Samsung EX1 / TL500 Review

Every now and then a camera comes along that simply feels right from the moment that you pick it up. It's a curious combination of design attributes, build materials and ergonomics that makes this so. The Samsung EX1 (TL500 in some markets) is one such camera. Given how new to camera making Samsung is, it's a bit surprising that they got so much right. But maybe not.
Have you ever thought about how you can get into almost any car, anywhere on the planet, and within a moment or two figure out where all of the important controls are, and drive off safely? No – maybe not the GPS and audio system, and in some cases not the AC, but at least the steering wheel, gas peddle, turn signals and such are in the places that you expect them to be. This is a form of voluntary standardization that makes our world work a bit more smoothly than it otherwise might.
Well, the EX1 fits that paradigm. If you have any experience with digital cameras over the past decade you'll find the EX1 to be almo...