Samsung SMX-F34 Flash Memory Camcorder w/16GB Memory & 42x Intelli-Zoom (Black) by Samsung
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Digital camera reviews of Samsung SMX-F34 Flash Memory Camcorder w/16GB Memory & 42x Intelli-Zoom (Black)
Digital camera Review: Mac Fans, Fear Not!
Summary: 4 Stars
Before I purchased this item, I went to the Samsung website, downloaded the manual and spent a week perusing the features. While it's true that they do tout their own software, which is solely Windows compatible -- guess what? If you are a Mac user who has iLife, (I'm using a sturdy little dinosaur of a Powerbook G4, running Mac OSX 10.4.11 with iLife 05) the video files created by this camera are drag and drop, and you should be able to view and edit them with ease. I'm still marvelling at the amount of features that are included in a camcorder that, when closed, is about the size of a cola can. (And you bet I'll be taking this to Disneyland with me when I turn forty-coughcough.) I'm really enjoying this nifty little gadget.
Late Breaking News: The raw footage is importable into the Movie section of iTunes with no problem; I currently use iTunes version 7.7.1, and the importation was a snap.
Digital camera Review: My 1st camcorder...gets an A+
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're looking for a great 1st camcorder, this is the one. I found it easy to use and very light weight. I'm still getting familiar with it, but am very pleased with the features on this one. Was kinka worried about the low price, but those worries were quickly put to rest...it's a great value and takes great vids!Digital camera Review: Nice Low Price Camera
Summary: 4 Stars
I was looking to buy a new camcorder small enough to be able to bring with me regularly without it being a inconvenience so I would actually get some use out of the camera. I was looking mainly to replace the old family camera that we have had since about 1999, it was a JVC small VHS tape, (Not 8mm) not full size VHS tape either. I was just hoping to have nearly the same quality updated to the new technology and small enough to bring around. First off, I didn't have $600-$1,200 to spend on an HD camera, so it needed to be around $200-$300, this camera was just that. Second, I like to use external lenses such as Wide Angle Lenses and Fish Eyes for sports such as Skateboarding, Snowboarding, and just filming Christmas, Birthdays Ect...This is one of the only low end cameras being sold at best buy that you can actually put external lenses on, it has a ring size (30.5)---- The sony handycam and JVC's are making them with rectangular lense filters which I have yet to see be able to put an External lense on. And 3rd, the camera must be able to record a decent amount of footage without having to buy a $100 Memory Card to get the recording space I desired. The Samsung SMX-F30 has ALL of those features.
Picture Quality:
When you view the picture on the LCD screen in the store it looks just as good as any other. ALL of the cameras near the samsung that are NOT HD, ALLLLLLL record with the same 680p. So when you ask the sales person which one gets the best picture, your just getting a biased answer for their prefferd brand, they are all extremely close in picture quality, not much of a difference to REALLY notice a dramatic quality difference.
But this is what most people don't understand when buying the HDD digital cameras, Most people want to be able to view their footage on their TV and not just the camera's LCD screen, so when people (put down) the picture quality of this camera they don't know what they're talking about. If you plug the camera directly into your tv, press play on the camera and view the footage you have already recorded earlier that day on the samsung, it looks FINE! Exactly what I was looking for, a decent picture, focus is good, audio sounds great. HOWEVER, now you want to put this footage on a DVD right? Show the family, relatives, make copies and store them in the cabinet next to the TV right? Well the trouble comes in here. When you upload your footage to your computer this camera records in a file known as w.264. Thats not ready to just click burn in windows media player and pop onto your new pack of DVD-R's. You have to convert the file type so when you put it in your DVD player it actually works. THIS IS WERE THE QUALITY DECREASES THAT EVERYBODY BLAMES ON THE CAMERA, not only do most people want to edit their footage in an easy to use editing software such as Sony Vegas, Corel Studio, Cyberlink Power Director, (NOT CYBER LINK MEDIA SHOW) the software that comes with this Samsung Camera. When you upload your footage it looses quality in these programs. After you burn to your dvd you will also notice the footage moves slower, even with the video uploaded in these comments above of them using their samsung, you can tell when zooming in and out its moving slower than if you were just pressing play on the camera and watching it through RCA cables to your TV. Maybe I don't have a powerful enough hardrive, maybe the converting software sucks, but I have tried using several top of the line software converting programs and they all lose some of the quality and lose actual speed when burned to a disc. Its not dramatically different but its enough to piss you off. EVEN if you were using a 1080p High Def Camera, you still have to upload to your computer and most of the time convert your files to be DVD ready. Somthing about this process gives it that digital look to it that you dont want to see on your big screen tv in the living room. If someone can help me figure out how to get around this I would appreciate it soooo much. But from what I've seen, researching on youtube, Samsung SMX-F30 camera trials, footage, testing, they all have that digital look that you hope is only seen when you view on the computer but realllllyyyy shows up when you put it on a DVD. IF you have any advice please email me at [...]. I would really be greatful to have the same quality I see when I run RCA's to the TV from the camera, on a DVD that has been edited and thrown in some titles and music.
Overall I think the camera isn't the problem, its understanding how to upload, convert, and burn without losing quality due to other troubleshooting.
Digital camera Review: Perfect for travel and quick shots
Summary: 5 Stars
Pros: Portable, light weight, great design, SD media, long battery life, quiet
Cons: No touch display
Digital camera Review: This camera is better than I expected.
Summary: 5 Stars
I wanted to record my children in a format that I could easily work with and save on my computer. But my biggest concern was video quality. When I looked at it on TV I didn't want to regret not getting a hard drive or HD camera. I have been recording on one setting below the best quality and I would say that the quality is as good or better than my old 8 mm tape recordings. The camera is a breeze to use and it is very convenient and easy to carry with you. The 16 gb built memory is great with room to spare. I would defiantly buy this camera again.