Samsung SL310W Review

Rotating the Mode dial to the Guide position brings up this helpful menu. This is a useful function that will help beginners obtain better photos.

The AUTO shooting mode turns the SL310W into a fully automatic point-n-shoot camera. This simplified mode has limited access to the menu options, in fact, you can only change the image size/quality, face detection, flash mode, and focus area.

Program AE mode, is like auto, the camera selects both shutter speed and aperture values automatically. However, now you have access to more advanced camera settings like ISO, White balance, Metering, etc. Icons indicate we are using 13M Superfine image size/quality, Multi-segment metering, Auto flash mode, Center AF, and an SD card is being used for image storage. You can also see indicators for battery level, and number of remaining frames.

When you half press the shutter release, the AF marks will turn green if focus is achieve or red if it fails. The flash icon also turns red when the flash is going to fire. You can also see the Aperture and Shutter speed values the camera has chosen.

When using Program or Manual mode, pressing the "E"ffects button will give you access to these creative options: Color and Image Adjust

In Manual mode, you now have the ability to select both the shutter speed and aperture values manually. Unfortunately, there is not an onscreen exposure scale, and the display does not adjust to give you an idea of whether or not you are going to capture a good exposure.

Record menu options (except in Auto):

Face Detection - Off, Face Detection, Self Portrait, Smile Shot, Blink Detection
Focus Area - Mulit AF or Center AF
ACB - On or Off
Voice Memo - Off or On
Voice Record - Record audio only option

Press the Fn (FuNction) button in program mode to change:

Size - 13M, 12M (Wide), 10M, 5M, 3M, 1M
Quality - Super Fine, Fine, Normal
Metering - Multi, Spot, Center
Shooting - Single, Continuous, AEB, Motion Capture
ISO Speed - Auto or fixed at 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 equivalents
White Balance - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent H , Fluorescent L, Tungsten, Custom set
Exposure Compensation - ±2EV in 1/3EV steps

Here you can see the Dual IS Scene mode. It uses both the OIS system and high ISO settings to help combat camera-shake and motion blur in low lighting.

The SL310W offers various scene modes, like Beauty Shot shown above.

Here you can see the Scene menu.

Movie mode records 800x592 (20fps), 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 motion video at 15 or 30fps with audio. Movie clips are saved as Windows AVI format video files. The length of these movies is limited only by the amount of available memory (2GB max. clip size). Unlike most models, you can use the optical zoom while recording.

Movie mode menu options:

Size - 800x597, 640x480, 320x240
Frame Rate - 30fps, 20fps, 15fps
Metering - Multi, Spot, Center
Stabilizer - On or Off
White Balance - Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent H , Fluorescent L, Tungsten, Custom set
Exposure Compensation - ±2EV in 1/3EV steps

And you can also Record Audio only. The length is limited to a the amount of available memory. Audio recordings are saved as Windows .WAV format files.