Quick Camcorder Review: Samsung SC-DC164

The Samsung SC-DC164 has little to distinguish itself from the crowded pack of under $500 DVD camcorders. From a strict specs sheet analysis, it actually seems to offer quite a bit more in manual controls than Sony or Canon, rivaling even Panasonic. But all the controls in the world won’t do you any good if image quality is fundamentally deficient.

 

The SC-DC164 comes equipped with a 1/4.5” CCD. This chip is larger than you’ll find on the average entry-level camcorder, but the pixel count is the same as those smaller chips you do find. In layman’s terms, that means you can expect lower quality from the outset. In bright light, the camcorder’s most obvious quality was the lack of sharpness. In addition to the fuzziness, the colors showed inaccuracies, creating reddish patches in areas where there should be no red.

 

In low light, the SC-DC164 could not stand up to its modest competition. Most camcorders in this price range are expected to give lackluster results in this category. But Samsung proved to be the worst of the bunch, incapable of even focusing at certain points. The color issues worsened, as well.

 

Handling was another major trouble spot for the SC-DC164. Users in this demographic lean towards the point-and-shoot crowd, those looking for simplicity and ease of use. The camcorder’s confused design offers neither. The joystick is small and very poorly placed on the upper left side of the body, ensuring that any adjustments you want to make will a) require both hands, and b) almost guarantee that you’ll upset the picture stability.

 

The automatic controls on the SC-DC164 were poor, either jarring in their adjustments, or as in the case of focus sometimes unable to make a proper adjustment at all. All competing camcorders were better suited in this category.

 

Manual controls include white balance, exposure, Program AE modes, and shutter speed. This is a decent array of controls, compared to other camcorders in the market. The menu design is, in theory, a clever one. It is split into a full menu and a Quick Menu, the latter contains all the manual controls you would want close at hand, and it seems to have been planned for maximum efficiency. In practice, however, the operation is difficult due to the inadequate joystick. 

 

The Samsung SC-DC164 records to 8cm DVDs in most of the major formats: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD+R DL (Dual Layer). These DVDs are widely available in camera shops and convenience stores. With them, you’ll have enough room for 30-45 minutes of video. DVD MPEG-2 compression is common enough that several editing solutions are in place, though MiniDV remains the editor’s first choice.

 

In all, the Samsung SC-DC164 is not worth your time. Whether you’re looking for simpler operation, higher video quality, or more manual controls, better options are out there for a similar price.