Samsung's 2009 dual-LCD DualView compact — 12.2MP CCD, stabilised 4.6x zoom from 27mm equiv, touchscreen, 720p
The Samsung ST500, sold in North America as the TL220, was announced on 13 August 2009 as one of the world's first compact cameras with both front and rear LCD screens. The DualView pair — ST500 and the higher-spec ST550 — pioneered the self-portrait-friendly front display years before selfies became a marketing category.
It combined a 12.2-megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD with an optically stabilised Schneider-Kreuznach 4.6x zoom starting at 27mm equivalent. The rear 3.0-inch, 230k-dot touchscreen with haptic feedback carried almost all control through Samsung's Smart Gesture interface backed by a built-in gravity sensor, while the 1.5-inch, 61k-dot front LCD helped frame self-portraits and attract children's attention. Video recorded at 720p in H.264 format.
The ST500 suits buyers drawn to the novelty of the twin screens and to touchscreen-era compact design; the stabilised 27mm-equivalent wide end also makes it a practical travel snapshot camera. Touch-only control divides opinion — there are few physical buttons — and menu navigation is slower than button-driven rivals.
Both screens need testing on used examples: check the rear touchscreen registers taps across its whole surface and the front LCD activates, as either failing undermines the camera's main draw. Verify the proprietary rechargeable battery holds charge and a charger is included, inspect the sliding front fascia for wear, and confirm stabilised video records cleanly.