Samsung's VM-DC560 26x optical zoom camcorder

Ever since the first digital camcorders hit the market, manufacturers have competed with each other to see who could up the digital zoom on their cameras to the highest level, each time proudly displaying their camera's capability to turn light into pixelated nonsense with stickers on the side of the lens. Although Samsung is guilty of placing absurdly high digital zooms on its cameras as well, the company's recent unveiling of the VM-DC560 with a 26x optical zoom -- which doesn't result in quality degradation, unlike digital zooms -- certainly makes amends. Besides the peeping tom's best friend of a lens, the VM-DC560 also includes a 1.1 megapixel CCD (presumably for still shots), a dual layer recordable mini-DVD drive, and a 2.6 inch widescreen LCD, all in a relatively standard looking gray case. No word on pricing or availability, although we'd bet on birdwatchers in the far east being the first to get their hands on it.

[HughJass @ Oct 22nd 2006 11:28PM]

"the VM-DC560 also includes a 1.1 megapixel CCD (presumably for still shots)"

What else might a 1.1mp CCD be used for, pray tell?

[Jeff Kent @ Oct 22nd 2006 11:32PM]

Wow, 26x zoom, prolly only good if you have a tripod. Even with anti-shake options that's a lot of jitteriness for a very light camera.

[Poita @ Oct 23rd 2006 12:48AM]

appears to be going for about $700 give or take (depending on the exchange rate) here -> http://www.totalmp3.co.kr/shop/shopdetail.html?brandcode=024000000009&search=&sort=order

[Nick @ Oct 23rd 2006 2:04AM]

The 26x is pretty good, but Canon and others have 30x and higher optical zooms on their camcorders.

[Elliot @ Oct 23rd 2006 3:03AM]

Samsung have had DVD camcorder out for ages with a 33x zoom. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000F4TC3W/ciaouk-21/ref=nosim

Although 26x isn't bad for one with a megapixel CCD

[pbase @ Oct 23rd 2006 3:08AM]

Samsung's on a roll lately.
The NV series of digicams, the Ultra line of slimphones, and now this.

[John Kellas @ Oct 25th 2006 12:36PM]

I wonder if the CCD will improve its low-light ability over their current DVD model the 165. Also would be more of a lucrative proposition if they added a nightshot feature that would allow you to shift the IR blocking filter out of the way. From what it appears here this model seems to offer little more over the 165 for features except better stills resolution.