Samsung SC-D55 Mini DV Camcorder
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- Camcorder Type: Digital
- Recording Media: Mini DV
- Optical Zoom: 22x
- Weight: 1.43 lb.
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Samsung's folly or just a defective piece?
Pros
Low price & loaded with features.
Cons
Lens not sharp, make-up feature doesn't function.
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
This review is about SCD 77. Advice, if you really want to buy it, check out the unit first.
Let me begin with complimenting Samsung. They make pretty decent cameras, some of them have such great features that I seldom see even in the top of the line cameras. Their pricing has always been one of the lowest and they have in my opinion, the best buys camcorders. I have always seen them as an underdog in the electronics world.
Additionally, their Hi8 camera SCL610 and SCL 650 have been excellent cameras costing around just $300 for a brand new camera.
I expected the same performance from the new Top of the Line
SDC 77. I ordered mine through B& H Photo for $550 (approx.) and got it a couple of days ago.
I have put it through several of my benchmark tests and found the following:
Plus:
1. Physcial features, very good. Very compact, shiny, attractive looking camera.
2. Great Special Effects, typical of Samsung. Especially, the Mirror feature is so rare, that you don't find that anymore on any other brand. If you do, please let me know.
3. That's it.
Minus:
1. Samsung's straight-forward functions have given in to Sony type of menu choices where you have to go into menu features to choose any function you may want to choose. Certainly a backward step.
2. Samething goes for the A/V output. Both Samsung and Canon ZR camcorders have/had a simple yellow pin jack on the side of the camera. Now, with SDC 77. it's just like Sony's. You have to flip open a plastic cover, an inconvenience to plug inthe A/V jack. Don't like it.
3. More importantly, the lens is really bad. This makes all the difference. Colors don't pop out. No indication on camera as to how many lux it is. I was simply told, when asked,that it is lower than one lux. May be true, but the "lower than one lux" Samsung SCL 610 has a bright picture. This one is grainy.
Also, I have noticed that when the subject moves, picture goes in and out of focus frequently. This was ok a few years ago but new technology should be far better than that.
4. Of the Special effects functions, the Make-up feature didn't work. I think it was malfunctioning because no matter what color I chose (but for the Red), it had the same effect.
I truly hope that only the camera I received is a defective one. Because, Samsung's Hi8 cameras are good. The SDC 77 is the Top Of The Line camera for Samsung. A company that so much wants improve its brand image that it has chosen out of Wal-Mart stores, shouldn't put out such a bad camera.
As for me, I am returning the camera. Since, I bought it from NY by mail, while B&H gives no hassles for returning the camera, I am out of a pretty penny for shipping. I paid $17.20 for shipping in and now I have to pay for shipping it back to them, another $20.00 at least. A bad deal, indeed.
A note to all of you. Unless you are very, very sure of the camera you want, check it out and buy locally. You may pay a few dollars more but have the benefit of taking the camera to the store without incurring the high postage cost.
Additionally, their Hi8 camera SCL610 and SCL 650 have been excellent cameras costing around just $300 for a brand new camera.
I expected the same performance from the new Top of the Line
SDC 77. I ordered mine through B& H Photo for $550 (approx.) and got it a couple of days ago.
I have put it through several of my benchmark tests and found the following:
Plus:
1. Physcial features, very good. Very compact, shiny, attractive looking camera.
2. Great Special Effects, typical of Samsung. Especially, the Mirror feature is so rare, that you don't find that anymore on any other brand. If you do, please let me know.
3. That's it.
Minus:
1. Samsung's straight-forward functions have given in to Sony type of menu choices where you have to go into menu features to choose any function you may want to choose. Certainly a backward step.
2. Samething goes for the A/V output. Both Samsung and Canon ZR camcorders have/had a simple yellow pin jack on the side of the camera. Now, with SDC 77. it's just like Sony's. You have to flip open a plastic cover, an inconvenience to plug inthe A/V jack. Don't like it.
3. More importantly, the lens is really bad. This makes all the difference. Colors don't pop out. No indication on camera as to how many lux it is. I was simply told, when asked,that it is lower than one lux. May be true, but the "lower than one lux" Samsung SCL 610 has a bright picture. This one is grainy.
Also, I have noticed that when the subject moves, picture goes in and out of focus frequently. This was ok a few years ago but new technology should be far better than that.
4. Of the Special effects functions, the Make-up feature didn't work. I think it was malfunctioning because no matter what color I chose (but for the Red), it had the same effect.
I truly hope that only the camera I received is a defective one. Because, Samsung's Hi8 cameras are good. The SDC 77 is the Top Of The Line camera for Samsung. A company that so much wants improve its brand image that it has chosen out of Wal-Mart stores, shouldn't put out such a bad camera.
As for me, I am returning the camera. Since, I bought it from NY by mail, while B&H gives no hassles for returning the camera, I am out of a pretty penny for shipping. I paid $17.20 for shipping in and now I have to pay for shipping it back to them, another $20.00 at least. A bad deal, indeed.
A note to all of you. Unless you are very, very sure of the camera you want, check it out and buy locally. You may pay a few dollars more but have the benefit of taking the camera to the store without incurring the high postage cost.
