Samsung HMX-H105 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by Kaitlyn Chantry
Published on Jan 26, 2009 8:00 AM

 
Intro Audio
Compression & Media Manual Controls
Still Features
Handling & Use
Playback & Connectivity Other Features
Conclusion Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings



Ease of Use
Once again, Samsung relies on a responsive touch screen and intuitive menu structure to strengthen the product's ease of use. Beginning shooters will have no problem finding the options they want and experimenting with manual controls on the H-series camcorders. If you don't want to bother with manual controls, you can just as easily fly by in EasyQ mode and let the automatic adjustments take over. We praised last year's Samsungs for their simple and elegant user interface... it looks like the 2009 models will carry on the tradition.

Handling
If you've handled either of Samsung's MX20 models from last year (the high definition SC-HMX20 or the standard definition SC-MX20), the HMX-105 will be a familiar friend. The camcorder fits comfortably in your hand, the buttons are clearly labels and well laid out, and you have the added fun of Samsung's excellent swivel grip.

The swivel grip means that there's a large variety of options, including the pistol grip and the flashlight grip. These let you get great new angles with ease and comfort. Plus, there's the additional zoom toggle and record button mounted on the LCD panel for easy two-handed recording (which means better stability).

The HMX-H105 in hand.
  From the shooter's perspective.
Again from the shooter's perspective.
  The swivel grip means you can hold it like a flashlight.


Portability
Measuring just 59mm x 60.9mm x 128.6mm and weighing just 380g, the HMX-H105 is small and light. It doesn't feel quite as robust as the R10, but most surfaces seem fairly resistant to dust, scratches, and breaking. The surface of the LCD is bound to attract greasy fingerprints thanks to the touch screen, but that's true of all touch screens. With 32GB of internal memory, you probably won't even need to carry extra media or worry about too many data transfers. You can always throw a spare SD/SDHC card in there for backup.

Battery
Battery life on solid state camcorders tends to be significantly longer than on hard drive, tape, or DVD camcorders. Last year's Samsungs had excellent battery performance and we expect the HMX-H105 will show similar longevity. The battery is enclosed in a cavity on the bottom of the camcorder, which means that you won't be able to upgrade to a larger size.

LCD & Viewfinder
The HMX-H105 has a standard 2.7-inch LCD, which flips out 90 degrees from the body of the camcorder and rotates up to 270 degrees. Resolution is 230,000 pixels, which is about average for a camcorder in this price range and good enough to support the touch screen interface. It's not great for making manual focus adjustments—especially when much of the screen is blocked by the adjustment icons. You can make a couple of tweaks to the LCD from inside the menus, including lowering or increasing brightness of the screen.

 

The HMX-H105's 2.7-inch LCD.

Menus
As with last year's models, the HMX-H105 has a clear and intuitive menu structure. Everything is organized into two tabs of a single menu. There is also a Quick Menu, which repeats six common functions: storage, iSCENE, resolution, white balance, exposure, and focus.

Page one of the main menu.
 Page two of the main menu.
Page three of the main menu.
 Page four of the main menu.
Page five of the main menu.
 Page six of the main menu.
 
The Quick Menu.  

 



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