Novelty in electronics is a dangerous thing. Occasionally, as in the case of the JVC GR-X5, the gambit pays off and we are privy to a great product. More often, the public is saddled with burdens like the Samsung SC-D6550 – a wolf in dork’s clothing. I say “wolf” with all due caution, because the average consumer could easily fall prey to this mess of a machine. The two lens design – one for video, one for stills – is certainly eye-catching, and seemingly clever. “Sure, why not two lenses?” you might say. Let me tell you why not.

The SC-D6550, also known as the Samsung Duocam, has been marketed as a hybrid, a device equally capable of taking video and stills. And let me say this first – the SC-D6550 does take decent still pictures. If you are interested in carrying around a digital camera that weighs nearly a pound and measures 4-5 times the size of an equally capable, dedicated still camera, by all means, enjoy.

If you plan on using the video, you are in for a different story. The video performance is absolutely abysmal, probably the worst we’ve seen all year. The main problem is two-fold. First, the SC-D6550 cannot auto white balance to save its life. Therefore, colors are bound to come out inaccurately. Normally, a simple manual white balancing would correct the picture. Herein lies the second problem. While manual white balance, along with every other feature available, has been included in still mode, the video mode has no manual white balance. This is one in a laundry list of complaints that indicate the Duocam’s video functionality was treated as an afterthought.

In our tests, the video was washed over in a brownish tint. No, you don’t have the sepia effect selected. That’s about as good as it gets. The footage also lacked the sharpness that even the most inexpensive video cameras can get. Nor could the SC-D6550 achieve a decent focus, even in the equivalent of bright sunlight.

The low light performance, an all-important feature that all camcorders seeking our recommendation must earn, was merely below average. The automatic gain, if it had any, did not do much, as the colors were quickly lost in a haze of noise and darkness. Other camcorders vying for “hybrid status,” all JVCs, feature an excellent gain boost that raised the performances substantially in low light.
DuoCam SC-D6550 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 5.2MP Digital Camera


The rest of the automatic controls on the Duocam were just as bad. The auto focus was a sight to behold, pulling in and out of focus every 5-10 seconds, even in the best light. The white balance, as previously mentioned, cast the picture with false color. The rest of the automatic adjustments were relatively accurate, but they took a long time to find their balance.

The manual control menus are split between two navigation controls: one on the LCD screen, the other on the left side of the body. Sometimes these controls work together, and sometimes they exclude each other, so even simple navigation is not so simple. You are offered a wide range of shutter speeds, but aperture is measured on a scale of 0 to 29 rather than F-stops. Manual focus is nearly impossible, as you are given no gauge or measurement. The most irritating aspect of the manual controls is the fact that the there are so many controls available in still mode that are unavailable here in video mode. A whole dial, in fact, is set aside for video – gleaming and beguiling, taunting you with the promise of full manual control and programmable personal preference settings.

The navigation schism – one set here, one set there – makes for poor handling. Many of the buttons are also spaced too closely together, particularly around the right rear corner, which plays host to two mode dials, the zoom toggle, the video record button, and the still capture button. The hand strap is also poorly placed, making some of these controls hard to reach.


The still feature set is, without a doubt, the most impressive of any “camcorder.” Stills can be taken at six resolution sizes, including an enormous 2592 x 1944. They can be recorded to an almost universal media port, which accepts SD, MM, Memory Stick, and Memory Stick Duo (with adapter) cards. There are modes for full manual, Shutter and Aperture Priority, three personalized settings that can be saved, and a number of AE Program settings. You also get full control of ISO, shutter speed, aperture, sharpness, and white balance. Where were all these controls in video mode? I wish I knew.

The lesson on the SC-D6550 Duocam is this (in case you decided to skip right to the bottom): don’t waste your time. The video will only disappoint, no matter what your level of expertise. And if you want to take good stills, buy a dedicated digital still camera; you’ll save time, space, and money.
DuoCam SC-D6550 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 5.2MP Digital Camera


Likes
-Still Feature
-Optical Zoom Specs
Dislikes
-Video Performance
-Low Light
-No White Balance for Video
-Button Placement
-Handling