Samsung pl120: Specifications, Tests and Review

Samsung pl120: Specifications, Tests and Review

Written by Sanket Goyal, In Camera, Updated On
January 21st, 2024
, 334 Views

The PL120’s 1.5-inch LCD screen next to the 5x optical zoom lens displays the live view image, which is great for self-portraits. The PL120 also plays short, vivid cartoons for kids. This should assist if you have difficulties getting kids to smile in photos. To activate the front LCD, push the rectangle button on top of the camera. Switch between live view and children’s animation with the front LCD button. The PL120’s small size limits the rear room. There’s no place to rest your thumb when not using it. The zoom rocker occupies the top third of the screen-side region, while the remaining buttons and navigation pad fill the remainder.

Samsung pl120  Specs

Samsung pl120

Resolution14.2 Megapixels
Sensor TypeCCD
Optical Zoom5x
Digital Zoom5x
LCD Size2.7 inches
LCD Resolution230,000 dots
Image StabilizationYes (Digital)
ISO RangeAuto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Built-in FlashYes
Video Recording720p HD at 30fps
Battery TypeRechargeable Li-ion
Battery LifeApproximately 220 shots per charge (CIPA)
Storage MediaSD, SDHC
Dimensions95 x 56 x 20 mm (3.74 x 2.2 x 0.79 inches)
Weight142g (0.31 lb / 5.01 oz)

Capture Every Moment with Precision

When you want a shot of yourself, you flip the camera over, hold it at arm’s length, and shoot blindly, hoping to capture more than just your head. Samsung’s design team probably considered adding a secondary screen to the PL120’s front because this tactic seldom works. Point the lens at yourself and compose using the front-facing display. Recently, self-portraits are less hit-or-miss. The 1.5-inch, 61,000-pixel second screen is small. The only requirement is to be large enough to line up face-included photos of oneself. The camera has a more extensive, 2.7-inch screen on the rear for everyday, non-narcissistic use.

Initially, the camera appears to have no front-facing screen. The front display is scarcely noticeable when off. If you press a button on top, the unit turns on after a few seconds. Screens have other uses. In ‘children’ mode, the front screen shows a silly clown animation to persuade kids to gaze at the camera—a digital ‘watch the birdie.’

Run-of-the-mill With Samsung pl120

Besides its remarkable dual-display functionality, the PL120 is a standard mid-range compact camera. It boasts a 14.2-megapixel image sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens with a 26mm wide angle, which helps you fit more in the frame while capturing selfies. However, lens distortion will be evident around the edges of your photos. Pictures from the PL120 are average for a camera of its price. Outdoors in excellent light, colors are adequately reproduced. However, strong tones may be too intense for some. Images include clear edges and strong contrast but expect some image noise. Purple fringing can impair edges, especially dark objects on light backgrounds.

Performance Of Samsung pl120

Samsung pl120

The camera’s interior and low-light performance disappoint. The PL120 performs poorly without its built-in flash despite its high-sensitivity settings. In a well-lit room, the PL120 took grainy ISO 400 photos. Despite 30 frames per second, 720p films have mushy compression artefacts and wobbly animation: Mono sound and no HDMI port for connecting the camera to an HD TV.

Controls Of Samsung pl120

Some cameras we’ve used are more intuitive than the PL120. The zoom control has a strange lever you press up and down. Other buttons are more traditional. However, the camera’s menu panels are hard to navigate and can clutter the screen with symbols and read-out data when composing a photo, depending on the setting. However, there are many creative photo editing programs. Fish-eye, vignetting, and ‘ magic frame’ filters can enhance photographs afterward. Otherwise, use the camera’s smart-auto mode and point-and-shoot.

Handling Of Samsung pl120

Samsung pl120

The camera looks excellent in the hand, with easy-to-press controls, but the front and rear lack grip, so use the wrist strap. The camera modes are switched with a mode button instead of a dial. Further adjustments within each mode are readily available via the rear fn button; however, to access more picture features, you must go into the menu, where you may modify contrast, sharpness, and saturation. The back screen works fine inside and outdoors, but the bright chrome finish on the front of the camera makes it hard to view in bright sunlight (alternative colors may be better). The menus are well-organized and straightforward. Soon after turning on, the camera is ready to snap images and focus. Without the flash, the camera takes three seconds for each photo; charging the flash takes five. The Samsung battery’s CIPA test data are not available. However, I was able to capture 220+ photographs before it died.

Features Of Samsung pl120

Samsung pl120

Despite its small size, the camera has a 2.7-inch LCD screen on the back and a 1.5-inch one on the front for self-portraits. The top button turns on the front screen quickly. When shooting images of kids, the front screen may show a video to get their finest grins (also works for adults). Select Jump Shot to see a countdown on the front screen so your subject knows when to jump! You may select the best action shot from three camera shots. The wide angle 5x optical zoom lens, corresponding to 26–130mm in 35mm terms, is perfect for landscapes and zooming in on distant subjects. Smart Auto, Auto modes, Night Shot, Beauty Shot, and various scene modes like Magic Frame, Object Highlight, Landscape, Text, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, and Beach & Snow make taking pictures easy.

ProsCons
Small and PortableFew Manual Controls
Two LCD screensfront and backSmall optical zoom (5x)
HD720p Video RecordingLimited ISO (Auto, 80-1600)
Detecting Faces and Smiles
Image stabilisation

Should I Buy a Samsung pl120?

One question determines if the Samsung PL120 is suitable for you: how often do you take naked photos of yourself? The response ‘frequently’ may be worth a shot. Don’t anticipate stunning images. Even though the Samsung PL120 is tiny, has two displays, and gives excellent value for money, the rest of the camera is superb; thus, it doesn’t get a higher grade than 3/5. Though small and attractive, the camera’s image quality disappoints. The split screen is excellent for indoor self-shots of you and your buddies if you just publish to Facebook and other social media. Many filters, frames, and different simple settings may appeal.

FAQs

  1. What is the Samsung PL120’s resolution?

The Samsung PL120 can take detailed photos with its 14.2 megapixels. This keeps your photographs clear and crisp, making photography enjoyable.

  1. Does the camera stabilize images?

Yes, the Samsung PL120 has picture stabilization. Shaky hands are reduced by this function, resulting in sharper and more steady photographs. Image stabilization improves pictures and videos.`

  1. What is the PL120’s optical zoom?

For diverse shooting, the Samsung PL120 has 5x optical zoom. This feature lets you go closer to subjects without affecting image quality, allowing you to shoot from different angles

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