2. Samsung HMX-H106

· F Value F1.8~2.5

· Optical Zoom 10x

· Digital Zoom 100x

· Recording Resolution 1920×1080i / 1280×720P / 720×480P

· Recording Quality SF / F / N

· Shutter Speed Manual Shutter 1/60~1/10000

· Auto Yes

· Filter Diameter 37mm

· Type Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan-HD

· Sensor Type CMOS

· Sensor Size 1/4.5″

· No. of pixels 2.2M

Highs: First solid state drive HD camcorder

Lows: Needs faster bit rate, better photos

A 64GB solid-state drive keeps size small and speeds quick on this impressive camcorder.

Summary

Flash memory marches on! Samsung recently introduced a trio of high-def camcorders using advanced solid state drives (SSDs) rather than hard drives—or ancient media like tapes and shiny three-inch disks. SSDs read and write faster than HDDs, are lighter, use less power and have no moving parts making them just right for capturing video on the fly. Samsung sent us one with a 64GB drive—the HMX-H106—but the -H105 and -H104 are available with 32GB and 16GB storage, respectively at lower prices. The new AVCHD camcorders are fairly tricked out and it would be good to see if Samsung should be considered a key player in the HD Camcorder Game.

Features and Design

Compact size and lengthy recording times are the real pluses of SSD- and HDD-based camcorders—and the HMX-H106 has both of these traits in spades. It has attractive styling with primarily gray body that’s easily held in one hand. Measuring 2.32 inches wide, 2.4 tall and 5.06 deep, it weighs 14.2 ounces loaded with battery and optional SDHC card. The 64-gig drive holds a whopping 8.3 hours of Full HD Fine quality AVCHD video—more than for enough for handling multiple events and occasions.

The front of the HMX-H106 is dominated by the 10x Schneider Krueznach Varioplan HD lens which starts at a 37mm equivalent, a bit wider than the typical camcorder which is around 42mm. It’s not the true wide angle we appreciate so much in still photography but it’ll help for group shots and landscapes. You’ll also see a built-in lens cover, a flash, remote control sensor and recording light indicator. Flanking the lens barrel are the left/right portions of the stereo mic.

The right side has a comfortable swivel-mount Velcro adjustable hand strap. It can be locked into position for traditional straight ahead, eye-level shooting or you can move it to a variety of angles in conjunction with the adjustable LCD screen. In other words you can easily shoot overhead or hold the camcorder near the ground. It’s a welcome addition.

The top of the new Samsung has the wide/tele toggle switch and dedicated photo button nestled in an attractive metallic accent. In front of them is a notch that acts as a finger or thumb rest, depending on how you’re holding it. There is no hot shoe for an optional light, unfortunately.

On the left side is a swingout 2.7-inch 16:9 touchscreen LCD rated an O.K. 230K pixels. We say O.K. because although the screen handled direct sunlight well, it really didn’t have the pop and contrast we like. On the far left bezel is a Quick Menu button, a W/T zoom adjustment and the record button. We found the menus—Quick and otherwise–to be nicely designed and coupled with the touchscreen, drop-dead easy to use. There are a few logos here with SSD the biggest; we guess Samsung is proud of this breakthrough so we’ll cut them some slack.

The controls opposite the screen on the body are the usual: power, display to eliminate icon clutter on the screen, OIS (on/off), flash adjustment and Easy Q which is Samsung’s version of no-brainer shooting like Sony’s Easy Handycam option. A tiny speaker is here as well.

The rear has the record and mode buttons and a compartment for various inputs/outputs including DC-in, USB, A/V and mini HDMI. The bottom of the Made In China HMX-H106 has a compartment for the battery and optional SDHC card.

What’s In The Box

The camcorder comes with the basics. You get the body, battery, AC adaptor, Quick Start Guide, remote, USB and component cables. The bundled CD-ROM only has the full 147-page manual as a PDF. There is no software because it’s built into the camcorder like a Flip. Samsung calls it intelli-studio and it’ll handle basic edit chores. After handling the chores of charging the battery and loading a card, it was time to started recording videos and taking snapshots.

Performance and Use

The Samsung HMX-H106 has a 2.2-megapixel CMOS sensor so it records 1920 x 1080I video at a maximum bit rate of 16 Mbps, not the best AVCHD compression option available (24) as delivered by Canon, JVC and Panasonic. Samsung, like Sony, does some digital hocus-pocus claiming the 2.2MP chip takes 4.7-megapixel 2880 x 1620 stills when in reality it’s a native 2.1MP. They’re not fibbing just using interpolation to get the bigger number since marketing types always like things BIG. We used both options for stills but kept the camcorder at maximum video quality in all modes.

Before getting into the results lets just state the Solid State Drive really sped up the video operations of this camcorder. It popped to life quickly, immediately responded to start/stop controls and the unit barely got warm even during extended use (something not the case with any HDD).

We started shooting in Easy Q, then iScene (Samsung’s version of intelligent auto), tried appropriate scene modes then moved to manual which offered a surprisingly good selection of f/stops and shutter speeds along with white balance variations and so on.

Since it was a holiday weekend in small-town America we had the chance to record a vintage baseball game (circa 1893), clog dancers,

a horse drawn carriage and other “quaint” subjects including smiling faces and expansive landscapes. Once done we viewed the material on a 50-inch HDTV, examined stills closely on a monitor and made a number of letter-sized prints.

Overall the video—given enough light—was quite good. Black pants of the old baseball uniforms were nice and inky, skin tones were accurate as were red church doors, cloggers’ costumes and overflowing flower pots. You’d be happy with the results. That said we could see a bit more noise in a cloudy sky compared to AVCHD cams using 24 Mbps compression instead of the 16 here. The iScene handled the exposure and focusing required for quick pans around the baseball diamond including close-ups. Where this camcorder disappointed was indoors shooting with available light as there was noise galore. To be honest, we’ve found this to be the case with almost all 2.2MP CMOS sensors. Another negative was the OIS which did a fairly good job removing the shakes from handheld videos but Canon and Sony do a better job.

As for the stills what can we say? They were decent but with minimal focus points, this is no Canon HF S10. Colors were fairly accurate but don’t expect major enlargements with these files. Surprisingly, the camcorder saved images fairly slowly, with the iris graphically closing down onscreen.

Conclusion

Samsung is to be congratulated for introducing the first SSD-based camcorders. They’re another nail in the coffin for tape and disk-based home video makers as flash memory and HDDs rule. You’ll pay the price being the first kid on your block with this toy but it’s just a matter of time before prices drop to more acceptable levels. By way of comparison a 2MP CMOS Sony HDR-XR200V with 120GB HDD is $999. The HMX-H106 does a good job capturing videos when there’s enough light with few focusing and exposure issues. Indoors with low light expect to swim in a sea of digital noise. And the snapshots are just O.K. Still with introduction of three SSD-based camcorders, Samsung is officially a player in the HD camcorder sweepstakes.

Pros:

· Ample onboard storage (64GB)

· One of the first SSD HD camcorders

· Quality HD video with enough light

· Easy to use, nicely done menus

· Comfortable, adjustable strap

Cons:

· Expensive

· Higher bit rate, please

· Noise in low light

· Stills are passable, no more

· LCD should be better

· No hot shoe

by: David Elrich

: April 21, 2009

Best Camcorders and Video Cameras

We rounded up the top ten best video cameras and ten best camcorders along with their reviews and ratings.
There are so many classic moments in our lives where we wish we had a video camera. Fortunately, with the technological trend to shrink with advancement, video cameras and camcorders are packing more power in a more petite frame. We’ve listed our top rated hand-held video cameras and camcorders from electronics pros like Samsung, Sony and JVC.

1.Canon Vixia HF S10

· High Definition

· NTSC

· MPEG4-AVC / H.264

· 1/2.6-inch CMOS, RGB Prmary Color Filter

· Approx. 8.59 Megapixels

· Video: Approx. 6.01 Megapixels

· 32GB internal Flash drive

· Zoom Ratio 10x Optical/200x Digital

· Focal Length f=6.4- 64mm (35mm equivalent: 43.5 – 435mm)

· 60i, 24p Progressive (records at 60i), 30p Progressive (records at 60i)

Highs: Beautiful video; excellent stills; quality optical image stabilization; easy to operate

Lows: LCD should be better; expensive; heavy; average wind noise reduction; no 5.1 surround

·

The Canon Vixia HF S10 which we review, has a handful of minor complaints, but this couldn't keep us from falling in love with this outstanding shooter.

Summary

The Holy Grail for camcorder owners is one device that takes great high-def video and outstanding stills, all in a compact package. Like Indiana Jones, the Knights Templar and Don Quixote, we’ve been on this seemingly fruitless quest for years. A few come close, but none ever took the ultimate prize. At this year’s CES, our hopes were raised once again when Canon announced the Vixia HF S10, a flash memory-based camcorder that records AVCHD video at 24 Mb/s (the best compression rate available) to 32GB of built-in memory, or Class 4 SDHC cards. It even has an 8.59MP CMOS sensor, so it takes – you guessed it – 8MP photos at native, not interpolated, resolution. When Canon offered the Vixia HF S10 to test, we hoped for an early Christmas present. Let’s see if it’s a keeper – and if our search has ended.

Features and Design

Forget cute and cuddly with this one. It’s a hefty bruiser, dressed in black. The Vixia broadcasts an extremely high-tech vibe; no one will mistake it for a Flip. The 10x lens really jumps out—having a silver highlight ring around it will do that. It’s much wider than the typical camcorder lens, with a 58mm filter diameter (typical is 37mm or 43mm). Canon’s $2,800 standard-def 3-chip GL2 – beloved by film students everywhere – uses a similar-sized filter, as does the new SD card-only HF S100. We’re bringing this up to show that this is a serious effort, not just a basic point-and-shoot home video maker. The $1,299 price tag is pretty serious too. The 10x lens translates to 43.5-435mm, which is a good range, but we’d like it to start at a wider point, just as we prefer wide-angle digicams like the Panasonic ZS1.

Stare at the zoom, and you’ll see a venetian-blind lens cover that slides back when you power up. Below the lens is the instant AF sensor. Initially we did a little groan, not seeing a light, flash or both. However, both are hiding in a pop-up compartment on the top of the unit. There’s also a slide-back door covering the hot shoe, the zoom toggle switch, a dedicated photo button and a nearby power switch.

On the right side is a comfortable adjustable strap, and a compartment for component, USB and mini HDMI outs. You’ll also find a mic input for accessory microphones, and half of the built-in stereo mic. Unlike higher-end Sonys and Panasonics, the HF S10 is purely Dolby Digital 2-channel stereo, not 5.1 surround sound. We like the ambience of surround, but this may be a nonissue for you.

Like any camcorder, you’ll do most of your work on the left side, using the 2.7-inch widescreen LCD to frame your shots and working the controls on the bezel. The monitor is rated 211K pixels, and works well in most conditions, even direct sunshine. However, the options to make adjustments to the screen are buried way too deep in the menu system. Fortunately, if you hit the display button on the body, you’ll get a brightness boost, which helps shooting with the sun at your back. The nicely laid out controls found here include a four-way controller with center set button, a function key, start/stop record, wide/tele zoom adjustment and playback. The sensor for the remote is on the bezel too. On the body are Video Snap and display/battery info keys. With Video Snap, you take short clips that are combined with music soundtracks (supplied or your own). It’s not one of the most in-demand features we’ve heard of, but whatever. You’ll also find the speaker and a compartment for an SDHC card. At the very front is the left-hand portion of the stereo mic, and a custom dial, which you assign a function such as adjusting manual focus, exposure, mic level and others. We set it to focus.

On the back is the mode dial with just three options—video, photos and Dual Shot. The latter is basically an easy, no-brainer mode for movies and snapshots. When you pick video and photos, you have many options at your disposal. You’ll also find the battery, which fits in a nice recessed spot along with compartment for DC-in and A/V out, or headphones, along with the record button. What you do not find is an electronic viewfinder. Some observers find this to be a huge drawback, but working with it under a wide variety of conditions, that’s not our take. Yes, it would be nice, but it’s not a deal breaker.

What’s In The Box

The carton contains the camcorder, battery, AC adaptor, remote, USB, A/V and component video cables. There’s also a Bible-sized owners manual, but don’t freak— “only” 190 pages are English. Whew! One CD-ROM has Pixela ImageMixer 3 SE for saving and transferring videos, while the second has Video Tools for managing and editing movies. There’s also a digital video solution disk with ZoomBrowser EX 6.2 for handling stills, along with a music data disk with tunes for background music used with the Video Snap feature.

Performance and Use

The first inkling of spring beckoned us to Brooklyn’s Coney Island, a fabled, yet rundown seaside resort. That said, there’s plenty of color (faded and freshly painted), and motion (i.e. roller coasters) to see how well the Vixia HF S10 could reproduce reality. The camcorder was set to best MXP quality, 1920 x 1080 60i; the 32GB memory could handle close to three hours of footage. We popped a 6GB SDHC Class 4 card in, just in case. Stills were shot at 3264 x 2456 pixels, a true 8 megapixels.

We started off in dual shot mode, then quickly opted for the more advanced options in video and photo. In video, there are choices for program AE, aperture/shutter priority, cine and eight typical scene modes. Cine even lets you record at 24fps progressive scan. We prefer the vivid colors of standard video, but you may like the more subtle feel of cine. Aperture and shutter priority are available for stills, as are a very speedy burst mode of around three frames per second (with the flash off).

Once we took a long walk on the boardwalk, and up and down the downtrodden side streets, it was time to check out the videos on a 50-inch HDTV and make a batch of prints. Before the results, let’s report the HF S10 is a pleasure to use, focuses very quickly, and has an excellent menu system, other than access to the LCD adjustment being so deep.

The Vixia HF S10 records at 24 Mb/s, the maximum rate for the AVCHD format, and it really shows on the big screen. Simply stated—the video is breathtaking. You’ll love it. Colors were as accurate as can be, and the camcorder’s exposure system handled mixed shade and sunlight with ease. There was barely a hint of noise anywhere, other than indoor scenes with very dim light. The built-in light did a good job handling close-up subjects. The optical image stabilization did a fine job smoothing out shakes from handheld clips. As far as we’re concerned, this is the video quality standard bearer for consumer camcorders, circa 2009. Sound was good as well, but it definitely could use better noise reduction for windy days. The stiff breezes at Coney sounded like the backend of jet engine.

Photographs were the best we’ve ever gotten from a camcorder. After all, this is a Canon, and if they couldn’t generate solid prints from an 8MP CMOS sensor, something is seriously wrong in the world. However, these aren’t D-SLR level images, and they don’t have the super crispness and pop those cameras deliver. Still, they are the finest we’ve ever printed from a camcorder.

Conclusion

The HF S10 is an excellent camcorder, even though it’s not tiny, cute, or $500. It’s substantial, and expensive, but the quality is outstanding. Given the results we’re especially looking forward to testing the new AVCHD Sony HDR-XV500, with its 120GB hard drive, 6.3MP CMOS sensor, built-in GPS, 3.2-inch LCD and electronic viewfinder to see if it’s a solid competitor. Stay tuned. Parsifal has nothing on us. Our search for the Holy Grail continues.

Pros:

· Beautiful video

· Excellent stills

· Quality optical image stabilization

· Easy to operate

Cons:

· LCD should really be better

· Expensive

· Heavy

· Wind noise reduction needs enhancement

· 2 channel stereo not 5.1 surround

by: David Elrich

: April 21, 2009