The most important thing in camcorders and cameras is picture quality. (No matter how the design is good, if the picture quality can’ satisfy users, it will not be popular) Recently, not only the picture quality, the portability has become one the most important things. (A little while ago, I helped a friend buy DSLR, and he thought the portability as the very important thing. Its size is a half of my D2X, and he was very satisfied with various functions and the picture quality.)

This Samsung VM-HMX20C is an upgraded version the HMX20, it supports 1920x1080 resolution Full HD, and many functions have been added, so it’s enough to record special videos. (This has many functions such as music slide, still image, slow motion, and face recognition)

As a camcorder, it provides various accessories. A main body, battery, cradle for data transfer and recharge, and remote controller are included. USB, AV, and component cable are also provided, and a power adapter for recharge and ferrite core for reducing noise are also included. (S/W CD, manual, pouch will be included in the real selling product)

66x67.2x139mm size and 456g weight are bigger than the last HMX10. (But, the difference is not big, and it’s because of the additional functions, so it’s fine)

It’s the front, and the barrel became longer. A Lens is attached at the front, and you can confirm the lens cap is installed. (When the power is on, the lens cap is open automatically) At the bottom, there are 2 built-in microphones to make better recording quality. (HD video recording is possible, and maximum 100x zoom is supported. Helix is installed to put filters easily)

At the top front, the pop-up Flash is installed to be used at night and in a room, and at the left there’s a recording lamp. (Auto, reducing red-eye, lighting, and slow sink are supported. It can be controlled through the flash button on the side.)

Rotational LCD was adopted. (Angle can be set freely, so taking videos and picture is very easy)

At the right side, there’s a 2.7 inch touch screen wide LCD. (It’s 0.23 Mega pixel to play vivid videos.) At the side, there are Qmenu button, recording, and zoom buttons. (We will see what the Q button is) @ Auto screen change function is supported.

It’s the back side of the product, and you can see many buttons on it. On the top, there’s a zoom lever, so you can adjust it fast when recording, and on the bottom, there’s a shutter button for taking pictures. (The shutter button supports the half shutter. And at the bottom side, there’s a mode button to simply change to video/picture/playing mode.) @ Fast zoom in/out is possible with the zoom lever in the picture, while detailed setting is possible with the zoom button in the LCD.

At the right side, there’s a recording button for video recording. (Clicking once, recording starts, and clicking one more, the recording stops) At the bottom, there are a power switch, recharging lamp, and power terminal for recharging.

By opening up the lever at the bottom, you can change the battery. (The battery is fully charged for 2 hours, and if you set the auto power, the power is automatically off, when you don’t use it for 5 minutes. It means the battery can be used efficiently. And it also supports the auto test function, so when turning on, it checks itself.)

It’s the bottom side, and there’s a terminal for connecting a cradle. Also, there’s a hole for stable standing. (There’s also a fixing part for a tripod.)

It’s the left side, and there’s a swivel grip with a suede strap. (Velcro is inside, so you can change the length. Choosing the suede strap with taking out the grand leather strap from the HMX10 is unsatisfactory. It feels soft, but it doesn’t look grand.)

The grip is good. But if rotating the swivel grip, the grip is not good any more. (It’s the most disappointing thing. Because they didn’t consider the grip when rotating, I haven’t used this functions for the whole test.)

It’s the size comparison. It’s longer and heavier. (But those two products are not in the same product line, so I don’t think it’s a disadvantage or something.)

Let’s take a look at the basic accessories. As you saw in the picture, it provides the cradle, so recharging, file transfer, video playing by connecting other components are possible. (It can be used for various purposes. Especially, because the HDMI terminal is attached, you can watch the video with perfect quality by connecting it to Full HDTV.)

This is a remote controller. It’s small, slim, and portable. There are many buttons to control the instruments, and the receiving rate is so good.

Component cable and AV cable are also provided (HDMI cable is not), and USB cable for data transfer, power adapter, and ferrite core are also included.

I have seen the features. Now I’m going to see the various functions and check out the performance with tests. (This has so many functions, so the review will be long, I think.)

It’s a waiting mode, and it shows various information. (When recording, the waiting sign changes to red one, and there will be a recording time. Pushing the play button at the bottom, you can check recorded videos and pictures, and with the setting button various menu settings are possible.)

Like the HMS10, it supports the EasyQ mode. When pushing the EasyQ button, it shows the EasyQ function is activated like the screen, and focusing, exposure, light, and stabilization are set automatically, so beginners can easily use this.

There are so many things to set for beginners. But with Quick Menu function, beginners can easily set the machine and use it. When pushing the Q.menu button, the most important 6 menus are shown, so beginners can easily record videos and take pictures with simple setting.

Video Setting

Let’s check out the video function first. Like the picture, there are 5 pages and you can see so many setting functions on this.

It supports different kinds of white balance setting according to the situation for example automatic, sunny day, and cloudy day. Not only auto, but also manual exposure is possible, and it also supports the EIS functions as a high end product. By the color night setting, you can change the shutter speed to record moving things or record in darkness without damage.

You can see it has special effect functions like digital cameras, and not only AF, but also MF is possible. (In the place really dark, really light or wall, this function is very useful) The shutter speed can be set as manual, and the closeup photography and taking out the sound of wind are also supported. (This function is useful in the place like a roof or beach where wind is strong.)

It’s the resolution setting. You can see it perfectly supports Full HD 1080/30p. There are 3 levels in the 1080/60i and 480/60p modes to be used differently according to the capacity or something. And it also supports the slow motion function which was not supported in the previous model. @The recording is started with 488 x 336 resolution with 300fps, and 10 sec video is played for 50 sec. When analyzing something, it may be useful. (But, the voice is not recorded in the slow motion mode. Let’s check out this in the video preview.)

A self timer functions is supported, and back light compensation function can prevent a face become dark. And the fade function (A function makes video smooth at the beginning or end of videos or changing scene) is supported, and face recognition, guideline, and digital zoom setting are possible. (The face recognition function will be checked in the picture menu and video) @ 10x optical and 10x digital zoom are supported, and it means that total 100x digital zoom can be used for video.　

Picture setting

Like the video setting, there are modes, self timer, and exposure settings, and it can take pictures continuously. (In ‘normal’, when pushing it for a while, it takes pictures continuously, and in ‘High speed’, it takes 7 pictures for a second. It’s as good as the D2X I have used.)

Maximum 8 Mega pixel photo is possible. As in the picture, it supports 6 kinds of resolutions. (Unlike videos, only 4:3 ratio is possible)

Definition can be set as 3 levels, and white balance and special effects are supported. Maximum 3200 ISO is possible, so you can take pictures in the night or indoor without a problem. The closeup photograph is also possible.

Like the videos, it supports the face recognition function. When this function is on, a green rectangular is shown, and focusing and light are adjusted automatically. With this function, you can get optimized human pictures. (If there are a man and woman, it chooses a woman more often. I think the HMX20C likes a woman more like I do, I think.)

Not only AF, but MF is supported perfectly. Selecting point function which focuses on particular area by touching is impressive. Shutter and stabilization function are also supported, and various guidelines and digital zoom setting are also possible.

Play setting (Video)

There are 9 video setting menus. With a playing setting, various functions like deleting, editing, and so on are supported

Like an MP3P, there is a playing setting menu, and highlight, playing by resolution, deleting, and preventing delete function are possible. (Highlight consists of recent videos showing videos taken within last 24 hours, and whole videos.)

Not only a normal video recording function, but also the editing function is possible. (Like in the picture, it supports a section delete, divide, and mix functions.) Besides the picture functions while recording, it can capture pictures while playing, so you don’t have to capture picture in your PC.

Not only a normal capture function, but a continuous capture function is possible (While playing, if pushing the Photo button for a while, the video is captured as a set value.) And a file information functions is supported.

Playing setting (Picture)

It’s noticeable that it supports the advanced music slideshow function. When the music slideshow is executed, a slideshow is started with music in the machine. (Connection to the TV, you can enjoy pictures with music. It changes, when the picture changes)

Slideshow interval can be set. And checking copy and file information, and resolution change are possible. (A source file remains, and it is saved as a new file. But, captured pictures, pictures taken from other instruments, and resolution upgrade are impossible)

A magnifying function is supported, so you can check more detail images. (Maximum 8x is possible, you can move easily by touch screen.)

Configuration

Date and time setting is possible, and you can choose if it will be displayed or not with the type. Initializing file numbers is possible, and adjusting the light and compensation of the LCD is supported. (If using the compensation function, you can see images lightly and vividly even outside.)

The location, which recorded data are saved to, can be chosen, and the confirmation of the memory capacity is possible. It supports the format function, and it’s possible to set the sound. The auto turning off function is supported, so the battery can be used efficiently. (If you don’t use it for 5 minutes, it will be turned off automatically.)

You can set If the recording lamp is on or not, if remote controller is used or not, and the type of the USB. The resolution set for TV out is possible, and you can set if information is displayed. (There’s also an initialization function.)

@ With the DPOF function, information about pictures is saved, and with this information, you can select pictures and the number of pictures to print. By connecting a printer supporting PicBridge to the camcorder with USB cable, you can print out pictures directly.

23 languages are supported, and it’s possible to set Anynet+ function. (Anynet+ is a AV network system to control other AV instruments made by Samsung with a TV remote controller.) If setting the introduction of functions, instructions will be shown as a slideshow on the LCD.)　

It’s testing a recorded video. (I was using the Full HDTV, so I could play the recorded video perfectly. For a better video quality, I connected with HDMI and tested as in the picture.) Like I expected, I could confirm much better video quality and sound quality. (I couldn’t feel anything dissatisfactory. But even though I activated the EIS function, there was a little shaking. I think the upgraded EIS function will be needed.)

Like a video, picture quality is quite good, too. (Color is really good, and clarity is also good. Definitely, we can’t compare it with DSLR cameras, but I think it’s good enough for web and development.) @ They were taken with the best resolution, and I resized and cropped.

It’s a test with ISO. There was no noise up to ISO 800, but from 1600 there was some noise. (The picture at the bottom was taken with ISO 800, and if it is resized, there was no noise. I think this quality is good enough to take pictures without flash in the night.)

It’s a special recording function, and with this you can make different picture in different situations.　

[ Design and acting video of Samsung VM-HMX20C ]

Even though it supports so many functions, but there was no problem to use it. (Recently I read that divergence opposite to convergence has become a new trend in the magazine. But I don’t think it’s true. I think the important thing is that how convenient users can use functions, not the simplicity of design or functions. This VM-HMX20C supports many functions, but using it was a different thing, so I think it satisfies my criteria.)

With EasyQ and Q.menu functions, beginners can record videos without much trouble. I saw the design is quite refined. To cover the time delay in the mode change, it’s possible to take pictures while recording. As a brand new product, it supports the face recognition function, and for those who have tremor the hand, the EIS function is included.

The most important thing as a camcorder is video quality, and it’s very contented. (I checked the video with Full HDTV connecting to HDMI, and it played incomparable great quality of videos.) @ The picture quality is quite good. With this Samsung VM-HMX20c, you can record high quality video and take good pictures, I think

Also, it supports the slow sink mode which haven’t been seen in other products, and it’s more impressive than the music slideshow.

However, it could have been better with the longer battery, and if using it for a long time, it is heated. And, the grip which I was dissatisfied with was not advanced much. (Because it’s a cylinder type, the center doesn’t turn to bottom. Although I adjusted the strap, it was still bumpy.)