Samsung SMX-F34 review (blue)

Aside from design, what separates pocket minicamcorders like the Flip from camcorders like the Samsung SMX-F34 is not video quality, but optical zoom and storage capacity. The F34 features 16GB of internal memory as well as an SDHC card slot for storage expansion. It also has a 34x zoom lens and a feature set that includes manual shooting controls, which you definitely won't find on ultracompact YouTube camcorders. Unfortunately, the video quality really isn't any different; the F34 delivers pretty standard, standard-definition video.

The soda-can shape of the F34 is very comfortable to use, and since the hand strap is mounted across the middle, there's little body roll should you release your grip. Plus, it has Samsung's swivel-grip feature allowing you to quickly change from underhand to overhand shooting without removing your hand from the strap. The body, which is available in black, silver, blue, and red versions, is almost entirely plastic, but doesn't feel cheap.

Controls on top include an ultrasensitive zoom rocker, followed behind by a shutter release for capturing stills (though not while movies are being recorded), and a Mode button; Movies, Photos, and Playback are the options. Following the curve down the body's back is a door concealing a 3.5mm AV jack, a miniUSB port, and a DC input for power. To the right of the jack cover is a large record button and below it a spring-loaded power button. The camcorder's battery compartment and SDHC card slot are behind a sliding door on the bottom.

Flipping open the LCD reveals three more buttons in the screen cavity: iCheck, LCD Enhancer, and Easy Q. With the power off, the iCheck button gives you an onscreen readout of remaining battery life and storage; with the power on it toggles on and off information on the display. The LCD Enhancer improves contrast and brightness of the display for better visibility. Lastly, pressing the Easy Q puts you into a fully automatic, you'll-get-no-settings-and-like-it mode. Holding it for about 3 seconds, however, brings up a list of scene modes.

The LCD itself is fairly low resolution, but is fine for the capabilities of the F34. To the left of the screen is a Menu button, a four-way directional pad and a select button, and a record button. Since the zoom can be controlled with the pad, it and the record button give you a second set of controls. The pad is small and flat, so bigger fingers may have trouble accurately pressing different directions.

The Menu system is straightforward enough, so learning to control everything takes no time at all. Selections are, for the most part, in a horizontal scroll bar letting you easily turn features on and off; only the system settings menu has an extended vertical set of options.