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Samsung DualView TL225

Discontinued

Reviewed

November 2010

by ConsumerSearch

Pros

Excellent user interface
Huge 3.5-inch touch screen
Front-facing display for self-portraits
Shoots HD video

Cons

Uses MicroSD memory cards
Short battery life
Photo quality may not satisfy enthusiasts

Where to Buy

for $399.99

Our Analysis
Specs
57 Amazon Reviews

Samsung's DualView TL225 gets lots of attention from reviewers as one of the most innovative point-and-shoot compact cameras. It features a 3.5-inch haptic touch screen that reviewers would sooner expect on a cell phone -- its 800-by-480-pixel resolution outdoes smartphones like the Apple iPhone. The 12.2-megapixel Samsung TL225 also has a smaller LCD screen on the front, which critics say is great for taking self portraits; while in Child mode, it runs a cartoon animation to keep kids' attention. Many reviewers like the photo quality, though some say it is only average. The 4.6x zoom is about average for the price point, too. In any event, critics acknowledge that the DualView TL225 has a love-it-or-leave-it appeal. It's not helped by the fact that the camera uses MicroSD memory cards (common in cell phones) and has proprietary USB and HDMI connector cables. Also, while the TL225 shoots HD video, reviewers say that's not perfect, griping that sound recording mutes automatically during zooming.

The Samsung DualView TL225 is geared toward casual shooters, rather than serious amateur photographers, and the reviews we found of the camera are mostly at popular consumer electronics sites, though Imaging-Resource.com reviews the TL225 with the same kind of detail it showers upon more advanced cameras.. CNET, PCMag.com, and PC World all offer easy-to-read evaluations of the pluses and minuses of the TL225. The New York Times and PopPhoto.com also discuss the TL225 in round-ups of their own, but don't go into much detail.

Where To Buy

Samsung TL225 DualView 12.2MP Digital Camera with 4.6X Optical Zoom and 3.5-Inch LCD Screen and 1.5-Inch Front Screen (Orange)
(57 reviews) Buy new: $487.99 9 Used & new from $89.99

Our Sources

1. Imaging-Resource.com

Photo quality is uneven, but the Samsung DualView TL225's front screen does make it easier to take a self-portrait with friends -- making it a perfect choice for users who want to shoot lots of photos for their Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages, experts here conclude after an extremely thorough test.

Review: Samsung DualView TL225 Overview, David Elrich and Stephanie Boozer, July 15, 2010

2. CNET

Joshua Goldman calls the Samsung DualView TL225 "a standout in design and features," even if performance and photo quality is a touch short of some Canon models. The touch-screen interface is praised, though Goldman notes that users should read the instruction manual carefully, since settings disappear without explanation depending on the camera mode used.

Review: Samsung DualView TL225 (orange/black), Joshua Goldman, Oct. 23, 2009

3. PCMag.com

The Samsung DualView TL225 gets an Editors' Choice award at PCMag.com. Reviewer PJ Jacobowitz likes the image quality, haptic feedback on the touch screen and Child mode. Downsides that he cites include the proprietary connector cables, and that sound is muted when zooming in video mode.

Review: Samsung DualView TL225, PJ Jacobowitz, Oct. 5, 2009

4. PC World

Tim Moynihan's review is ambivalent. While he's impressed with the Samsung DualView TL225's displays and interface, actual photo quality is less impressive, and battery life is short. "This is a love-it-or-hate-it camera," he concludes.

Review: Samsung DualView TL225, Tim Moynihan, Dec. 3, 2009

5. The New York Times

David Pogue looks at a number of cameras whose street price is under $300 as part of an annual feature. The Samsung DualView TL225 is one of his favorites, thanks to the "crazy amount of tech" and good photo quality. Pogue isn't thrilled by the non-standard peripherals and short battery life.

Review: Best Cameras for $300 or Less, David Pogue, Feb. 3, 2010

6. PopPhoto.com

The Samsung DualView TL225, along with three other new compact cameras, gets a brief profile at PopPhoto.com. Editor Kathleen Davis picks the Samsung because it has the highest-resolution camera touch screen released to date. The front screen is also "way cool."

Review: Editor's Choice: Compact Cameras, Kathleen Davis, Oct. 28, 2009

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