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  • Introduction

  • Design

  • Front

  • Back

  • Left

  • Right

  • Top

  • Bottom

  • Size & Weight Comparison

  • In the Box

  • Performance

  • Color

  • Low Light Color

  • Noise

  • Low Light Sensitivity

  • Low Light Noise

  • Low Light Color

  • Motion

  • Video Sharpness

  • Testing Samples

  • Usability

  • Ease of Use

  • Auto Mode

  • Other Auto Features

  • Handling

  • Portability

  • Battery Life

  • LCD

  • Stabilization

  • Manual Focus

  • Manual Exposure

  • Miscellaneous Controls

  • Audio Controls

  • Editing

  • Features

  • Compression

  • Media

  • Slow Motion Modes

  • Still Features

  • Lens & Imaging System

  • LCD

  • Connectivity

  • Battery

  • Media

  • Still Features

  • Other Features

  • Panasonic HDC-HS60 Comparison

  • Samsung HMX-H106 Comparison

  • COMP 3

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Introduction
  • Design
  • Front
  • Back
  • Left
  • Right
  • Top
  • Bottom
  • Size & Weight Comparison
  • In the Box
  • Performance
  • Color
  • Low Light Color
  • Noise
  • Low Light Sensitivity
  • Low Light Noise
  • Low Light Color
  • Motion
  • Video Sharpness
  • Testing Samples
  • Usability
  • Ease of Use
  • Auto Mode
  • Other Auto Features
  • Handling
  • Portability
  • Battery Life
  • LCD
  • Stabilization
  • Manual Focus
  • Manual Exposure
  • Miscellaneous Controls
  • Audio Controls
  • Editing
  • Features
  • Compression
  • Media
  • Slow Motion Modes
  • Still Features
  • Lens & Imaging System
  • LCD
  • Connectivity
  • Battery
  • Media
  • Still Features
  • Other Features
  • Panasonic HDC-HS60 Comparison
  • Samsung HMX-H106 Comparison
  • COMP 3
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Introduction

Design

Front

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Back

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Left

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Top

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Bottom

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Size & Weight Comparison

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In the Box

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Performance

Color

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The Samsung HMX-H200 registered a color error of 4.64 in our test and a saturation level of 82.14%. These numbers aren't too shabby, but we expected better—even though the HMX-H200 is an entry-level model. All of the camcorders we compared to the HMX-H200 produced slightly more accurate colors on this test: the saturation level for each model fell somewhere between 80% and 90%. More on how we test color.

The Color Error Map shown above is useful for determining what specific colors the HMX-H200 had trouble rendering accurately. You can see the camcorder did well with certain blues and reds; on the other hand, purples, greens, yellows, and browns, were trouble areas for the Samsung. The HMX-H200 doesn't have any color controls for adjusting things like tone or saturation levels, so what you see in the sample image below is the kind of color rendering you should expect to see from the camcorder.

When you look at the comparison images below, you can see that the Samsung HMX-H200 produced a very similar image to its counterparts—specifically the Panasonic HDC-HS60 and the Samsung HMX-H106. The JVC GZ-HM340 offered more saturated colors and it had the best color accuracy of the set (JVC cams usually lead the pack when it comes to color accuracy). Do keep in mind, however, that what constitutes 'good' color is very much based on personal preference. So, take a look at all of our sample images in order to judge for yourself (also keep in mind the Panasonic HDC-HS60 is the only camcorder in this group that has manual color controls like saturation adjustment and white balance shift).

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Low Light Color

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In low light, the Samsung HMX-H200 produced washed-out colors that weren't all that accurate in our testing. The color error was measured at 6.36 with a saturation level of 59.28%—numbers that rank significantly below than the competition (although the Panasonic HDC-HS60 didn't do very well in this test either). More on how we test low light color.

In the Error Map shown above you can see the HMX-H200 had problems across the entire color spectrum in low light. The camcorder simply didn't capture a bright enough image in low light, which made its colors appear faded and register as inaccurate in our testing. Mid-range and entry-level HD camcorders rarely do exceptionally well in our low light testing, however, so the Samsung HMX-H200's performance isn't that far off the norm. Still, this poor performance—combined with the camcorder's unsatisfactory showing in our low light sensitivity test—doesn't mean good things for the H200's overall quality in low light.

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Noise

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The Samsung HMX-H200 did very well on our noise test, with the camcorder measuring just 0.5425% noise in its bright light video. This is similar to the amount of noise we measured on the JVC GZ-HM340, but it represents a slight improvement over last year's Samsung HMX-H106. All of the camcorder shown below, however, did quite well on this test. More on how we test noise.

Looking at the above crops you can also get a good idea of the attention to sharpness and detail each camcorder is capable of bringing to its video image. The Samsung HMX-H200 has a reasonably sharp image, although the Samsung HMX-H106's image looks a bit crisper in the crop shown above. Full sharpness details can be found in the next section of this review.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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The HMX-H200 earned a very poor score in our low light sensitivity test. The camcorder required 42 lux of light to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor—this is more than double the amount of light required by the JVC GZ-340 to reach the same levels, and roughly triple the amount needed with the Panasonic HDC-HS60 and Samsung HMX-H106. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

Frankly, we're a bit surprised by the lousy performance by the Samsung HMX-H200 in this test, particularly because the HMX-H106 did so well on it last year. The HMX-H200 does have a similarly sized CMOS sensor to the HMX-H106 (1/4.1 inches), but the camcorder's pixel count has been increased to around 4.7 megapixels. This increase in pixels means the sensor has less area to absorb light, thus resulting in worse low light sensitivity.

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Low Light Noise

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The HMX-H200's lone respectable performance in our low light testing came in our noise test. The camcorder measured 1.1875% noise in this test, which is still enough noise that it was clearly noticeable in when viewing recorded video, but is low enough to earn a strong score in this test. Of the camcorders in this set, only the JVC GZ-HM340 had less noise in this test. More on how we test low light noise.

Looking at the crops above you can actually see the fine flecks of noise on the HMX-H200's image. It doesn't help that the camcorder also produced a rather blurred and discolored image in low light as well, but this is something we almost always see on entry-level and mid-range HD models. The JVC GZ-HM340 had the least noise in this set, but that is primarily due to the fact that its low light image was incredibly blurred (it almost looked out of focus). All of the camcorders shown above had at least some major deficiency in our low light testing, but we found the HMX-H200 to have the worst numbers overall.

{{comparison_bars title="Low Light Noise Score Comparison", attribute="Low Light Noise Score", xLabel="Low Light Noise Score"}}

Low Light Color

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In low light, the Samsung HMX-H200 produced washed-out colors that weren't all that accurate in our testing. The color error was measured at 6.36 with a saturation level of 59.28%—numbers that rank significantly below than the competition (although the Panasonic HDC-HS60 didn't do very well in this test either). More on how we test low light color.

In the Error Map shown above you can see the HMX-H200 had problems across the entire color spectrum in low light. The camcorder simply didn't capture a bright enough image in low light, which made its colors appear faded and register as inaccurate in our testing. Mid-range and entry-level HD camcorders rarely do exceptionally well in our low light testing, however, so the Samsung HMX-H200's performance isn't that far off the norm. Still, this poor performance—combined with the camcorder's unsatisfactory showing in our low light sensitivity test—doesn't mean good things for the H200's overall quality in low light.

{{comparison_bars title="Low Light Color Score Comparison", attribute="Low Light Color Score", xLabel="Low Light Color Score"}}

Motion

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The Samsung HMX-H200 has two settings for recording HD video: a 1080/60i mode and a 720/60p option. We did our testing using the Full HD setting (1080/60i) and we found the results quite pleasing. The camcorder managed to capture smooth video with limited amounts of artifacting and blur. Our only complaint is that the clips often played back sluggishly on our computer, which was likely due to the large file size and difficulty with QuickTime handling the MPEG-4 codec. This is a problem we often see with footage from HD camcorders. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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The Samsung HMX-H200 earned a horizontal sharpness of 800 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 600 lw/ph in our testing. These numbers are clearly good enough to place the HMX-H200 near the top amongst mid-range and entry-level HD camcorders. Most impressive is the fact that the HMX-H200 edged out last year's Samsung HMX-H106 in this test, although not by much (this increase in sharpness is probably due to the slightly larger CMOS sensor on the HMX-H200). More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Usability

Ease of Use

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The Samsung HMX-H200 has a simple, familiar design that shouldn't feel imposing or complicated to novice users. The camcorder also has a dedicated auto mode that puts the HMX-H200 into entirely automated control and even locks the user from accessing menus or adjusting certain controls. Unfortunately, this dedicated auto button isn't labeled as obviously as we'd like, but at least it has the word 'auto' somewhere on it (which is more we can say about certain auto modes on other camcorders).

As much as we don't like the touchscreen system for its imprecise control, it is something that is fairly easy to use and figure out (particularly for beginners). The menu system on the HMX-H200 is also very basic with large text that is easy to read. Our only complaint is that the touchscreen buttons are cramped and can be difficult to press while navigating the menu due to the small size of the LCD. There is a Quick Menu feature on the camcorder that is quite useful and helps get around the fact that the main menu can be difficult to navigate. The Quick Menu only has a few options—scene modes, resolution, white balance, exposure, and focus—but they are some of the most commonly used options on the camcorder, so it is good that they are easily accessible here.

The menu has no tool tips or info boxes to help you figure out what each setting does, and the instruction manual that comes with the Samsung HMX-H200 isn't the best we've ever seen. The manual is easy to read, however, so it should earn points from beginners in that category. We're just upset that it doesn't go into full detail about certain camcorder specs or features (it does cover the basics well, though).

Auto Mode is confusingly called Dual Shot mode

Auto Mode

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You can set the HMX-H200 to its dedicated auto mode (called Smart Auto) if you want to run the camcorder on entirely automated settings, or you can use a mixture of automatic and manual controls by running the camcorder in regular mode. We really liked the way the camcorder produced smooth transitions between exposure levels with its auto exposure system, but we weren't as crazy about the autofocus setup. At times, we noticed the HMX-H200 would pop in and out of focus, particularly when there were moving objects at different depths. The autofocus also didn't work as quickly as it does on other models.

The auto white balance generally was adequate, but we noticed some discoloration when we zoomed or switched light sources in auto mode. The camcorder usually fixed this color problem after a few seconds, but it was definitely discernible until the autocorrection kicked in. The Samsung HMX-H200 does not have face detection—a staple feature on models from JVC, Panasonic, Sony, and Canon—but we didn't really miss it all that much.

In Smart Auto mode, the camcorder will attempt to automatically choose the correct scene mode based on your subject and lighting conditions. Sometimes this system worked very well, but if you're shooting in mixed light situations you may find the camcorder switching from a daylight mode to a nighttime mode when you really don't want it to. For most users (except for very inexperienced beginners), we feel that shooting with automatic controls turned on, but Smart Auto disengaged, is the best way to go.

The iAuto mode button is difficult to find, but when you do find it the option for turning on the mode looks like this.

Other Auto Features

Handling

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Samsung is often known for having unusual or unique designs on its camcorders, but the HMX-H200 is nothing if it is not conventional. The camcorder looks just like most entry-level or mid-range HD models—it has a horizontal frame, sports a normal right-side hand strap, and its LCD panel flips out and rotates on the left side. The camcorder does not have the cool rotating hand strap system that was featured on previous models from Samsung (like the HMX-H106).

The HMX-H200 looks very similar to the JVC GZ-HM340 and it even has a similar build to the Panasonic HDC-HS60 (despite the fact that the HS60 has a 120GB internal hard drive strapped to its right side). The slick, glossy coat of paint on the H200 does attract fingerprints, but at least it has a decent hand strap that can be adjusted to fit larger or smaller palms. We don't like the placement of the built-in microphone or built-in speaker, as both can be covered by fingers when you grip the camcorder with your right hand.

The touchscreen on the HMX-H200 can be extremely frustrating at times, but we say this about nearly all touchscreens that we come in contact with on consumer camcorders. Samsung's seems to be particularly inaccurate and we often found ourselves touching onscreen buttons multiple times before the camcorder showed any kind of response. This is made even more annoying by the fact that there is no way to adjust manual controls on the camcorder by using anything other than the touchscreen interface.

The HMX-H200 offers a fairly solid construction, although its buttons don't feel all that strong and the camcorder doesn't have an automatic lens cover (the cover is opened and closed manually using a small switch). The port covers on the camcorder are all well-built and offer good protection.

These dedicated buttons give you quick access to aperture and shutter speed controls.

Portability

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The Samsung HMX-H200 is a lot smaller than last year's HMX-H106 and it also features a far more conventional design—a design that is in the same vein as the JVC GZ-HM340 and the Panasonic HDC-HS60. The Panasonic HS60 is a heavier model, but that extra bulk is due to the fact that it has a 120GB internal hard drive strapped to its right side. For an entry-level HD camcorder, the HMX-H200 is quite small and light, although you could downgrade to an ultracompact camcorder like the Flip if you want something even more portable. The H200 probably won't be comfortable in your pants pocket, but it would manage in a coat pocket or purse. Keep in mind that the camcorder has no internal memory, which means you always must remember to bring along an SD/SDHC memory card whenever you plan on using the HMX-H200 (all of the other models in the table below have some kind of internal memory).

Battery Life

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The battery life on the HMX-H200 with the camcorder's provided battery pack was exceptional. The camcorder lasted for 146 minutes of continual recording (that's 2 hours, 26 min), which is far more record time than we usually see from the average consumer camcorder. This is also 25 minutes longer than the Samsung HMX-H106 lasted in this same test. More on how we test battery life.

Also good news is the fact that the HMX-H200 has a non-enclosed battery compartment, which means you can insert larger batteries into the camcorder in order to obtain longer-lasting performance. The battery release switch is located on the bottom of the camcorder.

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LCD

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Like most entry-level or mid-range camcorders, the HMX-H200 does not have a viewfinder. It's LCD is also not anything special and it has the standard specs of a 2.7-inch screen and a 230,000-pixel resolution. These are essentially the same specs that you'll find on the competition (although the JVC GZ-HM30's LCD doesn't have as good a resolution as the rest of the bunch). The LCD on the Samsung uses touchscreen technology, which most users should be familiar with by now—it's the same system employed by most camcorder manufacturers.

The LCD on the HMX-H200 has a brightness control setting with 36 increments in the camcorder's settings menu. Remember, however, that adjusting the brightness here doesn't actually do anything to your recorded video (it is only for LCD viewing purposes). Altering the brightness settings for the LCD can also have a direct impact on battery life.

Stabilization

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The Samsung HMX-H200 uses an optical image stabilization system (OIS), which is an impressive feature for an entry-level camcorder. Most models in the HMX-H200's price range have digital image stabilization systems that aren't as effective as OIS—and they can result in image degradation when activated. The OIS on the HMX-H200 proved to be fairly effective, reducing 44% of the shake in our low shake test and 51% of the shake in our high shake test. More on how we test stabilization.

The squiggle charts above are visual representations from our stabilization test with the HMX-H200. The orange lines represent the motion of the video image with stabilization turned on, while the blue lines show the shakiness of the image without OIS engaged. You can see that the camcorder did a decent job in stabilizing the image in both of our shake tests. In fact, the camcorder was one of the best entry-level or mid-range models in terms of stabilization (the Panasonic HDC-HS60 also did well in this test). See our test video below for another visual example of the HMX-H200's OIS in action.

Manual Focus

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The adjustment dial makes accurate focus adjustments easy.

Manual Exposure

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The manual exposure controls are only found on the Contour app, not on the camcorder itself.

Miscellaneous Controls

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Tele Macro

Changes the focal range to 1 - 50cm (0.4 - 19.7 inches). This setting is useful if you want to record close-up images by zooming in from a wide angle.

Guideline

Displays a grid on the screen to assist with framing. There are three options on the camcorder: a four-sector grid, safety zone with a center marking, or a 9-sector grid.

Audio Controls

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Samsung only included the most basic of audio features on the HMX-H200. The camcorder has a top-mounted stereo microphone and a wind cut option for reducing wind noise—that's it. There is no external mic port, no accessory shoe, and no manual audio level controls found anywhere on the camcorder. We also must take issue with the placement of the built-in mic on the top of the HMX-H200. When we held the camcorder, our fingers came dangerously close to rubbing the edge of the mic, although we could keep our pinky away from covering it as long as we were careful. This is a problem with most top-mounted microphones, however, so Samsung isn't the only manufacturer that we've criticized for this design flaw.

Editing

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The Samsung HMX-H200 comes with Intelli-studio software that's built into the camcorder itself. You can just connect the camcorder to a computer and you can open up the software from there. Unfortunately, the software only works on PCs (Mac users will have to settle for iMovie or another application), but it did seem to work quite well when we tested it—and the installation process was essentially non-existent. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

Features

Compression

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Samsung is one of the few manufacturers that does not use the AVCHD compression system for recording HD video. The HMX-H200 records using the MPEG-4 H.264 codec instead. MPEG-4 H.264 is similar to AVCHD compression (they use the same codecs), but it doesn't include all of the extra information that is part of AVCHD. This means you can simply drag and drop your HD clips recorded with the HMX-H200 right from a memory card onto your computer.

Individual clips shot on the HMX-H200 are limited to roughly 15 minutes when shooting using the 1080/60i mode with the Super Fine quality setting. If you record a single clip longer than this, the camcorder will automatically begin recording on a new clip. There shouldn't be any gaps in your video, but it may be a nuisance to go back and stitch together these clips during post production. The clip length is longer for the lower quality settings: Fine mode allowed for roughly 23-minute clips.

The Samsung HMX-H200 has tons of recording quality options—so many that we needed two tables to fill out all of the record time information! The first table lists the record time for the camcorder's HD modes (1080/60i and 720/60p), while the second has times for the H200's standard definition mode. Each shooting mode on the camcorder can record video at three different qualities: Super Fine, Fine, or Normal.

The HMX-H200 has one standard definition record mode that captures a 720 x 480 image. This mode also has Super Fine, Fine, and Normal quality options. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The Samsung HMX-H200 has no built-in memory, so all video and photos are saved to removable SD/SDHC memory cards. The lack of any internal memory does put the camcorder at a disadvantage, but it is also the reason Samsung is able to keep the price of the HMX-H200 so low. Samsung has other models in this series—the HMX-H205, HMX-H204, and HMX-H203—each of which include various amounts of internal memory. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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With the Samsung HMX-H200, you can capture still photos at two different sizes: 2880 x 1620 (4.7 megapixels) or 1920 x 1080 (2 megapixels). The 4.7-megapixel photo option is interpolated, however, as it exceeds the pixel count of the camcorder's image sensor (3.32 megapixels). This means the 2-megapixel still photo is the only native resolution still image option available on the camcorder. Most mid-range or entry-level HD camcorders top out with native still image resolutions of around 2-megapixels (see table below).

The Samsung HMX-H200 does not have a built-in flash, which is one of the significant differences between it and its cousin-model, the HMX-H106. The camcorder does have a continuous shot feature, self-timer, and the ability to capture still photos while recording video. The camcorder also has three photo sharpness settings, which is something found on numerous Samsung models.

Some of the HMX-H200's best numbers came in our still image testing. In our still color test, the camcorder had an excellent color error of 3.13 and a saturation level of 104.7%. These numbers are top-notch, particularly for an entry-level HD camcorder.

All of the camcorders in this group were able to capture still images with good color accuracy, although we prefer the rich, deep colors captured by the JVC GZ-HM340 the most.

The camcorder delivered an equally impressive performance in our still noise test by measuring just 0.54% noise in its still images. This is a very low noise level and it is roughly equivalent to the amount of noise the camcorder registered in our bright light video test.

The HMX-H200 isn't equipped with impressive still image specs, so we didn't expect all that much from the camcorder in this test. The camcorder managed to produce a horizontal sharpness of 1412 lw/ph with 15.3% oversharpening and a corresponding vertical sharpness of 766 lw/ph with 26.6% undersharpening. Compared to other entry-level and mid-range HD models, these numbers aren't that bad—and they are a good chunk better than what we saw on last year's Samsung HMX-H106.

Lens & Imaging System

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The Samsung HMX-H200 features an entirely different lens than the Samsung HMX-H106, which we reviewed last year. The lens on the new Samsung has a 20x optical zoom, uses a manual lens cover switch (instead of an automatic cover), and it has a very wide angle—59 degrees—for shooting video (the average for a consumer HD camcorder is between 45 - 50 degrees).

LCD

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Like most entry-level or mid-range camcorders, the HMX-H200 does not have a viewfinder. It's LCD is also not anything special and it has the standard specs of a 2.7-inch screen and a 230,000-pixel resolution. These are essentially the same specs that you'll find on the competition (although the JVC GZ-HM30's LCD doesn't have as good a resolution as the rest of the bunch). The LCD on the Samsung uses touchscreen technology, which most users should be familiar with by now—it's the same system employed by most camcorder manufacturers.

The LCD on the HMX-H200 has a brightness control setting with 36 increments in the camcorder's settings menu. Remember, however, that adjusting the brightness here doesn't actually do anything to your recorded video (it is only for LCD viewing purposes). Altering the brightness settings for the LCD can also have a direct impact on battery life.

Connectivity

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The HMX-H200 is definitely not loaded with ports or terminals, but it has the basic video connections. On the left side of the camcorder, inside the LCD cavity, is a small door that flips down to reveal the main collection of ports. Here you'll find the HDMI, USB, and dual AV/Component-out port. The AV/Component-out port uses a proprietary design, which is why it will work with the provided AV/Component cable. The cable is a bit strange because it looks like a standard Component video cable, but it can also be used as a regular AV cable (the blue connector also has a yellow tag on it, so when used as an AV cable you treat that connector as the video output).

On the right side of the camcorder is the SD/SDHC card slot, which is also protected by a flip-down door. We're not crazy about the positioning of this card slot, as it is right behind the hand strap, but this shouldn't interfere all that often. The last port on the camcorder is the DC-input, which is found on the back side next to the battery compartment. The DC-input is also well-protected by a hard cover that flips down to give you access to the port.

Battery

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Also good news is the fact that the HMX-H200 has a non-enclosed battery compartment, which means you can insert larger batteries into the camcorder in order to obtain longer-lasting performance. The battery release switch is located on the bottom of the camcorder. Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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The Samsung HMX-H200 has no built-in memory, so all video and photos are saved to removable SD/SDHC memory cards. The lack of any internal memory does put the camcorder at a disadvantage, but it is also the reason Samsung is able to keep the price of the HMX-H200 so low. Samsung has other models in this series—the HMX-H205, HMX-H204, and HMX-H203—each of which include various amounts of internal memory. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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With the Samsung HMX-H200, you can capture still photos at two different sizes: 2880 x 1620 (4.7 megapixels) or 1920 x 1080 (2 megapixels). The 4.7-megapixel photo option is interpolated, however, as it exceeds the pixel count of the camcorder's image sensor (3.32 megapixels). This means the 2-megapixel still photo is the only native resolution still image option available on the camcorder. Most mid-range or entry-level HD camcorders top out with native still image resolutions of around 2-megapixels (see table below).

The Samsung HMX-H200 does not have a built-in flash, which is one of the significant differences between it and its cousin-model, the HMX-H106. The camcorder does have a continuous shot feature, self-timer, and the ability to capture still photos while recording video. The camcorder also has three photo sharpness settings, which is something found on numerous Samsung models.

Some of the HMX-H200's best numbers came in our still image testing. In our still color test, the camcorder had an excellent color error of 3.13 and a saturation level of 104.7%. These numbers are top-notch, particularly for an entry-level HD camcorder.

All of the camcorders in this group were able to capture still images with good color accuracy, although we prefer the rich, deep colors captured by the JVC GZ-HM340 the most.

The camcorder delivered an equally impressive performance in our still noise test by measuring just 0.54% noise in its still images. This is a very low noise level and it is roughly equivalent to the amount of noise the camcorder registered in our bright light video test.

The HMX-H200 isn't equipped with impressive still image specs, so we didn't expect all that much from the camcorder in this test. The camcorder managed to produce a horizontal sharpness of 1412 lw/ph with 15.3% oversharpening and a corresponding vertical sharpness of 766 lw/ph with 26.6% undersharpening. Compared to other entry-level and mid-range HD models, these numbers aren't that bad—and they are a good chunk better than what we saw on last year's Samsung HMX-H106.

Other Features

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Time Lapse Record

This special recording feature is useful for recording scenes that take place over a long period of time—usually it is used for capturing a sunrise or a plant growing. When the mode is selected, you pick the recording interval (1, 3, or 5 seconds) and you set the maximum time limit for recording (24, 48, or 72 hours). One second of video will be recorded at every time interval you've selected, and all video is recorded using the 720/60p Super Fine record setting. No audio is recorded when these feature is active.

Digital Effects and Faders

You can add some flair to your video by including digital effects or faders. The effects options on the camcorder are: Black and White, Sepia, Negative, and Art. Faders can be added to the beginning, end, or beginning and end of your clips.

Panasonic HDC-HS60 Comparison

The GZ-HM340 is an entry-level HD camcorder from JVC that costs roughly $100 more than the Samsung HMX-H200. When you break it down, however, the two models really aren't that much different in price: the GZ-HM340 comes with 16GB of internal memory, compared to no internal memory on the Samsung. These two models are also very similar in weight, size, and shape, so the main thing that sets them apart is their features and video performance.

The Samsung did better in our motion test and it produced a sharper image than the JVC GZ-HM340. The JVC, on the other hand, was the stronger camcorder in low light and was able to produce more accurate colors. The Samsung HMX-H200 does have more features with its shutter-priority and aperture-priority setting, and it utilizes a touchscreen LCD, while JVC employs its Laser Touch Strip.

It is tough to make an official call between these two camcorders, but we say go with the Samsung unless you are planning on doing the bulk of your shooting in low light situations. The HMX-H200 has more manual controls, and its sharper image in our bright light testing is a strong selling point.

Samsung HMX-H106 Comparison

The Panasonic HDC-HS60 is a very different camcorder from the HMX-H200, mainly because it records to a 120GB internal hard drive (along with the option of recording to SD/SDHC cards as well). This difference in media type means that the HDC-HS60 is heavier, larger, and significantly more expensive than the very cheap Samsung HMX-H200 (which records to memory cards only). A more similarly priced camcorder to the Samsung HMX-H200 would be the Panasonic HDC-SD60, which has the same specs as the HDC-HS60 except it records only to memory cards and has an MSRP of $499.

The HMX-H200 and Panasonic HDC-HS60 are very similar in terms of lens, sensor, and pixel count. This means they make for very good comparisons when looking at video performance. Both camcorders did well on our sharpness and motion test, but the Panasonic held an edge in low light performance. Overall, we like the image produced by the Panasonic slightly better and the HDC-HS60 also includes more manual controls and features than the Samsung HMX-H200.

If you're willing to spend the extra cash, the HDC-HS60 is definitely the better model here. The Panasonic HDC-SD60 is also a strong choice, although it still costs a good $100 more than the Samsung HMX-H200. We think this extra cash is worth it, though, based on the superior controls, design, and performance of Panasonic's mid-range HD camcorder line.

COMP 3

The HMX-H106 is an HD model from Samsung that was released last year, but is still available in stores. The HMX-H106 isn't really a true predecessor for the HMX-H200, as the two camcorders feature wildly different designs and performance. Like the HMX-H200, the HMX-H106 is part of a series of camcorders, all of which contain varying amounts of internal memory. The HMX-H106 carries a $849 price tag primarily because it includes a 64GB internal solid state drive. The HMX-H100 ($449) is the more equivalent comparison model to the HMX-H200 (both camcorders have no internal memory).

Overall, we like last year's HMX-H106 more than the new HMX-H200. On the HMX-H106, Samsung employed a fun and unique rotatable grip that made the camcorder stand out among the competition. Yes, this odd design does make the HMX-H106 a bulkier camcorder than it needs to be, but it added a fresh perspective on the way camcorders could be held and it was great to see that kind of ingenuity in the consumer camcorder market. The HMX-H200, on the other hand, has a very traditional design, which means Samsung basically sacrificed originality for portability.

Somewhat surprisingly, the HMX-H106 did better on our low light tests than the HMX-H200, although the two camcorders did very similar on the rest of our tests. Both of the camcorders offer some limited manual control options (including shutter-priority and aperture-priority modes), but the HMX-H106 does have a built-in flash, while the HMX-H200 has a larger optical zoom.

Since the HMX-H200 is so much cheaper than the HMX-H106 (and its card-only counterpart, the HMX-H100), it would be difficult for us to say it isn't the better buy. Still, we like the unique design of the HMX-H106 (and the entire HMX-H100 line) that we think it is worth checking out. It may not justify the higher price tag, but it is something people should get a hands-on feel for themselves. After all, comfort and handling are two very important aspects when choosing a consumer camcorder.

Conclusion

With its traditional design and basic feature set, there really isn't anything special about the Samsung HMX-H200. This is a somewhat disappointing observation for us, as Samsung has long been the proprietor of unique camcorders—both good and bad—that often stood out from the crowd. Last year's HMX-R10 and HMX-H106 were perfect examples of this.

By going in a more traditional direction, the Samsung HMX-H200 fits the mold of most entry-level models. It is very similar in size and shape to the JVC GZ-HM340 and it has nearly identical sensor and lens specs as the Panasonic HDC-HS60. Only two things really makes the HMX-H200 stand out: its sub-$400 price tag and impressive optical image stabilization. The low cost may have to do with the fact that it comes with no internal memory, but it remains one of the more affordable Full HD camcorders on the market. Meanwhile, the optical image stabilization is unique among entry-level camcorders and will provide a welcome improvement to handheld videography.

The HMX-H200 performed well in most of our testing, although it had some problems with low light sensitivity. Its image was sharp and its motion video looked good, but its performance wasn't all that much different than the competition. The camcorder does have a fun Time Lapse Record function that is fairly unique, but the rest of the controls on the HMX-H200 are fairly run-of-the-mill.

The HMX-H200 may be best suited for those who are looking for an upgrade over an ultracompact camcorder like the Flip UltraHD. The Samsung has more features, a 20x optical zoom, and a larger body, but its price tag is only about $200 more than most ultracompact camcorders.

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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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