SAMSUNG HMX-R10

We are living in convergence world. It’s hard to survive With only one function, and has to satisfy users not only with main functions, but also additional functions. (I can say electronic dictionary is a good example. A few years ago, only good dictionary contents were needed, but recently, various multimedia functions such as colorful LCD, DMB, and video are imperative to be popular.)

When it comes to a camcorder, it’s almost the same. 2~3 years ago, people think it’s natural to purchase a camcorder and a digital camera separately, but now they’ve got to have both functions. (Of course, for professional camcorder or DSLR, main function is all people want. However, compact products need both video and picture for the most convenience.)

How about the Samsung R10 which will be reviewed? Let’s take a look at the strong points of the R10 and video/picture quality with the review.

It’s the full kit, and various accessories are provided. To prevent shock and scratch, a pouch is provided, and power adaptor, AV cable, USB cable, Hand strap, and battery are included. (It’s not shown in the picture, but instruction and quick manual will be provided, and also HDMI(Mini HDMI) cable which is normally not included is also provided.)

With 38.3 x 56.8 x 128.2mm of size and 229g of weight, the portability is great. (Of course, there are a lot of products lighter and smaller. However, it’s really difficult to find the camcorders supporting 1920x1080 Full HD and smaller than the R10, I think. As palm size and barrel design, it’s easy to keep in a bag or something.)

The design is also enough to give satisfaction. It’s made of aluminum body, and on the right side, hair line is applied to give high grade feeling. Composition of buttons and finishing are also great. (The former model HMX20C looks like heavy, but the R10 feels like slim and stylish.) @ This will come with black and silver.

It’s the front. 5x optical zoom lens supporting 8x intelli zoom is attached, and on the side, there’s a flash. (Unlike digital zoom which degrades quality, the intelli zoom doesn’t affect the quality.) And on the lower part, there’s a recording light. @ Unlike other products, anti-scratch lens is installed on the front, so without a lens cap, the internal lens is safe from corruption and crash.

You can see the direction of the lens is different from other products. Since the lens of the R10 has been designed to direct 25 degrees upward, it prevents wrist bending. Unlike other shooting type products which give fatigue to wrist, the R10 has the remarkable ergonomic design which minimizes fatigue.

It’s the right side of the body, and it has adopted swivel LCD supporting various angles. (You can easily see this supports1920x1080 Full HD.) @I’m so satisfied with the sensitive hair line.

You can see the 2.7 wide LCD supporting perfect touch screen. (This supports 230K pixel. Viewing angle is also satisfactory, and especially the definition was so great that I didn’t feel any uncomfortable when using this outside. On the side, there’s a Q menu button to execute designated functions rapidly, and zoom button and recording button is also located.) @ When it comes to a zoom lever on the back, fast zooming is possible with this, while the zoom button next to the LCD supports slow zooming. I think they will be useful depending on the various situations.

It’s the inside of the right side. You can see the speaker on the lower part, and power button, Easy Q button, and iCheck button are also located. (We are going to see the use of the Easy Q button closely. When the camcorder is working, pushing the iCheck button long, you can see remaining battery and memory.

It’s the back of the body, and on the top, there’s a mode button (When changing modes, some products have too much time delay. However, the R10 has very short time delay to change the mode, so there’s nothing to bother. ) and status LED, and on the center, there’s a zoom lever and recording button. (On the side, charge status LED is located. As you can see in the picture, on the bottom, Mini HDMI port, power input port, and AV cable port are installed. ) @ Composite, Component, and HDMI are supported, so the compatibility is so high, full HD videos can be perfectly played with external devices.

It’s the left side, and you can see the strap ring. (Putting the hand strap like the picture, you can prevent the damage. However, I didn’t expect there’s no hand grip, but it doesn’t have it. Even though it’s a shooting type product not a vertical type, it’s quite unsatisfactory.)

It’s the upper part, and you can see 9M pixel CMOS sensor has been installed. (However, Max. 12M picture is supported.) And on the lower part, there’s a shutter button to help take pictures simply. (Not only for normal picture, but also for video, you can take a picture by pushing the shutter button. )

It’s the bottom of the body, and the internal microphone is installed to record voice when taking a video (Microphone sensitivity setting is also possible.), and there are 2 mount hole for a tripod. Also, on the bottom, a battery is loaded, and by providing SD card slot, you can easily store big size recorded videos. @ As a brand new product, it supports SDHC perfectly. It appears it can record Full HD videos without a burden.

Even though it’s a Full HD camcorder, the size is small enough to be in one hand. (Like I mentioned, the portability is the best.

Like the picture, it supports various grips. (Under various circumstances, you can hold the product with various ways.) @ It supports active angle, and that it can record a video without wrist bending is one of the greatest things.

They are basic accessories. Mini HDMI cable, Instruction, quick manual, etc are provided, and like the picture, AV cable, power adaptor, pouch, and hand strap are included. @ Unlike most of other products supporting Composite and component cable separately, the R10 can use both function through the AV cable included. I like this very much.

　

We’ve checked the design and features. This time, let’s look at the various functions one by one. (As a high end product, it provides various setting menus, and I think this will satisfy users who need detailed settings.)

Like I said already, supporting various settings is very satisfactory, but for beginners, this can be a burden. The R10 supports Easy Q function for beginners to record great videos without a lot of settings. (Pushing the Easy Q button, the mode changes like a picture, and at the same time, focus, exposure, light, and IS are automatically set to optimized environment for recording.)

With the Easy Q fu nction, Q.menu function is also provided. Unlike normal menu, frequently used functions such as picture are shown, and through touching the pencil icon on the right lower part, you can add, delete, and edit. (Separate settings are possible for Video/Picture/Play. Once registering frequently used functions, you can use the function more rapidly.)

Now, let’s look at the various functions closely. On the upper part, it’s the video recording menu, and you can see it supports the Full HD resolution perfectly. (It’s impressive that 1920x1080 Full HD resolution is fully supported, and 60fps interlace scan type and 30fps/60fps progressive scan type are perfectly supported.) @ Like I mentioned earlier, this is a test product supporting PAL type, and the real product will supports NTST 60/30 fps. Also, through the slow motion function, max. 600 fps very high speed recording is possible, so you can see the fast movement in detail. (This can be used for correction of action when exercising.) @ 300 fps: 416x240 resolution, 600 fps: 192x108 resolution supported

By supporting the iScene function, selecting by exposure and then a video can be easily recorded. (It automatically sets shutter speed and iris according to the mode.)

It automatically sets the iris and shutter speed, but it also supports manual mode for users to adjust them with their style. Exposure fix function is also supported (+2.0~-2.0 13 levels), and you can see the 3D-NR function which reduces noise of videos. (This reduces noise which is made on Backlight, Indoor, and night recording.)

Super color night function which allows users to take moving objects brighter without color damage (Normal: 1/30 shutter speed, Super: 1/15 shutter speed), and backlight fix function is also provided. Various focus modes such as Auto, manual, positing setting (It’s possible to set the focus by touching the LCD) are supported, and with the face recognition function, more satisfactory human picture can be taken. (It automatically detects faces and optimizes focus and brightness.)

As a high grade product, it has the IS function. With the effect menu, fun and unique videos can be taken (Black and white, Sepia, Reversion, and handsome mode are supported.), and fader function which is used with video editing program is also provided. (A video starts and ends naturally.) Through the super macro function, more detailed shot is possible for close objects. (Max. 1cm closeup shot is supported.)

It can reduce noise such as wind when taking a video, and you can set the volume. By supporting the digital zoom, up to 100x zoom is possible (But the quality is degraded.), and self timer function is also provided. (10 seconds)

Interval recording is also supported. This function records the still image every setting time, and plays back rapidly like slow motion. It’s so impressive. (30 videos are continuously recorded, and 1 sec video is made. It’s useful for flower blooming or sky moving.) Play back function for recorded videos is also provided, and 3 kinds of guidelines are supported.

Let’s see the picture menu. Like the video mode, it supports iSCENE function, and various resolutions can be set. (Max. 12M pixel resolution is being supported. It’s a camcorder, but I think better pictures can be taken with this than normal digital cameras.

This supports various white balance modes, and with max. ISO 3200, it can secure enough shutter speed in any situation. Also, iris and shutter speed can manually be set. (Not only P mode, but also A/S/M modes can be set, and I think this will satisfy users who are used to manual mode.)

Exposure fix is possible, and it supports various flash settings. Also, backlight fix function and dynamic range function which records light and dark part fully are supported.

Not only auto, but also manual focus function is also provided, and like a video, it supports the face recognition function. As a high grade product, it supports various photometry modes including the spot photometry. @ I’m so satisfied with the magic touch function. Unlike DSLR which can set exact focus, normal compact digital cameras couldn’t get the right focus even using a half shutter. But the R10 uses the magic touch function, so once touching the part on the LCD, not only focus, but also brightness is automatically set, so even beginners can take good pictures.

EIS function is supported, and effects, super macro, and digital zoom function (Max. 50x) are also provided..

High speed continuous shot function which up to 7 pictures can be taken in 3 sec and bracket continuous shot function taking pictures with different brightness are supported. (±0.3 EV, Backlight fix, Dynamic range, and original picture are taken successively.)

It’s the play back screen. Videos and pictures are lined up, and various screens are supported. (6 / 12 preview is supported, and it can be sorted by date. Files can be easily selected and played with this product.) @ It’s one of the greatest things of this product. Most other products show video and pictures without sorting, so it’s hard to find a file which I want. However, the R10 has a strong sorting function, so it was easy for me to find files. Two thumbs up for the intuitive UI interface giving convenience to users.

It’s the video play back setting menu. Various play modes are supported, and highlight function which plays a certain part of videos. Also, playlist selection and file delete function are supported.

File protection function from deleting is provided and simple video editing such as partial delete/Divide/Combine is also possible. Capture function is also supported, and file information can be confirmed.

It’s the picture play setting menu. Slide show function is supported, and various setting functions are provided. (Selected music and effects can be added.)

DPOF print mark setting which stores picture print information in the memory card and sets the number of prints, and like a video, file information can be confirmed.

Let’s take a look at the configuration menu. (In 7 pages, various setting functions are supported.) File location and capacity can be checked, and memory format function is supported. Also you can set the type of numbering and time manually.

Date, time, and type can be set. You can set if it’s displayed.

LCD brightness and color can manually be set, and LCD fix function for more vivid and clear image is added. Also, for saving power, auto turning off LCD function is included, and sound setting is possible when starting to work.

When taking a picture, shutter sound can be set, and when turning on the camcorder, you can set the first mode. With the standby mode, you can reduce the power consumption when taking pictures frequently. (When closing the LCD, it goes to the standby mode, and opening it, shot is possible.)

‘Built-in S/W’ function which uses the software just by connecting the USB cable is supported, and analog TV output, screen ratio, and USB connection type settings are possible. @Unlike other products which have to install editing programs on the PC, the R10 has the internal program called ‘Samsung Intelli Studio’, so by USB connection, you can easily edit videos and pictures. It’s such an innovative function, I think

By providing TV connection guide menu, beginners can connect it to external devices, and TV screen indication (Whether information is displayed on TV or not) setting and recording lamp setting, and initialization function are supported.

As a Samsung’s product, it supports lots of languages. Also Anynet+(Samsung AV network system) setting is also supported, and function introduction function is also provided.

We’ve been looking at the design and function of the product. This time, let’s check the quality of images and videos, and see how to connect external devices.

It’s max. wide angle shot and tele zoom shot. Personally, it should have supported wider angle, but tele zoom part supporting 8X intelli zoom was quite satisfactory.

I started taking these since 5 PM outside. By supporting IS function, hand blur happened in few pictures, and I could see there’s not much noise even with night and indoor shot. With max. tele zoom lens, there was no quality degrade, and the closeup shot was also quite satisfactory. (Unlike DSLR using A or M mode, the R10 was used in Easy Q mode most of the time. It’s impressive that it shows great quality enough not only for web but also for development.)

By supporting HDMI, Component, Composite, you can enjoy big screen after connecting to an AV device without any inconvenience. (As a product supporting Full HD, it’s impressive that it has the HDMI port. Connecting to Full HDTV through HDMI, you can enjoy clean and vivid images recorded by the R10. @ The test product was for oversea sale and set to PAL. I couldn’t connect this to Full HD TV, so I connected it to HDTV card supporting PAL.)

I could see recorded HD videos and pictures perfectly played. (When it comes to Full HD videos, the quality is incomparably better than normal SD videos. Especially, it seemed like real and smooth movement was so impressive, and recorded voice was also very satisfactory.)

　

I think you can put away the prejudice that Full HD camcorders are big and heavy. The R10 which I’ve been reviewing supports 1920x1080 60fps full HD and 12M pixel pictures, but it’s so small and light. (I’d like to strongly recommend this product to users who want satisfaction in Portability, performance, and functions.)

With sensitive and ergonomic design, long hours of recording is possible without a burden on wrist, and the small size and light weight will also satisfy users considering portability much, I think. Not only interlace, but also progressive scan type is supported, so it creates more vivid videos. And various distinguishing functions such as high speed shot, capture on video, and interval shot are also impressive. @ Unlike other products need separate software install, that it supports video editing with the built-in S/W is one of the greatest strong points, I think.

Up to 12M pixel pictures can be taken, so when taking professional pictures, I could feel satisfaction, and through the magic touch function, focus can easily be set. Also supporting the HDMI, it can play more vivid and clean videos, and intuitive and convenient UI interface is also great. I’d really like to praise for this function. (Especially, unlike former products, time delay was drastically reduced. Booting time and changing mode time was so fast.)

Up to 12M pixel pictures can be taken, so when taking professional pictures, I could feel satisfaction, and through the magic touch function, focus can easily be set. Also supporting the HDMI, it can play more vivid and clean videos, and intuitive and convenient UI interface is also great. I’d really like to praise for this function. (Especially, unlike former products, time delay was drastically reduced. Booting time and changing mode time was so fast.)

Do you want to take high quality videos and pictures as a beginner? Then, I’d like to recommend the R10 without hesitation. With unique angle design and incomparable slimness, I think you can take great quality videos in any time and anywhere.