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Samsung SC-HMX20C 8GB High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom | 
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| Brand: Samsung
Category: Photography
List Price: $849.99
Buy New: $599.99
New (17)
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 329
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: Yes
Optical Zoom: 10
Display Size: 2.7
Maximum Focal Length: 63
Minimum Focal Length: 6.3
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 5 x 5 x 8
MPN: SC-HMX20
Model: SC-HMX20
UPC: 036725302099
EAN: 0036725302099
ASIN: B0018KTCIM
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Full HD Camcorder with 1080P Progressive Mode | | • | 8GB Built In Memory | | • | 6.4M CMOS, 10X zoom | | • | Docking Cradle | | • | SD-MMC Slot |
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Product Description
Featuring Full HD and a 1080p mode with 30 frames-per-second recording capability, the SC-HMX20C's flash-based design makes this camcorder compact and easy-to-use. Furthermore, users are able to connect the SC-HMX20C to their laptop or PC via a USB connection and share their home movies with family and friends quickly and easily. For added value and convenience, this multifunctional HD camcorder also delivers among the best still camera functionality within a camcorder on the market - up to 8-megapixel size through pixel-rising technology.The SC-HMX20C's outstanding performance is the result of cutting-edge design coupled with innovative technologies in HD recording. The SC-HMX20C features a 6.4-megapixel CMOS with electronic image stabilization so even action-packed scenes come through with clarity. Featuring an HDMI-CEC (Anynet+) high-quality connection to HDTVs and other devices, consumers can easily control the camcorder through their Samsung HDTV remote while viewing movies - just one more feature that strives to make life easier.With the unique feature of high speed capture and super slow motion playback, the SC-HMX20C allows consumers to record fast motion at 300 frames per second for up to 10 seconds and then drastically slow down the playback of the recording. Perfect for sports fanatics looking to tape and analyze their golf-swing in slow motion, or anyone interested in getting the detail of fast-flying events that otherwise would be undetectable to the human eye; this special function opens up a world to users.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Did not recieve the Camera as advertised October 10, 2008
Mike Power (Silicon Valley, CA)
All other things aside this camera does not have Time Lapsed Recording (the lower end models that do not support HD have Time Lapsed Recording).
The utter shocker for me was that this camera does not support firmware. Their sites indicate in a couple places that it does. But the camera does not ever display it, and the instructions to install it are based on the non-HD cameras. Thus those instructions are actually wrong. You can not complete the steps.
I find firmware to be a fundamental requirement on devices of this complexity and price. They future proof the device allowing existing features to be enhanced, new features to be added.
But ultimately the point of firmware is to protect the buyer against bad releases. There are several ways in which the software in my camera break.
For example:
Continuous Shot, Anti-Shake, Digital Zoom, Expose are all disabled in the interface. There is no way to turn these features on... unless
You enter and exit Easy-Q mode then these UI components will turn on and you can enable the feature(except Digital Zoom but who wants that anyway).
Here is the kicker though, once you turn on Continuous Shot and switch to Play mode to see the pictures you took, you can not leave Continuous Shot mode. The UI component is disabled again.
However enter and exit Easy-Q mode and the Continuous Shot mode will be turned off.
Absence of upgradable firmware is plain delinquency on the part of Samsung, it should never happen on a device of this level of function and cost.
 Nice Camera, Hate having to switch modes, GET FIRMWARE! September 6, 2008
N. Stephens (Mid-Atlantic, USA)
I will start out by stating that they have released a firmware upgrade (go to the samsung site and search on the model #) that improved (not resolved) my major problem with the camera, the instructions on how to check your firmware release completely didn't work, so just look at the list of enhancements and it will be clear that you don't have it. The instructions for installing it were good (although they talk about a file that isn't there - just ignore that.)
I'm a Mom, so my primary use for the camera is capturing pictures of the kids. The nature of that means I need to have the camera ready to get video or stills at a moment's notice. Out of box (pre-firmware), if you were in photo mode, you would have to hit the button twice to get it back into video mode. The big problem is that there was a several second pause getting out of the viewing mode. By the time I got to video, my opportunity was lost. I was about ready to return it.
Post-firmware, you can now keep it in video mode and still take photos. (Before you could only take photos while actively taking a video.) So, you just keep it in video mode and you are good. If you accidentally hit the mode button, you are still in the same situation, but I'll just have to get used to that.
Why on earth they designed it with one button for three modes makes no sense whatsoever to me. There are seperate buttons for taking photos and taking video, so why even have two different modes at all? Just have one button (that's a little tougher to accidentally hit) that puts it into viewing mode. Or, at the very least, two buttons, one for viewing and one that switches it back and forth between video and photo so that you don't have the lag time going through viewing. Even if it is only on the touch screen. Hopefully they will release another firmware release that adds touch screen buttons to address the issue.
Aside from that, the grip is weird to get used to, but I think I am going to like it. It does make it easy to hold the camera down low or up high to get better shots. The pictures and video in good light are great. And there is no stutter of the video if you are taking still pictures while shooting video.
You will have to install the included software to view the videos. We couldn't get them to work with Windows Media Player or Quicktime, even with new codecs. Not a huge deal, just a little annoying.
HMX20C- Mac users perspective. July 8, 2008
Phil_Procrastinating (san diego, CA United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
After returning a different camcorder because of disappointing video quality I researched a bit harder and ended up buying the HMX20.
I am very happy with the Samsung- videos taken in decent light are gorgeous and sharp, well exposed, and with nice contrast. I haven't noticed compression artifacts or aliasing. Also, the ability to record progressive frames is important as I look at clips on a computer monitor, and don't really understand the point of recording interlaced images. On the downside, the electronic image stabilization doesn't appear to be that good, although I haven't been able to find a lab-test for this. This means hand-held shots at full zoom are pretty shaky, although handheld videos are fine when you are zoomed out. As the widest angle view is not really wide enough (this seems common for the current crop of camcorders) I will probably pick up a wideangle converter at some point.
As other reviews have mentioned, this camera is extremely Mac friendly, and video clips can be played in Quicktime directly from the SD card. This is very convenient, especially since a number of common editing programs dont run on Macs. Look into MPEG Streamclip, a free mpeg converter which has been very helpful.
A full battery charge has been giving me about an hour of normal recording (including zooming and a bit of clip viewing), which also seems to be about right to mostly fill up an 8gb memory card with HD footage.
Overall I have been very pleased with this camera.
OSX friendly, easy to use July 2, 2008
Sean (Nashville, TN United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Pros
-the .mp4 files are OSX friendly and viewable instantly in QuickTime !
- we had no problem getting these files into Final Cut Xpress 4 or iMovie '08
- I was editing these files within minutes of popping the card out of the cam
- Photos can be plucked out of the video streams at 8mp (4mp interpolated?)
- the menu interface is clean ,intuitive, and performs well
- the photos look great, even the ones you capture while viewing video playback
- the TouchPoint focus can create cool effects
- colors and automatic levels seem pretty accurate
- quickly change recording to INTERNAL or SDHC or MMC
- manual controls are simple sliders (WB, Exposure, Shutter)
- 90 minute battery life from a small form battery
- shoots in 4 resolutions : 1080p/30p , 1080i/60i, 480p/60p an 300fps SlowMotion
- you can be in and out of these resolutions in seconds via QuickMenus
- shooting this puppy is a breeze, we haven't even looked at the manual yet
- nice Slideshow with music functions
- TouchFocus allows you to focus on different objects in the foreground or background
- it's a very small package and feels quite solid for it's size
- QuickInfo button displays battery life / memory / resolution even powered off
-clips can be split, deleted and combined IN CAMERA
-the phot slideshow can be accompanied by music
Cons
- you MUST have the cradle (included) for charging / HDMI out
- manual controls are very simple ...... will be too limiting for hardcore tweakers
........ that being said, the automatic levels are about as good as you'll want
- no hot shoe
- no built in light ... only pop-up flash
- photos cannot be cropped or rotated in camera - no red-eye removal tool either
- the focus drifted on me a few times
- btw, the focus is a little SLOW
- the TouchFocus was hit or miss in practice
-the battery and SD/MMC slot are behind a trap door, probably not going to be an extended run battery
there's alot to like about this camera
the easy to use touchscreen does almost everything I need it to do under normal circumstances
playback in QUICKTIME is smooth and free of some processing artifacts I noticed when using VLC (nightly) to view .mts files from Panasonics and Canon's ... and that comes in handy if you shot alot of clips and want to get to previewing them quickly and not waiting an hour for it to load into your editor
I think I've narrowed it down to this camera and the Canon hf100. I went to the store and shot some clips with my memory card. I found the .mts file buried in a STREAM subfolder several layers deep.
The Samsung has a folder called 100video, click on that and there's your files
The Canon's menu is more advanced and offers more options, but it's also more complex
but if you can live without advanced manual controls and a mini-hotshoe and want to work with a more friendly file, this Samsung SC_HMX20C is the camcorder to have
this camcorder works well with a 2.2ghz Macbook with 4gb RAM running OSX Leopard
 Compare to the Canon HF100 July 1, 2008
J. Dong
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
I had a chance to own both this Samsung SC-HMX20C and Canon HF100. Comparing to Canon HF100, this Samsung unit has:
Pros:
1. 8G internal memory.
2. 8M pixels still picture recording
Cons:
1. No optical stabilization which is my biggest complain. It has a electronic stabilization which is totally useless.
2. Hard/slow to focus compared to HF100
3. Slow when switching between Camcorder/Camera/Watching mode.
5. Slow when zoom in/out.
6. Bucky.
7. Pricy. $80 more than HF100.
In my opinion, this camcorder needs big improvement.
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