two included AA batteries, it should easily cost over $150. However, this unit was purchased for $89.95! A better bargain for this many features would surely be hard to find.
In closing, I would like to mention that this camera also captures motion videos with or without audio. In the testing I did, the videos came out clear and smooth and the audio was audible and nicely leveled. I did notice that during zooming, the audio cuts out and returns as the zoom function is complete. Also the video function did not handle low lighting very well. Keep in mind that while this is not a camcorder and is not being rated for that aspect of its functionality, I thought it would be helpful for prospective consumers to get the full picture of this product.
