Samsung's HMX-U10 Pocket Video Camcorder

The DigitalCamera-HQ posted a review about Samsung HMX-U10 camcorder as follows:

The Samsung SMX-U10 is a new pocket camcorder that goes head-to-head with the Flip Ultra and Kodak Zx1. The U10 can (allegedly) do full 1080p video and 10-megapixel still photos. That's big talk; whether it can back it up with real quality isn't clear.

Though dominant, the Flip series of pocket camcorders is somewhat lacking. In our reviews of the Flip Ultra, Flip MinoHD, and Flip UltraHD, we've made note of several features that we wish these camcorders had, or that we felt that they had no good excuse for not having.

In the meantime, competitors like Kodak have begun to address those concerns with their own pocket camcorders. In our review of the Kodak Zx1, we were very impressed with the company's efforts in expanding the potential of what has been a very barebones style to this point.

Now, Samsung has decided to enter the pocket camcorder fray, and their initial model is (at least according to initially announced specifications), far beyond what one might expect.

Broader Features: Still Photos, Full HD

The biggest feature on the all-new Samsung HMX-U10 pocket camcorder is its resolution. The U10 offers full, 1080p high-definition video. No other (reputable) pocket camcorder can boast such a resolution, with the Flip and Kodak models topping out at 720p. Sony's "Webby" camcorders have tricky 1440 x 1080 pixel resolution, which they try to claim is full HD but isn't.

Common sense dictates that a camera with a manufacturer's retail price of $199, like the HMX-U10, should not be able to produce accurate, high-quality 1080p video. Because it's Samsung, we're willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but will remain skeptical until we can get our hands on a unit for review. The U10 uses H.264 video compression.

Convergence: 10-Megapixel Stills

Still photo functionality has been elusive on pocket camcorders, for reasons that are unclear. The Flip camcorders avoided it completely, one of our biggest criticisms of the brand. Kodak's Zx1 threw in a fairly adequate 3-megapixel still photo mode, which was a nice step forward. Samsung claims that the U10 will have a 10-megapixel still photo mode, which, just like the 1080p video, is a very big claim for such a small, inexpensive camcorder.

The U10's 10-megapixel photos will not look as good as a 10-megapixel photo from a true digital camera. For starters, the U10 has no optical zoom and (it seems) no image stabilization. 10 megapixels might just be overkill in a camcorder like this, but since it doesn't drive the price up too much, it's not much of a concern.

Conclusion: Wait and See

It's hard to pass judgment on the U10 without seeing it. Its bold claims strain credulity. If it does somehow manage to produce high-quality 1080p video and 10-megapixel stills, however, it's sure to completely blow open this market and send Flip back to the drawing board.

For more information, please click: http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/camcorders/samsungs-hmx-u10-pocket-video-camcorder_roundup.html