I was frantically looking out for a cam that can shoot pictures and video under the same box. But after researching enough I found that there are many camcorders available, but either the video or picture quality should be compromised. The reason being the lens used for both the functions differ a lot. I was so excited when I came across Samsung SCD 6040 that has a separate lens for each function.
It looks gr8 and performs much better than one can expect from a duocam. It has a lot of features...once you switch on the cam and press the menu button, you will be presented with a list of features and modes, each with a different implication. I was so amazed to see modes like ’firecrackers’, ’background light reduction’, ’dawn’, ’landscape’, ’close up’, ’children’ etc...In video it has cool modes like ’emboss’, ’sepia’, ’cinema’, ’split screen’ etc...You feel gr8 that you own a complex cam.
Once you buy this cam and start shooting pictures, I’m sure you will be disappointed with the quality. You have to read the manual thoroughly and test everything written there. It would take a few weeks to get the hang of it. I was disappointed when I shot pics inside the Minneapolis Cathedral which came out to be dark and hazy. But after going through the manual, I tried shooting pictures in different modes in even more darker lights and obtained sparkling results.
You can even shoot videos with the digicam in ’MPEG 4’ format. If you have a 512 MB or higher capacity card, you can shoot video upto an hour. The quality is exceptional and transferring to the computer is as easy as using a usb cable without worrying about the firewire!
If you are a casual shooter who expects the cam to perform for you, this cam is not for you. This cam is for the ’manual freak’, avid shooter, who wants to fiddle enough before shooting! At a turn of a wheel, the camera can take you from video to foto or vice-versa which fulfills the ultimate use of a handy camera..
The Samsung SCD6040, with its two lenses, allow for the user to switch back and forth between the two modes without too much concern or consternation. The excessive number of controllers and dials and wheels may frustrate and confuse upon first use. Reading the manual should be mandatory, because many features, with small details existing for each separate aspect of the camera, will be overlooked otherwise. The design is clean, fits comfortably in my hand, and I never worried about the product slipping from my grasp. The digital camcorder has a 1/6-inch 680K CCD, while the Digital Camera has a 1/1.8-inch 4.13 MP CCD. This camera did best under well lit testing conditions; the camcorder was not quite able to stand up to low-light situations without creating a large amount of noise, discoloration, or darkening among the color bars during testing. The digital camera can record both still and video, as can the camcorder portion, with both formats being transferable to both MiniDV Tape and Memory Card. If you are looking for a camera that has separated the hybrid features, but allows for overlay and interplay, along with the ability to use just one aspect of the two modes, then this camera may be what you have been looking for.
https://camcorderinfo.com/content/Samsung-SCD-6040-Camcorder-Review.htm