The cam is vey good as a sports camcorder, resistant, small, a perfect zoom also. The1 Gb memory can help in order to keep your files and see different things as you wish.
br /
br /Things I didn't like, the photo resolution and siye is not good, it looks gross and there is no way to fix the quality of photos, only works for the videos. Also, the video file type is complicated for some programs and the codec is not easily downloaded, in cases it just doesn' t work and will only give you sound.

I have been thinking of buying a new video camera, but I really wanted the ability to have a helmet cam for catching the action from my motorcycle and ATV. This unit fit the bill perfectly, since a separate helmet cam for my DV camera is approximately $300.
br /I have been watching this unit for some time and am glad that I waited for this version that has 1GB of internal memory and accepts up to 2GB of external memory (SD/MMC). This camera isn't going to match a good DV camera, but it's so small and with the helmet cam it does exactly what I want it to do. I have had it out on the ATV many times already and it's working great!

I bought this one for my snowboarding. I think this is the one for snowboarding. Unlike skiing, shooting on snowboard is not easy for many reason. And even for ski, it is not recommended to shoot while riding. The included external camera makes it easy to shoot and is water resistant. The main camera has flash which makes it more resistant to shock while riding.
br /
br /Wind noise is somewhat loud and external camera quality is not great but still this is great for the price.

This unit, while extremely compact, was not meant for the family user.
br /Video in lower light conditions is unacceptable, and photos taken
br /with the built-in flash unit usually are very dark if more than
br /6 feet away.
br /This unit is for the outdoor sports enthusiast, but not for the
br /family or indoor user.

my sister bought this camera for my christmas present last year. i do a lot of snowboarding in colorado. my sister made jokes because on the box was a picture of a snowboarder in action. it was kinda cute and funny.
br /
br /im not a camera guy so i dont understand all the fancy terms. please dont be offended by my simple review.
br /
br /at low altitudes below 8000 ft the camera was fine. battery sucked. lasted about 30 minutes. with stills the battery died even quicker. maybe 5-7 shots and its dead.
br /
br /at higher altitudes 8,000-10,000 ft the camera gets unrealiable. sometimes it works, sometimes not. over 12,000-14,000 ish the camera didnt even work. it powered on, but none of the video captured. the screen was just white and it gave some error message. i understand not many people go up to 14,000 ft above sea level on foot, but im a snowboarder. this is what i do and this is what was on the side of the box pictured.
br /
br /the camera or batteries performance in the cold was bad too.
br /
br /quality of the still pics was below average. oh, the video quality was poor too. this was free to me so it was worth it. if you are paying for it i would pay no more then half the retail price. i dont know how other cameras are but you need to install special video codecs in order to play back the videos on your computer. the software and cable was included. but its sucks that i have to re-encode it as an avi file before i can email it to friends and what not.
br /
br /the quality of the helmet cam was below the quality of the regular camera lens. the helmet cam is sweet and its easy to use. i like of the lens can rotate to make sure your picture is not croaked. and the on/off button on the cable of the helmet cam is easy. good placment.
br /
br /when its working the camera records smooth. the filtering was ok. i didnt expect much for the low quality specs. for snow, you where not able to see the texture or slope of the snow. it all looked white and flat. but for mountain biking it works just fine.
br /
br /i bought an extended battery on ebay for like 15-20 bucks. totally worth it. on the cold i got about 2.5 hours of video. i also got a 2 gig sd card and it has about 1.20 hours on recording on it.

I use this camera to take video for training and teaching and it works great for that. My issue is with Amazon's special deal for the SanDisk 2 GB SD Memory Card. This brand of card does NOT work in the Samsung camera.

I purchased this sport camcorder for my husband to use on his motorcycle. Maybe we just got a lemon - but it seems others here also had resolution problems.
br /
br /Calling it a 'problem is an understatement, in our case. The camera comes nicely packaged, in four stackable boxes, complete with software, USB cord and an internal memory of 1 GB. You will need to purchase AT LEAST another 2 GB disk to film any longer than half an hour at top resolution.
br /
br /It has three resolution modes, Normal, Fine, and Super Fine (SF.) We started on Normal, but quickly changed to Fine and then Super Fine as we continued to get VERY poor results.
br /
br /When using the helmet cam, and let's face it - this IS a "sports" camera - there was no image stabilization - so every bounce and turn made the viewer sick to their stomach. But the worst thing of all - was the focus - it went in and out - and the resulting video looked like something Monet painted - all blurry here and there.
br /
br /I'm returning this camera, but sadly, the 2 GB card is not fully refundable. This is a neat concept in small, compact cameras - but the technology is obviously NOT in step with the design.
br /
br /I seriously may never buy another Samsung product again - I am that disappointed.
br /

I purchased this camcorder a few days ago while I was in New York attending the auto show. I shot several videos and still photos of an installation I helped create and downloaded them to my Apple PowerBook G4 today to view. The still photos are practically worthless. I would compare the quality to that of a bad cell phone camera. They are very bad, but I did not buy this camcorder to take photos so on to the videos.
br /
br /I opened the .AVI videos the camcorder created in Quicktime Pro version 7.01 and soon discovered that they do not play properly. No video shows, the screen stays white and you only hear the sound. I have seen this problem arise in the past on other videos I have downloaded from the web and it is because they are encoded using outdated, obscure, or non-standard video codecs. In this case the video codec that is used by Samsung is "SEDG".
br /
br /After calling Samsung technical support and talking to numerous product specialists it was told to me that they are aware of the problem, do not currently have a solution and therefore DO NOT support this camcorder being used with any Apple computer.
br /
br /After doing a little more research on message boards I discovered that other Samsung camcorders have had the same problems in the past. I was able to find a solution that allowed me to actually view the videos in Quicktime.
br /
br /The solution is to download a program called: HexEdit
br /
br /Download the Mac version, install it, open one of the videos and change two instances of "SEDG" text to "DIVX" and resave the file. By doing this I was able to view the videos I had shot. Sadly though the quality of the videos is very bad, even though I shot them in what I would call good indoor lighting conditions.
br /
br /My Canon PowerShot SD550 takes better videos than this camcorder. It also creates .AVI files, but they open just fine in Quicktime and look much better AND it takes fantastic photos.
br /
br /Wrapping up. After first holding the Samsung X210L in my hands I was struck by how small and well designed it was. It looks beautiful. The interface is well designed, but that is about all it has going for it. In the end, the one thing that really matters is the quality of the video and sadly the video that this camcorder produces absolutely sucks.
br /

Send the wrong item twice, then she promised extra memory didn't put it in the package, very fraustraiting

This video cam was designed and targeted for the sports minded or active athlete that wants to capture their moments on video. If you're using it for this purpose, nothing beats it for the price.
br /
br /It's ridicilious to compare or expect this camera to perform like:
br /1. High end video cam that costs 2x or 3x more.
br /2. Video cams that were designed to shoot normal activities indoors and out.
br /
br /The good:
br /1. A small (size of an male adult thumb) and sturdy external video cam attachment with mic can be mounted almost anywhere. Inside your car, while racing. On the frame of your bike, while riding down or jumping a hill. Mounted on your head while your snowboarding. On your backpack or cap while walking around at a party or gathering. Forget about holding the camera, attach it somewhere, record and go. Of course, you can disconnect the external cam attachment and hold it like a normal vid cam.
br /2. Versatile. It has 6 devices in unit. MP3, vid camcorder, pic cam, usb storage, usb web cam and voice recorder. You can add or swap 2 gb sd/mmc cards for extra storage/capacity.
br /3. High resolution at 720x480 at 30 fps. Clarity is good.
br /4. Small, compact, and lightweight. Easily fits in shirt pocket. About the size of a deck of cards.
br /5. Full setting adjustments like other more expensive vid cams. Contrast, steady shot, back light, auto, sport mode, etc...
br /
br /The bad:
br /1. Indoor focus is poor. This sport cam was designed for outdoor use to capture your amazing athletic feats so the focus mechanism in low light is subpar. It will "search" or constantly attempt to focus when using it in an average lit room.
br /2. Color is off. The CCD is not a high end chip so your colors will not be presented correctly. All colors are washed down and not vivid.
br /
br /Summary:
br /If you're a sports minded person that want to record your 360 spin, flip, jump, or just show your friends you possess super human strength from your perspective then this is the best camera combo. If you plan to shoot vacation videos, parties, or other daily events, then look elsewhere.

I have had a handful of small cameras for recording on helmets, handle bars and even in a small RC plane. This sports camcorder is by far the best I have tried. It weighs the same as cameras that don't have a video display so it fits my needs very well. Not good in low light conditions.

I've had the Samsung X210L for about 10 months now... and give it a 5 star rating for special purpose use -- i.e. sports cam. In the sports cam application (in my case, mostly skiing) you usually have two distinct needs -- shooting friends and family from a distance and helmet cam.
br /
br /This is the only camera I could find that fit both needs --
br /
br /In the first case when shooting action involving someone else at a distance, there are two things that really count -- (1) big optical zoom (this cam has 10X) and (2) image stabilization (also part of the X210L). We've also found it important to have a pretty quick power up/ready to shoot sequence and X210L is fast (couple of seconds or less).
br /
br /In the second case, you need to realize that Flash helmet cams aren't going to give great video -- way too much radical motion -- but they will capture the basic eye-view experience. What's important here is a solid setup. The X210L helmet cam is easy to connect (plugs right into the back without requiring anything to be opened up) and, as with any helmet cams, simply functions as an external lens -- does the job and has a nice one button (ski gloves! capable) on/off, record/stop combo setup on the cord.
br /
br /A few other things that make this a great sports cam --
br /-- small size -- deck of cards form factor means is really can go in an inner pocket where it will stay warm, protected, and dry.
br /-- super flat battery form factor -- packing an extra battery is no big deal and it clips on the outside with one large easy to manipulate button
br /-- camera will record without the lcd display flipped out -- so if you're in a wild hand-held situation you can still shoot by aiming down the top of the cam but avoid the risk of damaging the LCD
br /-- extra batteries and chargers are reasonably priced
br /-- solid lens cap for when the cam is tucked in a pocket and you're using the helmet cam
br /-- simple controls (again, glove-capable)
br /-- 2GB slot -- when combined with the 1gb internal memory (requires you to switch between internal and external) means you can get pretty high quality levels -- up to couple of hours of shooting with an extra 190ma battery spare
br /-- cable connection between the camcorder the helmet cam is solid -- not likely to bend pins or break the connector
br /
br /If you're just looking for point and shoot video simplicity and don't need much optical zoom, I'd recommend the other camera we use (Flip Video), but if you really want to nail the sports camera application this one (and presumably it's replacement the X300L) has a very slick set of features.
br /

This is a camera for those that know exactly what they want. If you don't know, then don't get this one. I have owned it for 1yr now, I've used it for skydiving, snowboarding, skiing, and when I want to do stupid crash related stuff. That is what it is made for!
br /
br /I also took it to Europe for 6months, and used it all the time. Great size to travel with. Can hide it on you easily for safe keeping. The webcam features were a nice addition too. Video chat with family half way around the world, and didn't need another camera!
br /
br /I am just now buying a replacement battery because when you plug the camera in, it does not has an auto shutoff. So I burned my battery out. However you can buy external chargers that have auto charging systems!
br /
br /Down sides of this camera:
br / Digital pictures are LOW quality
br / Charging the battery = Damage
br /
br /Other than that, the camera has prefomed better than I expected. And has taken a BEATING! Great crash camera!
br /
br /

This cam works great for on the move down and dirty sport shots. I use it while I ski, bike, fly and drive down the German autobahn at crazy speeds. The still photo options is a little lacking and it has other features like files and MP3 player but I only got this for the movies I can make along with the external lipstick cam. I have taped it to my helmet while doing the above mentioned sports and it looks great. The one thing this unit needs is a mute button so you don't pick up the rushing wind noise when you are going faster than 10 mph in any mode of sport. This has been mentioned in the Samsung forum for this camera. The battery works great you will run thru 4 gigs of card space before you drain the battery. A must buy cant beat the cool factor for the money. I get looks all day long with the cam mounted to my ski helmet :)

This product has a VERY specific and narrow purpose. For what it is actually designed for, it's one of the best you can buy.
br /
br /I'm really disappointed with Samsung and how they have taken a premium webcam and tried to "market hype" or sell it as a digital camcorder. This product is as much of a camcorder as most digital still cameras are in movie mode.
br /
br /If you want a top end web camera that is detachable, can double as a lightly capable camcorder, need to take helmet action movies. This is your product.
br /
br /One outstanding feature is the ability to plug in an external NTSC camera of any type and record.
br /
br /

I have no problem with this camcorder. It does take great pictures and videos, especially in outdoor sports.

The product looked great at first. Samsung was a reputable brand and I was amazed at the number of accessories that came included with it, such as the helmet camera and accessory bag. However, after having taken my first round of stills and videos, I went to upload them onto my MAC mini. To my dismay, I discovered the videos did not play in quicktime. (There was sound, but the video image was blank). It did not work for Media Player either. I scoured the internet for answers and found this:
br /
br /[...]
br /
br /This camera is not compatible with MAC computers. So I made a decision to return the item in exchange for the Sanyo Xacti. I am truely happy with my decision to return this camera for the Xacti as it is Windows/MAC/IPOD friendly. Thanks for hearing me out. I hope this helps others from potentially making the same mistake I did.
br /
br /(I gave this camera 3 stars because I'm sure you will be happy with it if you choose to use this camera under the strict impression that you will
br /1. Be using it with a Windows-based PC and
br /2. Never need to share your videos with other people)
br /
br /I make the second point because the video requires special software for others even with Windows-based PCs to watch your video recordings without problems (special Samsung codec).

As of 25APR (when I got off the phone with Samsung) Samsung "Tier 2 Support" told me to take my camera back to where I bought it, because although they claim it's Mac compatible, "it is not Mac compatible at this time, and we cannot guarantee when/if a fix will be available."
br /There is 3d party software that will make the files viewable on a Mac, but at the price of degraded video quality.
br /It's too bad that Samsung engineers couldn't figure this one out before they let it hit shelves - it seems like a "no-brainer" - actually try to use it on a Mac! FYI, I'm using Mac OSX 10.4.6 with either Quicktime 7.0.4 or iMovie 6.0.1 - you only get a white screen with audio and no video.
br /It's unfortunate, because the video footage that I have seen of the last generation SC-X105L that was edited on a Mac (as opposed to a PC) actually looks pretty good for a camcorder of this size and price. If Samsung has managed to improve the video quality of this year's camera AND they can make it work on a Mac, it should turn out quite well. If not, I'm out $600.

This camera is not Mac compatible, the Samsung technicians know it, and they don't care -- at least the one I spoke with didn't care about the fact that I was out $500. It states nowhere on their Amazon page or the Samsung website that this camera doesn't work on Mac systems. It's false advertising, and they're rude on top of it. What a waste of time and money, not to mention I can't get my video and still images off the camera before returning it. Who makes a new camera these days that's not Mac compatible? Samsung = so lame.

The downloadable spec sheet for this camera from Samsung's US web site states clearly that it is suposedly Mac OSX compatible under the section titled 'Conectivity', on last page of pdf - so much for the childish comments in prior reviews. Obviously from all the relevant reviewers comments it is anything but compatible with OSX and coupled with no image stablization for the external lens makes it fairly useless for it's intended purpose i.e. sports. Classic case of lame marketing and very disappointing from a company such as Samsung.

Primary reason for this cam's purchase is for snowboarding.....since its mpeg4 so i dont' expect much from its quaility..... for 30fps is what i really want. Nice and compact, and the wealther proof design is awesome. Built-in 1gb memory only capable for less than 30 minutes recording.... as user may insert a SD card there...but only up to 2gb....for it doesn't support 4gb SD / SDHC.... well its battery life not that good anyway.....
br /
br /what's it really pissed me off .... is the fact that it burned 1 of my 2gb SD card.....i went to a trip @ LA and Mexico... by the last day we went to hollywood and when i wanna to record the video clip... it won't record...even it indicate another 26 mins left.... and after the trip when i put it into the card reader..... (i tried it in several card readers i have) it DOESN'T ALLOW ACCESS NO MORE....... i really wish samsung can come up a solution on that.... glad i didn't use that 2gb onto other camera before....otherwise i'm gonna to lose a whole lot of pics....
br /
br /i wish samsung can solve the above problem, and upgrade it with SDHC firmware, and also use a battery external camera module then the one comes with.....

This is a great recorder. It's hardly bigger than a cell phone and easy to use. I am a moderately knowledgeable tech user but by no means as wrapped up in it as the general pop and I didn't really need any instruction. I bought it to record my children (parenting is an extreme sport) and I have no complaints. I wanted a memory option that wasn't dependent on my PC and that didn't put me thousands in the hole buying multiple CDs with low recording time and an internal HD seems like an expensive way to get to know the manufacturers service capabilities. The built in memory on the sanyo has about an hours worth of capacity, when it's full I transfer to a DVD (on my Sanyo DVD player/recorder) and I have the option of dumping it onto an external card. Then I erase the internal memory and get on with it. I carry it around in my pocket and when something worth recording happens, I'm ready to go. If I wanted to record for more than an hour, I guess I could bring along a few memory cards. The draw back: i don't think that camera has a timer (no pictures with dad, boo, hoo).
br /
br /Mac users: your Commercials are cute but maybe you guys aren't as smart as you think you are?!?! Stick with your iPods and everything will be fine.

If you were to look where it says OS for operating system, it says pretty clearly Windows 2000/XP. Not compatible with MAC.
br /
br /geee you think that would explain why the techs don't care that you bought this camera without the ability to read? it's your fault not there's. don't knock this camera simply because you messed up.
br /
br /This camera is great for the price and functions. Of this format one of the best you can get. Just make sure you read the product specs before you buy it.
br /
br /Plus, if you own a mac you should be used to this... You always have to buy mac format for programs, games, etc.