Wootalyzer's Pricing Post! - The price of today's woot item is saved here for future reference
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Samsung SwitchGrip HD Camcorder
$149.99 + $5 Shipping
Condition: New

*DISCLAIMER* Wootalyzer! is in no way affiliated with Woot!, and this post may not always be here!

*waives own hand* This is not the camcorder I'm looking for

I'm a little confused. At the top of the page it says 720p:

1 Samsung HMX-Q10 SwitchGrip Camcorder, 720p, 10x Schneider-KREUZNACH Lens, 5MP, 2.7” LCD, HDMI, SDHC

But the product photo and the bottom of the page say 1080p:

Captures video in 1920 x 1080/60i HD, and includes an OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) Duo system to compensate for hand-shaking better than ever before...

So which one is it, 720p, or 1080p?

[EDIT]
Based on this sample video I found on YouTube, it appears to indeed be 1080p.

lack of night vision is a deal breaker, how else am I supposed to capture footage of ghosts?

The Tim wrote:I'm a little confused. At the top of the page it says 720p:



So which one is it, 720p, or 1080p?

[EDIT]
Based on this sample video I found on YouTube, it appears to indeed be 1080p: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg_0T5atYkg

Maybe 1080i, not p? Those two data rates are about the same.

The only problem I have with Samsung - and this is par for the course for giant conglomerates who make and sell everything from trucks to hair dryers - is that it's hard to wade through websites and phone IVR menus to find the right division/department that supports the product you own. Hello, Thank you for calling Samsung...no, I'm sorry, this is the department that supports video cameras with 720i resolution, you'll need to call this other number for your camera with has 720p resolution. Aaargh!

The Tim wrote:I'm a little confused. At the top of the page it says 720p:



So which one is it, 720p, or 1080p?

[EDIT]
Based on this sample video I found on YouTube, it appears to indeed be 1080p: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg_0T5atYkg

1080i is different then 1080p. I believe what that says is its 1080i and 720p resolution.

zentex wrote:*waives own hand* This is not the camcorder I'm looking for

Self Amputation?

The Tim wrote:I'm a little confused. At the top of the page it says 720p:

So which one is it, 720p, or 1080p?

the picture of the box shows 1920x1080, so the upper description is wrong.

$249.99 MSRP from Samsung

Amazon has 30+ 4-5 star reviews

A few people complained about still photos (who uses a video camera to take stills anyways?)

Edit:On Amazon,
$179 for Black
$249 for Dark Blue
Thanks spickend! can't believe I forgot amazon prices

tewforme wrote:Self Amputation?

no, jedi self-mind trickery. you should see when I get drunk and make myself forget how many times I've hit on the same girl at the bar

I actually own this camera, or one very similar. It's a great video recorder with an intuitive touchscreen interface. It does full hd-- haven't noticed any interlace artifacts on my big screen. You will need C10 memory cards if you want to record anything higher than standard resolution video.

Has still mode, but never used it, so can't report on camera quality there. Really, this is a great deal at MSRP, even better at this price.

How is is possible to record longer in High Definition than in Standard Definition? I think they reversed the recording times...

gamersbbs wrote:How is is possible to record longer in High Definition than in Standard Definition? I think they reversed the recording times...

Or added an extra zero.

nikohernandiz wrote:lack of night vision is a deal breaker, how else am I supposed to capture footage of ghosts?

1) Smear Vaseline on the lens, record footage of goats.

2) Tell the unsuspecting that they're ghost goats.

3)Profit!

update on features:

Switch Grip Convenience - Switch Grip gives you the freedom to get the shot one-handed, using either hand
Full HD Recording - Recording in Full HD 1080i captures every image nuance with virtually no loss when played back in 1080p
One Button Operation - Even using one hand, One-Button Operation makes it easy to record movies. Simply press the Record button and you're catching all the action
Smart Touch 3.0 - Touch, drag, click; the Smart Touch 3.0 User Interface. A quick and easy way to control the many functions in Samsung's new line of camcorders. Control app-style icons, scroll through photos and more via the clear LCD screen
2.7" Auto-Rotate Touch-Panel LCD (230K) - Whether the camcorder is held horizontally or vertically, the screen image stays horizontally to the ground
1/4.1" BSI CMOS - CMOS is twice as sensitive for better low-light recording with less image noise, distortion
Intelli-Studio 2.0 (built-in PC software) - Plug into any PC via USB. Built-in advanced editing software lets you play, edit and share files
Smart O.I.S./Dual O.I.S. (optical + digital) - Minute lens shifts compensate for shaky hands, keeping the camcorder steady and image blur-free
1080i recording/1080p output - Recording in Full HD 1080i captures every image nuance with virtually no loss when played back in 1080p
HD time-lapse recording - Stills taken a preset intervals are put together to create a video that speeds up the slow passage of time
Auto rotation LCD - Whether the camcorder is held horizontally or vertically, the screen image stays horizontal to the ground
USB charging - Charge the camcorder battery via USB port or DC jack. When the DC adaptor is not available, just use the USB cable
SPECIFICATIONS
Lens
10x optical zoom
20x digital zoom
Main Display
2.7" auto rotate touch-panel LCD
230K pixels
Memory
SD Card
Digital Still
4.9 megapixel photo
Bundled Software
Intelli-Studio
Inputs and Outputs
USB 2.0
Inside Package
Camcorder, Battery, AC power adaptor, Audio/Video cable, USB cable, User manual CD, Quick start guide

CowboyDann wrote: $249.99 MSRP from Samsung

Amazon has 30+ 4-5 star reviews

A few people complained about still photos (who uses a video camera to take stills anyways?)

For people who don't want to make a few extra clicks, here's the manual:

http://org.downloadcenter.samsung.com/downloadfile/ContentsFile.aspx?CDSite=US&CttFileID=3778161&CDCttType=UM&ModelType=C&ModelName=HMX-Q10BN/XAA&VPath=UM/201104/20110413095528076/HMX-Q10N-ENG-IB_0413.pdf

and the support page:
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/owners/product/HMX-Q10BN/XAA

I believe it's actually 1080i instead of 1080p. If you look at the details at the bottom, it says:

"High Definition: 1920 x 1080i, 1280 x 720p (60 fps)
Standard Definition: 720 x 480i (60 fps)"

Also looking at the photo, it just says 1920x1080 (doesn't say i or p) which normally it means it's 1080i.

I think Youtube converts 1080i to 1080p too. Most 1080p TV's will also upconvert anything to 1080p also.

I don't think they should get away with saying it's "Full HD" either when it's just 1080i. Oh well.

Can anyone comment on the sound quality? Would this fair well st a concert / live show?

have to admit i'm kind of excited about this camcorder. i wanted one for my trip to San Antonio and this has some really awesome reviews and a nice lens!

Amazon has 'em for $178....jus' saying'...free shipping...

macbookguy wrote:have to admit i'm kind of excited about this camcorder. i wanted one for my trip to San Antonio and this has some really awesome reviews and a nice lens!

remember the alamo! ...and remember to charge your battery.

250 minutes (SD, SF)
300 minutes (SD, F)
390 minutes (SD, N)
1050 minutes (HD, SF)
1390 minutes (HD, F)
2040 minutes (HD, N)

Those times seem backwards to me...

I was wondering the exact same question. Somebody hook us up with an answer my trigger i want one finger is dangerously close...

I got my wife this camcorder for Christmas at Best Buy (paid this same price as a matter o' fact). We are very satisfied so far. It has less optical zoom (10x) than competing models in the same price range (JVC and Toshiba models come to mind) but Samsung opted for a higher quality image sensor and a higher quality lens. So while you can't get as close, the video quality will be better than the other options. I highly recommend it.

A SORTA REVIEW
This looks great. As an owner of an older Samsung camcorder and digital camera, I have to give kudos to the Schneider-KREUZNACH Varioplan lens. Apparently, it's not just a marketing ploy. Schneider-KREUZNACH really did design and currently manufactures the lens. The lens have been universally praised in every Samsung camera for the virtual lack of chromatic and geometric aberrations.

My biggest complaint about previous Samsung camcorders was that you can't pause while recording. That was ironic since all their digital cameras can pause during video. Even the $69 models. Then again, virtually no other digital camera makers have pause during video. Nor do most camcorders under $250, as far as I know. Some people claim that it's not a big deal. Trust me, it's a big deal. With pausing, you end up with one file per session rather than lots of snippets that you later have to merge. Merging is not only time consuming, but can also degrade the video since the CODEC needs to recompress the points of merger. And playback is painful because there is no slideshow function for videos. Therefore, you have to manually press PLAY every minute or so to see the next video. And this can be very annoying if it's attached to the TV and you don't have a remote. Finally, every new snippet has overhead so it also takes up more memory, i.e. every snippet needs space for the title. date, specs, etc.

Well, Hallelujah, Samsung has finally put the Pause function in this camcorder! And clearly it's a big deal since the feature is mentioned twice! If I didn't already have a camcorder, I'd buy it just for this feature which no other company has for a camcorder of this price.

and unlike the pathetic JVC camcorder Woot had a few days ago, this has OPTICAL stabilization, STILL photos and STEREO recording. The only two major cons are 1) At only 10x, the optical zoom is relatively low for a camcorder; 2) The still photo mode doesn't have flash. WHile this is an unusual feature, my Samsung camcorder does have flash.

From the description:
- Easy Operation via the 2.7” wide LCD screen allows the user to perform a variety of functions, including a pause function allowing you to stop and work out the best angle for your recording experience...
[...]
- Samsung Record Pause technology has also been introduced, allowing the user to take brief pauses in filming before re-starting, so they don’t need to merge files when finished

nikohernandiz wrote:lack of night vision is a deal breaker, how else am I supposed to capture footage of ghosts?

Record it off The History Channel, Biography, Travel Channel, SyFy, etc. [editorial rant mode] What ghosts have to do with Biography, Travel and History is beyond me but apparently many non-fiction channels have spiraled into questionable topics...[rant mode off]

sfstone wrote:Can anyone comment on the sound quality? Would this fair well st a concert / live show?

Sound on all Samsungs that I've used is very good. And this one is records in Stereo, which some cheaper camcorders don't. But recording concerts is tricky. The biggest problem is the distance to the source. Some camcorders don't pick up faraway sounds well. I don't know about this one but better models often have two modes for close and far sounds (like many digital audio recorders). The other problem is noise. This may not be a problem at classical concerts, but it's a huge problem at rock,etc performances because the screaming fans next to you are often louder than the performers. So it would help to have a very directional microphone to focus in on the performer. I can't tell you how this camcorder will perform but those are the factors you should look into.

Go to YouTube to hear sample videos. Although they probably won't be concert footage, you can still get a sense of sound quality.

On the plus side, the optical stabilization and good low light abilities will help you capture good video. Plus you can take still images. But the optical zoom is pretty low at 10x (that's lower than my Samsung digital still camera!).

CowboyDann wrote: $249.99 MSRP from Samsung

Amazon has 30+ 4-5 star reviews

A few people complained about still photos (who uses a video camera to take stills anyways?)

Edit:On Amazon,
$179 for Black
$249 for Dark Blue
Thanks spickend! can't believe I forgot amazon prices

Your question is somewhat circular. The reason most people don't use a camcorder to take stills is because most camcorders don't take good stills.

For a lot of tourists, a good 5mp still photo is good enough to leave their digital still camera at home. Why drag around two gadgets if one is good enough> Unfortunately, the lack of a flash limits its usefulness. I have another Samsung that does have flash and its still photos are quite good.

bobthegoat2001 wrote:I believe it's actually 1080i instead of 1080p. If you look at the details at the bottom, it says:

"High Definition: 1920 x 1080i, 1280 x 720p (60 fps)
Standard Definition: 720 x 480i (60 fps)"

Also looking at the photo, it just says 1920x1080 (doesn't say i or p) which normally it means it's 1080i.

I think Youtube converts 1080i to 1080p too. Most 1080p TV's will also upconvert anything to 1080p also.

I don't think they should get away with saying it's "Full HD" either when it's just 1080i. Oh well.

1080i is "Full HD." Just like 720p is "Full HD." It falls within every accepted definition for HDTV. "Full HD" is usually used to distinguish it from interpolated HD or in the case of output, upconverted HD, and this camcorder uses neither so it's "Full HD."

If you object to 1080i being considered HD, are you saying that we currently have no HD broadcasts? As far as I know, no standard station is currently broadcasting in 1080p. It;s either 1080i (NBC, CBS) or 720p (ABC, Fox). The bandwidth needed eliminates the possibility of having other sub-channels.

Despite not having night-vision, does any know how this beast fairs in low light?

(Given the syntactical construction of that question, I feel I should roll a d20 to find out.)

Fair enough. I guess I don't see the point in using the word "Full" then if anything past SD is considered "Full HD". I guess I've just come to the expectation that 720p and 1080i are just "HD" and 1080p is "Full HD". At least that what it seemed like when TV's were switching from 720p to 1080p.

I get your point though. 1080p broadcast would be nice though, I'm surprised it's not available yet... we pay enough for it anyway.

sdc100 wrote:1080i is "Full HD." Just like 720p is "Full HD." It falls within every accepted definition for HDTV. "Full HD" is usually used to distinguish it from interpolated HD or in the case of output, upconverted HD, and this camcorder uses neither so it's "Full HD."

If you object to 1080i being considered HD, are you saying that we currently have no HD broadcasts? As far as I know, no standard station is currently broadcasting in 1080p. It;s either 1080i (NBC, CBS) or 720p (ABC, Fox). The bandwidth needed eliminates the possibility of having other sub-channels.

The reviews at Amazon are mixed at best. Most lower ratings complain about poor focus at any distance beyond 15 feet indoors, without special lighting. The sampler video from Samsung features mainly outdoor scenes or close up indoor shots. One wonders why.
My main use would be birthday parties indoors. If I can't get a clear focus on cousin Ralphie in the corner, what's the use?
The best samples on YouTube are outdoors of flowers and such, mainly close work. Again, one wonders why. The few indoor scenes are dim and not very vivid.
Sorry, but that's a deal breaker, even if it does have pause.

with all these humungous amt of toys surprises, I bet it doesn't do paramount view/capture.

Any idea how it may react in low-lighting, say a non-arena like concert??

dkxcav8r wrote:update on features:

Switch Grip Convenience - Switch Grip gives you the freedom to get the shot one-handed, using either hand
Full HD Recording - Recording in Full HD 1080i captures every image nuance with virtually no loss when played back in 1080p
One Button Operation - Even using one hand, One-Button Operation makes it easy to record movies. Simply press the Record button and you're catching all the action
Smart Touch 3.0 - Touch, drag, click; the Smart Touch 3.0 User Interface. A quick and easy way to control the many functions in Samsung's new line of camcorders. Control app-style icons, scroll through photos and more via the clear LCD screen
2.7" Auto-Rotate Touch-Panel LCD (230K) - Whether the camcorder is held horizontally or vertically, the screen image stays horizontally to the ground
1/4.1" BSI CMOS - CMOS is twice as sensitive for better low-light recording with less image noise, distortion
Intelli-Studio 2.0 (built-in PC software) - Plug into any PC via USB. Built-in advanced editing software lets you play, edit and share files
Smart O.I.S./Dual O.I.S. (optical + digital) - Minute lens shifts compensate for shaky hands, keeping the camcorder steady and image blur-free
1080i recording/1080p output - Recording in Full HD 1080i captures every image nuance with virtually no loss when played back in 1080p
HD time-lapse recording - Stills taken a preset intervals are put together to create a video that speeds up the slow passage of time
Auto rotation LCD - Whether the camcorder is held horizontally or vertically, the screen image stays horizontal to the ground
USB charging - Charge the camcorder battery via USB port or DC jack. When the DC adaptor is not available, just use the USB cable
SPECIFICATIONS
Lens
10x optical zoom
20x digital zoom
Main Display
2.7" auto rotate touch-panel LCD
230K pixels
Memory
SD Card
Digital Still
4.9 megapixel photo
Bundled Software
Intelli-Studio
Inputs and Outputs
USB 2.0
Inside Package
Camcorder, Battery, AC power adaptor, Audio/Video cable, USB cable, User manual CD, Quick start guide

... and still no mention of audio quality. Is it even stereo?

qwiktune wrote:1080i is different then 1080p. I believe what that says is its 1080i and 720p resolution.

I'm not 100% sure but based on the fact that it shoots 60fps and the "standard" is 30fps, I would guess that when it upconverts from 1080i (interlaced) to 1080p (progressive) it probably fills in the missing lines with the next frame and the output is 30 fps. Can anyone confirm this?