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  • Introduction

  • Audio

  • Compression & Media

  • Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling & Use

  • Playback & Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Introduction
  • Audio
  • Compression & Media
  • Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling & Use
  • Playback & Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Introduction

Audio

The Samsung HMX-R10 has a paltry offering in the audio department. There's a stereo microphone on the bottom of the camcorder, but no headphone or microphone jacks. The R10 doesn't offer a zoom mic or focus feature, but it does allow you a tiny amount of microphone control—the user can set the mic level to high, medium, or low. This is a  miniscule step up from the HMX20, though that model at least carries a mini-microphone input. Lastly, Samsung tacks on a Wind Cut feature, though it won't do you much good in even a gentle breeze, let alone strong winds.

Compression & Media

Compression

The Samsung HMX-R10 compresses video in the same file format as last year's Samsung SC-HMX20: H.264 (MPEG-4.AVC). This is similar but not identical to the AVCHD codec favored by Panasonic, Sony, Canon, and JVC—everyone else, in other words. AVCHD uses H.264 (MPEG-4.AVC), but adds other features that may or may not benefit the consumer.

Available quality settings depend on your choice of shooting mode. You can choose from either SuperFine or Normal when shooting in 1920 x 1080 at 60i. All the other modes have just one quality setting, but you still have lots of choices: high definition in 1920 x 1080 at 30p or 1280 x 720 at 60p, and standard definition in 720 x 480 at 60p or 640 x 480 at 30p (web & mobile).

Media

The HMX-R10 records exclusively to a single SD/SDHC memory card.

Editing

With most of today's high definition video, you'll find sporadic support for the files. Fortunately, the R10 does ship with built-in software—though the software is only compatible with Windows. We haven't been able to see the software firsthand, but will give a more complete report once the R10 makes its way through our labs. We expect that Samsung will provide a decent offering, since the CyberLink DVD Suite on the SC-HMX20 was a fairly satisfactory piece of editing software.

Manual Controls

Auto Mode

The Samsung HMX-R10 does offer an auto mode, but there are no special features that come along with it. You can simply shoot with or without manual image adjustments available. Like most of today's camcorders, the R10 has a face detection feature for use in either video or still mode.

Low Light Modes

The HMX-R10 has a Super C.Nite mode. Off, normal, and super. On last year's models, this mode brightened the image a bit, but also led to extreme oversaturation.

Scene Modes

Like most camcorders, the HMX-R10 comes with a variety of scene modes: Auto, Night, Sports, Portrait, Spotlight, Beach, Food, and Candlelight.

Zoom

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The new zoom toggle on the R10 is a big improvement over last year's flimsy toggle on the HMX20 and SC-MX20. On those models, the toggle was awkwardly positioned under the middle finger for most users. The new ergonomic design puts the zoom toggle right next to the Record button, which rests easily under your thumb.

We're not accustomed to operating a zoom with the thumb, but at least it offers more dexterity and control than the middle finger. Since we weren't operating a final model, it still remains to be seen whether Samsung has given the user a multi-variable speed zoom. We look forward to seeing whether this toggle will be up to the task of careful zoom control.

Zoom Ratio

The HMX-R10 is the first of Samsung's camcorders to use their new Intelli-Zoom technology. This means that the true optical zoom is just 5x optical, but the Intelli-Zoom allows you to achieve an 8x zoom without sacrificing image quality. Canon introduced the technology last year, and we expect to see it on more models in the future.

Focus

There are three methods of focus on the HMX-R10—the same three methods featured on the SC-HMX20. As always, you can rely on the automatic focus, which usually fares quite well. You can do a manual focus by using a touch screen scale (see below). Finally, you can use Samsung's TouchPoint system, which lets you just touch the object you want in focus and the camcorder will automatically focus on that object. None of these systems are as good as a manual focus that lets you use a joystick or lens ring to achieve the perfect focus.

The focus scale on last year's SC-HMX20.

Exposure

As with last year's models, Samsung offers a simple exposure control to make brightness adjustment simple for all users. The EV scale ranges from: -2.0, -1.6, -1.3, -1.0, -0.6, -0.3, 0, 0.3, 0.6, 1.0, 1.3, 1.6, and 2.0. The HMX-R10 also has a Backlight Compensation feature.

Aperture

Aperture control is a new addition to this year's Samsungs—a welcome arrival for manual control enthusiasts that might have missed the feature on the SC-HMX20. Aperture is controlled in the touch screen menus. Options include: f/3.5, f/4.0, f/4.5, f/5.0, f/5.6, f/6.3, f/7, f/8.0, f/9.0, f/10.0, f/11.2, f/12.6, f/14, and f/16.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed controls are identical to last year's models, offering a decent range of options: 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000, 1/10000.

White Balance

White balance can be adjusted either via the quick menu or the regular administrative menu. Options include: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent, Tungsten, and Custom. This is a good wide range of options for a camcorder (and the same range that was found on last year's Samsungs).

Gain

Panasonic is the only manufacturer of consumer camcorders to offer a manual gain control. On the R10, you'll have to stick with aperture, shutter, and exposure for controlling the light level within a shot.

Other Manual Controls

The HMX-R10 isn't an amazing camcorder for manual controls, but it should offer enough to keep most advanced users happy. In addition to the options mentioned above, there are a couple other features included:

Still Features

Still Features

Samsung is billing the HMX-R10 as a video-still hybrid—with all the specs to back it up. We'll be interested to see whether performance backs up paper, but that will have to wait until we can get the R10 into our labs. In the meantime, we're intrigued by the interpolated 12-megapixel stills and the natural 9-megapixel stills. The R10 also offers dual recording so that you can record video and capture 2-megapixel stills simultaneously—i.e. without switching between video and photo modes.

All of the manual image adjustments available to videographers are there for still photography as well. However, there is a slew of excellent features to aid the user in still mode only: self timer, sharpness (soft, normal, sharp), ISO (50, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200), dynamic range optimization, metering, continuous shot, and bracketing.

 

The flash on the HMX-R10.

Handling & Use

Ease of Use

Samsung brings back a resposive touch screen and intuitive menu structure from last year's lineup. Beginning shooters will have no problem finding the options they want and experimenting with manual controls. If you don't want to bother with manual controls, you can just as easily fly by in EasyQ mode and let the automatic adjustments take over. We praised last year's Samsungs for their simple and elegant user interface... it looks like the 2009 models will carry on the tradition.

Handling

Samsung's new ergonomic design is the star of the show on the HMX-R10. By angling the lens at a 25-degree slope, the camcorder can be held at a more natural angle, reducing stress on the wrist that comes with traditional camcorder grips. It's a surprisingly comfortable way to hold a camcorder. Detractors will probably complain about the lack of a hand strap—a deficiency that makes it a lot easier to drop your expensive piece of personal electronics.

The zoom toggle and record button are within easy reach of the thumb and some secondary controls on the LCD panel make two-handed recording a breeze. The body of the camcorder is light and small, so long shoots should be no problem.

Portability

Measuring just 38.3mm x 57.8mm x 129.7mm and weighing just 220g, the HMX-R10 is a small and light device. With so few buttons and switches on the outside, it also feels fairly robust—this is not a camcorder we would be afraid to drop into a purse or bag. The surface of the LCD is bound to attract greasy fingerprints thanks to the touch screen, but the rest of the camcorder is a durable matte surface that seems highly resistant to dirst and scratches. With no internal memory, the biggest drawback is that you'll want to carry a couple SD/SDHC memory cards or risk hitting your storage capacity relatively quickly.

Battery

Battery life on solid state camcorders tends to be significantly longer than on hard drive, tape, or DVD camcorders. Last year's Samsungs had excellent battery performance and we expect the HMX-R10 will show similar longevity. The IA-BH125C battery is enclosed in a cavity on the bottom of the camcorder, which means that you won't be able to upgrade to a larger size.

The enclosure on the bottom holds both the battery and SD/SDHC card slot.

LCD & Viewfinder

The HMX-R10 sports a standard 2.7-inch LCD, which flips out 90 degrees from the body of the camcorder and rotates up to 270 degrees. Resolution is 230,000 pixels, which is about average for a camcorder in this price range and good enough to support the touch screen interface. You can make a couple of adjustments to the LCD from inside the menus, including lowering or increasing brightness of the screen.

Menus

As with last year's models, the HMX-R10 has a clear and intuitive menu structure. Everything is organized into two tabs of a single menu. There is also a Quick Menu, which repeats six common functions: resolution, white balance, aperture, shutter speed, backlight compensation, and focus.

Playback & Connectivity

Playback

Playback is entered by pressing the playback button in the left corner of the LCD touch screen. The system offers a traditional thumnail view, where you can select clips and use the touch screen to control play/pause, forward, rewind, etc. There is a separate playback screen for still photos.

Connectivity

There aren't a lot of connections on the HMX-R10, but it has the most important. Composite and Component video, plus USB are all handled with a single proprietary connection, nestled in the same compartment as HDMI and DC power.

Other Features

Slow Motion Samsung has expanded its slow motion feature slightly to offer either 300fps or 600fps.

Time Lapse Record Samsung offers the unique ability to do time lapse recording. You are, of course, limited by storage media, but if you connect the camcorder to a power outlet, you could capture some interesting footage over the course of a few hours.

EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) Digital image stabilization tends to be inferior to its optical counterpart. On last year's Samsung SC-HMX20, this was certainly true. We expect no different on the R10.

Conclusion

There are a lot of new features in the Samsung HMX-R10 to leave us intrigued. The new lens design definitely seems to bring about a more comfortable ergonomic grip, despite the lack of a hand strap. Samsung is packing in a full compliment of still photography options—plus the high resolution sensor to back that up with performance potential. And there are other questions as well: Will the Intelli-zoom work as well as a traditional optical zoom? Will the new lens and sensor perform well in a variety of lighting conditions?  Will the slow motion be more than just a gimmick? Is there a market for a camcorder with excellent manual controls but no microphone input, headphone output, or accessory shoe? Sometimes different isn't always better, but sometimes what the industry needs is a change. Now we'll just have to see if performance can live up to hype.

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Meet the tester

Kaitlyn Chantry

Kaitlyn Chantry

Vice President, Editorial Management

@WhyKaitlyn

Vice President of Editorial Management, Kaitlyn oversees the editorial departments of Reviewed.com’s various sites. She has been writing about technology since the turn of the century. Outside of her Reviewed.com home, Kaitlyn is also a theatre director and avid gamer.

See all of Kaitlyn Chantry's reviews

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