Samsung's U10 mini camcorder features full-HD video recording

Lori Grunin | Jul 15, 2009

The Samsung UMX-U10. (Credit: Samsung)

Samsung's taking its sleek smartphone stylings and applying them to its debut entry into mini camcorder territory. Looking a bit like the Memoir, but with the lens section angled slightly upward for (presumably) more comfortable operation, the HMX-U10 combines an eye-catching design with some--but not all--of the features necessary to succeed in the competitive direct-to-Web camcorder market.

It certainly takes the lead by offering 1,920 x 1,080-pixel, 30fps video; the Flip UltraHD, Creative Vado and Kodak Zi6 all do only 720p-quality. And while the CMOS sensor is relatively large compared to the Flip and Kodak--1/2.3 inch vs. 1/4.5--it also crams in boatloads more pixels to be able to claim 10-megapixel still photos.

Like its compatriots, the U10 will allow for USB battery charging--however the USB cable isn't built in--and ship with in-camcorder software for editing and direct-to-YouTube uploading. The U10 does offer an SD card slot, a useful feature which the Flip lacks, but has a smaller 2-inch LCD. Like its cohorts, the U10 has a fixed focal-length lens. But it's a pretty slow one, F3 compared to Flip's F2.4 and Kodak's F2.8, which, especially in conjunction with the high-resolution sensor, doesn't bode well for low-light video quality.

With dimensions of 56 x 103 x 15.5mm it's slightly wider than the Vado but smaller than the rest. That doesn't seem to include the lens, which pokes out from the body a bit. It's one of the lightest at 95g, though.

When it ships in September, the U10 will be available in silver, red, green and black. Samsung will be asking US$199.99 for it, putting it at the pricey end of the spectrum.

Via Crave CNET

Filed under: Digital Cameras
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