Samsung’s rugged sports camcorder, the SC-X210L, is a rugged compact model that records video on SD cards.
The original remote lens connected to a helmet or headband via a USB cable. It is now going wireless.
The new SC-X210WL ($599) feature an external lens with a wireless connection.
The new Samsung Sportcams, like the SC-X205WL and SC-X210WL (with 512Meg & 1 Gig SD cards respectively), feature higher resolution and a wireless connection although whether it uses Bluetooth, WiFi, or something else, was not specified.
The camera uses MPEG4 ASP compression, Samsung’s electronic image stabilizer, a 680K CCD with 10x optical/100x digital zoom.
With no cords on the camera, you don’t have to worry about it snagging on anything. The SC-X210L also doubles as an MP3 player, voice recorder and data storage device. The unit also includes a carrying case and webcam module.
The non-wireless SC-X205L and SC-X210L (with 512/1G memory) are currently available and provide provides 720p resolution with the internal camera, the wireless SC-X205WL and SC-X210WL (with 512/1G memory) are due in September 2006 at $479.99, $579.99, $579.99 and $679.99, respectively.
Of course if you’re interested in HD movies on an SD card, Sanyo’s Xacti VPC-HD1A can shoot video at 1280×720 while Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-LX1 ($499) or their new Lumix DMC-LX2 do wide screen 848 x 480 @ 30fps/10fps or 1280 x720 pixels @ 15fps. Plus 8-10 megapixel stills. The Lumix DMC-FZ50 takes 4 or 8 Gig SDHC cards. SDHC is the new designation for SD cards larger than 2GB.
Too bad none have audio input jacks. Without decent sound the current crop of video-enabled still cameras are just toys. JVC’s new GZ-MG505 ($1299) is a real camcorder with audio line in that does HDV with a non-removable 30GB HDD and three CCD chips.
Sony’s HDR-UX1 ($1,400) and HDR-SR1 ($1,500) are the first consumer camcorders that record in full 1080i HD (using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 codec). The HDR-SR1’s 30 Gig hard drive can record more than ten hours of high-def video in long play mode while the UX1 gets an hour on a DVD.
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