New Samsung 1080p Camcorder -Up to 300fps
 

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/06/s...sh-camcorders/

Full HD SC-HMX20C:

Captures video in progressive Full HD 1080p, selectable for 30fps or 60fps

HDMI-CEC (Anynet+), camcorder control using a Samsung HDTV remote
8GB of internal flash memory; SDHC / MMC+ expansion slot1
1/8-inch 6.4-megapixel CMOS sensor
10x optical zoom

300fps slow-motion recording mode for up to 10 seconds
4-megapixel still image capture
2.7-inch wide LCD touchscreen display
iCheck button for easy access to memory / battery levels
USB 2.0 and PictBridge connections
Component, S-Video and composite outputs
For the rest of the foursome, click on through.

Would make for a great crashcam!

I believe although it records progressive it outputs interlaced which is sad if true- let's hope it does indeed output 1080 progressive.
The 1/8" chip is scary small- wonder what low light recording is going to be like.

I agree, 1/8 is too small. Plus a rolling shutter is still a possibility.

If the 300fps is better quality than sony's I may pick one up.

I belive it have a IMX017CQE, because follow key features
6.4M Pixel,
Supports 60 frame/s at full res,
supports 300 frame/s
Diagonal 9.10 mm (Type 1/1.8)

http://www.sony.net/Products/SC-HP/c.../imx017cqe.pdf

1/8" is too small!

I think the 1/8 inch sensor was a typo somewhere down the line.

If you look at the lens here:
http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands...corder/559822/

you will see it is labelled 6.3 - 63mm focal length. At 1/8 inch that would be a 136 - 1360 mm focal length equivalent in 35 mm photography - giving Samsung the award for the funniest lens on a camcorder ever.

If you read the sensor specs as: 1/1.8 inch, you get 31 - 310 mm focal length which is rather nice (and makes a lot more sense).

My suspicion is that the three high speed camcorders that are being released all use the same sony sensor, which was announced about a year ago (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07...hspeedcmos.asp) which is the same one Robert is referring to I think.

So has Samsung the best concept of implementation? Maybe.

I am excited.

That's a huge typo error on Samsungs part if true- which it seems it is!!!!

Ha ha, just realised that Sony HDR-SR12 is only using a 1/3rd inch version of the sensor for their new lineup. So the Casio EXILIM Pro EX-F1 is the only cam that definitely uses the 1/1.8 inch chip.

There are two possibilities for the Samsung: It may be 1/1.8 inch sensor which makes it a dream cam with a great wideangle ...

or it may be 1/3 inch sensor like the Sony cam, which gives it a dull 45.5 - 455 zoom range (35mm equivalent).

Now it is easier to mistype 1/1.8 as 1/8 rather than confusing 8 and 3. That's my hope at least.

The typo is probably Engadget's, not Samsung's.

The bit I'm choking on is "captures video in progressive Full HD 1080p, selectable for 30fps or 60fps." Does this really mean it can capture a 1080p image at 60fps? I flat don't believe it. The data rate would have to spew bits like a firehose.

I hope it's not like the casio cam because that one shoots 60fps for 1 second for a total of 60 frames.

Does it have a global shutter, or rolling?

Easy enough with a higher level of compression at the same 25 MBps data rate. Or if it's to flash or hard drive, there's little reason not to expect 100 BMbps.

1/8th is super small, but 1/6th happens, so it could be possible.

As deep and uncontrollable the DOF and poor the S/N ratio would be at the size, it *would* make sense for the 300FPS spec. Smaller chip = higher possible frame rates.

I have a feeling it might not be a typo!

But i'm hoping it's a 1/4 chip though, at low end.

Is there any other way to confirm?

Or, it might just scale down and use a smaller area of the sensor of a 1/4 or 1/6" chip size for the 300FPS function - it might just use 1/8" area size of the sensor.

Neat cam though! Nice simple styling, Samung = neo Sony (that's their plan)!

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

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.

Specs are online; looks like it has the Sony IMX017CQE sensor
 

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!

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

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.

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

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.

At this price, I want eight please ;-)

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 :-)

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...

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.

Just killed my dream~~~~~

Sample Footage
 

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

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

Hard to tell anything from those samples, though the Samsung looks pretty good (the WA lens had obvious edge softness at the least).

It's sort of silly having a shootout with a M1 Abrams, and a couple of Volkswagons IMO - they don't even add up to half the price of the V1, so I'm scratching my head a bit.

I've got the FX7, the V1's little bro, it's a fine camera, and blew the HV20 (when I had one briefly) out of the water, but it's comparing apples and oranges. I still have to A/B the SR11 and the FX7, but I think that's going to be a LOT closer.

The Samsung MIGHT be a great cam for the $, but someone who knows how to run CONTROLLED tests will have to test and see. For $299, I'd probably try it <wink>, but at "full price" it's more than I paid for my SR11, and I'm not THAT interested, more just curious!!

Those video samples don't show anything conclusive. The poster who made them must have been able to see more on their computer, but I question their 'eye' - that Wide-Angle lens was such a trashy image - the Chromatic Aberrations were horrible on hard edges. I hope no one would use an SD lens like that on an HD camera for actual use.

I'll wait till I see full 1920x1080 images or full 1080p video.

just orderes mine
 

from B&H. cant wait to get it.

Sc-hmx20c
 

Got it! Love it.

Lets' hear more about it! I am really interested in teaming this little camera up with a letus.

Could please tell us how the slow motion looks and how does the HD look on this camera.

If possible, please post examples both stills and video from the camera.


Thanks,

Bob Diaz

No Good For MACs :-(
 

I decided to go down to the local Circuit City to try the camera and took a memory card with me. I have a iMAC so I wanted to see if the files generated would work or not.

Sadly, even with the latest update version of the OS, the answer is NO!!! The files start to play in Quicktime, but lock up the QT player. I've put a copy of the file on my public WEB page for those who want to Play with the files.

http://idisk.mac.com/bobdiaz-Public?view=web

You will find the files under the HMX20C folder. From that folder, you will find the exact menu layout that you will find on a memory card.

If you have a MAC, remember Option+Command+ESC brings up the "Force Quit" Window.

Until Apple fixes this problem, there is no way to play the files properly on a MAC. CRUD!!!

I was thinking of importing the files into FCE (Final Cut Express), but given the QT lockup, I didn't want FCE to become screwed up too.


Bob Diaz

Although the camera work is a bit dodgey :-) These file play fine in Quicktime on my Intel Macbook 2ghz Core Duo with 2gb Ram. Thanks for making them available.

I agree- I was able to see all the clips you've posted on my MacPro, no problems at all.....FCE will have no problem ingesting these clips. The clips can be decoded with the AVC1decoder.

Has anyone found a good review of this camera yet?