Smile For The Samsung TL225

While the only difference--besides price and HDMI capability on the TL225--between the two models is the size of the rear LCD touch screen (3 inches on the TL220, 3.5 inches on the TL225), they both sport a 1.5-inch touch screen on the front of the device, next to the lens. When the screen is not on, it is almost invisible, turning on with just a simple tap (not touch). Aside from being a little gimmicky, Samsung has found a way to make the most of this screen.

The primary inspiration for the second display is the current popularity of social networking sites and the increasingly trendy act of people taking "self-portraits" of themselves. When the smaller screen is tapped, it turns on and by default is set in self-portrait mode, with Smile Shot. Holding the camera at arm's length, the user can view himself in the screen and the camera will automatically release the shutter when it detects a smile. While experimenting with the unit before reading the manual, this feature worked remarkably well, taking us by surprise.

One of the first things we noticed on the camera is that there are barely any controls on the body. That's because Samsung has built most of them into the camera's on-screen menu. With haptic vibration, which can be turned off, the touch screen allows for the configuration of settings. There is also something the company calls Gesture UI, which allows finger swipes across the screen to accomplish certain functions such as deletion or rotation of photos. We found the preconfigured gestures add to the functionality of the camera, and were very intuitive. An accelerometer is built in too, and offers another way to switch between and rotate pictures.

Sharing many of the specifications of similarly priced point-and-shoots (MSRP is $349.99), the TL225 has a 12.2-megapixel CCD and a 27mm wide-angle Schneider Kreuznach lens with 4.6X optical zoom. While most settings can be adjusted manually, there are plenty of presets to cover almost every type of shooting location. There are also two Auto settings for those who don't want to bother making the changes. The camera supports micro SD and micro SDHC cards up to 8 GB, but has 55 MB built in for some quick on-the-go, impromptu photos.

Besides self-portraits, Samsung has found other ways to utilize the smaller, front display.

In Children Mode, a cute animated clown appears on the screen in an attempt to get small children to stay focused on the camera and smile. When the self-timer is used, the screen displays the final three seconds of the countdown, so everyone being photographed knows when to smile.

Other features include optical and digital stabilization; red-eye reduction and correction; a feature that can sense when a person blinks and take two more consecutive shots; the aforementioned Smile Shot; and a motion sensor that can be used instead of a timer whereby the user presses the shutter button, poses in the frame, and then waves his or her arms wildly to start the countdown.

In addition, the Samsung TL225 camera has face recognition and can store the faces of regularly photographed subjects in a Favorites folder. When these favorite people appear with other people in future shots, the TL225 will prioritize the focus on these faces.

Intelli-studio, Samsung's minimal, but functional, photo-transfer and -editing software, is built into the camera and automatically launches when attached to a computer via the proprietary USB cable. This eliminates the need to carry the program around on a CD or flash drive.

In addition, the Samsung TL225 lets you "record movies in the palm of your hand," according to the company. The TL225 lets users record HD video in 1,720 x 720p resolution at 30 frames per second. With the TL225's mini HDMI connector, users can watch their HD videos with any HDTV or HD monitor (adapter is not included).

Overall, pictures taken with the TL225 were up to par with those taken using cameras with similar specs. Although the price and most of the features are pretty similar also, the additional display in front makes it worth taking a closer look at, as well as being a conversation starter.