Customer Reviews

Samsung SCD103 MiniDV Digital Camcorder

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

For this price, you can't go wrong, especially if you're really into video editing using your computer. Just make sure you've got firewire access, and you should be set. Still pictures aren't very good however (I think the digital picture resolution is 680,000 pixels max) but if you just save a still frame onto the memory stick while playing back video, the resolution isn't a problem. Overall, this is a perfect camera for the beginner (incredibly easy menus) or someone on a tight budget.

At the start of our vacation this year our camcorder was stolen! We picked up this Samsung at a local Costco one day before arriving at Yellowstone National Park for a once in a lifetime trip.

My husband took movies all day and we did not have to recharge the battery (although we are getting a backup). The pictures were great! Although, we did see them on 3 different screens and each one the quality of the movies were different. On the large (60") screen they did look grainy but on a 32" they looked great. And we were glad that we had purchased it.

The only reason that I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I have not been able to hook it up to my computer via the USB cable and am online to order the other one. If all goes well I will readjust the stars!

I had a very low budget and a newborn... (you do the math!)
I did my research and finally, I got it.
The features I love:

- Can be used as webcam! I don't understand why they don't promote this feature. In fact, I went to Best Buy to see it and they had no idea about this capability.
- Very light.
- Resolution... it's ok. It's just for family memories... not to broadcast the SuperBowl in HD!!!
- Built-in light.
- Memory stick.
- Night PIX
- Good audio! Nice mic. Really.
- A/V connectors in several flavors.

Things I don't like too much but I can live with:
- Very low resolution in snapshots.
- Included battery lasts... nothing.
- The cover of the A/V connectors is very weak. Any bad movement... and It's broken.

I bought this camcorder because we were on a budget just having a new baby and wanting to record some video of her growing up. I first was scared because I didn't think the quality would be that good after it was uploaded to the internet. To my suprise the quality was phenominal!!! This is a great camera for starters. I live in Houston and it snowed here on Christmas eve so I went out side and used the light and then I used the night vision to take pictures of the snow falling and let me say I was amazed at the quality. The only complaint I have is that the stabilazation is not that great but then again I was using myself as the trypod so can't really complain. Practice will make perfect.

Also the camera comes with all the software and the s-cable, audio/video cables to hook up to the tv as well as a usb cable to connect to the computer and upload. You can use firewire also to transfer data but have to pay extra for the cable 20 something dollars.

I hope that this is is helpful.

When this digital camcorder works, it records a nice picture and captures a lot of sound. It has, however, some major drawbacks.

Our first main gripe is the substandard battery. We've charged it overnight and then would unplug thinking it was fully charged. After one week we'd grab the camcorder and head out the door to capture a magical moment...only to find the battery completely dead.

After our third use, the camcorder now has some type of 'mechanical defect' as the manufacturer's manual calls it. The warranty is recently expired and so we're still debating whether to repair this item or just get another more reliable brand.

If you decide purchase this camcorder, be sure to get extra batteries and always keep one on the charger. Hopefully you'll get more use out of yours than we did ours.

Just bought this camcorder after A LOT of research...and couldn't be happier. It is very simple to use, and the manual is an easy read. The still pics are a little grainy...but we don't plan to use it for that purpose. The microphone picks up wonderful sound and the movie images are crisp and clean. Be careful, there is no memory stick included for still pictures, so you need to buy it. We have had no problems with the battery, although we will buy another one to have on hand for vacations, etc. If you're looking for a great camera, at a great price, this has it all!

Not only did this camera exceed my expectations, but after shopping around, got it for a great price. The zoom and DIS are excellent, and the power nite pix is really cool. Pictures onto the memory stick aren't anything special, but I wasn't buying a camcorder to take pictures anyway. The size is very manageable, and hooking it up via the USB was a snap. The menus become easy to use after you get use to them, and some of the 'quick' buttons let you access functions even faster. The cassette insertion is actually pretty neat, and assuming you're not retarded, you shouldn't have a problem.

This is an awful camcorder. While under warranty the camcorder was repaired. The warranty had ended and I am having nothing but problems again. <ay have to cut my losses and but another camcorder. NOT a Samsung.

Just like "wiseconsumers" experience, we had our camcorder for about 3 months when "PROTECTION!" started flashing across the screen. The first thing I did was check the cassette to be sure that the protection switch wasn't flipped and it was not. Then I checked every option under "menu" to see if there was some setting. Still thinking it was just human error, I started to check the manual and the web for anything I could find. Well, I found that I wasn't the only one who had a mysterious case of the "PROTECTIONS!" I haven't called samsung yet, it's too late tonight but after reading "wiseconsumers" post, I'm ready for a dogfight. At least he didn't have to pay for his . . . .

I have also had problems with this camera. As soon as the warranty period was up, my camera stopped recording. I get a black screen when trying to record and the same plays back. I barely used the camera and always keep it in a safe place. I paid over $300 for a camera that I barely used and broke after the warranty ended, not a very good bang for the buck!