Samsung HMX-R10 HD camcorder is stunning, stunningly small

We've been a fan of Samsung's roundish camcorders ever since we reviewed the SC-HMX20C, and the HMX-R10 somehow manages to improve upon even that. The CMOS-based Full HD camcorder sports a 2.7-inch LCD monitor, a lens that's angled up at 25-degrees (you know, for those spy shots) and a 5x optical zoom. Details beyond that are scant, but you can take a closer look in the read link below.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Jan 8th 2009 1:48AM]

Simply beautiful.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jan 8th 2009 2:27PM]

It's almost as if, Art Deco has been revived and looks like it's design influence is from a 1940's WWII Bomber or Streamlined Train From the 1930's. Possibly the B-29.

[a ham sandwich @ Jan 8th 2009 1:51AM]

o engadget! that joke is rough! wow...

[YpoCaramel @ Jan 8th 2009 12:28PM]

Eh, I'm still not sure why the len has to be angled up, though. Engadget makes it sound like a sppecialized upskirt device ;)

[Tonicboy @ Jan 8th 2009 2:05PM]

@YpoCaramel

Actually, that is a is tiny bit of sheer genius. As most camcorders are angles straight across, it forces you to raise your elbow slightly to keep the lens level. With the lens angled slightly up, you can keep your elbow right by your side which relieves a lot of stress. That really is genius and it's amazing no one has thought of that before.

[Chris Taylor @ Jan 8th 2009 3:02PM]

I was thinking the exact same thing. PURE genius. its going to be a major boost to ergonomics and stress when recording video though it will make "mounting" the camera interesting since you will not be able to easy use a regular tripod (the Y axis rotation will couple with the X and Z axis now unless someone makes an adapter base so the lens is nce again on the same plain as the tripod head)

[Minilap @ Jan 8th 2009 1:57AM]

Holy smoke!

[brandoshido @ Jan 8th 2009 2:08AM]

i think its ugly. well, i think just the angled lens is ugly. Everything else looks awesome.

[yo @ Jan 8th 2009 2:33AM]

the ultimate upskirt camera

[superhobo @ Jan 8th 2009 2:37AM]

Reminds me of VGCats...

[numerwan @ Jan 8th 2009 2:58AM]

Looks like the camera thingy from Flight of the Navigator lmao.... awesome

[keithwwalker @ Jan 8th 2009 3:08AM]

the wife wants to know whether it has a vibrate feature, damn her...

[Davorin @ Jan 8th 2009 3:10AM]

i guess we are ready for space exploration

[cCircuit @ Jan 8th 2009 3:38AM]

Brilliant design, including the angled lens - more comfortable on the wrist when holding the camera at chest level. Expect more companies to do this.

[BobTurbo @ Jan 8th 2009 3:52AM]

The angled lens is terrible and the design sucks. People look better when looking from a bit above them and peering down - why do you think all the myspace people do it? Looking upwards is an awful angle.

[Minilap @ Jan 8th 2009 4:26AM]

tell me you're not serious...

[BobTurbo @ Jan 8th 2009 5:03AM]

Good point..

OH WAIT.

[linuxamp @ Jan 8th 2009 5:53AM]

So short people are better looking by perspective? Better tell that to all the modeling agencies.

[BobTurbo @ Jan 8th 2009 6:31AM]

Modeling agencies have cameras too....

[eric f. @ Jan 8th 2009 10:16AM]

Ha. Oh well, if the myspace people do it, it MUSt be the right way.

Many professional cameras of the past had waist level finders and produced wonderful photography. The angled lens is a brilliant idea.

[Eric @ Jan 8th 2009 11:34AM]

You are correct on the angled glass in front of the lens. That's going to cause distortion as the refraction of the light makes its way through the glass at that oblique angle.

Really ugly too.

[Tonicboy @ Jan 8th 2009 2:07PM]

@Eric

The light doesn't come through at an angle, you fool. The entire lens is angled not just the glass. Refer to cCircuit's comment above.

[Patriks7 @ Jan 8th 2009 4:23AM]

This thing is definitely on my wishlist!

[Str1ker @ Jan 8th 2009 5:01AM]

The ugliest camera I have ever laid my eyes upon! In fact one of the ugliest gadgets I've seen!
It looks like a fucking penis!

[Wolfticket @ Jan 8th 2009 9:46AM]

If that is what you think a penis looks like you shou... no, wait, too easy.

[Minilap @ Jan 8th 2009 2:09PM]

But you love the penis anyways

[groggle @ Jan 8th 2009 5:18AM]

The angled lens is for ergonomics, children!! Try holding your hand in front of you pretending to hold a video camera in the normal position. Now, tip you hand down about 25 degrees... feels better, doesn't it??

[Jeebus @ Jan 9th 2009 3:12PM]

Yes, if you want to shoot at chest level. Now try shooting at head, or above, level. Fuck, that's awkward and hurts my wrist too. Damn you Samsung, damn you to hell.

[AlteredCarbon @ Jan 8th 2009 7:25AM]

Want!

[solarbuddy @ Jan 8th 2009 9:55AM]

Doesn't anybody else want a *small* HD videocam?!? I'll admit to being an early adopter--I got the very first Casio Exilim "card camera." You know, the one where the the Casio ad shows a model with the camera it stuck into the back waistband of her super-tight pants and asked, "Does this camera make my butt look big?" Anyway, I want a camera I can stick in my pocket and won't prompt jokes about the beer can in my pocket.

[protozoider @ Jan 8th 2009 9:58AM]

Too bad their cameras typically have a low quality lens. I mean, 5x zoom? I'll stick with my first gen Sony HDR-HC1. It's bulky and uses tapes, but it does HD recording better than anything out there at consumer price because of its superior lens and low light capabilities. They keep putting smaller lenses into these things. That's a horrible idea when you're trying to record in HD. Why can't they figure out that you need more light in the thing. Bring back big lenses!

[Wolfticket @ Jan 8th 2009 10:02AM]

Yes, because the longer the zoom the better quality the lens /sar...

[Chris Taylor @ Jan 8th 2009 3:06PM]

but he is right the 5x zoom is going to be a downer. I find 10x to really be the minimum acceptable at least for what I shoot

Once computers can "process" video faster such as center my subject and actively "crop" to 720p well then you effectively get a 10x zoom but for now computers are too slow OR too expensive for ones that are fast enough.

[protozoider @ Jan 9th 2009 7:31AM]

What I meant was Samsungs typically have a low quality lens in general. A 5x zoom just further proves how inferior the lens is. No it doesn't exactly mean anything to the quality, but it hints at it. Every camera that size has a 30x or more zoom. In HD, 5x is like walking forward a couple feet. My camera has 30x and I couldn't possibly live without that much zoom in HD. Once you get it onto a 50" set, you realize how much you gain by having a big zoom and a high clarity lens.

[htd @ Jan 8th 2009 11:17AM]

waterproof?

[Minilap @ Jan 8th 2009 2:11PM]

It's so sexy it should be semen-proof.

[EMoShunz @ Jan 8th 2009 12:48PM]

sexy. what is the recording medium?

[Wolfticket @ Jan 8th 2009 3:51PM]

SD/SDHC card

[Neil @ Jan 8th 2009 2:49PM]

So the AURA design team was fired from Motorola, and then snapped up by Samsung? Hopefully they try to sell this thing for at least $10,000!

[Psy @ Jan 8th 2009 5:47PM]

You guys must be truly confused to think the lens is angled.

It's just the design to conceive that thought.

If the design had vertical contours then that would probably make sense... but in this case, no it doesn't

[whiskyjack @ Jan 12th 2009 12:24PM]

Quite interesting. it's new FullHDcam from samsung and good try with inner lens moving for shooting angle.

[Shadow_7 @ Jan 12th 2009 7:22PM]

Waterproof was my first thought as well. It could save a lot in terms of rain cape, matte-box, plus filter alternatives. The angled up lens might be useful if using some sort of viewport on a space ship or submarine as well. Or trying to find structural issues while lowering it on a rope down a pipe. At a minimum the rain should flow over the lens instead of sticking to it. (if it's waterproof)

[eMarrs @ Feb 19th 2009 5:36PM]

I work at UPS and we got SLAMMED with these yesterday in my area. Hundreds of them being sent to Costco's around the east coast.