Hi-def just keeps getting smaller and smaller. Samsung has launched the 720/60i SMX-C20 and 1080p HMX-M20, two camcorders that could get lost down the back of the sofa if you weren't careful. We had a play about with them at the launch event, and here post for your perusal some snaps of the C20, with its natty sunburst-effect red accents.
The lens is angled at 25 degrees, so you hold the camera pointed downwards slightly. It takes some getting used to, as you're not pointing the camera straight in a line-of-sight kind of way. But we didn't find ourselves bending our wrist back as much as other camcorders, which is a good thing over time. It also makes it easier to actually look where you're going, as the camera is slightly lower than your eyeline.
Footage is saved in H.264 format. Two-megapixel stills are also captured, and everything is recorded to SD or SDHC card. The M20 offers 8x optical zoom and the C20 offers 10x zoom.
They're more squat than candybar form factor mini-camcorders such as the Flip Video MinoHD, but are still pocket-smoochingly wee. Despite being smaller than a small thing, both cameras feature decent-sized, 69mm (2.7-inch) LCD screens. Just look at how small they are, as we capture some behind-the-scenes action with a Craver's hand closing the flip-out screen.
Software on the cameras allows for basic editing and one-touch YouTube upload. Other features include time-lapse shooting, capturing an image at set intervals from 1 to 30 seconds.
The C20 arrives in February, and the M20 in March.
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Comments 2
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Anonymous 9 September, 2010 08:23
I bought this camcorder recently. But I was very disappointed by the low battery life of just 80 minutes fully charged.
Yet another bad thing is that it uses a non-standard mini-USB socket that is rectangle shaped, not the standard trapezium shape.
And it doesn't come with a battery charger. You have to charge it via the supplied unique mini-USB cable. You have to charge the battery still in the camcorder, and you cannot use it while it is charging.
With the special shaped mini-USB socket, you cannot plug in accessories such as battery charger, because the standard mini-USB plug won't be able to plug into this camcorder's socket.
The only good point is that it can shoot good still pictures and full HD videos. But the battery won't last that long. Go grab half a dozen spare batteries if go on a holiday.
Anonymous 9 September, 2010 08:24
I bought this camcorder recently. But I was very disappointed by the low battery life of just 80 minutes fully charged.
Yet another bad thing is that it uses a non-standard mini-USB socket that is rectangle shaped, not the standard trapezium shape.
And it doesn't come with a battery charger. You have to charge it via the supplied unique mini-USB cable. You have to charge the battery still in the camcorder, and you cannot use it while it is charging.
With the special shaped mini-USB socket, you cannot plug in accessories such as battery charger, because the standard mini-USB plug won't be able to plug into this camcorder's socket.
The only good point is that it can shoot good still pictures and full HD videos. But the battery won't last that long. Go grab half a dozen spare batteries if go on a holiday.