Samsung SC-HMX20 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Aug 3, 2008 8:50 PM
|
Advertisement
|
|||||||||||
Ease of Use (7.25)The Samsung SC-HMX20 maintained a near-perfect continuity of sleek and simple design from the outer shell straight through to the menu interface. The camcorder uses a touch screen LCD, which enables shooters to make rapid selections with the same interaction they're accustomed to with their ATMs. The biggest problem with touch screens, however, is that the screen is prone to being clouded by finger print smudges. Still, a good deal of consumers prefer the touch screen for its simplicity. Samsung has done a nice job organizing the menu too—items are grouped logically and intuitively, unlike the menu of JVC's GZ-HD40. The Samsung menu is tough competition for the newly redesigned menu on the Panasonic HDC-HS100 and HDC-SD100. Those camcorders feature a scrolling ticker at the bottom of the screen that explains each item in the menu. Samsung is so easy there doesn't even seem to need explanations. To be fair, though, the Panasonics offer far more in the way of manual control.
The SC-HMX20 has its own brand of Easy mode, called Easy Q. When Easy Q mode is engaged, the Function menu and Q. Menu become disabled. This is total autopilot mode here. While Panasonic camcorders at least allow you to access some functions in Auto mode, the SC-HMX20's only vehicle of control is the Record Start/Stop button and Zoom toggle. This is the type of idiot-proofing that some people demand, and frustrates others.
Handling (5.25)
We were pretty hard on last year's Samsung SC-HMX10, we'll admit it. And while we're certainly not going to withdraw the barbs entirely, we're willing to re-evaluate the SC-HMX20 in the context of a changing market.
It's clear from a glance that the SC-HMX20 is designed to be a very compact camcorder, which always comes at a price. There's no viewfinder, so the LCD screen better be damned good. In fact, it's just okay. We railed last year about poor responsiveness on the touch screen, and it looks as though there's been some improvement in that area. We rarely had to tap more than once to get the desired effect.
The Samsung SC-HMX20 in hand is quite comfortable
The overall design goal was apparently to create a bullet-shaped camcorder. On that they succeeded, but it had the unfortunate side-effect of giving the SC-HMX20 scant flat surface area on the bottom. Unless you rest it on a perfectly flat and perfectly stable surface, the camcorder is more prone to wobbling than most.
The most innovative aspect of the Samsung design is the swivel grip, which debuted last year on the SC-HMX10 and was carried over this year. We found ourselves taking advantage of the alternate grip options. We shunned it last year, due in part to the uncomfortable hand strap, which has since been improved. Our favorite grip was to twist is all the way around, setting the grip about 110 degrees relative to the lens barrel. This allowed us to hold the camcorder like a pistol, with a thumb on the zoom toggle. It did a great job of reducing the arm fatigue that you get from a traditional grip. Also, we trashed the grip on the HMX10 for its cheap construction, and demonstrated in a photo how easy it would be to tear it off. We're pleased to say that this has been addressed in the HMX20, which now appears quite sturdy.
Overall, the Samsung SC-HMX20 chose to focus on sleekness in the design. Comparatively, the Sony HDR-SR12 is a little smaller and offers both a touch screen and the vastly superior Cam Control dial under the lens for use with manual controls. The Canon HF10 is also slightly smaller and offers a well-placed joystick rather than a touch screen. While the Samsung SC-HMX20 feels undeniably solid, the Sony and Canon will feel more appropriate in a pro or enthusiast's hands. A beginner will likely be happy with the Samsung.
Menu (7.0)
The menu system is nearly identical to the intuitive and compact layout from last year's HMX10. Information is organized in the familiar file folder tab format. All the menus are navigated using a touch screen interface, which is sleek and responsive. This is the same standard 2.7-inch screen from the previous model, but Samsung seems to have added a little more space between menu options, making it easier to touch the right part of the screen. As on the HMX10, there are two menus in video mode: the Q. Menu and the Administrative, or Main, menu.
The Q. Menu is accessed by pressing the Q. Menu button located on the LCD panel. Think of the Q. Menu as the "greatest hits" version of the Main menu—six options that Samsung assumes you'll want to have right at your fingertips. For the HMX20, Samsung has taken Guidelines off the quick menu and replaced it with Resolution, allowing users to switch easily between high definition and standard definition recording. Four of these options are available while recording, allowing users to adjust white balance, focus, exposure, and shutter speed on the fly. It seems a strange omission to not include the beginner-friendly scene modes on this menu (burying them instead within the administrative menu). The Q. Menu contains the following options:
| Q. Menu |
|
| Storage | Memory, Card |
| Resolution | 1080/30p, 1080/60i, 480/60p, Slow Motion |
| White Balance | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Tungsten, Custom |
| Focus | Auto, Manual, TouchPoint |
| Exposure | Auto, Manual |
| Shutter Speed | Auto, Manual |
The Q. Menu
The Administrative menu is accessed by pressing the Menu button, a touch screen button located in the lower right hand corner of the screen. This menu cannot be accessed while recording. This year, all options have been consolidated into two tabs: Image Control and Settings. Samsung has done away with the extraneous third tab, a feature on the HMX10 that housed only media selection. The Administrative menu offers everything you see in the Q.Menu, plus many more options:
| Administrative Menu |
|
| Image Control | Scene Mode (AE), White Balance, Exposure, Super Color Night, Anti-Shake (EIS), Digital Effect, Focus, Shutter, Tele Macro, Resolution, Quality, Wind Cut, Self Timer, Back Light, Fader, Face Detect, Guideline, Digital Zoom |
| Settings | Date/Time Set, Date/Time, Date Type, File No., LCD Control, LCD Enhancer, Storage Type, Storage Info, Format, Beep Sound, Shutter Sound, Auto Power Off, REC Lamp, Remote, USB Connect, TV Type, Component Out, TV Display, Default Set, Language, Demo, Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC), Product ID |
 |
 |
| The Image Control submenu | The Settings submenu |
Unfortunately, Samsung offers no explanation in the guide or in the menus themselves to walk users through the different settings. For experienced videographers, it's very easy to find the options you need; for beginners, experimentation will be a fine way to make sense of the menus. They are accessible and intuitive—plus the only alternative is firing up the user guide on the CD-ROM.
Portability (6.5)
The Samsung SC-HMX20 measures 66 x 67.2 x 139mm (2.6 x 2.65 x 5.35-inches) and weighs 456g (1 lbs.). It all fits into an extremely stylish and snug package. It's definitely too large to fit in a pants pocket, or even most coat pockets. But it's small and light enough that you could carry it around in your hand for the day without too much fuss.
At this size, it's just a little larger than the Canon HF10 and Sony HDR-CX12, its two closest competitors. Oddly enough, this is larger than the previous version, the SC-HMX20. A size increase is something that almost never happens in consumer electronics generation-over-generation.
The fact that the Samsung SC-HMX20 has 8GB of built-in memory helps bolster the portability factor, because you have something to fall back on if the SD/SDHC card fills up. The Canon HF10 offers double that, with 16GB of built-in memory. The Sony HDR-CX12 has no built-in memory, and relies entirely on MemorySticks.
The Samsung SC-HMX20 has a 2.7-inch,
230,000-pixel LCD, but no viewfinder.
LCD and Viewfinder (5.0)
The Samsung SC-HMX20 has a 2.7-inch LCD that flips out from the left side. The resolution measures 230,000 pixels. This is a better resolution than you'll find on lower-end camcorders, but about average for this price range. The Canon HF10 is a little lower, and the Panasonic HDC-SD100 is a little higher. A 2.7-inch size is common across almost all of these. The picture the LCD provides is a fairly accurate assessment of image quality, but the exposure adjustments sometimes appear jagged even though the adjustments are smooth on the final footage.
There is no viewfinder on the SC-HMX20, which is almost standard for flash memory camcorders. Only the Panasonic HDC-SD100 offers one. Viewfinders can prove incredibly useful when shooting on sunny days, or when you need to conserve battery life while shooting.
Battery Life (9.5)
The Samsung SC-HMX20 ships with the IA-BP85ST battery pack. The battery fits into an internal cavity that loads from the rear. An internal design means that you won't be able to purchase an extended life battery, which can be problematic for vacationers or those far from a power outlet.
We tested the battery life by shooting continuously with the LCD open. The stabilization was turned on, and no manual controls were engaged while testing. Ultimately, we found the battery to last 95 minutes and 1 second (1 hour, 35 minutes, and 1 second).
This was the same battery as found in last year's Samsung SC-HMX10, and the performance was virtually the same. The SC-HMX20's performance was better than the Canon HF10's.
|
Advertisement
|