Finally, a review is in on the product you've all been hemming and hawing over --
Samsung's head-mountable sports camcorder: the SC-X300L. First things first, let's get this clear: this is a camcorder which mounts to your head via a velcro strap, and it is manufactured by Samsung... got it? The reviewer calls it "cool looking," though we have our doubts, and he seems to have a lot of trouble getting the device strapped on at the right angle. Apparently, after about six tries he got the positioning worked out, and had a lot of fun shooting videos (on an electric motorbike and of his wife unpacking groceries). In the end, however, the verdict seems to be that there are too many buttons, the proprietary Samsung video format makes dealing with files a pain, the resolution (720 x 480) is just so-so, and the lack of still shots is a big minus. For the asking price ($449) it sounds like you might be better off with another, more full featured model -- and a roll of duct tape.
posted Aug 15th 2007 12:34AM
this seems like it would have worked, but could be better. my suggestions are to use a ball joint to allow the cammera to move seperately from the velcro. there could be a locking mechanism to keep teh ball from moving due to inertia. also use mpeg video. proprietary sucks for everyone. and you can probably get by with that resolution, since most who will absolutely NEED anything higher will probably not be using a 450$ head mount camera, it will prolly be something of a more professional headmount camera.
I have a NYPD friend who wears one on his shoulder when taking statements makes court easier.
Back when the earlier version of this came out, and I was choosing between either this, or the Sony Handycam DSC-M1. I went with the latter, and am so glad that I never looked back.
man, the guy in the picture with the camera strapped to his head looks really excited.
haha i was gonna say the exact same thing...great marketing strategy - "Share your horrible life, the easy way - now with Samsung's SC=XXYxxzZZ3000LLx Wearable Video Camera Device"
720x480 is just so so for you ???? what ? Okay, look at the attachable camera again. Done ? Try cramming in HD chip. No, yet better, make it 1/3" 3CCD ! Doesn't fit in right ?
720x480 of progressive picture from device that small is f***ing enough! I still love the fan at Panasonic SD1 (AVCHD SD camcorder) that has to cool down the inner parts. Not! Cause it's taping to HD :/
I tried out the last version of the camera but was very disappointed to find out that the file format is not supported by the Mac at all. Supposedly there are some hoops to jump through to make it work but I couldn't get it to play videos reliably. And using a Mac, it should 'just work'.
WTF Samsung? You make a camera that's basically incompatible with Apple computers.
My brother just picked one up. Apparently due to Samsung's stupidity, it's just a DivX format with a different header (instead of DIVX, it's SEDG) and a quick hex-editing or utility (google deSEDG) would make it work on the Mac or any DivX player. Also, my brother says it is 720x480, but not widescreen. Go figure.
We are the Borg. Strength is irrelevant. Resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service ours.
Developing proprietary formats is futile.
I think that this has interesting upskirt potential
"too many buttons"
The interface just made sense too me. The software was very intuitive and fun to use.
"the proprietary Samsung video format makes dealing with files a pain"
Granted this is annoying. As some one else mentioned there are solutions.
1) deSEDG small piece of code that that compiles in c. This code works on Mac or Linux. I run Kubuntu and have an action that when I right click on an avi I can run deSEDG. The videos then play in any player.
2) Mac users can download a precompiled program where you can just drop the file on the program and it will convert. I've tried it to confirm that it works. I could edit the video in imovie after dropping it on deSEDG.
http://overstimulate.com/projects/deSEDG/
"lack of still shots is a big minus"
I can take still shots on my older version of this camera. I imagine this guy just didn't look very hard. The picture quality is not worth the effort though.
Some Additional Info
*Mounts very easily on all operating systems and can be used to transfer data.
*With supplied cables you can record from video output sources(TV,DVD...)
*The supplied battery has a very short life. After market battery may solve the video.
* low-light is terrible.
This camera isn't that great but is still pretty cool. I like being able to have a video camera in my pocket with me all the time.
Sweet, I can take this to the theater. lol.
Until the CIA, et al, allow us to use their cool camera tech, we'll have to settle for this lame-ass crap.
What a lame review, get your facts straight dude.
For a real peek at what this camera can do, check out a bit of footage I shot the day I got it:
http://www.evilc.com/files/movies/VP-X300L_raw.AVI
(DivX AVI, download then view)
Totally raw, as it comes out of the camera. All I did was change the 4 byte header from SEDG to DIVX so that you can play it with regular divx.