Samsung EX1 — 2010 premium compact with f1.8-2.4 24-72mm lens and tilting OLED screen
The Samsung EX1, sold in some regions as the TL500, was a premium enthusiast compact Samsung introduced in 2010 to rival high-end fixed-lens models like the Canon PowerShot S90 and Panasonic Lumix LX3, marking Samsung's push into serious compacts for photographers wanting manual control in a pocketable body.
It uses a 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor with 10 effective megapixels and a bright 24-72mm equivalent lens with a fast f1.8-2.4 maximum aperture across its 3x zoom range. A distinctive 3.0-inch tilting AMOLED touchscreen handles composition and menu control, and images record to SD/SDHC/SDXC cards.
The fast lens and tilting high-resolution screen set the EX1 apart from ordinary compacts of its time, giving it a genuine edge in low light and for shooting at awkward angles. Full manual exposure, RAW capture and a hot shoe for accessories give it more creative flexibility than typical point-and-shoot rivals.
These are sought after secondhand by collectors of enthusiast compacts, so prices hold up better than typical Samsung compacts. Buyers should test the tilting screen hinge and touch response, check the lens for haze given its wide aperture, and confirm the hot shoe contacts are undamaged.