Samsung HMX-R10 > Reviews (1)

I came across the Samsung R10 by accident when just window shopping in a large retail electrical store.

They were selling one without a box, leads or manual etc at a very low price.

I have a hobby / business recording show videos and promos and I'm always looking out for video cameras and accessories at good prices to expand my equipment.

What drew me to this camera (apart from the very low offer price) was its size. I could see that I could use this camera where a normal, larger camera could not go or be mounted. It's small enough to be considered a mini-cam, but not quite a 'lipstick' cam, but pretty close with the LCD screen shut.

I was also looking for something that I could fit in my pocket to take on days out or holiday that would mean having to lug about of over the shoulder case. This is perfect for that.

So, what is the camera like?...

Well, the picture quality is superb. Although it does have 1080p, I've found the 1080i setting offers the best quality for general recording. The 1080p seems a little jerky for some reason when panning. Others have reported this as well.

1080i is great though and you can set various qualities - standard, fine or super fine.

You can set the quality to Standard definition of course, or somewhere in between if you need to. Recording is onto SD card, and I would recommend a 16gb card to ensure you can record an hour and a half or so in 1080 HD.

One thing to point out with this camera is that it's designed differently to other camcorders. It has an angled lens design (see photo above this review). This means that you hold it in your hand point the camera at 20 degrees to the ground. This does take getting used to, but is comfortable. The only down side is that because there is not hand strap, you always feel a little worried that you will drop the camera. I bought a cheap wrist strap and this makes thing a lot safer.

There is also no camera lens cap - so although Samsung say it has a very durable lens cover, you need to be careful how you store the camera. A small bag is recommend as you don't want to put it into a pocket with keys etc.

You have to concentrate when filming as the way to hold the camera invites shake. The steady cam setting helps, but you will more likely hold on to the LCD screen with your other hand to steady the camera.

Overall, I will be using this for casual filming where lugging about a bigger camera is a pain or when you really need to travel light on a trip etc.

Battery life is ok, but I bought a second battery to put in the case as you'll probably need it for a holiday.

Charging is easy, via a power adapter and this camera has super slow-mo and impressive time lapse recording that is useful for those interested in making videos. If you are also looking for a small camera to use for special recording situations, then this is also a good camera - but remember the lens is angled and so you will need to ensure it's pointed correctly. You can't just lay it flat and film what's in front of the camera.

It has a decent amount of manual controls such as a very impress focus feature that makes footage look very professional. you can also set manual white balance and exposure which is important for anyone filming videos commercially.

Normally, I have to set my camcorder settings to manual to control exposure when filming seriously, but this camera seemed to handle things very well in 'auto' mode with just white balance set manual (in other words, you point it at something white and press 'adjust'. This sets the right colour balance for the room or situation you are recording in.

I do this because I edit professional and want colour balance to be matched between multiple cameras I'm using at any one time. You get far better colour balance this way - but only if you aren't just filming on holiday or whatever, auto settings are absolutely fine for that.

The R10 is also small enough to be mounted for 'point of view' filming etc. So if you have a need for that, take a look at this camera to see if it's what you are looking for. Bear in mind though that it does not have an eye piece view finder, you need to use the LCD screen, which is a decent size (as large as most other camcorders) considering the camera size. The camera does record however with the LCD screen shut, and has a red light to show you (which can be turned off).

You can also rotate the LCD screen and have it fit back into place on the side of the camera. That is useful to see what is being recorded without the LCD screen extended.

If you get a really good deal on this camera and need something ultra-compact, consider buying it bearing in mind it's not a 'traditional' camcorder and takes some getting used to. Otherwise - try before you buy to see if it's right for you.