New Samsung 1080p Camcorder -Up to 300fps

[Serge Victorovich]

Body of this camcorder very similar to HMX10C (~$600-800) 720p50/60 H.264
http://www.ifa-show.com/0237/samsung...-hd-camcorder/
HMX10C used Ambarella H264 encoder and HMX20C possible too newest one
A390 HD chip
http://www.ambarella.com/news/press_...r_01282008.htm

[Jiri Fiala]

If it's anything like their HMX10, it's really 1/8inch sensor. I had one of these for testing. It's altogether unusable for interiors without strong lighting (even for home video purposes). Footage was so noisy you couldn't tell what you're watching. Hence, I cannot even imagine its output when shooting 300 fps.

[Lawrence Bansbach]

Originally Posted by Jiri Fiala

If it's anything like their HMX10, it's really 1/8inch sensor. I had one of these for testing. It's altogether unusable for interiors without strong lighting (even for home video purposes). Footage was so noisy you couldn't tell what you're watching. Hence, I cannot even imagine its output when shooting 300 fps.

If it uses the Sony IMX017CQE, which is likely, it's 1/1.8 inch (or a little more than 1/2 inch), not 1/8 inch. The IMX017CQE is new.

[Paul Martin]

Here it says it's using a 1/1.8" 6.4M CMOS sensor, the same specs as the Sony IMX017CQE sensor. It records H.264 in Superfine, Fine and Normal modes. This .pdf says it'll record 90 minutes to its 8GB of built in flash, expandable via SDHC. This works out to 12Mbit/s. Hopefully this is the Normal mode and Superfine is double that, though I doubt it. It's not stated whether 300fps is recorded HD or SD, but it should at least be 720x480 as that is the lowest resolution listed. No mic in, but it does have HDMI out and a swiveling sort of pistol grip. Only EIS not OIS. At the current exchange rate the announced 899,000KRW price is 861USD.
I'm jazzed about this thing. Big sensor, SDHC recording, small size, 300fps. I just hope it uses a decent H.264 encoder at a robust-enough bitrate. We'll see.

[Christopher Ruffell]

Originally Posted by Paul Martin

Here it says it's using a 1/1.8" 6.4M CMOS sensor, the same specs as the Sony IMX017CQE sensor. It records H.264 in Superfine, Fine and Normal modes. This .pdf says it'll record 90 minutes to its 8GB of built in flash, expandable via SDHC. This works out to 12Mbit/s. Hopefully this is the Normal mode and Superfine is double that, though I doubt it. It's not stated whether 300fps is recorded HD or SD, but it should at least be 720x480 as that is the lowest resolution listed. No mic in, but it does have HDMI out and a swiveling sort of pistol grip. Only EIS not OIS. At the current exchange rate the announced 899,000KRW price is 861USD.
I'm jazzed about this thing. Big sensor, SDHC recording, small size, 300fps. I just hope it uses a decent H.264 encoder at a robust-enough bitrate. We'll see.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't 1/1.8" close to being a 1/2" sensor?! (EDIT: yes, it is as Lawrence pointed out)

Since Sony is going for the neo-Sony business model (their own sexy variant) this could be their push for 1/2" sensors in the consumer market.

Here's a quick run down of the IMX017CQE - Sony's 1/1.8" high speed CMOS sensor:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07...hspeedcmos.asp

This little camera suddenly got one heck of a lot more interesting!

[Winston Ashley]

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/co...NG_IB_0403.pdf

Manual Download

From the manual:
[SD] Slow Motion
• Records in the slow motion (448x336 300fps).
• This is great for analyzing a golf swing or a viewing a bird in flight.
By increasing the record rate from 60 fields per second (fps) to 300 fps for 10 seconds,
the camcorder allows you to capture 10 seconds of fast motion. When played back, the video will be 50 seconds long.

Samsung site where I got the info.
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/sp...C-HMX20C%2FXAA

[Thomas Richter]

Amazing find, Winston!

some highlights from the manual:

Yes, it is a 1/1.8 imaging sensor. Offers manual shutter speed setting and a cinema tone option. Touch screen focussing on the desired object, although no indication if it works during recording. External microphone jack!

16mbit per sec data rate in extra fine.

Lens goes from F1.8 to F2.5, not bad. Should allow some semi shallow DOF.
As indicated earlier, no OIS.

Really hope there will be a 25p version for Europe.

[John C. Butler]

No O.I.S.? That is a must have on a cmos camcorder! Otherwise its no better than aiptek (regarding skew wobble and strobe)

[Paulo Teixeira]

I tried calling B&H right now to see if this is just a huge mistake before posting this but realized that they closed at 2:00pm. On their catalog, it lists the SC-HMX20C for $299.95.

I've had the catalog for days now and my eyes lid up when I saw that last night.

[Thomas Richter]

At this price, I want eight please ;-)

[Mat Thompson]

I have a feeling that should read $899.95....but hey if its marked at that then maybe they'll have to stand buy it :-)

[Christopher Ruffell]

Are we certain when this little bad boy is coming out? I'm an avid HV20 owner who's watching/waiting to see what firmware features this will come with - true 24P? Aperature & Shutter control? Gain control? IRE display? Never used a Samsung before...

[Paulo Teixeira]

I just called them up and it was obviously a big mistake. Their asking price is a little under $850 which is a lot more realistic. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had numerous phone calls because of me.

That would have been awesome if I ordered it the day the catalog got to me before they noticed the mistake.

[Steve Nunez]

Just killed my dream~~~~~

[Winston Ashley]

Found this on vimeo:
3 camera shootout
http://www.vimeo.com/1033083

Download the quicktime here
http://www.vimeo.com/download/video:...f947fb623dbe18