i got a Samsung Compact MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD Monitor Model: SC-D353 20x optical/900x digital zoom 2.5" LCD monitor CCD image sensor with 680K pixels Digital image stabilization minimizes shake and vibration distortion Slow shutter function lets in more light when capturing dark subjects for brighter images Special effects include art, mosaic, sepia, black-and-white, negative art, mirror, emboss, cinema and pastel; editing features PCM digital sound (16-bit/12-bit) with built-in speaker for rich, detailed audio Memory Stick media slot for recording digital stills (media not included) USB 2.0 interface for high-speed video transfer
Nice camera...as long as it serves its purpose, there isn't anything wrong with it. I was actually going to by something similar...because I am in the market of getting so that I can start recording a bunch of stuff.
I would call it reasonable, but you have to take into account that it is a relative low cost model. The USB port is not for video tranfer, but for the stills (or short mpeg's stored on the memory card). For video transfer it has Firewire, like every other digital videocamera these days. http://www.digitalvideoclub.com
If it is what you like, and what you can afford...nothing wrong in it. Go nuts with the thing. I had a really cheap digital camera that I bought for lile $100, wouldn't have traded it for the world. Well...except maybe for one that was smaller...those were pretty cool, only cause they were compact. But yeah...if it's your first, then you will get alot of educational use out of it. Still a nice cam.
I didnt know that mini dv has CCD image sensor with 680K pixels... The slot for sd memory card for still images, is useless. Even pictures on my Canon 800.000 pix are near to useless....Even with a very good light and a lot of luck,only few can be developed for a album picture... Its more than enough for video, though ! andrej
And the 900 digital zoom, I mean why is it there anyway....its useless anyway... 20x optical is more than enough.