Samsung DC164 DVD Camcorder with 33x Optical Zoom

by Samsung

Product Details

• Item Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000E0I58K
• Item model number: SC-DC164
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,697 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 28, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer Enjoy the industry’s latest digital camcorder technology. The SC-DC164 DVD camcorder offers the world’s strongest zoom --33x optical/1200x digital -- with images clearly displayed on the 2.7-inch LCD. Turn it on and start shooting in less than 10 seconds. The dual-layer DVD feature doubles the amount of recording time, while a 4-in-1 multi memory card slot lets you store MPEG4 videos and stills. There’s even a handy remote control so you can set up the shots -- and then get into the action yourself!

Get close to the action with high-quality zoom

SC-DC164 DVD Camcorder Highlights

33x optical zoom/1200x digital zoom
The camcorder’s high quality 33x zoom lens lets you get close to the action from a safe distance. And for those ultra long distance shots, the 1200x digital zoom will let you see it all in perfect detail.

2.7-inch wide LCD (230K)
The 2.7-inch wide LCD enables you to catch more of the action compared to viewing from 2.5-inch" LCD using a 4:3 screen format. The 2.7-inch wide LCD display matches the 16:9 aspect ratio of your HDTV, so you can record and playback what you see.

4-in-1 Multi Memory Card slot
The versatile 4-in-1 multi memory card slot offers you the option of Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, SD card or MMC. Use your existing cards or choose the type and size of memory card that best suits your needs.

MPEG4 (720 x 480/30 fps)
MPEG4 provides enhanced video image quality and maximizes the amount of video you can record. In addition, MPEG4 even lets you quickly and easily share video clips via email.

Digital Image Stabilization
The Digital Image Stabilizer eliminates the effects of shakes to ensure extremely sharp pictures even when zooming in for close-ups.

PictBridge
Give your PC a rest. Thanks to the PictBridge function of your camcorder, you no longer have to first download your pictures onto your PC before printing. Save your valuable time and energy. Simply connect a USB 2.0 cable to your PictBridge compatible printer and watch your photos appear. Printing, sharing, and framing your digital pictures have never been easier.

USB 2.0 interface
Allows for easy uploading of MPEG4 movie clips and JPEG still images to a PC.

Web cam
Connect the Memory Camcorder to a PC via a USB 2.0 cable and instantly communicate via live video with business associates, friends and family wherever you are.

16:9 widescreen recording
Samsung’s 16:9 recording option ensures that the entire image is recorded. Once your movies are captured in widescreen format, you can enjoy viewing them without having to lose any of the images on your wide-format HDTV screen.

Double-recording capacity
8cm DVD+R dual layer offers nearly double the recording capacity of a regular disc, so you can capture the entire event without worrying about the remaining length of the DVD.

Compatible formats: DVD-RD-R/+R/+R (Dual Layer)
Worried about using the wrong DVD format? Don’t be. With Samsung’s advanced technology, even a person without any knowledge of DVD formats can easily handle it, because you can use any type of Recordable DVD.

Product Description

Why use a camcorder with tapes when you can use this one that records directly on a DVD? With the Samsung SC-D164 DVD Camcorder you'll have a record of the major moments that matches your most vivid and happiest memories. You'll write those incredible moments directly to a blank DVD; once you're done, you can simply pop the disc into a computer or DVD player and begin sharing your movies. Before sharing, you can preview your video on the 2.7 inch LCD screen. See if you've caught everything - the 680,000 pixel CCD, 33x optical and 1200x digital zoom help you capture every detail brilliantly. 1200x digital zoom 4-in-1 multi-memory card slot compatible with SD - MMC - MemoryStick - Memory Stick Pro Digital image stabilization - Virtually eliminates shake due to normal handheld movement MPEG-4 recording - MPEG4 provides enhanced video image quality and maximizes the amount of video you can record. In addition, MPEG4 even lets you quickly and easily share video clips via email May be used as a Webcam when connected to a PC 16 - 9 recording and viewing - Samsung's 16 - 9 recording option ensures that the entire image is recorded. Once your movies are captured in widescreen format, you can enjoy viewing them without having to lose any of the images on your wide-format HDTV screen Supports DVD-RW/-R/+RW/+R (dual layer) - With Samsung's advanced technology, even a person without any knowledge of DVD formats can easily handle it, because you can use any type of Recordable DVD Is PictBridge compatible Samsung's Audio Enhancements & Effects reduce unwanted ambient sound, improve stereo separation, voice, and music playback, and lets you add echo sound effects Features USB 2.0 connectivity (Windows98, 2000, XP) Includes remote control Unit Dimensions - 2.36 x 3.44 x 4.78 / Weight - 0.95 lbs. Supplied accessories - AC adapter, battery pack, A/V cable, USB cable, remote control, software CD Accept

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not great...just ok, February 5, 2007

By 

Jen "Jen" (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung DC164 DVD Camcorder with 33x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I bought this a week ago. A few things to mention...the indoor recording with low lighting is horrible. DVD's actually look like a movie recorded from the 80's. I opened my blinds and turned all the lights on and it's perfect but that was the middle of the day when the sun was out. There is no night time recording on this. Everything looks dark. I used the DVD -R's. These work fine...you don't have to format it. You do have to finalize the disc...takes about 2 seconds and you are done. I had the Samsung MiniDV camcorder..quality is about the same...zoom is much better on this one. I like the idea of having my disc's ready to watch. I haven't had a problem with the battery but am still disappointed after spending nearly $400 for a camcorder and cannot record indoors if it's dark outside.

UPDATE 02/06/07 - I returned this for the SONY DVD108. Main reason was because for $20 more this camcorder comes with a great niteshot light. The Samsung did not record well indoors with low lighting. Majority of my home videos are of Christmas morning (when it's dark outside) and my kids playing in the living room. Unless it was the middle of the day and I could open the curtains and blinds it wouldn't record well. The Sony DVD108 is much better for the same price. Also the SONY DVD108 has a 40X optical zoom. The man at Best Buy said that optical zoom is almost unheard of. He also said Samsung uses plastic for their lens...Sony uses glass which makes the picture clearer. The zoom on the SONY is fantastic. If you are looking for a camcorder within the $400 price range look at the SONY DVD108 you'll be glad you did. Also - I was able to use the DVD -R's on the SONY DVD108 as well and they work fine. The SONY also has a touch screen menu unlike the Samsung.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a terrible camcorder-Do not take a chance-DO NOT BUY THIS !!!!!, November 6, 2006

By 

D. Champion - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samsung DC164 DVD Camcorder with 33x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

Although some of the reviews are positive, please do not take a chance with this model. I purchased it in April, and have had only one disc (the first one) be able to finalize. After a few calls to tech support, I have been given no explanation,but was told the following each timeI called when it would not finalize a disc: 1) "I am not sure why, but maybe you had a bad disc " (I agreed, there was a possibility since it was the first time) 2)"I don't know, but at least you can still recover the information to your disc-burner on your PC (I agree, but why the heck would I want to continue to do this, I could do this with my old 8mm camcorder, but at least I did not loose the video) 3)AND I QUOTE " Oh, R- don't need to be finalized, you can just drop it in a DVD player, and if it doesn't work, try another dvd player." (Anyone with any sense knows this is totally wrong, and this woman had no ability to be giving out technical advice.) (I simply said okay, but let her know that the main reason I was calling was to document the failure of this device.
I attempted to try a different brand of R- disc, (originally used FUJI, now MAXELL)and after recording almost a full disc, it now reads a "NO DISC" error, and fails to even recognize it. SO LONG MEMORIES !!! There is no way to recover this, since it doesn't even read the disc to transfer to my PC. I am now in the process of gathering up all of the parts and documentation of all of my trouble, plus all of the bad reviews, and head to battle Circuit City for a refund (Somehow, I think I will be out $400 !!!)
As for the earlier review: WHERE DO YOU READ THAT R- IS NOT COMPATABLE ?(IT IS LISTED ON PAGE 10 !!!) WHERE DID YOU READ TO NOT OPEN THE DOOR ? I SURE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.....

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Be ready for LOTS of problems..., February 4, 2007

By 

Daniel Davenport (Phoenix, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samsung DC164 DVD Camcorder with 33x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I bought the SC-DC164 camcorder in Nov 2006. I've spent several hours using/investigating it, after thoroughly reading the user manual. Here's my take on this camcorder: DON'T buy this model if you can't tolerate a lot of problems and "learning experiences" with it! If you don't mind going thru the problems/learning and are willing to buy extra/extended life batteries for it, then you'll probably like it.

NEGATIVES:
1. VERY POOR battery life! A fully charged battery lasts about 15-20 mins before going into RED indicator! The unit may or may not shut down properly at this point, and if it doesn't you may have problems with the current disc you're using.
2. Regardless of what the manual says, this device is NOT compatible with DVD-R discs. I've tried 2 brands and multiple discs. The DVD-R discs can be formatted, but after recording for approx 1-2 mins, I get a "disc error" every time. The disc is useless at this point. I've switched to DVD+RW which seem to work well.
3. The battery CHARGER became defective after 4 sessions of use (approx 3-4 hours of usage time). I now have a partially recorded disc that I can't get out of the camera due to no power.
4. I thought the viewfinder (not the LCD screen) was useless because it was totally out of focus, until I found a tiny note in the manual advising of a tiny focus adjustment located on the right side of the viewfinder when it's extended. Now that I've adjusted it, it's fine. What a pain!

POSITIVES:
1. This device is relatively inexpensive, and has many nice features. The optical zoom is outstanding. It's very light-weight, fits nicely in the palm of your right-hand, and the basic controls are easily accessible.
2. The LCD view-screen works well, and is very versatile.
3. IF (and only if) you use DVD+RW discs, then loading, using, changing discs is a snap. The camera will format these discs, and there is no "finalizing" or "unfinalizing" of discs needed. I've opened, removed, and played a partially recorded disc on my DVD player, and then reinserted the disc in the camera and recorded more video on it successfully. I haven't yet copied video to my PC or other DVD discs, so I don't know if I will have imcompatibility issues there. DVD+RW discs can only be formatted in "VR mode" (which may cause incompatibility with some DVD players).
4. Sound and color of recordings seems to be OK from my limited experience with this device. Low light has not been a problem for me. Auto focus seems to work pretty well.

I've found a 1600mAh extended life battery (double the std capacity) on the web for $25 + shipping. I am torn between getting power problems solved and continuing to use this nice, compact video camcorder; or just returning it and moving on to another model with fewer problems! Buyer beware!