Samsung was in the city yesterday showing off some of their latest gadgets for Christmas.
The SC-DC164 and SC-DC564 are the first dual-layer recording DVD camcoders available. They can record hi-res video for up to 40 minutes, and support DVD+R, -R, +RW, and -RW formats. In addition, a 4-in-1 multi memory card slot lets you store MPEG4 videos and stills.
This is the SC-X210WL, the latest generation of the Samsung Sports Camcorder. The biggest advance here is that they’ve made the remote camera head wireless. You can now board, blade, or skydive with a head-cam that doesn’t have a wire attached. (I wonder what this will do for amateur surveillance apps?)
The SL10D10 10.2-in. LCD monitor/DirectTV receiver combo can be mounted upside-down or rightside-up, with the controls and image inverting to suit. It makes a nice self-contained bedside or kitchen video and music center (DirectTV also gets you XM satellite Radio.)
This is an interesting DVD player. The DVD-HD960 includes Farouja DCDi upconversion to bring the resolution of conventional DVDs to 1080p/1080i/720p resolution for hi-def systems. This is an excellent way to bridge the gap from your current DVD collection to whatever High-Def DVD system you finally wind up buying. (I must admit I’m still on the fence between HD-DVDS and Blu-Ray.)
IMO the technology used in the SC-DC164 and SC-DC564
using removable rotating media ( DVD ) is a dead technology.
“Camcorders” like the SC-X210L using the SD flash memory
will become the norm in 24 months.
Recorded DVD (Mpeg-2) on media is dead.
So many toys, so little money…
John’s idea of getting yourself in the picture is a good one – it proves you are actually handling the gear, and not just using press-kit photos…
…but that direct [on camera?] flash is casting harsh shadows.
At the very least a diffuser, or bounce flash would help improve the images. A “faster” lens and/or high-iso capable camera would allow taking pictures in existing light – without the flash at all.
I own a Nikon D50, but…
Fuji’s F30 is looking great:
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital/lineup/f30/
And Fuji’s new 6500fd uses the same sensor as the F30, but with a longer zoom and “face detection”:
http://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital/lineup/s6500fd/index.html
1 Recorded DVD (Mpeg-2) on media is dead.
And yet the new HD format proposed by Sony & Panasonic – AVCHD – is being initially rolled-out on DVD camcorders, with flash-based and Hard-drive based versions to follow.
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,125680,00.asp
I would personally go for either the flash-based or HD-based versions… but thats neither here nor there, marketwise. [grin]
The cam would be perfect for recording motorcycle video – no more expensive and unwieldy mounting kits. Unfortunately, I’m just the sort to lose the lens.
A whole new take on the porn industry.
You’re right, Mike. However, I usually hand people my old Pentax Optio (because it fits in an altoids can, I take it everywhere) and ask them to take a shot. (If you can convince John to spring for a photographer, I’d be estatic!)
As for DVD-based camcorders, I believe they has a singular benefit. One doesn’t have to know anything about file management, and doesn’t need a computer to use it. Just stick in a disk, record, and then take the disk out and write on it with a magic marker and put it in a box.
BHK, the remote lens comes with straps and mounting hardware so you can attach it to your upper arm or helmet.
I’m considering getting the HD960 if I can find it at a decent price. The HD841 was the last one from Sammy to use the iDCD chip, and I’ve had it for a little over a year. It’s a great upconverting player, but doesn’t do 1080p. And since I have a 1080p set now…
There are a few other great upconverting players out there, but a price-to-feature comparisant makes Sammy the winner.
The DVD-R135 is a cheaper DVD recorder(!) with upconversion, it just doesn’t use the Farouja chip. That may be a good alternative. It’s less than $200.
It isn’t really wireless. Not while it’s in use, anyway. That really would be cool.
[editor note – thanks for catching the error, I missed a letter in the model #:SC-X210WL. I updated the link, too. It really is completely wireless.]
Cool gadgets, but an even cooler friend you found for that first photo. I guess there are aspects of trade shows we sometimes forget…
Hey! That’s my daughter!
Well, then I’ll just say she’s stunning and let it go at that 😉 What I almost said in my first comment was that I was startled at how much she resembles an old girlfriend of mine.
I’m really glad Samsung made the decision to go upscale when they did. I, too, have the earlier uprezzing DVD player; but, I run 720p almost exclusively.
A couple years down the road [I hope] when we have regular full-blown 1080p telecasts from someone, I’ll consider getting a 1080p set — and most likely start looking with Samsung.
6 However, I usually hand people my old Pentax Optio (because it fits in an altoids can, I take it everywhere) and ask them to take a shot.
Which is why I resisted the urge to recommend a dSLR. 🙂
I believe they has a singular benefit
Agreed. I remember the first time I saw a Sony ad of a young woman taking some movies, and then just slipping the disc in an envelope to mail to her Mom… and Mom just popping the disc in her DVD player.
Of course, my first thought was “My God, you sent the original, without making a copy… what if that got trashed/lost in the mail!??” [grin]
@ Smartalix
Thanks for the link: I usually don’t think about DVD recorders. That being said, when I look at upconverting players I really see a difference with the iDCD chip. I’m acutally playing with using my MacBook Pro as my DVD player, and its working quite well (it can do 1080p).
@ Eideard
I picked up the Westinghouse 1080p 42″ set two weeks. I needed a second flat screen, and figured the $1900 spent on it was a better way to go than $1200 on a 720p set of the same size. It’s a nice monitor, but you may want to wait until the HDMI 1.3, higher bit rate screens come out at the end of this year. They’ll do a better job with future high definition movies and games.
That being said, there are no plans for standard broadcasts to do 1080p broadcasts, and I question the ability of any provider to crank out 1080p material of a high quality any time soon (be it the movie houses, the disk providers, or the cable companies). Long story short, 720p is just fine for now.
The pleasure is mine, James. I’m glad there’s at least one area we have common ground.
😉
If you like that, check out their upconverting DVD/VHS recorder, the DVD-VR345. (I just wish every recording device came with a copy of the Supreme Court’s Betamax Decision.)
If you like that, check out their upconverting DVD/VHS recorder, the DVD-VR345.
Thanks, Alix
That just what I was looking for… 🙂
The HD960 is a great player with a great upconverter. Absolutely worth the price and a great way to hold out on the HD format wars and enjoy a better picture than your standard setup. Granted, it’s not HD but it is better than even your top of the line SD setup. I’ve run mine through the paces for weeks and couldn’t be happier.