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| (Credit: Samsung Camera) |
Samsung has updated its 2View dual LCD series with the addition of the TL210 and TL205. Both cameras have 12 megapixels and, of course, two LCDs each. The company has made some improvements to the LCD on the front of the camera and added some tilt for better self-portraits.
The Samsung dual LCD digital cameras are designed for self-portraits above all else. They have a 1.5-inch LCD screen on the front so users can see themselves as they hold the camera out for a shot. The original members of this series, the TL220 and TL225, came with the same size LCD on the front and the same self-timer feature that showed a countdown on the front screen. The newer models update the self-timer by extending its functionality to the movie mode instead of just the still modes.
The new Samsung TL210 and TL205 improve upon their relatives with an upgraded “children mode.” The older models showed an animation on the front screen to keep kids looking at the camera; animations can be downloaded from the Samsung web site. The new models add a musical tune to really grab their attention. The TL210 and TL205 also add a new Couple mode that automatically takes a picture when subjects tilt their heads toward each other; all of the dual LCD cameras have the Smile Shot mode that automatically takes a picture when a smile is detected.
Another interesting difference between the old and new is the seven-degree tilt in the newer models. Again, this is designed to make self-portraits easier. This tilt feature is also present on the Samsung CL80 and TL240, two other cameras announced at the Consumer Electronics Show.
The Samsung TL210 has a stabilized 5x optical zoom lens and a 3-inch LCD screen on the back. This camera sits below the 12.2-megapixel Samsung TL225 that has a 4.6x lens and a 3.5-inch touch screen LCD. It’s also a notch below the TL220 that has the same resolution and lens as the TL225 but a smaller 3-inch LCD screen that isn’t sensitive to touch.
The Samsung TL205 sits at the bottom of the dual LCD totem pole. It has a 3x optical zoom lens that has only digital image stabilization and a 2.7-inch LCD screen on its back. The TL205 is the only camera in the 2View series that does not have HD video. No word yet on pricing, but the two new cameras should be priced below the TL220’s $299 retail tag.
“The introduction of the Samsung 2View camera in 2009 was one of the most successful digital camera introductions in Samsung’s history,” said Steve Mitchell, general manager of marketing for Samsung Digital Imaging, in the Jan. 6 press release. “The ST550 and ST500 broke new ground and surpassed industry expectations thanks to a combination of technologies that directly addressed how families and consumers take pictures today.”
