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  • BLOG

Samsung PL170 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Samsung PL170

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    Main Features

    • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • ISO - 3200
    • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
    • fps continuous shooting
    • g. 95 x 57 x 19 mm
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Samsung PL170 Overview

    First introduced in January 2011 , Samsung PL170 is a 16.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and lens.

    Samsung PL170 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Samsung PL170 is a member of Samsung's Ultracompact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

    Samsung Ultracompact Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Samsung ST93
    Compare
    2011 16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch fps 92 x 53 x 17mm 110g
    Samsung ST6500
    Compare
    2011 16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch fps 102 x 57 x 19mm g
    Samsung ST95
    Compare
    2011 16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch fps 92 x 53 x 17mm g
    Samsung ST90
    Compare
    2011 14.0MP - 1/2.3-inch fps 92 x 53 x 17mm g
    Samsung ST65
    Compare
    2011 14.0MP - 1/2.3-inch fps 92 x 53 x 17mm g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
    Samsung ST93 vs ST6500 vs ST95 vs ST90 vs ST65


    **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Samsung PL170 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Samsung PL170 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Flash Sync Port
    Report a correction

    Buy Samsung PL170 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Sensor shift Image Stabilization
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Viewfinder Option
    No Face Detection Focusing
    Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200
    Only Unknown Focus Points
    Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )
    Low Max Shutter Speed: 1/2000s
    No Environmental Sealing

    Report a correction


    Samsung PL170 Physical Specs
    Samsung PL170 weighs and has external dimensions of 95 x 57 x 19 mm (3.74 x 2.24 x 0.75″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Samsung PL170 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 19mm, it is also quite small, 9mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Samsung PL170
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Samsung PL170
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Samsung PL170 with the dimensions:

    Samsung PL170 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Samsung PL170 Camera Body


    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Samsung PL170, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Samsung PL170 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Samsung PL170 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery



    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Samsung PL170 with its main competitors:

    Samsung PL170 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs PL170 Thickness vs PL170
    Samsung PL170 Camera Samsung PL120
    Compare
    g equal weight 19mm equal thickness
    Samsung PL170 Camera Samsung SH100
    Compare
    g equal weight 19mm equal thickness
    Samsung PL170 Camera Leica Digilux 3
    Compare
    606g 606g heavier 77mm 58mm thicker
    Samsung PL170 Camera Ricoh WG-6
    Compare
    246g 246g heavier 33mm 14mm thicker
    Samsung PL170 Camera Sony RX1R II
    Compare
    507g 507g heavier 72mm 53mm thicker
    Samsung PL170 Camera Samsung ST150F
    Compare
    114g 114g heavier 18mm 1mm thinner
    Samsung PL170 Camera Fujifilm GFX 100
    Compare
    1320g 1320g heavier 103mm 84mm thicker
    Samsung PL170 Camera Pentax K-70
    Compare
    688g 688g heavier 74mm 55mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Samsung PL170 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Samsung PL170 Lens

    Samsung PL170 features a zoom lens. This camera offers exceptional wide angle capacity thanks to mm focal length on the wide end. On the other hand, with a reach of only mm, the lens acts more like a 'normal lens' rather than a telephoto.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    PL170
    Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    PL170
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    Providing a max aperture of f at mm, this lens is remarkably fast on wide end. Even better, having an aperture of f on tele end, this lens is exceptionally fast through out its range.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    PL170
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    PL170
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    Samsung PL170 Sensor and Photography Features

    Samsung PL170 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels. PL170 has a native ISO range of - 3200 but unfortunately, Samsung PL170 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

    Samsung PL170 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero11 Black with its 27.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Samsung PL170 vs GoPro Hero11 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Samsung PL170's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Samsung PL170 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Samsung PL170 Sensor Size with other standard sensors



    Samsung PL170 LCD

    Samsung PL170 has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Samsung PL170 back view and LCD

    Unfortunately Samsung PL170 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.


    PL170 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare).
    Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

    Samsung PL170 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Samsung PL170 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Samsung PL170 Camera Samsung PL120
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots No No No
    Samsung PL170 Camera Samsung SH100
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots Yes No No
    Samsung PL170 Camera Leica Digilux 3
    Compare
    None shots No No No
    Samsung PL170 Camera Ricoh WG-6
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 340shots No No No
    Samsung PL170 Camera Sony RX1R II
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 220shots Yes No Yes
    Samsung PL170 Camera Samsung ST150F
    Compare
    1280 x 720 shots Yes No No
    Samsung PL170 Camera Fujifilm GFX 100
    Compare
    4096 x 2160 800shots Yes Yes No
    Samsung PL170 Camera Pentax K-70
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 410shots Yes No No

    Samsung PL170 Video Features

    With Samsung PL170, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 and save in and formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

    Video Resolutions Comparison Chart



    Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

    Samsung PL170 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker. On the other hand, Samsung PL170 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

    Also read:

    • Best Compact Cameras with Microphone Port
    • Best Compact Cameras with Headphone Port

    If you are getting into videography and want to know what are the must-have video accessories for your camera, read our article:
    Essential Videography / Filmmaking Accessories for your Camera

    Samsung PL170 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Samsung PL170 can shoot continuously at max speed of Unknown and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately PL170 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.



    What type of Photography is Samsung PL170 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Samsung PL170 in 5 different photography areas.

    Samsung PL170 for Portrait Photography

    Samsung PL170 has a score of 10 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over thePL170.
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Samsung PL170 for Portrait Photography

    Samsung PL170 for Street Photography

    Samsung PL170 has a score of 21 for Street Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Street We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list and consider these alternatives over thePL170.
    Live-view
    Fast Lens at Wide: f
    mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Small Body

    Read the details of how we scored Samsung PL170 for Street Photography

    Samsung PL170 for Sports Photography

    Samsung PL170 has a score of 12 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over thePL170.
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s

    Read the details of how we scored Samsung PL170 for Sports Photography

    Samsung PL170 for Daily Photography

    Samsung PL170 has a score of 26 for Daily Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Daily We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list and consider these alternatives over thePL170.
    Compact Body
    Body Thickness 19mm

    Read the details of how we scored Samsung PL170 for Daily Photography

    Samsung PL170 for Landscape Photography

    Samsung PL170 has a score of 17 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over thePL170.
    mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Samsung PL170 for Landscape Photography
    Samsung PL170 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Samsung PL170 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Samsung PL170 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Samsung PL170

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Samsung PL170 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Samsung PL120
    Samsung PL120
    Compare
    Samsung SH100
    Samsung SH100
    Compare
    Leica Digilux 3
    Leica Digilux 3
    Compare
    Ricoh WG-6
    Ricoh WG-6
    Compare
    Sony RX1R II
    Sony RX1R II
    Compare
    Samsung ST150F
    Samsung ST150F
    Compare
    Fujifilm GFX 100
    Fujifilm GFX 100
    Compare
    Pentax K-70
    Pentax K-70
    Compare

    Samsung PL170 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Samsung PL170 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Samsung PL170's price range.

    Samsung PL170 Conclusion and Scores

    Currently, Samsung PL170 has an Overall Score of 21/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Samsung PL170 is ranked #618 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #1237 out of 1259 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

    #1237 out of 1259 in Top Ranking Cameras
    #618 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
    #141 out of 152 in Top Ranking Ultracompact Cameras
    #725 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
    #0 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(g)
    #899 out of 918 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
    Geek Score: 0

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Samsung PL170
    Does the Samsung PL170 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Samsung PL170 have RAW support?
    Does the Samsung PL170 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Samsung PL170 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Samsung PL170?
    What is the Sensor Size of Samsung PL170?
    is the Samsung PL170 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Samsung PL170 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Samsung PL170 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Samsung PL170?
    What is the Weight of Samsung PL170?
    What are the Dimensions of Samsung PL170?
    Samsung PL170 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Samsung
    Model Samsung PL170
    Announced 2011-01-05
    Body Type Ultracompact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range ()
    Max Aperture
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size 3.00"
    Screen Resolution 230k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 8s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Max Continuous Shooting n/a
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range n/a
    Flash Modes n/a
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.3-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 6.08 x 4.56 mm
    Sensor Area 27.72mm2
    Sensor Resolution 16 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3456
    Max Native ISO 3,200
    Min Native ISO 0
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points Unknown
    Number of Cross Focus Points 0
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1280 x 720
    Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB none
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight n/a
    Physical Dimensions 95 x 57 x 19mm
    Other Features
    Self Timer n/a
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Slots 1


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