DigitalRev Samsung EX1/TL500 Hands-on Review

[Jason Dunn]

<p><object width="600" height="360" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jc8kP_JXXdY&amp;playnext_from=TL&amp;videos=2Gc2D20zHVI&amp;feature=sub&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jc8kP_JXXdY&amp;playnext_from=TL&amp;videos=2Gc2D20zHVI&amp;feature=sub&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" /></object></p><p>It seems like the Samsung EX1 (TL500 outside of Asia) has a lot going for it - the materials and construction look fantastic - but by sticking it with the tiny sensor, Samsung partially nullifies one of the advantages of the f/1.8 lens...the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh" target="_blank">DOF bokeh</a>. It's still appealing from a lens speed point of view...but if this had a bigger sensor, it would be much more appealing. Oh, and HD video is a must as well.</p><p>I really like my Panasonic GF1 for instance, but would be perfectly happy if it had a non-removable lens. Yes, that's a core advantage of the micro-four thirds system, but what matters more to me is the speed of the auto focus, and the image quality - I have a DSLR for lens flexibility. Since I only have the 20mm lens for it, I have the speed (f/1.7) I want, but no zoom. If I could get a camera with the sensor of the GF1 and the lens of the Samsung TL500 (f/1.8 to f/2.4) I'd be quite happy. Does such a camera exist?</p>

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Nope, bigger sensors mean bigger lenses, or slower ones. Maybe when there's some kind of new technology that can shape lenses out of air or liquid stored internally in the camera will you get that.

Larger sensors also mean more than just shallower depth-of-field (bokeh is a term used to describe quality of depth of field; you can have a small sensor camera with good bokeh, it's just not going to be very noticeable). The larger photosites translate to better light gathering ability, giving larger dynamic range and less image noise. Between two cameras set to a similar DOF and shot in adequate light, it's easy to pick out which has been shot on a compact and which has been shot on a larger (say APS-sized) sensor.