5 October 2010

By: Alex Vochin, Gadgets Editor
Going Hands-On with Samsung's HMX-U20 Pocket Camcorder
Just about everyone's talking about pocket camcorders these days, since the popularity of such small-size, pocketable devices capable of easily shooting video and uploading it to YouTube or other video sharing services has grown quite a lot over the past couple of years. Anyway, the reason why we've tackled this subject is the fact that, during the "Experience Samsung Tour" we've just attended, we've had the chance to go quite close and personal with exactly such a device, namely Samsung's own HMX-U20, a device that manages to combine good video recording quality with an extremely user-friendly interface and very small and versatile form factor. The camera delivers not only Full HD video recording, but also a 3X zoom that, despite not being particularly impressive, is good enough for this segment. The controls are placed quite intuitively, which means that most users shouldn't have any major problems when using this thing (after all, it's not called point-and-shoot for nothing). Another important detail worth mentioning is the design and the overall shape of the pocket camcorder from Samsung, that is extremely ergonomic, making it effortless for the user to shoot videos even for longer periods of time. Also notable is the Smart Auto function that actually chooses from 6 different settings ranging from landscape to portrait automatically, then adjusting the settings in order to obtain better-quality videos. Similar to other pocket camcorders out there, the HMX-U20 from Samsung also packs a built-in USB arm, used both for transferring stored data from the camcorder's memory to a PC and for recharging its built-in battery. All in all, at a first sight, the HMX-U20 is a pretty decent device, one that will manage to seriously hold its own on the market, despite of the fact that the pocket camcorder segment is an extremely competitive one.  
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Samsung HMX-U20 (HMX-U20BP)
HMX-U20 - 7.8MP, 1/2.3'' CMOS, SDHC/SD, 3x Optical Zoom, 5.1 - 15.3mm, 111g

Price details:

Price excl. VAT: 141.39 Eco fees: 0.00 VAT 21 %: 29.69
PDF generated on: 9 June, 2011

Product details:

Product code: HMX-U20BP EAN: 8808993798407 Manufacturer: Samsung

171.08

* VAT included
Product is discontinued. You can not order it anymore.
0Recording lives precious moments is just as important as sharing them. The ultra compact U20 point and shoot camcorder designed with a unique 7-degree body shape gives great grip for lengthy recording of 1920 x 1080 Full HD H.264 video or 10 megapixel still photos. Featuring a 3x optical zoom, large 2 LCD display, and built-in Intelli-studio software so you can playback, edit, or upload your videos to YouTube. Smart Auto Smart Auto applies automatic settings for the best images and movies possible. Automatically choosing from different scene modes and applying the best shooting condition settings so you get the best possible image without the additional adjustments. Full HD 1920 x x 1980 Full HD video means greater clarity, brightness and detail than ever before. And your video will be an exact pixel-by-pixel match for today's best large screen HDTVs, resulting in life-like video with more natural colour and clarity. So much technology, so little space The HMX-U20 wasn't merely designed to fit in your hand, it was designed to fit comfortably in it. The compact point shoot Full HD Camcorder features an ergonomically advanced 7-degree body shape for the perfect grip. The HMX-U20 lets you shoot video without putting awkward stress on your shoulder and arm. YouTube and Flickr Direct Upload With just one touch, files can be uploaded in seconds to the Internet in exactly the right format for friends and family to enjoy. Just connect the camcorder to your PC and press the upload button. USB battery charging The convenient USB charging gives you flexibility and freedom to simply connect the Samsung U20 to any PC via USB cable and begin recharging, allowing you to enjoy a more mobile lifestyle. 10 Megapixel Still Photos Use your camcorder as a digital camera and snap 10 mega pixel resolution images and then watch them with family and friends on your TV screen. Time Lapse Recording By shooting still frames at present time intervals, the HMX-U20 then creates a HD video file by putting the frames in sequential order so you can enjoy viewing extended period of time in mere minutes.

Main specifications:

Lens system
Digital zoom: Optical zoom: Megapixel: Focal length: Lens system: -x 3x 7.8 MP 5.1 - 15.3 mm Samsung Lens 1/2.3 " CMOS - pixels Colour LCD 2" Y Y 1920 x 1080 pixels H.264 JPG Y AAC Y Flash memory N 1 Y 1 SD,SDHC 111 g 15.6 x 52.5 x 104.0 mm Black IA-BH130LB Windows 7, XP SP2, Vista32, 64

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