Samsung SC-HMX20C High Definition Digital Camcorder Review – Page 4

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Roll Camera

The Samsung SC-HMX20C

As an HD Camcorder touting 1080p, expectations are high. I mean, it’s definitely no Flip Mino where expectations are pretty low in terms of picture quality. However, HD performance doesn’t disappoint and 1080p is excellent outside in the daylight and well lit areas. Where it seems to go south, and this is pretty much any camcorder, is in lowlight conditions. Subjects start to look blotchy in the dim light and coupled with the image stabilisation, people seem to drift briefly before focus locks in the dim light. 480p performance was similar in these regards. Although the slo-motion feature was a cool feature, the limit of 10 seconds and the fact that you couldn’t record in high definition was a little disappointing. Not to mention, you can’t make make the picture 16:9 in the Slo-Mo mode, which makes your cuts and transitions a little strange when the rest of your footage is 16:9.

The zoom is very quick and responsive. What I also noticed was how easy it is to feather in the zoom by gently toggling the lever. This was unexpected and was a welcome feature and works particularly well with the image stabilization when zoomed right out to prevent the shakes. Having said that, what was absolutely my biggest gripe about the SC-HMX20C was the lens selection. At a 63mm wide end, instead of looking at someone, you are looking through them. If Samsung could get a 50mm or shorter lens on there, it would make this camera a lot better suited to more intimate settings where everyone is close together. I had to back up way too much to get everyone in the frame. As a result, there were many cut off heads.

Sound Check

For the most part, sound quality was on par with the SC-HMX10A. Using a set of stereo mics embedded under the lens, the sound is clear and detailed. However, when you start to zoom out from that long 63mm lens, it starts to pick up all the background noise around you. The SC-HMX20C does have a wind filter that you can turn on, but it doesn’t do much when you’re zoomed in on your subject. Luckily, like its predecessor, someone at Samsung was on the ball and put an external microphone jack in the back of the unit. This will allow you to use an external microphone, or if you have the extra bucks, an aftermarket shotgun mic would go a long way in improving your pinpoint accuracy when zoomed out.

Final Thoughts

Samsung SC-HMX20C

I’m gong to keep this really short. If I was Samsung, I would immediately stop trying to make this into a camera/camcorder and make it into a camcorder. For me, there is just too much to work on to the camera to work like a regular extension of your creativity. Having to switch modes to get the high quality shots is frustrating. I do recognize Samsung for trying to drop in the capture mode while recording, but that’s totally a compromise and isn’t anything that you can’t do in post production when you view your footage. Most good software already supports screenshots.

In the end, the Samsung SC-HMX20C takes great high definition video, particularly when you’re out in the wide open spaces and in decent light. Samsung is so close to having a great all around camcorder, but their reluctance to let go of the useless camera function, I feel, really holds this product back from greatness. Having said that, it’s still one of the most comfortable, compact, HD digital camcorders out there and the the user interface is easy enough to use that most people can just pick it up and go with it. Despite the strong criticism of this product in some areas, if used to its strengths, it is definitely a product worth considering. At $849 US, it definitely is one of the less expensive and more compact full 1080p digital camcorders out there which really turns it into a good all around value.

Pros