Samsung HMX-R10 Camcorder Review

With the HMX-R10, Samsung has created a compact HD camcorder that doesn't follow the conventional design for a consumer camcorder. The R10 records full HD video to SD/SDHC memory cards, has a 9-megapixel still photo capability, and offers a tilted lens design that makes for a completely unique handling experience. It's a mid-range camcorder with a reasonable MSRP of just under $500, but it can be found for around $400 if you shop around.

The most prominent feature of the HMX-R10 is its unique body design, which doesn't resemble a typical camcorder. There's no hand strap on the right side, and its lens is tilted upward rather than pointing straight ahead. This tilt to the lens means you hold the R10 about 25 degrees lower than whatever you're filming. That means that the most comfortable way to hold the R10 is like a flashlight, with your palm resting on the top of the camcorder and your fingers wrapped underneath. You can hold the HMX-R10 more like a traditional camcorder too, but it isn't that comfortable—and the lack of hand strap means you won't get a very good grip.

The HMX-R10 is definitely one of those camcorders that you should try out before you make a purchase. Its design is so unique that many people won't even understand how they should be holding it until they've actually played around with it for a while. Traditional camcorder users will probably not like the R10's design, but new camcorder owners may be intrigued.

Despite its unique design, the HMX-R10 functions much like a regular camcorder. It has separate photo and video modes and it boasts a good set of manual controls in each setting. The menu system is organized well enough and the camcorder uses a touchscreen LCD for setting controls and selecting menu options. We sometimes found the touchscreen a bit annoying to work with—particularly since there are a lot of features on the camcorder—but it really wasn't any more or less frustrating than the touchscreen interfaces on Sony or Panasonic cams.

This is an excellent camcorder for beginners; that fact is punctuated by the R10's sleek design and sparse button implementation. The Easy Q mode offers a fully automated shooting experience, and it even blocks you from fiddling with any of the camcorder's manual controls or settings. While the R10 did feel quite sturdy when we used it, the body scratched easily and no protective lens cap is included.

Performance (read in-depth lab performance at CamcorderInfo.com)
The HMX-R10 didn't produce top-notch performance in our battery of tests, but it did put up decent numbers in most of our testing categories. It specifically struggled with low light sensitivity, which means you shouldn't purchase the camcorder if you're planning on doing lots of shooting in the dark.

As for the R10's touted still image capabilities? Well, we found the camcorder to be a reliable device for taking photos. Its photos weren't nearly as good as what a regular digital camera can offer, but it did better than most HD camcorders.

Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at CamcorderInfo.com)
It's difficult to classify the HMX-R10 as a specific type of camcorder, but there are a number of models that make for good comparisons. The JVC GZ-X900 is a high-end model from JVC that offers similar still image specs to the Samsung R10 and also features a unique body design. The X900 did a much better job than the R10 in our video sharpness and motion testing, but it was worse in low light and its still photo results weren't as strong. The GZ-X900 also costs roughly double that of the Samsung HMX-R10, which puts it in an entirely different league for consumers.

The HMX-R10 stands up rather well against the set of traditional mid-range models from other manufacturers, although the $800 Canon HF20 takes the cake when it comes to performance. Models like the Panasonic HDC-SD20 performed very similarly to the Samsung HMX-R10 in most of our tests, but the R10's problems with low light sensitivity were a consistently glaring weakness.

The main thing to consider about the HMX-R10 is its design. If you're looking for something quirky and new, or you simply don't like what traditional camcorders have to offer, then by all means you should check out the HMX-R10. If, however, you prefer the traditional design of consumer camcorders, then you should probably stick with the mid-range models from Sony, Panasonic, JVC, or Canon.

For a more in-depth review, visit the Samsung HMX-R10 Review at our partner CamcorderInfo.com