Product Description

Samsung's compact, user-friendly digital camcorders offer an array of advanced video and audio features. Compact in size and easy to operate Samsung camcorders provide a top quality video image that is virtually unaffected by hand movements during recording. For quality, performance and reliability Samsung camcorders have no peers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #121859 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Samsung
• Model: SC-D80
• Dimensions: 12.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical, 400x digital, zoom with image stabilization
• 2.5-inch color active matrix LCD
• Infrared function for shooting visible video in situations with practically no light
• Analog pass-through ports for direct connection to computer

Amazon.com Product Description
In recent years Samsung has gained a reputation for developing great technology at lower prices, which the SCD80 will only enhance. Among its many features are a large 2.5-inch LCD screen, shoe for external accessories, remote control, nine digital special effects, and a color onscreen display with easy-to-use dial navigation controls. The camcorder also has a photo mode where you can record digital stills directly onto the tape.

Lens
The SCD80 has an optical zoom power of 10x and a digital zoom that can magnify up to 400x, which works by electronically enhancing the optical image. A four-step variable zooming speed controls the zoom according to the amount of pressure you apply to the toggle. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes. The infrared function allows you to shoot visible video in situations with practically no light.

Inputs and Outputs
The standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also called FireWire) is present for no-loss connections to PCs or other DV machines. S-video and RCA connections are used for direct viewing on a television or for VHS dubbing. You can also plug in an external microphone via the mic jack for better quality sound.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV digital technology delivers clear, sharp video with up to 500 lines of horizontal resolution--far superior to the 240 lines of resolution offered by 8mm camcorders. You'll get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture. You'll also get excellent sound quality in either 12-bit or 16-bit audio recording modes.

• 16-bit audio includes one set of stereo audio tracks to produce CD-quality sound.
• 12-bit audio utilizes two sets of audio tracks so you can easily add background music or commentary to your videos while maintaining the existing soundtrack.

This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12 the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of two full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Customer Reviews

A more in-depth review than the rest
Since no one here wrote a thorough review of the SCD80, and since I've been a long time Amazon customer, I feel it's time to give back.

Overall, this is a terrific camera for amateurs/novices especially. It has a LOT of nifty features for something this cheap. I won't reevaluate the basic technical features, such as the zoom aspects, as it was already covered in the Amazon Editorial review.

To start off the review, I'd like to mention what I think to be the most important aspect of any camcorder - video quality. I noticed indoor shooting, in low light situations, the quality can indeed be grainy. It's worthy to point out that I've read reviews of other MiniDV cam's in the $300-500 range and people complain about the same thing, so it's simply how much lux your camera has (the more, the better, the better, the more expensive :) ). If you have lighting set up, you can remedy this depending on how much lighting is provided.
Outdoor quality, on the other hand, I must say I am very impressed, especially in comparison to the indoor shooting. I didn't have backlighting problems (when the sun or backlight is so intense and over glaring that your subject becomes dark). In fact, the quality was held intact, AND there is a backlight button if you ever encounter that. Though, as my teacher explained to me, it's best to use WarmCards and exposure settings :)...up to you which works best.

The second most important aspect to me, Audio quality, in my opinion, is AWESOME. The Panasonic PVDV52 MiniDV camcorder, in comparison, one reviewer on amazon says:

"The built-in microphone has very poor sound quality - voices sound very tinny. I wish it had a way of connecting an external microphone."

Hahaha. You won't have this problem w/ the SCD80. As long as your subject is aimed at the front of the camera, you'll pick up voices perfectly. Whatever I shot and recorded, I picked up all the sounds I wanted and needed. In fact, depending on your location, it's so powerful it can pick up the sound of an airliner in the sky. You can use the "WindCut" feature on the camera to suit your needs. Also what's great here is that THERE IS a built-in mic jack w/ the SCD80!!! Not only is the sound quality great as is, but there's the said "WindCut" feature, as well as a mic jack. Though, unfortunately, and this is only through one test, it didn't pick up sound well enough to be considered "good" quality. I guess it simply depends on the mic you use, and the placement of it.

Other things..The LCD screen is adequate, and is the only viewfinder of the two I use. The other viewfinder being the "peekhole," which is in black & white, smaller resolution, and harder to film through. The camera is light, not heavy and clunky. As with most, if not all MiniDV digital camcorders, it has an iLink, or IEEE 394, connection (cable or PCI card not included). Don't have the cable or the PCI card slot, so I have yet to test a transfer to my PC myself.

To break it down..
PROS:
* Audio & Video quality
* size and weight
* connectivity (S-vid, A/V, external mic jacks)
* Additional features (remote control, Audio dubbing, night shooting, Lithium Ion rechargeable battery, AC Adapter in-box).

CONS:
* Low light/indoor shooting = grainy
* External mic jack isn't that terrific (like I said, it could be better depending on a better mic and/or placement of the mic)
* Very minor, only for college students working on projects or for amateur film makers. As with all consumer/prosumer MiniDV cam's, once the power supply is interrupted, or tape is removed, your timer for the next recorded shot will be set back to zero. Once again, if you're shooting a project for school for instance, it will be a bit harder to edit on the computer.
* This is the same w/ the past CON. Again, when power supply and/or tape is interfered w/, and you want to shoot on the same tape after a previous scene/shot, it is VERY HARD TO BACKTRACK AND EDIT! You'll have to find a good spot to backtrack to, and most likely you will have recorded over a few PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS milliseconds of the previous shot. I believe this applies to all or most consumer/prosumer MiniDV camcorders.

To sum it up, some companies may throw in features just so you'll buy their product over a competitor's that doesn't have that feature. However, in this case all of the said features work incredibly. In a similar example, the Panasonic PVDV52 again, and one particular Sony model, a Digital 8 camcorder I believe, has a rechargeable battery with it. But it dies very quickly and those that purchased it were FORCED to buy a new battery, at a VERY high cost. So, w/ the Samsung SCD80, you don't have to worry about that, for example.

I recommend this camera to amateur film makers and students alike (both like myself, heh), as well as for the average person who records precious moments in life (like birthdays, special events, etc.). Even w/ the few minor hiccups (see the CONS section), the audio and video quality outweigh those hiccups alone...not to mention the cool extras you get with it!

Remember to use lighting, and enjoy filming!
I hope this was more helpful than the other "reviews" here.

Great cam for the price
After looking at a ton of cameras I stumbeled onto this one. But I couldn't find too many reviews but the ones I did find only praised it, so I went out on a limb and bought this bad boy. And I'm glad I did. For the price this cam cannot be beat. The picture quality is excellent, not broadcast mind you but hey, it wasn't 3 grand. The zoom and auto focus work really well and so does the night vision. You can see in total darkness. The sound also picks up great because the mic points toward the front not the sky like many other cameras. A cool thing about this camera is that there is no red light when you are recording so you can get real candid shots. The battery lasts for a long time, one charge will last me a week when I film skiing everyday. And the charge only takes about 30 min. The tape load is on the bottom so it cannot be accesed while mounted on a tripod, but it's not a big deal. One thing I've noticed is that when filming in the cold you have to let it record for a few extra seconds or else what you were trying to get will be cut short. Other than that I haven noticed any problems. BTW it does not come with a firewire cord, or the lens attachment that appears in so many pictures of it.

Very Nice for price
If you are looking for a cheap DV cam but want to shoot nice video, this is the one for you, I use it for a TV program, the one CD does nice, just dont move the Camera :). Its great for filming family and friends, its a hard worker.