Samsung SC-D365 Camcorder Review

Still Features (3.75)
The Samsung SC-D365 captures stills to MiniDV tape and three card types: MemoryStick, MMC, and SD cards. A Tape/Memory switch in the LCD cavity switches between MiniDV or card media for still capture or playback.

The use of MemoryStick here seems outdated and unwise. Sony has shifted most of their card-reading technology to the smaller MemoryStick Duo cards, while Samsung is left supporting a dying card. Trying to use MemoryStick Duo in the Samsung will also require a pair of needle-nose pliers.

The camcorder only captures to one still size – 800 x 600 – in three qualities: Super Fine, Fine, and Normal. Unlike most camcorders, the manual control set in video mode does not carry over wholesale to still mode. Many of the controls vanish, leaving you with only exposure, white balance, focus, and backlight compensation. The camcorder does have PictBridge compatibility with certain printers, for direct printing without a computer.

Still Resolution (0.7)
We tested the Samsung SC-D365 for still resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart. In total, the camcorder produced an approximate resolution of 66692.43.

The chart below shows how this poor performance fared against the competition.

Still Performance (1.75)
The SC-D365’s lone still size, 800 x 600, makes it clear that Samsung did not attempt to make this camcorder a competitor for a dedicated still camera. That’s fortunate, as the D365 produced appalling stills. Even at a bright light of 3000 lux, it could barely manufacture even mediocre color. It’s rather remarkable how dull and lackluster this image is. The picture also lacks in sharpness - the entire thing seems veiled by some color-sucking soft focus filter.

By comparison, almost any other camcorder in the D365’s class appears favorable. The Sony DCR-HC36, which we blasted for poor still performance, has a far more vivid, detailed, and in-focus picture. One thing we can say for the Samsung, though – it produced less noise than the Sony.

The Canon Elura 100 looks, by comparison, to be a marvel of photographic technology. The colors are rather dull, but far, far more vivid than the Samsung’s. There is some very fine grain noise, but not enough to consider it much of a distraction.

Panasonic PV-GS39 is an excessively noisy picture, but the colors are much stronger. No, they don’t look good compared to those of a dedicated still camera, but they sure look better than the Samsung.