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  • Performance

  • Format

  • Tour

  • Auto/Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio/Playback/Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Comparisons/Conclusion

  • Specs/Ratings

  • Performance
  • Format
  • Tour
  • Auto/Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling and Use
  • Audio/Playback/Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Comparisons/Conclusion
  • Specs/Ratings

Performance

The Samsung SC-D365 features a 1/6" CCD with 680K gross pixels (the effective pixel count is not specified). At 3000 lux, the D365 produced a wan and grainy image with a distinct lack of sharpness. The whole thing looks soft and even a little out of focus (and this was the best part of the clip). It also had a poor range for color reproduction, which was something abundantly obvious in on-the-go footage. The camcorder had a strange and terrible predilection for giving the video a hard gradient look, similar to that of the common digital effect "Art." Color transitions that should be subtle, such as those in a beige wall, appear as a mess of only a few tones, with drastic shifts from one tone to the next. The D365 also tends to blow out whites and produced some instances of a bluish-purplish noise.

The Sony DCR-HC36, by comparison, did not look much sharper, but its colors were stronger – more vibrant and differentiated. The whites were turned down a little, which helped to make a healthier grey scale. All in all, a much better image.

The Panasonic PV-GS39 also had better colors, as does virtually every camcorder in this price range. The GS39 did produce a lot of fine grain noise, but it also captured more fine detail, and did not have the Samsung’s festively-colored noise.

To repeat what has become a mantra when discussing low-end MiniDV camcorders this year, the Canon Elura 100 far out-performed the D365. It produced an exceptionally sharp image for its price range, with excellent colors: saturated, but relatively accurate. Looking at the results of the Elura, everything seems to pop, but not in a bad way. Best of all, these benefits come with very little noise.

Video Resolution*(10.1)*

We tested the Samsung SC-D365’s video resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and running stills from that footage through Imatest imaging software. In 4:3 mode, the D365 produced 324.4 lines of horizontal resolution and 312.7 lines of vertical resolution, resulting in an approximate resolution of 101439.88. In 16:9 aspect ratio, the camcorder yielded 441.9 lines of horizontal resolution and 306.1 lines of vertical resolution, producing an approximate resolution of 135265.59.

Low Light Performance*(3.0)*

We tested the SC-D365 for its low light performance at both 60 lux and 15 lux. Low light, that tricky category, must never be overlooked, lest you end up with a completely garbled image of your 1-year old blowing out their birthday candles in a darkened room.

At 60 lux, D365 produced a surprisingly good image. Given its completely washed out colors at bright light, we expected a dreary mess. But perhaps the camcorder is just not a 3000 lux performer: at 60 lux, while it didn’t give an ideal performance, its colors certainly look better. Saturation is fairly even all around, with stronger reds than you typically see in a low-end camcorder. But, unlike some Panasonics that produce decent reds and nothing else, the Samsung shoots a nicely balanced image.

There are two big problems with the Samsung’s picture is noise. First, fine grain black noise is rampant and tends to obscure some of the fine details like subject borders and thin lines. Some of this noise is likely a result of the automatic gain boosts, which would also account for some of the good color performance. You can see the trade-offs pretty clearly with this camcorder. Secondly, the whites were shifting too far towards a reddish hue.

Perhaps as a result of the saturation, or due to a poor manual white balance (we do manually adjust the white balance for our tests), the grey scale took on some reddish hues – a rare and unsettling occurrence.

The Canon Elura 100, one of our favorites in the low-end MiniDV market, did not have quite so much color. However, the imager set produces a sharper picture than the Samsung in any light level, which helped to produce more fine detail. Generally, a sharper image is preferred over a colorful but blurry image. Noise levels are, unfortunately, about the same.

The Sony DCR-HC36 had similarly good color performance (without the whites shifting too far towards the red) and also looked heavily saturated. As with most Sonys, the blues appeared stronger than any other color. There was also some minor issue with blue noise, an unfortunate byproduct of many Sony camcorders.

Panasonic PV-GS39 produced similar colors, but its noise was not nearly as bad.

At 15 lux, the Samsung SC-D365 lost our good graces. In addition to a severely dark picture and overwhelming noise, the camcorder had trouble focusing. The picture here represents the best of the clip. The drop-off in performance that occurred between 60 lux and 15 lux is really something, and clearly demonstrates the limits of the imager’s strengths. Most of the fine detail was lost in a wash of noise, and the grayscale discoloration only got worse.

At this light level, the Canon Elura 100 showed its ace card. While its 60 lux performance was modest (at best), the 15 lux performance is excellent, no doubt indebted to its large CCD. Colors are relatively strong, and the camcorder manages to retain excellent sharpness.

The Sony DCR-HC36 is significantly brighter than the Samsung, despite having the same size imager. If this is due to a higher gain, than the Sony must also possess a better noise suppression system to counteract the gain’s undesirable byproducts. Color strength is slightly duller than the Samsung, but the picture is much better overall.

The Panasonic PV-GS39, once again, did not look all that different from the Samsung. It did not have the red noise, though.

The Samsung D365 offers a special night mode, Color Nite, which advertises itself as a slower shutter speed – either 1/30 or 1/15 of a second. This is almost certainly a digital process which mimics a slower shutter speed and detracts from image quality. We tested it to be sure we could recommend against Color Nite’s use in all but the most extreme shooting circumstances. The results below help to confirm our suspicions.

Wide Angle* (9.0)*

We took Wide Angle measurements of the SC-D365 in both 4:3 and 16:9 modes. In 4:3 mode, this model’s wide angle measured 45 degrees; in widescreen mode (16:9), it measured 56. This dramatic increase in wide angle is one of the benefits of shooting with the Samsung.

 

Format

Compression* (8.0)*

The SC-D365 captures video in standard DV compression, which offers the highest video quality of any compression in the consumer video realm. The main competitor is DVD, which compresses in MPEG2, which has a much higher compression rate (9Mbps vs. MiniDV’s 25Mbps).

Media* (8.0)*

The SC-D365 uses 8.35mm MiniDV cassettes, which can be purchased almost anywhere that sells blank tapes and CDs. MiniDV tapes are inexpensive, abundant, and great for archival. The downside is that you must capture footage in realtime in order to edit it on a computer. DVD, flash memory, and internal hard drive camcorders offer the ability to transfer data at faster rates (though the video will almost always be of a lower quality).

Editing* (8.0)*

The Samsung SC-D365 uses MiniDV cassettes, which means near-universal compatibility with any editing software. This is a huge advantage over DVD, which can prove to be extremely finicky when importing. Different manufacturers use different file types, none of which are very easy to work with. This is improving over time, but for now, MiniDV has the advantage.

The camcorder ships with two discs full of software: DV Media Pro 1.0 and Ulead Video Suite SE DVD v9.0. The latter contains all of the video editing software, including two distinct programs: Movie Wizard for beginners and Video Studio Editor for more experienced users. Even the advanced program cannot compare to software like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro, but people just looking to make a greatest hits compilation of their puppy’s Frisbee catches should be satisfied.

 

Tour

**The Front ***(7.5)*

The Samsung SC-D365 is not a svelte camcorder, but outer beauty should be a low priority in a camcorder purchase. From the front, the F1.6 Samsung Lens on top of the camcorder, which has a 33x optical zoom and 27mm filter diameter, is somewhat less prominent than lenses on similar models. Below the lens is an LED light that aids with illumination in Color Night mode. Just below the LED, near the camcorder’s base, is the stereo microphone, and to the left of the mic is the tape eject switch. Many users will find this front-end placement odd, but it is an outgrowth of the fact that the tape compartment is (inconveniently) bottom-loading.

**The Right Side ***(6.0)*

The right side of the Samsung SC-D365 is composed of a hard, dark grey plastic, in contrast to the silver-grey plastic of the camcorder’s left side. This bisected design is a convention shared by other manufacturers, notably Sony, and gives this Samsung a familiar appearance. A large oblong port cover dominates the top of the right side and houses a microphone jack (kudos to Samsung for providing this useful jack), Firewire (DV), USB and A/V ports. The cover and the plastic connecting it to the body are sturdy, but the cover does not fit tightly. While this is a small detail, an ill-fitting port cover could open accidentally and snag on cables or objects in a bag.

Below and to the left of the port cover is the Mode/On/Off Dial which is again reminiscent of Sony’s Mode Dial design and provides three settings: Off, Camera and Player (VCR) mode. A nicely padded hand strap extends from front to back along the lower half of the SC-D365’s right side, and looks very much like Sony’s HC series strap. (Is there a pattern developing here…?) The strap is affixed to the body by a velcro enclosure which can be quickly adjusted, and tilts down towards the camcorder’s front. This tilt provides a good shooting position and index finger placement over the zoom toggle.

One fatal flaw about the right side’s arrangement becomes clear when holding the SC-D365. The entire port cover – including the microphone jack – is directly beneath your fingers when grasping this camcorder. Using an external mic while holding this camcorder requires opening the port cover and slipping the mic cable into the jack between your index and middle fingers. While the jack itself is a much appreciated addition, its placement is just ridiculous.

**The Back ***(7.0)*

An extendable color viewfinder, which produces a noisy, dull-looking video image, caps the DC365’s back. The hard plastic viewfinder has a diopter adjustment on its right side, which is only capable of sharp focus when the viewfinder is fully extended, slightly limiting its versatility. Just to the right of the viewfinder is a useful Quick Menu button – which calls up only the camcorder adjustment menu – and a larger Menu button which accesses all menu functions. Below the menu buttons is the Rec/Start/Stop button, marked by a vertical red strip. Directly beneath the Rec button is a port cover that protects the DC in port; below it is a small green Charge indicator light. The Samsung SC-D365 battery occupies the left side of the camcorder back, below the viewfinder. The battery release is on the camcorder’s underside, making it impossible to swap batteries while the camcorder is mounted on a tripod – something that will irk anyone who shoots with a tripod and uses more than one battery.

**The Left Side ***(6.0)*

The LCD screen and many of the SC-D365’s function buttons reside on the camcorder’s left side. About 1/3 of the way down the side is a strip of buttons that includes Easy Q (Easy Mode) and standard VCR controls that do double duty: Reverse and Fast-Forward are also Rec Search and Manual Focus toggles in Camera Mode; Play/Pause enables Fade in Camera Mode and Slide Show; and Stop activates Manual Focus in Camera Mode. The placement of an external Fade button is welcome, but we would have chosen an image quality adjustment like white balance in its place.

Buttons for LCD Display On/Off, Macro/Playback zoom, and Color Night Mode/Video Light are inside the LCD cavity near the back of the camcorder. Below these three buttons is the on-board speaker used during playback. A Memory/Tape toggle switch under the speaker enables fast recording format selection.

The 2.7" LCD screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio, but, despite the 230K pixel count, it suffers from the same noise problems as the viewfinder. It opens to 90 degrees from the camcorder body, rotates through 270 degrees, and can fold against the camcorder with the LCD screen facing out.

The Top* (6.0)*

The top of the Samsung SC-D365 features only two controls. The zoom toggle resembles Sony’s HC series design, with slightly raised ridges, and is located where the index finger falls naturally. Unfortunately, the Samsung zoom toggle is not sensitive, due to an over-robust spring mechanism that makes fine adjustments difficult. Just behind the Zoom toggle is the Photo button, which also serves as the OK (Select) button when navigating menu options.





 

 

 

 

Auto/Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (3.0)

The Samsung SC-D365 has a limited automatic control suite – it’s certainly nothing to match a Sony, and it lacks even some of the functions that you’d find on camcorders from almost any other manufacturer.

It does offer the bare minimum automatic controls: white balance, exposure, focus, and shutter speed. The D365 tries to make operation easy for beginners by putting an "Easy Q" button on the upper left side of the body. This leaves you with nothing to do but point and shoot. Easy Q mode disables the menu as an "idiot proof" measure.

The Easy Q mode button, located above the LCD cavity

Control quality is notably poor. Exposure shifts are quick and ugly. As mentioned in the Video Performance sections, the number of colors the D365 can produce seems severely limited, and creates exaggerated shadows and weird transitions in flat surfaces. Focus control was also bad, with a tendency to breathe (bounce in and out of focus in a steady pattern).

The camcorder does offer some Program AE modes, one-touch settings optimized for certain shooting conditions where full auto mode might not suffice. The Program AE modes include: Auto, Sports, Portrait, Spotlight, Sand/Snow, and High Speed (best for sporting events).

Overall Manual Control (6.0)

The manual controls on the SC-D365 are very easy to access and navigate through, which is one of the best things we can say about this camcorder. There are two menus: 1) a full menu, accessed by the Menu button, and 2) a Quick Menu, accessed by (you guessed it) the Quick Menu button. Users can maneuver through the menu with the zoom toggle and shutter button: a rarely used but intuitive design. Unfortunately, one-handed operation is not possible, as the large record on/off button blocks menu buttons from the thumb.

The main menu has nearly all the camcorder controls, including the date, time, and language controls and most of the manual controls concerning image quality. It is broken up into four sub-menus, as seen in the images here.

The Quick Menu contains only those options pertaining to image quality, and includes options you do not find in the main menu. They include: image stabilization, Program AE, 16:9 on/off, white balance, shutter speed, exposure, and backlight compensation on/off. This is a great control, with excellent control and clear interface. Most manufacturers rely on confusing icons in order to save space. Samsung spells everything out in plain English, and we love it.

Manual focus is linked to a separate button, which doubles as the Stop button for VCR control. This is a poor control compared to the others: you use the Rewind and Fast Forward buttons, rather than the zoom toggle, to make adjustments. However, the Samsung does present you with a scale that lets you know where in the focus range you are. This is far more than most consumer camcorders give you.

Zoom (7.0)

The SC-D365 has a decent zoom toggle that’s better than average for a lower-end camcorder. It’s well-placed – my index finger naturally rested right over it. It’s also slightly raised from the camcorder body, and has three ridges that afford a secure finger grip – a good thing, since the toggle spring offers quite a bit of resistance. In the office, we are split on whether the toggle’s spring afforded better zoom control than the less resistant spring found on Sony camcorders: in the end, it’s a matter of personal preference. In any case, the toggle performed well, providing two to three reliable zoom speeds depending on pressure.

Zoom Power/Ratio (33.0)

The SC-D365 boasts a very powerful 33x optical zoom, which slightly bests the 32x optical zoom on JVC’s GZ-MG37 and GR-D350 camcorders: in this regard, the Samsung is king of the hill. However, the D365’s poor image quality detracts from this advantage. If the most important criterion for you is a powerful optical zoom – as could be the case for bird watchers and voyeurs – JVC’s camcorders are a better choice because they produce a sharper video image. The SC-D365 also offers a digital zoom option, which can be capped at 100x, 200x, 400x, or 1200x. This is an unusually large number of choices, but above about 64x, or twice the maximum optical zoom, image quality will deteriorate very rapidly due to electronic interpolation of the image information.

The zoom toggle works quite well and seems to have been designed following Sony’s cues. It is nicely angled and allows for multiple zoom speeds. In addition, this is a comfortable camcorder to hold, and the zoom toggle is well-placed under the index finger.

Focus (6.5)

The Samsung SC-D365 does provide a manual focus capability which, unlike many consumer camcorders, is an external button. This is much better than Sony’s touch screen focus in terms of ease-of-use but it's a far cry from a focus ring. Pressing the MA/AF button on the camcorder’s left side brings up a scale in the right side of the LCD screen that visually indicates your focus level. The +/- buttons for adjusting focus are easy to use, and located forward of the MF/AF button. All three of the buttons double as VCR controls: the MF/AF is the Stop button, while the +/- buttons control Reverse and Fast-Forward.

Despite the fact that the focus scale is nothing more than a visual representation of your focal point, it’s not available on Sony, Canon or Panasonic consumer camcorders and is can be quite useful. If you want to do a rack focus, where you gradually move the frame’s focal point from one point to another, such a scale provides a useful visual aid, allowing you to practice the rack and then memorize your stop point on the scale. With a 33x optical zoom, the SC-D365 has unusual rack focus potential, so Samsung deserves kudos for this thoughtful addition.

With external controls and a focus scale, the SC-D365 certainly bests most of its competition when it comes to manual focus. For now, this is one of this camcorder’s strong points, and we hope Samsung implements improvements in other areas to make its next iteration a more desirable device.

Exposure (Aperture) (4.0)

Making manual exposure adjustments on the SC-D365 is easier than in many consumer camcorders, which bury this important feature deep within a baroque menu structure. While external exposure buttons are optimal in terms of accessibility, consumer camcorders lack the surface area of prosumer camcorders. The D365 allows users to reach exposure settings by pressing the Quick Menu button, scrolling to exposure settings and pressing OK. This brings up a scale at the bottom of the LCD screen, and the zoom toggle again shifts between settings. This EV (Exposure Value) scale ranges from 00 to 29 in whole number increments, offering 30 steps that are analogous to moving from a nearly closed shutter to a wide open shutter. While there is no means for gauging f-stop equivalencies for this EV scale, it does provide a relatively efficient and effective means of adjusting exposure.

*Shutter Speed (3.0) *

The SC-D365 includes a wide range of shutter speed adjustments, which are easy to access from the Quick Menu. Once in the quick menu, the zoom toggle moves through shutter speed settings which include 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000, 1/10000. The shutter speed range is very good, and access to this adjustment via the quick menu makes it more user-friendly than it is on many camcorders that hide manual adjustments deep in the menu. The SC-D365 does not offer any slow shutter speed settings.

White Balance (7.0)

White balance manual adjustment appears in both the Quick Menu and the Full Menu. There are settings for Auto, Indoor (no differentiation between fluorescent, tungsten or incandescent light), Outdoor (no difference between sun and overcast), and Custom WB. Setting a custom white balance is not is simple as it is on some camcorders, because you must press the OK button twice – once to select Custom, and a second time to set it. We tried simply holding the OK button on the Custom selection, because it was not immediately clear that setting a custom white balance was a two-press process. It’s not terribly confidence-inspiring: the SC-D365 lacks a flashing WB indicator, which makes it tough to determine whether or not you have used the setting properly. Instead, you have to look closely at the LCD and watch for a subtle color change,  which is your only indication that a custom white balance has been set. It works, but some visual assistance would help.

Gain (0.0)

There is no manual gain control on the Samsung SC-D365. Panasonics are the only consumer models to offer that option.

Other Manual Control (0.0)

The Samsung SC-D365 offers no other manual control.

 

 

Still Features

Still Features* (3.75)*

The Samsung SC-D365 captures stills to MiniDV tape and three card types: MemoryStick, MMC, and SD cards. A Tape/Memory switch in the LCD cavity switches between MiniDV or card media for still capture or playback.

The use of MemoryStick here seems outdated and unwise. Sony has shifted most of their card-reading technology to the smaller MemoryStick Duo cards, while Samsung is left supporting a dying card. Trying to use MemoryStick Duo in the Samsung will also require a pair of needle-nose pliers.

The camcorder only captures to one still size – 800 x 600 – in three qualities: Super Fine, Fine, and Normal. Unlike most camcorders, the manual control set in video mode does not carry over wholesale to still mode. Many of the controls vanish, leaving you with only exposure, white balance, focus, and backlight compensation. The camcorder does have PictBridge compatibility with certain printers, for direct printing without a computer.

Still Resolution* (0.7)*

We tested the Samsung SC-D365 for still resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart. In total, the camcorder produced an approximate resolution of 66692.43.

The chart below shows how this poor performance fared against the competition.

Still Performance* (1.75)*

The SC-D365’s lone still size, 800 x 600, makes it clear that Samsung did not attempt to make this camcorder a competitor for a dedicated still camera. That’s fortunate, as the D365 produced appalling stills. Even at a bright light of 3000 lux, it could barely manufacture even mediocre color. It’s rather remarkable how dull and lackluster this image is. The picture also lacks in sharpness - the entire thing seems veiled by some color-sucking soft focus filter.

By comparison, almost any other camcorder in the D365’s class appears favorable. The Sony DCR-HC36, which we blasted for poor still performance, has a far more vivid, detailed, and in-focus picture. One thing we can say for the Samsung, though – it produced less noise than the Sony.

The Canon Elura 100 looks, by comparison, to be a marvel of photographic technology. The colors are rather dull, but far, far more vivid than the Samsung’s. There is some very fine grain noise, but not enough to consider it much of a distraction.

Panasonic PV-GS39 is an excessively noisy picture, but the colors are much stronger. No, they don’t look good compared to those of a dedicated still camera, but they sure look better than the Samsung.

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (6.0)*

In terms of overall ease of use, the Samsung SC-D365 does some things very well, but it doesn't have the refinement of a Panasonic, Canon or Sony. One strong point is the menu, which makes use of the zoom toggle as the main navigation tool, and the Photo button, which doubles as the OK/Enter button in Menu mode. Because the zoom toggle and OK button are adjacent, navigating through the menu while holding the SC-D365 is fast and easy.

One of our favorite features of this camcorder is its Quick Menu, which serves as a "greatest hits" playlist for the SC-D365’s manual control capabilities. The Quick Menu button provides one-touch access to all the camcorder’s manual control options: White balance, shutter speed, exposure, BLC, and Program AE. This means manual controls are consolidated in one place and much easier to access than those on other lower-end consumer camcorders. It’s almost as though Samsung believes users will want to make manual adjustments, and has taken this into account, something that will make this camcorder attractive to shooters who like to have a say over their image quality. The only thing about the Quick Menu that’s not quick is its location: above and to the right of the Record button and beyond the Menu button. This means it would be very difficult to enter the Quick Menu while shooting one-handed, a situation for which it seems custom made. Switching the Quick Menu and Menu button locations would place manual controls in easier reach of the thumb during one-handed shooting and make this good feature better.

The VCR controls on the camcorder’s left side double as the Manual Focus interface – Stop enables manual focus, and the FF/Rew buttons make focal adjustments. While using MF on the fly is not easy, it’s much more accessible than on competing camcorders which practically force you to stop recording to focus manually.

While access to manual controls is excellent, and they are not difficult to use, the Samsung SC-D365 does not excel in Auto mode. Yes, it’s very easy to enter auto, thanks to the well-labeled Easy-Q button on the camcorder’s left side – but the camcorder just under-performs when it’s thinking for itself. Focus and exposure do not snap into accuracy quickly, and Auto mode denies the user menu access. IIt's possible to use auto mode as long as your shooting environment is not demanding in terms of contrast, light or movement, but most camcorders are better in this regard.

All in all, the SC-D365 offers great access to manual controls: only Panasonic camcorders can match it.  Auto mode is also very easy to enter, but it limits control to the zoom toggle, and its shoddy performance takes away from the generally excellent usability. If Auto controls improve, the Samsung SC-D365 will be a very solid competitor, but until then it’s a mixed bag.

Handling* (5.0)*

The D365’s handling is truly mixed. The camcorder’s tall left side offers a good grip for all but the smallest hands and a wide, comfortable hand strap. But the ports are also placed here, hidden behind a cheap rubber cover. If any of these ports were stuffed with wires, holding the camcorder would be substantially more difficult.

The camcorder has a lot small handling issues that, bit by bit, chip away at what could have been a decent performance. A terrible LCD makes it difficult to determine exposure. There is seemingly no way to prevent the camcorder automatically shutting off after a few minutes. The buttons in the LCD cavity, for Color Nite mode and other functions, are too small. It’s difficult to remove or replace the battery. All of these problems add up and give the impression that the design was not completely thought out.

Of course, these detriments are mitigated by a very good menu system, which is detailed in the Manual Control section above.

Portability* (7.5)*

The D365 is a tall, slender camcorder – 93 x 105 x 53mm (3.62" x 4.63" x 2.52") and 350g (0.9 lbs). With these dimensions, it is not heavy or large: it would not fit in a pocket, but you could probably cram it into a purse or small bag. As do most low-end camcorders, however, it feels cheap.

LCD/Viewfinder* (5.0)*

For a company that is aggressively pushing into digital imaging, Samsung hasn’t presented itself well when it comes to the LCD screen and viewfinder on the SC-D365, both of which produce poor quality images. The LCD measures 2.7", displays 112K pixels, and has both 16:9 and 4:3 display capabilities, but the image quality is noticeably worse than we have come to expect. While the pixel count matches that on

other camcorders, the screen seems to have a lower resolution than other 112K pixel screens, renders color inaccurately, and pixelates badly when tipped at an angle. On a small positive note, the LCD hinge is more robust than some on the market, and should hold up relatively well. The color electronic viewfinder is no better than the LCD in terms of image quality, and barely extends out far enough to use without bumping one’s cheekbone into the battery. Of all the areas that Samsung needs to improve the SC-D365, the LCD and viewfinder are among the most crucial. On this year’s model, you simply can’t trust them.

Battery Life* (8.1)*

We tested the included SB-LSM80 battery for endurance by continuously shooting in SP mode, with the camcorder in Easy mode, the aspect ratio at 4:3, the image stabilization on, and the LCD open. When the tape needed changing, we removed the battery, plugged in the DC power, changed tapes, put the battery back in, and began recording again. In total, the battery lasted 81 minutes and 54 seconds (1 hour, 21 minutes, and 54 seconds). The results slightly exceed the manual’s estimate of 80 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Audio/Playback/Connectivity

Audio* (6.0)*

A external mic jack on the Samsung SC-D365’s right side sets this camcorder apart from most others in its price range. Among those mentioned in this article, only the Canon Elura 100 features the ability to accommodate external microphones (the entry level Canon ZR500 also has a mic jack, but the ZR600 and ZR700 do not). The external mic jack opens up a multitude of options for videographers who want to drastically improve the quality of their recorded sound. Onboard microphones are small, omni-directional, do not accommodate windscreens, and are often positioned far from the sound source being recorded. External mics can be placed near a sound source and, if used properly, will produce sound that is far superior to an onboard mic.

While Samsung deserves recognition for including a mic jack, its placement is ill-conceived: it lies on the right side of the camcorder in precisely the place a user’s fingers fall during hand-held use. It is possible to grip the SC-D365 with a mic plugged in by positioning it between the middle and index fingers, but it’s hard to imagine a more inappropriate location for this jack.

The SC-D365 offers several other audio features. Real Stereo is a Samsung feature that "enhances" the left and right channels of the onboard mic digitally to give the impression of a larger differential between them. Wind Cut Plus reduces the buffeting effects of wind on the onboard mic.

VCR Mode* (6.5)*

This camcorder’s VCR playback interface could not be more user-friendly: it consists entirely of large, clearly labeled external buttons (albeit located within the LCD cavity). Playback functions just as you’d expect, with the four common controls for Rewind, Fast-forward, Play/Pause, and Stop. The SC-D365 does take a long time to switch from Camera mode to Player mode, which can be an annoyance if you are in a hurry to review your footage or need to resume shooting quickly.

This camcorder provides a playback zoom feature, accessed via the Playback Zoom button in the LCD cavity. Pushing this button during playback engages the zoom toggle, which can be used to enlarge the image from 1.2x to 8x on the LCD screen. When not in Playback Zoom mode, the zoom toggle can adjust the volume during playback.

Ports* (7.75)*

The SC-D365 has ports for Mic, DV, USB, AV/S-Video (output only), and an SD card slot, located on the right side, back and underside of the camcorder body. The input-output ports for external microphone, DV, USB, and AV/S-Video are all located in a horizontal cavity on the camcorder’s upper right side. A hard plastic cover protects the ports and fits well, but is connected to the camcorder by a single plastic hinge that doesn’t seem robust enough to withstand a strong tug. The placement of these ports on the right side of the camcorder seriously limits mic use during handheld shooting. Samsung simply needs to go the extra mile and locate this port more sensibly.

The SC-D365’s DC port is on the back of the camcorder to the right of the battery. This port suits its purpose well, but could get in the way of handheld use when plugged directly into a wall socket. The SD card slot is inconveniently located on the camcorder’s underside, so it is impossible to swap a card out while the camcorder is mounted on a tripod. This may seem an insignificant gripe, but the 30 seconds it takes to un-mount the camcorder, swap the card, and replace the D365 on a tripod head could be vital. We always prefer that ports be accessible at all times, and on this count the SC-D365 fails to come through.

 

 

Other Features

Widescreen/16:9 Mode* (8.25)*

The Samsung SC-D365 widescreen mode enables video recording in true 16:9, so there is information loss from the top and bottom of the video image. The only other camcorder mentioned in this article that shares true widescreen is the Panasonic PV-GS39. The Sony HC36 simply crops the top and bottom from the 4:3 frame to achieve a wide screen look, while Canon’s Elura 100 does slightly better with a "crop and zoom" wide screen, which widens the frame slightly while cropping the top and bottom.

Scan Rates/24p* (0.0)*

There are no scan rates other than the native 60i.

Other Features* (4.0)*
Digital Effects - The Samsung SC-D365 features a number of visual effects similar to those found on other consumer camcorders, including Art, Mosaic, Sepia, Negative, and Mirror. These effects will only be useful to users who intend to edit their video in-camcorder, a group of users that is dwindling as computer-based editing sees wider adoption.

*WindCut Plus *- Wind Cut Plus is Samsung’s branded version of a wind cut filter, used to ameliorate wind noise on the external microphone. This is a digital effect and works reasonably well in a light breeze – however, in stronger winds, you’d be advised to make use of an external mic with a physical windscreen.

Color Nite - Color Nite mode is the SC-D365’s version of a slow shutter mode. Users can access it with an external button in the LCD cavity. Color Nite has three settings that can be toggled by pressing the button more than once: 1/30, 1/15, and 1/15 with video light for zero lux recording situations.

Telemacro - A final extra feature, common to many other camcorders, is Telemacro, which mimics a telephoto lens. The Telemacro button, in the LCD cavity, also engages the playback zoom function.

 

 

Comparisons/Conclusion

Comparison
Sony DCR-HC36
The Samsung SC-D365 has plenty of flaws, but in a few areas it shines. The Sony DCR-HC36 is in the lower tier of the popular HC line and is very easy to use, but isn’t a compelling buy. So which $400 camcorder is better? The primary attributes the Samsung has going for it are great access to manual controls and the external mic jack. Accessing manual controls on the Sony is an exercise in frustration, since they are hidden deep in the camcorder’s touch screen menu structure, and difficult to use, and the camcorder lacks a mic jack altogether. In addition, the Sony is not capable of true widescreen, instead utilizing crop and zoom to achieve a widescreen effect. However, the HC36 records better video than Samsung, has a better LCD and Viewfinder, and handles better. The Sony wins by a nose.

Panasonic PV-GS39
The only area where the SC-D365 can best the Panasonic PV-GS39 is that it has a mic jack. In the other areas in which the Samsung does well – easily accessed manual controls and true widescreen – the Panasonic is at least comparable. In terms of its overall manual control feature set and just about every other measure, from video and stills to handling and Auto mode performance, the PV-GS39 comes out on top. These benefits, in combination with an MSRP $50 lower than the $400 Samsung, make the PV-GS39 a better purchase.

JVC GR-D396

The Samsung SC-D365 and the JVC GR-D395 make a very interesting comparison. They share many features, such as light for illuminating dark shooting environments, each has a powerful optical zoom, and both share a prominent Easy/Auto button that jumps into full auto mode. They also both suffer from poor video performance, though the JVC comes out on top on that count, and a confounding mix of good and bad design. The Samsung has a great Quick Menu that makes manual controls very accessible and likely to be used, while the JVC has the industry’s best battery life monitor. Overall, the Samsung shows more promise, with better manual controls and a mic jack, but the Samsung’s poorer video quality evens out this match-up. The JVC’s MSRP is $20 lower than the Samsung, but street prices for the Samsung should be similar, so we call this comparison a draw.

Canon Elura 100
Even though they share initial retail prices of $400 and many features, the Canon Elura 100 and the Samsung SC-D365 provide starkly different packages. The Canon is refined and capable, while the Samsung is truly a mixed bag, combining strengths (such as the Quick Menu) with serious shortcomings (video performance, LCD/Viewfinder, microphone port placement. The Canon has only a 20x optical zoom, compared to 33x for the Samsung, but the Canon’s video performance more than makes up for this, thanks to larger 1/5" CCD imager. Both camcorders have 2.7" LCD widescreen displays, but the Elura’s produces a much sharper image. They also both support SD memory, but the Canon’s slot is always accessible, while the Samsung’s is located on the camcorder’s underside. In terms of handling, features, and elegance, the Canon trounces the Samsung and just about every other camcorder in its class.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters *(6.0)*

Point and shooters should have no problem operating the SC-D365, but can find cheaper camcorders with much better video quality, like the Canon Elura 100.

Budget Consumers* (6.0)*

At $400, the SC-D365 is a certainly not expensive. The real question, though, is whether this is the best camcorder at this price. The answer is a resounding "no." Nearly every other camcorder in its price range has better features, better video quality, or both.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid* (1.0)*

Limited to poor quality 800 x 600 stills, the D365 is hardly a competitor for a dedicated still camera.

Gadget Freaks* (1.5)*

There is no gadgetry or new technology to speak of on the SC-D365, except for the fact that it can use SD, MMC, and MemoryStick Duo cards for still capture.

Manual Control Freaks* (5.0)*

The manual control set on the Samsung D365 is actually pretty good, and the Quick Menu allows for fast and intuitive access.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists* (1.0)*

No serious hobbyist would be interested in this camcorder.

Conclusion

On the surface, the SC-D365 seems an attractive offer. With multiple card compatibility, solid manual control, a mic input, and most importantly, a low price tag, what’s not to like? Well, it turns out there’s a fair amount. The video performance is terrible, really terrible. The stills are just as bad. We can dismiss the Samsung for those two reasons alone. After all, a camcorder really doesn’t have to do anything well but capture an image. But the list goes on: the body feels cheap; the ports are poorly placed; and the automatic controls, particularly the focus, function inadequately; it all adds up to a bad deal.

The competition, on the other hand, shines. The Sony HC36 has better handling, ease of use, and video performance. The Panasonic offers a little more manual control and a sharper looking image. The Canon Elura 100 trumps them all with beautiful video and more features, including AV-input--and does so for exactly the same price. Our conclusion: the Samsung simply cannot compete.

 

 

 

Specs/Ratings

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Meet the tester

David Kender

David Kender

Editor in Chief

@davekender

David Kender oversees content at Reviewed as the Editor in Chief. He served as managing editor and editor in chief of Reviewed's ancestor, CamcorderInfo.com, helping to grow the company from a tiny staff to one of the most influential online review resources. In his time at Reviewed, David has helped to launch over 100 product categories and written too many articles to count.

See all of David Kender's reviews

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