Samsung SCL906 Hi8 Camcorder

by Samsung

Product Details

Product Manual [2.91mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001DRQFS
• Item model number: SCL906
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,142 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 28, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

This Hi8 camcorder has all the right features that will please the avid camcorder fan, or the beginning novice. Its sleek and compact design allows it to go anywhere you go without taking up much space.

22x optical and 880x digital zoom, is perfect for recording crystal clear, high quality video from great distances. Its 270,000 CCD captures stunning, true-to-life color without compromising the size of the camcorder, and the 2.5 inch color LCD lets you see exactly what you are shooting without peering into a small viewfinder.

Features for the SCL906 include, a video light for shooting in low light situations, an external microphone, and digital special effects. The Samsung SCL906 is a great companion to anyone interested in recording digital video.

8mm and Hi8 Format
Offering better sound and video resolution than VHS-C, 8mm and Hi8 camcorders are more compact thanks to their smaller tape format. A higher-quality version of 8mm (270 lines of resolution), Hi8 offers the best video and audio quality outside of the digital range (400 lines of resolution). If you don't plan on burning video to CDs or DVDs or editing your masterpiece on a PC, either an 8mm or a Hi8 camcorder is a great choice for recording family memories. Hi8 and 8mm tapes have recording times of 120 minutes (SP) or 240 minute (LP).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want Clarity, Color And Great Depth?...Get Samsung!, August 16, 2004

By 

PETER J SAMMON "Camman722" (GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung SCL906 Hi8 Camcorder (Electronics)

I videotape a good amount of sporting events for our town...namely Football for the most part. When I had to sell my Sony CCD-TRV66 Hi-8 Camcorder a couple of years ago due to financial difficulty, I never thought I'd find another Hi-8 cam like that one! When things picked up for us a bit, I decided on this one...The Samsung SC-L906. It is superb! Now I suspect that the co. took an old Canon model and applied some of their own thought to it as the styling and features bespeak Canon in many ways. I have owned numerous cams over the years so I know what I am talking about!

The 2.5" LCD is great but direct sunlight may force one to use the B&W Viewfinder instead. The large "Easy Q" button on the side of the camcorder makes for great instant setup enabling the novice to experience great success! As one becomes more familiar with the unit...the "Customized Settings" button will obviously become attractive. Speaking of which there are some wonderful "Special Effects" such as Canon's famed "Mirror Image" which is wild to say the least!

Battery Power is superb given the supplied Lithium-Ion battery lasts for two hours max. Of course if you are going to constantly use the LCD while engaging the very bright built-in light, this will drain the battery even faster! Extra batteries are the cheapest on the market for the Samsungs!

Oh by the way, indoor pictures with the built-in light are just fine! People have to realize that the doggone thing is not designed to fill a large dark room. In that instance you will require professional lighting.

What I do not like about the camcorder is its somewhat awkward "Zoom Control" which is a small spring-like dial that operates from side to side as opposed to the older "rocker" type. Don't worry, just loosen the hand strap a bit and you'll experience little difficulty. Also, at times the "Auto-Focus" feature can be just a wee bit sluggish under low light conditions but is ok overall.

The fact that it's mono and not stereo bothers me also but I will say that the mono audio quality is first rate as the built-in MIC is very wide range with good deep bass compared to my old Sony 66.

The Mini-plug A/V patch can cause problems when viewing on older A/V monitors but on newer sets like the Toshibas...it is just great!

Make sure you purchase an inexpensive 37mm UV Filter for this camcorder as it will cut down on annoying rays and filter through most humidity. It will also protect the Samsung's first rate Main Lens. Even with this filter permanently attatched, you'll still be able to snap on the Samsung's Lens Cap for protection while not in use. Another nice add-on for this camera is Amazon's very low priced 37mm Sunpak Circular Polarizer that will clear up situations where you are forced to film action slightly toward the sun!

All-in-all, if you want a great camcorder at a really low price that operates quietly and smoothly as a newborn baby's pitoot...this is your cam! Use quality Samsung Hi-8 tape which I suspect is actually Maxell XR. You won't believe the low price of the stuff! The sharp colorful detailed pictures are most convincing although a bit of grain will be detected in low-light situations. The "Field Of Depth" is surprisingly good for this model! The Samsung SC-L906 is a superb Hi-8 camcorder that should last for years!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great little camera for the price!, February 1, 2005

By 

M. Sanders "tells it how it is" (Oklahoma City, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samsung SCL906 Hi8 Camcorder (Electronics)

If you're just wanting a camcorder and don't want to spend alot of money, this camera is wonderful. The Samsung SCL906 is similar to its advanced counterparts only without the whistles and bells. It still has great features, like special effects (strobe, mirror, negative, etc), digital zoom, lcd screen, zoom, fade, all the goodies. The only problem I have is that it's hard to find a car adapter for it. I've looked all over the internet and all over the stores and can't find one. If you plan on taking a trip with this camera and want ALOT of video, it might just be wiser to purchase a second battery... or a third. :)

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very nice for Hi-8, but go digital., May 8, 2005

By 

Jeff (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samsung SCL906 Hi8 Camcorder (Electronics)

This Samsung is a very good camera for the price, but somewhat dated. Since there is no USB connection, you can not record DVD's of your images on a computer. Go ahead and get a Samsung Mini DV model and you'll be much more prepared for the future. By the way, these are made in China now rather than Korea.