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Samsung SL620

 
Samsung SL620 front
 
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-175mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 168g - 92 x 61 x 23mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Also referred to as PL65
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
13
Overall
25

Samsung SL620 summary

Samsung SL620 is Samsung's Ultracompact digital camera first introduced on February of 2009. The camera comes with a 12MP, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4000 x 3000. The camera is also known as "PL65" in certain countries.

The SL620 comes in at #141 out of 151 in Ultracompact cameras & over all #1245 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should use our Advanced camera search to get camera results based on your personalized requirements.

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The following is a diagram of specific factors used in the rating system.

Samsung SL620 history

The Samsung SL620 is part of a family of products. You can see the detailed list underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Samsung-ST93 front thumbnailSamsung ST93
SL620 vs ST93
()mm
F
16MP1/2.3"2011
Samsung-ST65 front thumbnailSamsung ST65
SL620 vs ST65
()mm
F
14MP1/2.3"2011
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Samsung-ST90 front thumbnailSamsung ST90
SL620 vs ST90
()mm
F
14MP1/2.3"2011
Samsung-ST6500 front thumbnailSamsung ST6500
SL620 vs ST6500
26-130mm
F
16MP1/2.3"2011
Samsung-ST95 front thumbnailSamsung ST95
SL620 vs ST95
()mm
F
16MP1/2.3"2011
Samsung-ST700 front thumbnailSamsung ST700
SL620 vs ST700
()mm
F
16MP1/2.3"2011
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards
Samsung-SH100 front thumbnailSamsung SH100
SL620 vs SH100
()mm
F
14MP1/2.3"2011
Samsung-ST600 front thumbnailSamsung ST600
SL620 vs ST600
27-135mm
F3.3-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2010
Samsung-ST100 front thumbnailSamsung ST100
SL620 vs ST100
35-175mm
F3.6-4.8
14MP1/2.3"2010
Samsung-ST80 front thumbnailSamsung ST80
SL620 vs ST80
35-105mm
F3.3-5.5
14MP1/2.3"2010
Samsung-SL720 front thumbnailSamsung SL720
SL620 vs SL720
28-102mm
F2.8-5.7
12MP1/2.3"2009
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Samsung-SL620 front thumbnailSamsung SL62035-175mm
F2.8-5.7
12MP1/2.3"2009

Samsung SL620 Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of good and bad points of the Samsung SL620 based on aspects which are normally considered important in a digital camera.

built-in flash
built in zoom lens (35-175mm 5.0 x zoom)
includes face detection focus
very good minimum ISO (80)
cannot use external flash
focusing manually not possible
heavier than competition in class (168g)
lack of external mic port
lack of HDMI port
lack of headphone port
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of Time Lapse function
lacks phase detect auto focus
lacks RAW format
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low resolution screen (230 thousand dot)
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
max zoom aperture not good (f5.7)
no aperture priority
no image stabilization
no manual exposure
screen does not articulate
screen isn't selfie friendly
screen is small (2.7")
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
wide angle not good (35mm)
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Samsung SL620 Sensor specs

The dimension of the sensor in the Samsung SL620 is 6.08mm x 4.56mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels .

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The CCD sensor has 12MP and gives a standard ISO range of 80 - 1600. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not supported therefore the user has less room to maneuver in post.

The image underneath illustrates the SL620's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The SL620 sensor has a crop factor of 5.9 and is presented in green.

Samsung SL620 sensor size Photography Glossary

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Samsung SL620 dimensions

Samsung SL620 weighs in at 0.37 lb (168g / 5.93 ounces) & has outside dimensions of 92mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9"). The weight of typical Ultracompact camera is 121g so the Samsung SL620 is heavier as compared to its competitors.

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Down below is a image of the Samsung SL620 with a softdrink so you're able to get a sense of its size.

Samsung SL620 dimensions scale

The top view just below will illustrate the button arrangement on the SL620.

Samsung SL620 topview buttons dials

Samsung SL620 Lens details

The SL620 has a built in lens offering a focal range of 35-175mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which isn't very good but it will definitely be invaluable in certain conditions.

At it's widest 35mm, the lens features an aperture of f2.8 making it somewhat sluggish and not great for low light circumstances and you will probably find it hard to get a shallow depth of field. You might also need to boost your ISO which causes noisy shots. With the long end, 175mm comes with f5.7 which is quite slow and you might have to utilize slower shutter speeds.

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Samsung SL620 Connectivity

The SL620 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and Bluetooth support can easily be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to send files and oftentimes alter camera settings without connecting directly with the camera.

Several apps also stream a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not near the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external display. Virtually all cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Samsung SL620 Video details

The max video quality in the Samsung SL620 is 640 x 480 and you can record in Motion JPEG file format. 480p is awful for today's requirements. You really should shoot for a minimum 1080p quality for video recording. The body does not have a microphone and headphone jack which means that you get absolutely no control over the audio. It is perhaps best to get an alternative model if you require decent audio for your videos.

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Samsung SL620 Weather Sealing

There is no environment sealing on the Samsung SL620 so you have to be careful in wet or dusty conditions.

Samsung SL620 Screen and Viewfinder

The Samsung SL620 comes with a 2.7 inch fixed display screen having a resolution of 230 thousand dots.

Unfortunately the display screen isn't a touch screen.

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The ViewFinder specifications for Samsung SL620 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

For sunny outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and hard to see, viewfinders are rather useful.

Samsung SL620 Shutter details

The maximum shutter speed is 1/2000 sec.

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Samsung SL620 Flash and Hot shoe details

Samsung SL620 features just built-in flash without external flash support.

Samsung SL620 Autofocusing details

Samsung SL620 features only Contrast Detect AF & is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot faster & precise as compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera comes with Face detection which is helpful for taking portraits of people.

Samsung SL620 lacks manual focus. Manual focus option is good for low light occasions or you want more exact focusing control.

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Samsung SL620 Battery life

The usual Ultracompact camera battery life is 214. Nikon L32 comes with the maximum (320) battery life for this category of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Ultracompact cameras that have the highest battery life:

Samsung SL620 for varying categories of photography

The following graph gives a summary of the Samsung SL620 for varying categories of photography. To understand more, go to the specific paragraph underneath.

Samsung SL620 Portrait photography factors

The Samsung SL620 gets a score of 26 which is dreadful, meaning that it is just not very good for portrait images. Photographing portrait images favors heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW files & flexibility to utilize off-camera flash.

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offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support

Samsung SL620 Street photography information

Having a modest rating of 47, the Samsung SL620 is relatively appropriate to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera has a fine balance of picture quality plus portability.

Photography Glossary
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than others in class (168g)

Samsung SL620 Sports photography information

A dreadful sports photography points tally of 17 indicates the Samsung SL620 is just not very good for photographing sports. A camera needs good autofocus plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

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lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF

Travel photography with Samsung SL620

Portability is really important when choosing a travel camera. On the whole, the Samsung SL620 gets a moderate 50 as a travelling camera which is reasonably appropriate for your travels.

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flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average (168g)
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (35mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)

Samsung SL620 Landscape photography factors

For anyone looking to pick a camera for landscape photos, the most critical aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Samsung SL620 and it's dreadful grade of 23 as a landscape camera is just not very good in the current market.

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lack of manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording

Samsung SL620 as a Vlogging camera

A camera for vlogging really should posses a moving screen, mic input and preferably image stabilization. Considering all things, the Samsung SL620 is just not very good as a vlog camera as it delivers a dreadful rating of 24.

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has face detect focus
wide angle not fantastic (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic support
heavier than average (168 grams)

Samsung SL620 Alternatives

If you are shopping for replacements to the SL620, below is a number of the highest ranked cameras that fall within the family of Ultracompact.

The diagram just below gives you a bird's eye view of the SL620 vs it's highest ranked competitors listed previously.

Following are additional cameras you may see as alternatives. To read through a thorough comparison, just click on the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Samsung
Model
Samsung SL620
Alternative name
PL65
Category
Ultracompact
Announced
2009-02-17
Body design
Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CCD
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area
27.7mm²
Sensor resolution
12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Peak resolution
4000 x 3000
RAW images
Highest native ISO
1600
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
35-175mm (5.0x)
Max aperture
f/2.8-5.7
Macro focus distance
5cm
Focal length multiplier
5.9
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
2.7"
Resolution of screen
230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
8 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/2000 seconds
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
4.60 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Auto & Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Fill-in Flash, Flash Off, Red-Eye Fix
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions
800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution
640x480
Video format
Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
168g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions
92 x 61 x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9")
Other
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots
Single
Launch pricing
$200