The Samsung TL500 earned some of the highest scores we recorded in PCWorld Labs' subjective testing for sharpness and lack of distortion. On the negative side of the ledger, it was the lowest-rated camera for video quality--not a surprise, given that it was the only camera in the roundup that couldn't shoot high-definition video (instead, it shoots 640-by-480 standard-definition video at 30 frames per second). We've seen standard-definition video that looks fairly good, but the TL500's output in both bright light and low light disappointed us.

Battery life is a bit weak despite the camera's purportedly power-savvy OLED screen. The camera is rated for approximately 240 shots per battery charge. Another quirk is that you must charge the battery (via a proprietary cable) while it's inside the camera. That's no big deal for most casual users, but it's something to think about if you like to keep a spare camera battery on hand for your outings. In addition to buying an extra battery, you may want to invest in a wall charger for it, as Samsung doesn't include one with the TL500.

The Samsung TL500 is an excellent camera, but it lags significantly behind rival models in video quality, macro mode, manual focus controls, and in-camera menus. Its F1.8 maximum aperture and OLED screen are unmatched by any other camera in this roundup, but the TL500's usability issues make it less than ideal for both novices and expert users.