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  • Introduction

  • Product Tour

  • Color & Noise Performance

  • Motion & Sharpness Performance

  • Low Light Performance

  • Compression & Media

  • Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling & Use

  • Playback & Connectivity

  • Audio & Other Features

  • JVC GZ-X900 Comparison

  • Sony HDR-TG5V Comparison

  • Panasonic HDC-SD20 Comparison

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Specs and Ratings

  • Introduction
  • Product Tour
  • Color & Noise Performance
  • Motion & Sharpness Performance
  • Low Light Performance
  • Compression & Media
  • Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling & Use
  • Playback & Connectivity
  • Audio & Other Features
  • JVC GZ-X900 Comparison
  • Sony HDR-TG5V Comparison
  • Panasonic HDC-SD20 Comparison
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery
  • Specs and Ratings

Introduction

The Samsung HMX-R10 records video to SD/SDHC memory cards and is currently available in either silver or black.

Product Tour

 

**Lens & Imaging System**


 

The HMX-R10 has a very odd lens that is angled 25-degrees higher than the rest of the camcorder's body. This means you must hold the camcorder at a downward angle to get a straight-on shot. This can be useful for certain shooting conditions and if you like to hold the camcorder away from your body or down by your hip. It does make the R10 look pretty funny when it is mounted to a tripod, however. Since the lens angle is higher than the body, the tripod must be tilted down significantly for a straight-ahead shot—giving the appearance that the camcorder is being pointed towards the ground.

The lens doesn't have a built-in cover or an external cap, so you have to make sure to clean it regularly to avoid fingerprints and dust. The lens only opens to f/3.5, which isn't very wide for a consumer camcorder. Under the hood, the camcorder is fitted with a huge 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor, which is responsible for the R10's 9-megapixel still image capability.

 

**Front**


 

**Right**


 

**Back**


 

**Left**


 

**Top**


 

**Bottom**


 

**In the Box**


Color & Noise Performance

 

**Color***(7.22)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 didn't show us anything special in our color test, but it didn't perform poorly either. The R10 had a normal color accuracy for a camcorder of its class—posting a color error of 4.85 and a saturation level of 107.2%. This is very similar to the numbers the Sony HDR-TG5V earned in this test, and it is a fairly common score for a mid-range camcorder. (More on how we test color.)

Overall, the R10's colors looked quite good, although some of the orange and red tones appeared a bit faded. The color error chart above shows that the camcorder rendered green and light blue colors very accurately, but that it had problems with red, brown and dark blue tones. The HMX-R10 doesn't have any color controls other than a few digital effects like Black and White, Sepia, and Negative mode. So, if you want to increase color depth or adjust the sharpness of the image, you're out of luck. You can, however, adjust these things in post-production. In fact, Samsung's supplied editing software is pretty easy to use and offers quite a few color and image adjustment controls. Read more about the HMX-R10's supplied Intelli-studio program here.

The above frame is a sample image from our color testing. Notice how the train and pipe-cleaners appear a bit overexposed in the 100% crop. The colors lack punch because of this slight overexposure. The HMX-R10 does allow for exposure to be set manually, so you can opt for a darker image if you like that look better. All of our testing is done in auto mode with a manual white balance, however, so what you see above is how the camcorder captures a bright light image using its auto controls.

The HMX-R10 captures a very bright video image compared to the rest of the camcorders in the set above. The JVC GZ-X900 appears much darker, although its colors were the most accurate of the bunch. The Panasonic HDC-SD20 and Sony HDR-TG5V had roughly the same color error as the Samsung HMX-R10. Below are close-ups of specific color patches pulled from the test images above.

In the color patches for the Samsung R10 you can see quite a bit of artifacting, blocking, and splotches. While the rest of the camcorders in this set also show this problem, it is more prominent on the R10. The patches above also show the strong disparity in auto exposure on the JVC GZ-X900 and the rest of the compared camcorders.

 

**Noise***(7.15)*


The HMX-R10 measured 0.8125% noise in our bright light testing. Again, just as we saw in the R10's color test, this is a fairly average score for a mid-range HD camcorder. The three other camcorders we used as comparisons had lower noise levels in their bright light video image, with the Panasonic HDC-SD20 putting up the best numbers in this test. The Samsung R10 does have a noise reduction setting that can be turned on and off. Using it in our bright light testing, we found it lowered the camcorder's noise level just slightly, to approximately 0.75%. (More on how we test noise.)

While the R10's noise levels weren't too bad, they were significantly worse than the competition shown above. You can see the difference in the crops too. The HMX-R10 appears a bit fuzzy and has a faint coating of odd, discolored splotches. The images from the other camcorders look much softer, smoother, and cleaner. The HMX-R10 does have a sharp image, however, although it isn't as sharp as the JVC GZ-X900.

 

Motion & Sharpness Performance

Low Light Performance

 

**Low Light Sensitivity***(0.0)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 is not a good camcorder for recording in low light situations. It did absolutely terrible in our low light sensitivity test, requiring 51 lux of light to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor. Most mid-range HD camcorders generally require somewhere between 15 - 30 lux of light to produce the same results, so this is a very disappointing performance for Samsung. There is a slight glimmer of good news, however. The R10 had a far better low light sensitivity when we tested it using its 30p record mode. Using it to record video, the camcorder needed only 22 lux of light to reach 50 IRE. (More on how we test low light sensitivity.)

The HMX-R10 isn't alone with its abysmal low light sensitivity score. The JVC GZ-X900 actually did worse—needing 56 lux of light to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor. These lousy scores are directly related to the fact that both the R10 and X900 have extremely high pixel counts for video recording. Their CMOS chips are so populated with pixels that they aren't able to absorb enough light. The Sony HDR-TG5V and Panasonic HDC-SD20 have much lower pixel counts, and, in turn, they did much better in this test.

The HMX-R10's lens doesn't have a very wide aperture setting, which is another factor in the camcorder's poor low light sensitivity. The widest aperture on the camcorder is f/3.5, while many other consumer models open up to f/1.8. A wider (also called 'faster') aperture allows more light to enter the camcorder's lens, thus resulting in better low light sensitivity.

The HMX-R10 does have a low light mode called C.Nite, which can be set to Super or Normal. With the Normal setting, the camcorder engages its auto slow shutter, which allows the shutter to drop to 1/30 of a second in low light situations. We don't test using this mode because, while it does boost exposure levels, it also results in slow, choppy motion. The Super C.Nite option increases exposure even more, but it fixes the shutter speed at 1/15 of a second, which means your video will have more blur and look even choppier than Normal C.Nite mode.

 

**Low Light Color***(7.98)*


The HMX-R10 did fairly well in our low light color test. The camcorder registered a color error of 4.47 with a saturation level of 62.96%. This color error is slightly better than the camcorder managed in our bright light test, and it is better than the other camcorders we used as comparison models. Using the R10's 30p mode in our low light testing, the camcorder did even better, measuring a 3.25 color error. (More on how we test low light color.)

Most mid-range camcorders struggle with low light color accuracy, so the R10's color error of 4.47 is actually quite good. The more expensive JVC GZ-X900 captured a sharp image, but produced a strange green-yellow hue in low light. The Panasonic HDC-HS20's low light image was blurred, washed-out, and had far less accurate colors than the Samsung R10. The Sony HDR-TG5V didn't do to bad in this test, although it too had worse color accuracy than the Samsung.

If you don't mind the look that an alternate frame rate produces, you are better off shooting with the 30p mode on the Samsung R10—especially in low light. Its captured image was much brighter and its colors looked deeper in 30p as opposed to 60i. As you'll see in the next section, Low Light Noise, the Samsung R10 has some trouble with noise in low light conditions. Below is a comparison of the R10's low light image shot using its 30p mode and regular 60i mode.

 

 

 

**Low Light Noise***(5.57)*


Noise levels in the HMX-R10's low light footage were unfortunately high. The results weren't as bad as the worst offenders, like the JVC GZ-X900 and the Canon HF20, but there was enough noise for it to be very noticeable and distracting. The camcorder averaged 2.0950% noise in our low light test. This is a good deal higher than the Sony HDR-TG5V (1.56% noise) and the Panasonic HDC-SD20 (0.455% noise). (More on how we test low light noise.)

Above, you can see the kinds of problems the Samsung HMX-R10 had in low light conditions. The camcorder's image is very splotchy, blocky, and discolored. You can see the presence of noise quite clearly and it distracts from the captured image. Most camcorders have quite a bit of trouble in low light, but the Sony HDR-TG5V manages quite well compared to the rest of the models in this set. Sure, it still loses a lot of detail and sharpness, but it's image isn't completely fuzzy or discolored like the rest of the crops shown above.

Fortunately, the Samsung HMX-R10 does have a few extra modes that can help clean up its low light image, however. First, there's the aforementioned 30p shooting mode. Using it boosts the camcorder's exposure levels (because the frame rate is lower) and the results are a brighter, less noisy picture. With the 30p mode, the R10 averaged 1.79% noise in low light (down from 2.095% in regular 60i mode).

There's also a Noise Reduction setting on the HMX-R10 that can be used to reduce the presence of noise. Shooting with Noise Reduction engaged didn't boost the exposure of the captured image, but it did produce a smoother, cleaner image—with a significant reduction in noise. The R10 measured only 1.485% noise in low light with the Noise Reduction setting turned on. You can see how much each setting helped out by looking at the crops above.

 

Compression & Media

 

**Compression***(7.0)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 uses H.264 compression. This is similar to AVCHD (used by most manufacturers), except it doesn't have the branding and it is easier to import the videos directly from the memory card to a computer. Video files are saved with the MP4 extension and they can simply be 'dragged and dropped' from a memory card right onto a computer or media player program. AVCHD files, on the other hand, must be imported using special software before they can be viewed on a computer.

The compression system used by the R10 is very similar to what Sanyo uses on its camcorders. While it is easier to get video clips off of the camcorders and memory cards, the footage often must be rendered when you bring it into a non-linear editing program. This process can take some time (depending on how powerful your computer is), so it is usually just as time consuming as the AVCHD importing process.

The camcorder offers four HD record modes and two standard definition options. The highest quality setting is 1080/60i Super Fine, followed by a 1080/60i Normal setting. Samsung doesn't list the bitrates for these quality settings, but it is likely the Super Fine setting uses a higher bitrate than the Normal one. There's also a 1080/30p mode and a 720/60p setting. The two standard definition option record at 720 x 480 and 640 x 480. The latter setting creates video clips that are very small and are designed for quick upload to the web or mobile devices.

 

**Media***(5.0)*


The HMX-R10 records to regular SD/SDHC memory cards. The cards have become quite common, so they're easy to find and can be purchased at a relatively low cost. The camcorder does not contain any internal memory, however, so you must remember to buy a SD/SDHC card before you venture out for some shooting. The memory card slot is located on the bottom of the camcorder, in the same compartment that houses the battery pack. The only thing annoying about this placement is that you cannot switch out cards while the camcorder is mounted to a tripod.

The maximum file size for one video clip on the HMX-R10 is 3.8GB. So, if you shoot continuously for roughly 25 - 30 minutes, the camcorder will automatically create a new file. There is no loss of data when the camcorder does this (one file picks up right where the other left off), but you'll have to rejoin these clips in post-production if you want them as one, large file.

 

The table below shows the record time on the R10 when using its different video quality settings:

 

**Editing***(9.15)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 comes with editing software built right into the camcorder. This program—called Intelli-studio—is only compatible with Windows and it behaves exactly as you might expect a third party Windows application to behave.

For starters, Intelli-studio editing software did not automatically launch on our PC as advertised. It was, in fact, disguised as a CD drive with an incomprehensible name. When we double-clicked on that drive, the software launched and prompted us for an update, which we installed. The update required us to install the software on our computer. This installation—combined with the fact that the software didn't automatically launch—defeats the purpose of having something built into the camcorder. There was no real difference between this process and using a separate CD to install editing software.

If you don't want the software to launch automatically, you can turn this option off in the Settings menu.

 

Once you have the software properly installed, it will automatically prompt you to import all your footage onto your PC. Backing up your files onto a computer is always recommended, so we suggest you do just that. Unfortunately, the process can take quite a while and this automated features doesn't allow you to select which files to import. Once imported, files are organized by date. You can also manually import files from your camcorder or any folder on your computer.

 

The Edit feature offers a surprisingly robust selection of features, including movie effects (like scratchy old film or sepia tone), fine-tuning of brightness, contrast, or saturation, eight different transition effects (of variable duration), plus the ability to insert empty images, text, and sounds. You can also trim and splice your videos. Most consumer camcorders offer less with their included software and few are as simple to use as Intelli-studio. If you're working in a Windows environment and looking for an alternative to MovieMaker, Intelli-studio is not a bad option.

For sharing your videos, Intelli-studio has a very bare bones interface that allows you to upload to YouTube, Flickr, or a custom site of your own choosing. You can also share your videos via email. Unfortunately, the options are quite sparse. You can't add tags or adjust privacy settings before you upload. This is a disappointing shortcoming for an otherwise impressive program.

 

Manual Controls

 

**Auto Mode***(10.02)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 features a dedicated auto mode called Easy Q. We're not sure what the 'Q' stands for (maybe it means 'quick?'), but the mode is definitely easy to use. What it does is it puts all the camcorder's controls on auto—except for zoom—and enables you to simply worry about framing your shot. With Easy Q engaged you can't even access the camcorder's menu to adjust settings. Because of this, Easy Q has a few quirks. For example, if you have the camcorder set to 720/60p recording and you turn on Easy Q mode, the camcorder will continue to record at 720/60p. You have to turn off Easy Q, change the record setting, and turn Easy Q back on if you want to go back to the default record option. Easy Q mode also automatically engages the R10's Digital Image Stabilization system.

If you're a more experienced user, or you just don't like the idea of using an 'easy' mode, you can still run the camcorder with automatic controls outside of Easy Q mode. Each manual control—like focus, aperture, and shutter speed—can be set to manual or automatic separately in the camcorders menu. This means you can turn on manual focus, while leaving everything else automated (or you could do the same with aperture or shutter speed).

Auto exposure and autofocus worked quite well on the HMX-R10. Autofocus was fast and exposure adjustments were smooth when we moved the camcorder from light to dark shooting environments. There was some problems with overexposing bright scenes, but this is common in mid-range camcorders. The auto white balance setting was okay, but we recommend setting a manual white balance whenever possible (especially indoors under mixed light).

There are also two options to supplement the camcorder's automatic image adjustments: Backlight Compensation and Face Detection.

Low Light Modes

The R10 has a special low light mode called Super C.Nite. This mode has two different settings: normal and super. 'Normal' Super C.Nite is a regular auto slow shutter mode, which will activate a slower shutter speed (down to 1/30) if the camcorder detects a dark enough environment. 'Super' Super C.Nite fixes the shutter speed at 1/15 of a second. There are also scene modes called Night and Candlelight, which seem to activate an auto slow shutter, as well as alter white balance, and other image settings.

Scene Modes

The Samsung HMX-R10 has a handful of scene modes, called *i*SCENE. They're pretty much the same standard fare you'll find on most camcorders. Options include: Auto, Night, Sports, Portrait, Spotlight, Beach/Snow, Food, and Candlelight.

 

**Zoom***(6.0)*


The Samsung R10 has the same disappointing zoom controls as previous iterations of Samsung camcorders. The toggle itself is more than adequate: it gives the impression that variable finger pressure will produce variable zoom speeds with perfect responsiveness. Unfortunately, this is all an illusion. The toggle may seem to respond to different finger pressures, but there is only a single, fast zoom speed. If you want something a little slower, you can use the zoom buttons on the LCD panel; these also only offer a single zoom speed, but it's slower than the speed produced by the toggle.

If there is zoom speed variability in either the toggle or the LCD buttons, it is barely noticeable and impossible to control.

 

While zooming, a small scale will appear on the screen, giving you your general position in the overall zoom range. It will not tell you the precise zoom ratio measurement.

 

**Zoom Ratio***(2.55)*


The R10 is equipped with a 5x optical zoom and an 8x Intelli-Zoom. The Intelli-Zoom is the equivalent of Advanced Zoom from other manufacturers: the optical zoom range is increased, supposedly without a negative impact on image quality. We certainly hope this is the case, since there is no option to turn off Intelli-Zoom. The camcorder also has a 100x digital zoom feature—which severely degrades image quality when used.

 

**Focus***(3.75)*


The R10 offers three varieties of focus: full auto focus, full manual focus, and touch point focus. The manual focus works like many of the other image controls on the R10: a scale on the touch screen allows you to make adjustments by tapping on either end of the scale. While at first glance there appear to be distance markers for each focal increment, these disappear as soon as you start adjusting the focus. If you want to see the distance measurement for the manual focus level you've selected, you'll have to back out and reselect manual focus. It's too bad there isn't a distance measurement for each individual increment.

 

Using manual focus at all can be an unwieldy experience. First of all, you have to use the touch screen, which forces you to obscure the frame with your own finger. Secondly, there are so many increments that any significant focus adjustment is very tedious. Finally, there are no focus assist tools to guide you into making the correct focus selection.

The touch point focus, on the other hand, is quite reliable and intuitive. You can either select Touch Point from the focus submenu or press one part of the screen for about two seconds.

**Exposure***(7.2)*


Exposure is adjusted manually on the R10 using the EV (Exposure Value) tool. There are a total of thirteen increments available for adjusting image brightness.

 

**Aperture***(7.5)*


Aperture can be adjusted manually on the R10, independent of shutter speed or any other image controls. When the tool is selected, you use the touch screen to raise and lower the aperture on a small slider. The tool is intuitive, but we don't like making image adjustments with a touch screen, where you have to block your view of the shot in order to shift the aperture. The available aperture range is f/3.5-f/16.

 

**Shutter Speed***(5.6)*


The R10 also gives the user direct control over shutter speed, utilizing a similar sliding bar on the touchscreen. When recording at 60i, the available range is 1/60 through 1/10000. The only way to get a slower shutter speed is by activating a special low light mode: the Night or Candlelight scene modes, or Super C.Nite. In the 'Normal' setting of Super C.Nite, an auto slow shutter will reduce the shutter speed to 1/30 if the scene requires it. (You can't select 1/30 manually). In the 'Super' setting of Super C.Nite, shutter speed is fixed at 1/15.

 

**White Balance***(8.0)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 has the same typical list of white balance presets that are available on all Samsung camcorders—and most consumer camcorders, for that matter. There is an auto mode, two outdoor, and two indoor settings. The Fluorescent actually looked quite good to the naked eye, but the Tungsten setting was less successful in responding the the wide variety of color temperatures that tungsten lights often produce.  Similarly, auto white balance had varying degrees of effectiveness, depending on the lighting conditions.

Fortunately, there is a manual white balance option, which works very well in anything but the darkest scenarios. Just select Custom WB, hit okay, and the camcorder will take about one second to make its adjustment. The tool is very fast, simple to use, and effective.

 

**Gain***(0.0)*


There's no manual gain control on the HMX-R10. You can, however, adjust ISO manually in photo mode (the feature isn't available in video mode). Most mid-range camcorders don't offer any kind of manual gain control, although a few manufacturers are beginning to include some gain options. JVC allows for auto gain to be turned on and off, Sanyo offers ISO control for video, and Canon's high-end models have an auto gain limiter function. Panasonic is the only manufacturer to offer direct gain adjustment, although the aperture must be all the way open before gain can be set.

**Color & Image Controls***(1.0)*


 

**Other Manual Controls***(2.0)*


 

Still Features

 

**Still Features***(13.36)*


Since the Samsung HMX-R10 can take native 9-megapixel still photos, it is no surprise that the camcorder is also loaded with still features. The R10 offers manual ISO control for photos, a built-in flash, two continuous shooting speeds, bracket shooting, a self-timer, seven still image size options, and three photo quality settings. The maximum photo resolution for the R10 is 4000 x 3000, which is 12-megapixels. Photos taken at this resolution, however, are interpolated because the camcorder's effective pixel count for still photos is just over 9-megapixels. This means the 12-megapixel photos really won't be any higher quality than the 9-megapixel ones, they'll just be larger, blown-up images.

You can take photos with the R10 in video mode, but the image will be the same size as the video you are capturing (1920 x 1080 if you're shooting Full HD). Switching the camcorder over to photo mode (by pressing the Mode button) gives you far more still image options. Here, if you go into the menu system, you can adjust photo size and access the camcorder's plethora of still features. All the manual controls that are available in video mode are also located here—shutter, aperture, exposure, and focus adjustment. There area also a couple of controls that are available only for photos. You can set ISO levels (from 50 - 32000), turn the Dynamic Range feature on and off, and use a 2-second or 10-second self-timer. The 10-second self-timer is also available in video mode (but not the 2-second one).

The camcorder's built-in flash has a number of settings. There's a Red-Eye reduction option, a mode called Fill-In that forces the flash to fire regardless of the light conditions, and a Slow Sync setting for using the flash with slow shutter speeds in low light.

There are a couple of continuous shooting modes available on the HMX-R10. There's regular Continuous Shot, which can be set to Normal or High Speed. With Normal mode the camcorder takes roughly one photo per second (for as long as you hold down the shutter button). High Speed allows for roughly seven images per every three seconds. There's a Bracket Shot function that takes five photos, each with a different brightness setting, when you press the shutter button.

Strangely, Samsung moved and renamed the the R10's touch-point focus feature in photo mode. It is called Magic Touch in photo mode and has its own menu option, while it is simply located under the Focus menu in video mode (and called touch-point focus). Magic Touch does exactly the same thing as touch-point focus does in video mode—it allows you to touch the portion of the screen you want to bring into focus.

The HMX-R10 has an interesting Interval Record option that allows you to create stop-motion video by setting the camcorder up to record single frames at various intervals over long periods of time. You can read more about this feature here.

 

**Still Color***(11.63)*


So, the HMX-R10 is loaded with still features and can take native 9-megapixel still images, but how did it do in our actually testing? The answer is, quite good. For starters, its color error was a very strong 3.01, which is better than the camcorder did in our bright light video testing. It also measured a saturation level of 91.63, so the colors are quite vivid and have some pop. (More on how we test still color.)

Above, you can see the camcorder still had trouble with orange and yellow tones, but everything else in our still image testing was very accurate. Below, you can see that the R10's still image is a bit overexposed, just as it was in our video testing. This gives parts of the image a washed-out look compared to the deep, contrasted image from the GZ-X900 to its right. All the camcorders below have good color accuracy in their still images, although the Samsung R10 and the Sony TG5V were slightly ahead of the pack.

 

**Still Noise***(6.35)*


The HMX-R10 averaged 0.7% noise in our still image testing. This is a decent showing, but we expected slightly better results considering the camcorder produced roughly the same amount of noise in our video testing (0.8%). Still, it is a better score than the JVC GZ-X900 managed (1.2% noise) and the Sony HDR-TG5V (0.92% noise). The Panasonic HDC-SD20 had the least amount of noise in its still images (0.39%), but it only takes photos at a 1920 x 1080 resolution (1.2 megapixels). (More on how we test still noise.)

 

**Still Sharpness***(8.17)*


Still sharpness is the most important test for determining still image quality. This is the test that shows how crisp and how much detail the camcorder will be able to capture with its still images. Since the R10 can take native 9-megapixel photos, we had high expectations for this test. The camcorder didn't disappoint—it managed a horizontal sharpness of 1755 lw/ph with 0.1% undersharpening. Its vertical sharpness was even better, coming in at 1928 lw/ph with 14.3% oversharpening. These numbers are very good for a camcorder and they approach the capabilities of an entry-level digital camera. The GZ-X900 is also billed as having true 9-megapixel capability, but it did slightly worse than the R10 in this test. The best showing in our still sharpness test comes from the Sanyo VPC-CG10, however.  (More on how we test still sharpness.)

We tested the HMX-R10 using both its native 9-megapixel mode (2456 x 2592 resolution) and its interpolated 12-megapixel option (4000 x 3000). Since the 12-megapixel mode is interpolated, the images captured at that resolution didn't have better sharpness than the 9-megapixel pictures—they were just bigger when viewed on a computer at full size. We recommend using the 9-megapixel mode to get the best quality images from the Samsung HMX-R10, as it is the highest native resolution offered on the camcorder. See the Still Features section earlier on this page for more information about native and interpolated resolutions.

Handling & Use

 

**Ease of Use***(7.25)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 is a very easy camcorder to use. Only a handful of buttons are located on the camcorder's body, which gives it a less daunting and cluttered appearance. To make things even simpler, Samsung includes an Easy Q setting on the HMX-R10. Turning on Easy Q puts the camcorder into an entirely automated mode. This means things like exposure and focus are handled by the camcorder while you are able to concentrate on framing the image (zoom controls are also still available in Easy Q mode). In an effort to fool-proof the camcorder, Easy Q mode even blocks access to the R10's menu system—so, essentially, you're forced to use entirely automated controls.

If you want to experiment with some of the R10's additional features, you have to turn Easy Q off. This is where things get a bit more difficult. The touchscreen LCD system is horrendous for making manual adjustments. It simply isn't accurate and we often found ourselves pressing the on-screen buttons numerous times before we got a response from the camcorder. There are some well-implemented touchscreen features, however. The Touch Point focus system works seamlessly with the touchscreen, as does the manual one-push white balance. Menus are fairly easy to navigate using the touchscreen, although there is no info or help button to assist newbies. The provided instruction manual is also pretty good, although you need to access it via the provided disk or download it from Samsung's website.

The only other worrisome aspect of the HMX-R10 is its unique design and handling issues. Traditional camcorder users may be put off by the angled lens and lack of a right-side hands strap, which means the camcorder may take some getting used to. Overall, however, we found the design to be fairly easy to use once we got the hang of it.

**Handling***(6.5)*


Every year, it seems there are fewer products out there that offer the traditional, horizontal camcorder design. The Samsung HMX-R10 is particularly unique for a number of reasons. First, it has a tilted lens that is 25-degrees higher than the rest of the camcorder body. This means, if you want to get a straight-on shot, the natural position for holding the camcorder is at an angle. This is very different from the eye-level shooting most experienced videographers are used to. Does this lens design make for more comfortable shooting? The answer is, sometimes. If you like shooting close to your body or from your hip, the tilted lens can work quite well. It feels a little awkward holding it in the traditional manner, however, as we show in the photograph below.

 

There aren't too many buttons on the HMX-R10, as most functions are engaged by using the camcorder's touchscreen interface. Holding the R10 with your fingers wrapped around its top and your thumb at its back gives you the most control over the camcorder. Your thumb lines up quite well with the zoom toggle and stop/start record button this way. The camcorder is quite slippery holding it this way, however, as it includes no right-side hand strap. Samsung does supply a brown lanyard that attaches to the right side of the camcorder, but it isn't very comfortable and it doesn't offer much (if any) wrist support.

The camcorder feels more comfortable when holding it with your thumb on its top, as seen in the photograph below. In addition to feeling better in your palm, this method also allows you to get a better grip on the R10. The curved shape of the camcorder's back side fits quite well into your palm when you hold it in this manner. Of course, when you hold the camcorder this way, you don't have easy access to the rear-mounted zoom toggle and start/stop record button. This is why Samsung conveniently includes these buttons on the LCD panel (see above photo). So, you can hold the camcorder as seen below and use your other hand to control the zoom and start/stop recording. These LCD panel buttons are designed pretty well and they are better than similarly-placed buttons featured on camcorders from other manufacturers.

The LCD on the R10 uses touchscreen technology, so you can expect the LCD to get cluttered with greasy fingerprints after a few minutes of use. There's nothing really new about the R10's touchscreen—it really isn't much different than the ones featured on Sony and Panasonic camcorders. Manual controls are a terrible pain to adjust using the touch system, while menus aren't too bad to navigate.

The HMX-R10's body, which comes in black or silver, doesn't attract fingerprints due to its matte finish. It does, however, scratch somewhat easily. The R10 doesn't come with a lens cap either, so you have to be very careful when you transport the camcorder. We would have liked to see Samsung take some extra steps towards making the R10 a more durable product, especially since it's such a compact, portable device.

 

**Stabilization***(1.65)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 has a digital image stabilization option that can be turned on and off while you're shooting video. We'd prefer the camcorder to have an optical image stabilization system (OIS), but that feature is usually reserved for high-end models. The R10's digital image stabilization setting didn't produce very good results in our testing. With our low shake test, the camcorder's DIS reduced the shake by 16%. In our high shake test, however, the camcorder showed no sign of improving the shakiness of the video. (More on how we test stabilization.)

**Portability***(9.82)*


The HMX-R10 is very light for a mid-range HD camcorder, although the 'average' weight amongst camcorders is definitely getting lower every year. The camcorder weighs only 229g without its battery pack. The pack adds on roughly 30 extra grams, so the total weight is approximately 260g or so. This is much lighter than the titanium-bodied Sony HDR-TG5V (290g) and the larger JVC GZ-X900 (298g). To assist with portability, the Samsung R10 ships with a lightly padded pouch that snugly fits the camcorder and closes with a Velcro snap.

Still, there are plenty of smaller camcorders on the market than the HMX-R10. The ultracompact flash camcorders like the Flip Mino HD and the Sony Webbie HD models can be transported in a pocket with ease. The HMX-R10 can fit in your pocket, but its thick, horizontal design would probably make things uncomfortable. Also, the lack of any internal memory on the R10 means you must remember to pack an SD/SDHC card along with the camcorder. We do like that Samsung put all of the ports right on the body of the camcorder itself. This avoids the need for a bulky docking station, which is something both the JVC GZ-X900 and Sony HDR-TG5V require.

 

**Battery Life***(5.5)*


The HMX-R10 lasted for 1 hour, 50 minutes, and 18 seconds in our battery life test. This is a good showing for such a small camcorder and it is better than the battery life we tested on the JVC GZ-X900, Sony HDR-TG5V, and Panasonic HDC-SD20. All of these camcorders, with the exception of the HDC-SD20, have enclosed battery compartments, This means you can't load in a larger battery pack if you want longer-lasting performance. The Samsung R10 has its enclosed battery pack on the bottom of the camcorder, in the same compartment that houses the SD/SDHC memory card slot. (More on how we test battery life.)

 

 

**LCD & Viewfinder***(7.99)*


The Samsung HMX-R10 doesn't have a viewfinder, so all your filming must be done using the 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD. The screen has a decent resolution of 230,000 pixels and its 2.7-inch size is average for a mid-range camcorder. It can rotate up to 180 degrees (just like most camcorder LCDs), and it features a couple of brightness, color, and contrast settings.

The most important aspect of the LCD is that it uses touchscreen technology. With Panasonic joining in on the touchscreen fun this year, there are now three manufacturers that use a touch-LCD system for camcorders (Sony is the other). If you hate touchscreens, there really isn't anything different about the R10's that will change your mind. It functions much like any other touchscreen, although we did find it to be a bit more accurate than Panasonic's system. Unfortunately, the R10's touchscreen does not have a calibration option, which is something featured on both the Panasonic and Sony models.

 

On the LCD panel, to the left of the screen, are a set of buttons—Q. Menu, Zoom, and an extra Start/Stop Record button. These buttons are located here to give you better access to them when holding the camcorder with two hands. This way, you can zoom with your left hand while holding the camcorder with your right hand. It also gives you the option of holding the R10 with your thumb on top of the camcorder, rather than with your fingers wrapped around the top.

Brightness and color can be set on the LCD, each with 36 increments of control. There's also a feature called LCD Enhancer that boosts contrast. Samsung claims this setting will help out when shooting in bright daylight, but we didn't notice too much of a difference. To conserve battery life, the LCD can be set to automatically dim if the camcorder doesn't do anything for more than 2 minutes. Pressing any button (or tapping the screen) brings the LCD brightness back up.

 

 

**Menus***(6.5)*


The menu system on the Samsung HMX-R10 isn't overly complex, but there are quite a few options on the camcorder so things do get a bit crowded. To access the camcorder's menu, you tap the small icon in the lower right of the LCD screen. This icon is the same whether you're in video mode, photo mode, or even playback mode. Once you open the menu, you'll see two tabs at the top of the screen. The first is a collection of Recording Options, while the second tab (labeled with an icon of a gear) is full of administrative Settings.

The Record Options tab has 6 separate pages of settings in video mode and 7 pages in still mode. You can cycle through these pages by pressing the up and down arrows on the left of the LCD. Cycling through the menu pages is pretty simple with the touchscreen and the menu system is fairly responsive overall. The options are spaced out enough (4 options per page) so that it is easy to select the specific one you are looking for. The Record Options menu has a see-through background, which is helpful when you turn on features that alter the appearance of your image (like white balance, for example).

The Settings Menu has a similar design to the Record Options menu, although its background isn't see-through and it has 7 pages of options. The Settings Menu is also the same whether you access it in video mode, photo mode, or playback mode. The options in the Settings menu control things like LCD brightness, camcorder sound effects, date, and time. You can also set the language of the menus here, and the Samsung R10 has 29 language options.

In both Playback Mode, the R10 offers 2 pages of menu options. The options are different whether you're in Still Image or Video Playback, however (see above). The HMX-R10 also has a Quick Menu feature that is opened by pressing the Q. Menu button on the LCD panel. The Quick Menu is basically a set of four menu options that are chosen by you. So, you can set whatever 4 menu options you use most often on the R10 as your Quick Menu selections. Photo Mode, Video Mode, and Playback mode each have their own customizable Quick Menus. This is actually a very handy feature and it makes the R10's long list of menu options easier to pair down—as long as you don't use more than 4 menu options on a regular basis.

Playback & Connectivity

 

**Playback***(6.5)*


 

Basic video and photo playback on the HMX-R10 is just like any other consumer camcorder. You enter Playback mode by pressing the playback button on the LCD screen. Here, all your videos are arranged as thumbnail images and you tap on a thumbnail to bring up a full-screen playback of that video. There are three tabs at the top of the screen—one for HD videos, one for standard definition videos, and one for still photos. At the bottom of the playback screen are three buttons that change the thumbnail view. The first does a 3 x 2 thumbnail display (6 images in total), the second does a 4 x 3 (12 images total) and the third organizes media by date. To switch back to shooting mode, you tap on the icon of the camcorder (or camera in still mode) in the lower left corner.

When viewing videos, the VCR playback controls are all located as on-screen buttons. This is a bit of a nuisance, as it means the buttons end up blocking a significant portion of the screen when you are using them. On a positive note, the R10 has a lot of VCR controls. There's fast forward, rewind, and slow motion playback (up to 1/16 normal speed). Samsung even includes a few Apple-like touchscreen gestures on the R10. You can swipe your finger right to left across the screen to advance to the next video or picture (swiping from left to right brings you to the previous clip). Sliding your finger vertically controls playback volume. While these 'gestures' are an interesting addition to the touch-sensitive LCD, Samsung still needs to improve them quite a bit. We found the camcorder's reaction to be rather delayed when we used the swiping motions and the volume adjustment system wasn't very responsive.

Another key feature of the Samsung R10 is called Quick View. This allows you to immediately playback the most recent video the camcorder has recorded, right after you've finished shooting. So, as soon as you stop recording a video, a small playback icon appears at the center of the LCD. Tap it and the camcorder will playback the clip. Once it is done playing, the R10 will re-enter shooting mode automatically. This feature is similar (although better implemented) to Sanyo's Video Review mode.

 

If you dig into the camcorder's Playback Menu, you'll find a ton of extra playback features. You can do some internal editing (divide, combine, and partially delete portions of clips), create playlists, or use a highlight playback feature that plays back random portions of clips you've recorded. You can also use Continuous Capture to capture still images from your recorded video footage—with options for 5, 3, or 1 still image per second of video.

As with most camcorders, the Samsung R10 offers a slideshow mode for playing back still photos. You can setup a slideshow with a number of options: 1 or 3 second image display intervals, 7 background music selections (as well as random or off), and 3 separate transition effects. There's also an 8x digital zoom option available for still images.

**Connectivity***(2.38)*


The HMX-R10 isn't loaded with connectivity options, but it has all the basics. All the camcorder's ports are located on the back of the camcorder, behind a small, plastic port cover. Here you'll find the HDMI-out, DC-input, and the combo AV-out, Component-out, USB port. The combo port is of proprietary design, which means it will only work with Samsung's supplied cables.

You may notice the camcorder doesn't come with a regular AV-out composite cable (you know the ones we're talking about, with a yellow, red, and white connector). Instead, it comes with a Component cable that also doubles as an AV cable. The green connector on the Component cable can carry an analog video signal, which is why it is tagged with a small piece of yellow tape. So, if you're connecting the HMX-R10 to a non-HD television, you can use the Component cable as an AV cable. If this sounds confusing, you're not alone. Reducing the amount of necessary cables can be a good thing, but this 2-in-one setup can be rather confusing for people who aren't well versed in audio/visual technology.

 

While it's convenient to have all the ports located in one place, things can get a bit cramped when you have multiple cables connected to the camcorder. There isn't much room between the HDMI port and the DC-input, so if you want to have the R10 plugged into a TV and AC power at the same time, be prepared for your cables to get ab it tangled. We are happy to see, however, that Samsung includes all the necessary ports on the actually body of the camcorder, rather than resorting to using a docking station. The grey, plastic cover does a decent job protecting all the ports and it snaps into place quite easily. It is tethered to the camcorder via a flexible piece of plastic.

Located on the bottom of the camcorder is the battery compartment and SD/SDHC memory card slot. Both are behind a hard-plastic door that pops open when you slide its its button lock. This compartment seems designed pretty well and the door covering provides adequate protection. The only annoyance is you can't change battery packs or memory cards while the camcorder is on a tripod.

The HMX-R10 has no external mic jack, headphone jack, or accessory shoe. Most mid-range camcorders don't include these ports, so the R10's connectivity options are normal for a camcorder of its class. The HMX-R10 does have an option for Samsung's Anynet+ technology, which allows you to control the camcorder using a Samsung TV remote (as long as the camcorder is connected to a television that also supports Anynet+).

 

 

Audio & Other Features

JVC GZ-X900 Comparison

The Samsung HMX-R10 and the JVC GZ-X900 have a lot of similarities. Both have a 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor under the hood, can take 9-megapixel still photos, and include a 5x optical zoom. Neither camcorder has any internal memory, and both record to SD/SDHC memory cards. Both camcorders also feature low-quality slow motion modes.

The big difference, however, is the fact that the GZ-X900 is roughly twice the price of the HMX-R10 ($999 for the JVC vs. $499 for the Samsung). What does the GZ-X900 give you for this extra cash? Optical image stabilization is the big thing (the R10 only has digital stabilization), and the X900 has better performance in bright light than the Samsung. Of course, the JVC GZ-X900 is also bigger than the R10, although its smooth, rectangular design makes it quite portable.

While the GZ-X900 did very well in our bright light testing, it ran into a wall when we tested it in low light. Like the Samsung R10, the X900 had horrible low light sensitivity and produced a lot of noise in our testing. Its low light image also produced an odd, greenish hue. The GZ-X900 does not have any alternate frame rates other than its low-quality slow motion modes.

If you want a camcorder that can take 9-megapixel still images, the Samsung HMX-R10 is the better all-around device. The fact that it costs half as much as the GZ-X900 simply reinforces this fact. The Samsung did better in our still image testing and it is a better camcorder in low light conditions than the X900.

 

 

 

 

 

Sony HDR-TG5V Comparison

Like the JVC GZ-X900, the Sony HDR-TG5V is roughly twice the price of the Samsung HMX-R10. The Sony did a bit better than the Samsung in our video testing, but the R10 kept up quite well, solidly positioning itself as a bargain camcorder. The thing is, the Sony HDR-TG5V only takes 4-megapixel still photos, so it won't be able to get you the still sharpness that the Samsung R10 is capable of. If you're looking for a top-notch video/photo hybrid, the Sony HDR-TG5V isn't the model for you.

What makes for good comparison between the TG5V and the R10 is their similar size. The HDR-TG5V is very compact and should be able to fit in your pocket with relative ease (as long as your pockets are lose). It has an upright design that is more portable than the R10's horizontal construction, and it includes 16GB of internal flash memory in addition to a Memory Stick PRO Duo card slot (the HDR-TG1, a nearly identical model from Sony, records to memory cards only). The Sony has a longer optical zoom than the R10 (10x vs. 5x) and the camcorder also includes optical image stabilization. Both models make use of a similar touchscreen LCD system, although the TG5V features Sony's new menu interface, which it debuted this summer.

These are two rather different camcorders. The HMX-R10 is a good deal for what it offers, while the HDR-TG5V is a bit overpriced. The Sony does have a sleek, solid design with its strong titanium body, but we're not sure that alone justifies a near-$1000 price tag. We think the R10 is a better value and has better still photo capabilities, while the Sony gets the edge in our video performance testing (particularly in low light).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Panasonic HDC-SD20 Comparison

The Panasonic HDC-SD20 falls into the same price range as the Samsung HMX-R10. Both record solely to SD/SDHC memory cards, but the SD20 is larger, has optical image stabilization, and includes a traditional right-side hand strap. Its video doesn't have the sharpness of the Samsung R10, and its still image features are severely limited. The Panasonic SD20 only takes photos at one size, 1920 x 1080, which is a far cry from the native 9-megapixel capability on the R10.

In our video performance testing, we side with the HMX-R10 hands down. The SD20 did eek out a few better numbers in our low light testing, but its image is faded, washed-out, and fuzzy when the lights are dim. In bright light, the HDC-SD20 doesn't have the sharpness or image quality to stand up to the HMX-R10. Both camcorders captured motion quite similarly, however, and each offers an alternate frame rate other than 60i (30p on the R10, 24p on the SD20).

If you don't mind the unique handling of the HMX-R10, we feel it is just as good of a product as the Panasonic SD20. The HDC-SD20 is a more traditional camcorder, however, so experienced users may prefer how it handles. Both camcorders use touchscreen LCDs and neither include electronic viewfinders. If you like the performance of the Panasonic HDC-SD20, but you're looking for something more compact, check out the new Panasonic HDC-TM10. It is approximately the same size as the Samsung R10, but has similar specs and performance to the Panasonic SD20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Specs and Ratings

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Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

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