Samsung SCD5000 DuoCam MiniDV Camcorder/4MP Digital Still Camera

Other products by Samsung

Product Details

Product Manual [3.67mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 5.5 x 3.2 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000088NMA
• Item model number: 5000
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,884 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 13, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
Samsung Electronics introduces the SCD5000, the latest in Samsung's line of digital products that seamlessly combine the qualities of a MiniDV digital camcorder with a 4-megapixel digital camera. Unlike other similar products, which tend to take one of the two functions as an afterthought--that is, either poor resolution for stills, or extremely limited recording time and quality for motion pictures--the SCD5000 performs superbly at both functions.

The SCD5000's unique swivel lens mechanism permits easy switching between the two functions; one side of the assembly houses the camcorder lens and sensor and the other side holds the mechanism for the digital still camera.

The digital still camera function creates sharp images with 4.13-megapixel CCD resolution. Compared to most digital camcorders, which store low-resolution still images at 640 x 480 pixels, the SCD5000 produces 2,272 x 1,704 images suitable for large-size prints. Additionally, the SCD5000's embedded strobe allows still picture taking in low-light conditions. Other features include a 3x optical zoom for camera and swivel lens assembly. Images can be stored in Memory Stick media and transferred through USB ports.

As a digital camcorder, the SCD5000 features 680K pixel CCD, MiniDV, and MPEG-4 recording. The lens allows users the option of a 10x optical or 800x digital zoom. Samsung's proprietary Power Nite Pix function greatly improves picture quality under unfavorable light conditions. And the SCD5000's 2-inch trans-reflective LCD viewfinder ensures optimal clarity even under direct sunlight. Captured footage is transferred through the IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connector.

Product Description
The DuoCam is the latest in Samsung's line of digital convergence products that seamlessly combines the qualities of Mini-DV digital camcorder with a 4.13 Mega pixel digital camera.Compared to most digital camcorders, which store low-resolution still images at 640 x 480 pixels, the SCD5000 produces 2272 x 1704 size ultra-high resolution images suitable for large size prints.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Horrible Indoor Video Recording Quality, August 16, 2003

By A Customer

The video quality indoors is absolutely horrible, even with the night shot features, and every possible combination of settings, etc. I tried really hard to find reasons to keep this camera. But in the end, the video quality was too horrible to justify it as a $... digital still camera.

Outdoors, the video was OK producing ever so slightly washed out colors, but here is the real problem. Moving between light and moderately dark areas of a small room produced horrible video. During playback you either got something that looked like pure night or the sun all in one room. The video recorder does not gracefully adjust between light and moderately light areas of a room. Occasionally when using the zoom, a pure white line would be recorded vertically as part of the video!!!!!

Now for the camera. One thing that annoyed me after a few minutes was the constant manual flipping of half of the device between still and video. I did a comparison between the Samsung still digital camera and my Sony 3.34 MP camera that I already owned. Disappointment again. Horrible color from Samsung (washed out colors). I was not impressed with the quality after comparing about 10 different pictures of varying light, indoors, outdoors, etc. Hands down the Sony 3.34 MB won.

I returned the Samsung camera and bought instead the Sony TRV70 for about the same price (I would like to have tried the TRV80 but $... more was just not in the cards for an 1" more LCD). What a difference. When it comes to color and light (indoors especially), Sony seems to have those two figured out. Awesome video recording indoors with the Sony. All around the video was so much better with the Sony. The still are not as good as my Sony 3.34 but if you can live with reduced picture size, the quality is pretty good (plus no manual flipping of half the device). I'll still probably take both the video and the camera on the next trip (pending cooperation from the wife). Really, if you ignore such frills as Bluetooth and Internet connectivity from within your camcorder (!!!), you can probably buy something much cheaper than the TRV70.

One day, we'll all carry one device that produces high quality video and stills. But for now, that day is not here yet.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this camcorder!, October 29, 2004

By	T. Mcgrath - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This camcorder is a piece of junk. The low light is really horrible. The picture is grainy and the autofocus is slower than my grandma. Spend a little extra a get a quality camera...not this one!