The Samsung PL170 is a compact digital camera from Samsung's PL series of slim point-and-shoots, positioned as a step above the most basic models in the range. It launched in early 2011, during a period when Samsung offered a wide spread of budget and mid-range compacts across its ES, PL and WB lines.
It uses a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 16.1 effective megapixels and a 5x optical zoom lens covering a 26-130mm equivalent range. A 3.0-inch TFT LCD with 230,000 dots handles framing and menus, and photos are recorded to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards.
The higher-resolution sensor and larger 3.0-inch screen distinguish it from lower-tier PL siblings, though the small 1/2.3-inch sensor still limits dynamic range and low-light performance in line with compacts of this class. It suits daylight snapshots and casual travel photography more than demanding conditions.
Secondhand units are widely available and inexpensive. Buyers should test the zoom lens for smooth, quiet operation, check the LCD for scratches or dead pixels, and confirm the camera accepts and writes to a memory card without error before relying on it.