SC-D353 Compact Mini-DV Camcorder

The Samsung SC-D353 is really cheap, and I'm really cheap (I paid $276), so it seemed like a match made in heaven.

I am returning this camera. I finally convinced myself to put up with the bad low light graininess. But, this camera recorded scrambled pixels and noise about once a minute. You should be able to record video to a memory stick. I cannot, and yes I did read the manual cover to cover. It just flat does not work.

As bad as my test films were (in part due to my inexperience, in part due to the imaging quality), it got way worse when I switched to "EasyQ" mode (idiot mode).

The website sucks and has no realistic faq's, the 800 number tells you it's closed but won't tell you when it's open. I just reinforced my mediocre / low opinion of samsung products and service.

I'm not sure if all cameras are missing accessories, but consider that you get no memory stick, no firewire cable, no recharger for the battery; in short, no frills when you buy this camera. So, maybe it's not so cheap after all.

I say, buy it at your own risk. It would be almost tolerable if it worked.

I think I'll take every camcorder afficionado's advice and "just get the Sony".

I picked this camera up when it first came out, being told not to by some freinds who experienced poor quality from Samsung products prior to my purchase. I always figured Samsung was a decent brand, so I ignored the comments. One friend had told me his Samsung TV's sound and picture went out after only 5months use.

Well people, after only 2months using this camera, without dropping or hitting the camera at all... the LCD screen no longer produced picture / video. It went completely out! After this, I was forced to use the little eye-view on the camcorder... another month later, the sound went out. It no longer recorded sound, not even with a mic plugged in.

The battery life never lasted longer than 30min. and even when the camcorder is off, battery life seems to still be leaking slowly. When zooming in, no matter how far you go in our out, it never fails to blur, and stay blurred for around 2 seconds.

With that said... Samsung lives up to its reputation, yet again.

While on a cruise to San Juan PR (Sept 05), our old camcorder had some problems. This resulted in our immediate need to purchase the SC-D353 from a local Radio Shack in San Juan.

Things worked reasonably well at first and we were able to record most of our cruise experience with no incident.

Fast forward to the Summer of 2006, we attempted to camcord several events with this camera and each time, the camera simply turned off in the middle of recording.

Now, the camera simply displays a flashing "R" on the view screen accompanied by an inability to record. After contacting Samsung product support, I was told that the unit has a mechanical error and that the repair cost would be $150 (inc. parts, labor, shipping) but, would only receive a one month post-repair warranty.

Needless to say, I promptly informed the support person that I would be better served to simply discard the camera. (Amazingly, she seemed to accept this as a viable denouement.)

As a caution to the prospective buyers and current owners of this unit: The Samsung SC-D353 IS a disposable camera (for all intents and purposes).