Samsung Makes A Splash!
Written: Feb 02 '03
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
| Battery Life: |
|
|
| Movie Quality: |
|
|
|
Pros: Features, multiple connections (including USB), excellent zoom, remote control, snapshot feature.
Cons: No VCR tape adapter for tapes (all Hi8 tapes, not specific to this model).
The Bottom Line: When looking at price, features, and connectivity options, comparable models suddenly look unattractive. I highly recommend this camcorder.
|
|
|
| one4yu2c's Full Review: Samsung SC-L770 Hi-8 Analog Camcorder |
I was recently in the market for a new camcorder. Since I'm a computer junkie, I really wanted a digital camcorder (MiniDV) but the prices were more than what I felt comfortable spending. Enter Samsung...
Samsung isn't particularly known for camcorders, but it's name is easily recognizable when it comes to electronics. I'm also familiar with their RAM (computer memory) and they produce some high quality chips. My hesitation in accepting that they could make a quality camcorder as well was short lived as I read down their feature list and compared with other models, both in and out of it's price range.
Features
Simply stated, the feature list is amazing given the price range. In its compact size, the SCL-770 comes with both a black and white viewfinder as well as a bright 2.5 inch LCD display. The zoom is simply brilliant, with 22x optical and up to 880x digital. This is about twice as much as most comparable models. Has a digital image stabilizer, meaning your shaky hands will not result in a shaky picture. Both auto and manual focus. Snap shot mode for taking pictures. Adjustable shutter speed depending on recording environment (sports, sand/snow, portrait, etc). 11 digital special effects, including 16:9 wide television mode, ghost (gives image a dragging effect), cinema (puts a black bar on top and bottom...similar to 16:9), and more. Comes w/ a remote control so you can set your camera up and control it from a distance. And of course all the standard features, such as date/time, etc.
Connectivity
The connectivity options really set this camera apart from the pack. In addition to the standard audio/video output, this also comes with S-Video output for higher quality display on your TV, and USB output for connecting to your computer. The USB plugs into a USB port and w/ the bundled software, your recordings are played right through your computer. The snapshot feature when recording makes this double as a sort of digital camera and you can also take 'snapshots' of your videos as well. While MiniDV camcorders usually take advantage of firewire's speed when hooking to a computer, I found the USB to perform adequately. Everything was displayed quickly and the software included allows you to add minor effects to your recordings before sending them out to family/friends. My only complaint is that the sound is not transferred as loud as it is recorded, but it is still acceptable. This camcorder can also function as a webcam, though I have not used that feature.
Recordings
Recordings come out bright on the LCD display and accurate. Has a light you can turn on in dark situations. Not a whole lot to report here except that it does a fine job recording capturing colors as it should. The options work as advertised so if you feel like getting creative while recording, you can.
One thing worth noting is the Picture in Picture effect. What this does is open up a separate smaller window of what you're recording and when you've reached the end of the optical zoom (22x), the extra window stays focused and recording at that zoom level allowing you to digitally zoom in 880x with the big window to get a closer look. For my recording duties, this isn't a handy feature, but it's there nonetheless should you need to use it.
Price
A lot of research was put in before making a decision on which camcorder to buy. My choice came down to the SCL770, the Canon ES8400V with 800x digital zoom and other comparable features, but no USB connection, and the Sony CCD-TRV118 with 560x digital zoom and also no USB connection. Since all three are comparably priced, I chose the Samsung SCL-770 based on it's features and connectivity options. I'm happy w/ that decision, as I got the most 'bang for my buck' and quality has not been sacrificed.
MISC
Keep in mind that Hi8 tapes do not have a VCR tape adapter, meaning you can't drop the little 8mm cassette into a bigger VCR cassette adapter for use in your VCR like the VHS-C camcorders allow you to do. This is specific to all Hi8 cameras and not this model only. However, Hi8 are higher quality than VHS-C, and once you get your camcorder plugged into your VCR or TV, you can record to a blank tape.
Final Words
I would highly recommend this camera to anyone looking to get the most features for the least price. The SCL-770 is about as close to a MiniDV camcorder you can get minus the price tag. You get a camcorder, digital camera, and webcam all in one. In it's own category, however, the features surpass those of comparable price, particularly the zoom level and connectivity options, as well as the special recording effects. The manual was well written and thorough. If you're considering this camcorder, I would urge you to take the plunge and start enjoying the features it throws at you.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 284.99
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
one4yu2c
|
|
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 1 member
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.