Samsung NV24HD 10.1MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Ultra Wide Image Stabilization Zoom (Black)

Had this 4 a few days now. I was really looking forward 2 seeing the HD video recording & the wide 24mm viewing area. Well when this camera came out about 6 months ago the price was retail at $349. For everything that this camera does, I thought that was a good deal. But if it still sold 4 $349, I would give it 3 stars but since the price dropped 2 less than $200, its a solid 4.

The camera i very well built. The full metal body is very strong. The 2.5 inch OLED screen is beautiful, if not 4 being somewhat small compared 2 most new ones are 3" but its sufficent.

The wide 24mm veiwing area is the most you can get with a point & shoot. That wide angle is great 4 interior pictures.

Ok, now 4 the picture quality. It is merely average or slightly below average. I have a Canon SD630 & that camera is 2 1/2 years old & the quality of the pictures is far superior even though that camera only has 6.3 MP. This is 10. Canon uses CMOS sensors & Samsung uses CCD, which is an older technology. Not that the pictures are bad but not as good as the Canon.

The video is another story. The video at 640x480 is great on this camera. Very smooth. The HD is quite framey. I have a Pentium 4 HT 3.2 Gigahertz with 512 video memory & its still framey. Maybe the new Dual Core Quad can handle it better but my computer can't. Its still acceptable but not 30fps, more like 15 comparably.

For the price I'm impressed with this camera. I just wonder how much better cameras with these specs will be in 5 years. I was going 2 return it but after relizing the HD video requires a lot of processing power & my new computer should be able 2 handle it. I am going 2 try watching these HD videos on my PS3 & will update that as soon as I do.

UPDATE: Just loaded the SD card into the PS3 & the video runs perfectly in HD. Who needs a dedicated video camera when you can have this! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I have several digital camcorders I use 4 my kids youth sports games. Latley I started shooting 3 different camera angles 4 football (with a little help from my friends)...so the Samsung NV24HD is the latest addition 2 my bag, & it is a great one.

Allow me 2 keep my review simple & focused on this use since there are som many other comprehensive reviews already. The wide angle lens seems 2 be the coolest thing when shooting the games. Whether at field level action, halftime locker room talks or up high in the crow's nest 4 "game film" footage this little camera delivers!

Other than the audio going 2 mute during zooming, the only potential downside I see is the editing & burning the footage using software. I have a Sanyo Xacti 720p camcorder that also uses the MP4 AVC/H.264 format
and have not had many problems. It is my understanding that the implementation of this format can vary from manufacturer 2 manufacturer. Not sure what the deal is but my programs are NOT handling this camera's footage the same.

I always maintain several applications in this area as well including Sony Vegas, Adobe Premier Elements & Pinnacle. I have grown tired of the Sony Vegas user interface (too busy & complicated) so let me say a couple of things about Adobe & Pinnacle specific 2 the footage/files this camera produces:

1) Adobe Premier Elements: Versions 3 gives a message that it is an "Unsupported Format"...strange since this version has always worked with the MP4's off of my Sanyo Xacti. AE 4 handle the files fine. Adobe Premier Elements 7 HATES the format! It's like they were so focused on getting the AVCHD right (and they did by the way) they completely screwed up the capabilities 2 work with the MP4 AVC/H.264 format!

2) Pinnacle Studio Plus 12: Not a big fan of the user interface (look & feel) of Pinnacle Studio but it WORKS, & it works well 4 not only the MP4 AVC/H.264 format that this Samsung camera uses but all my others. A big bonus that it also handles my AVCHD .mts files very very well!

Hope this helps some people either before of after the sale!

I though this camera was the answer 2 all my needs. With this thing, I wouldn't have 2 carry the usual DSLR (20D) with 2 lenses, accessory flash, extra batteries, & a camcorder. Yes, HD video, good brand, good looks, & good value. What's more? I can zoom while recording, H264 compression, 30fps, stellar video quality & stereo sound, so I thought perfecto!

I read many reviews before purchasing & came 2 expect that this camera would not provide stellar IQ. Okay. Fine. I can live with average IQ, but the HD is what I really wanted, or so I thought.

I had this camera 4 5 days & shot in a variety of setting like low light, sunny, cloudy, sunset, indoors, outdoors,etc. Noise control was actually acceptable but what I found very unacceptable was the smearing & smudging from this camera even at ISO 80 in daylight. Believe me, I tried everything like turning the in camera sharpening all the way down, using faster shutter speeds 2 prevent blur, & taking pictures in a variety of settings.

My In-Law's 2 year old Canon P&S is way sharper. I really wanted 2 convince myself 2 keep this camera but it would defeat the purpose of getting it in the first place. That means I would have 2 carry the Samsung 4 video & my 20D 4 pictures. I wanted one device that would take decent pictures along with HD video.

My final decision is 2 return this item & eat the restocking fee & shipping both ways. Maybe next time Samsung.

Not every camera will have this problem, I'm sure, but my lens jammed in the "out" position about the 4th time I turned it on.

Batteries are charged, I pulled them out 2 let the camera reset, & I even tried with the AC adapter. It grinds the lens motor a bit & beeps what must be an error beeps when I turn it on, & then it shuts down.

So back 2 the vendor it goes.

Seemed like an OK camera 4 the few minutes I was able 2 use it. The zillions of soft buttons around the display seems like a way 2 avoid the expense/challenge of a touch screen.

I like the NV24HD my only compliant is the it features & abilities are difficult 2 learn & 2 remember. There's a lot 2 learn & a lot 2 read, I wish that it were more simple & easier 2 use in taking full advantage of its abilities.

Representing the very best in compact camera technology, the SAMSUNG NV24HD boasts a 24mm wide-angle & a 3.6x optical zoom lens so you have a wider shooting range. Capture images & record videos in high definition - then watch them on your HDTV in high-quality 720p resolution. Images are richly colored, crisp & clear, simply the best quality available in a digital camera. Crystal-clear digital images can be viewed on a HDTV 4 the ultimate slideshow through a single HDMI cable. What's more, the NV24HD is enabled with Anynet+ technology, so all you need is one remote 2 take control of the action. A wider 180° viewing angle, enhanced color reproduction, ultra-high contrast ratio, & quick near-zero millisecond response time are just some of the advantages of this new, thinner, AMOLED screen. Unlike standard LCDs, the bright 2.5" AMOLED screen reduces the glare from sunlight so you can see your images under any lighting condition. Dual Image Stabilization eliminates the blur caused by camera shake & delivers clear, crisp images every time, even under difficult lighting situations. Integrating the best lens shifting mechanisms of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) with the sophisticated algorithms of Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) corrects even the tiniest of shakes. Whether you're indoors or out, snapping a landscape or friends around a table, the 24mm Ultra Wide Angle lens gives you a wider shooting range from a shorter distance & more flexibility 4 a greater variety of high-quality options. The 24mm Ultra Wide Angle is a perfect marriage of advanced versatility with the convenience of a stylish, compact camera. auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (only 3M) ISO 20MB Internal Memory (additional memory recommended 2 store more photos & video) Media Card Slot - SDHC Card (up 2 8GB), MMC plus (up 2 2GB) USB Connector, Video Output, DC Input Approximate Unit Dimensions - 3.9(W) x 2.4