Samsung Announces 13 Camcorders: Highlights Include 1080i Video and Wi-Fi

Samsung’s 13 new camcorders, announced today, have a couple common threads running through them: a push toward SSD storage, and high-definition. By that I mean, there’s only a few among them that aren’t full HD (alas, Samsung is still clinging to 720p video, something Canon’s given up). But its higher-end models, which include Wi-Fi and full HD video with smooth, interlaced frames, look pretty sweet. (Note: Samsung hasn’t announced pricing for any of these models. We’re guessing the highest end model will ring in around $1,300, if it’s priced similarly to competitive camcorders.)

Starting at the high end, the S16 (pictured), S15, and S10 offer a new and improved CMOS sensor, 15X optical zoom, 3.5-inch touchsreens and Wi-Fi and DLNA connectivity that allows users to upload photos to their PCs or to their DLNA-enabled Samsung televisions. The main difference among these models is that the S16 has 64GB of storage; the S15, 32GB; and the S10, just a memory card slot (Canon takes a similar approach with its camcorder releases, offering a better and best option for internal memory, as well as an otherwise identical one with no internal memory).

Moving on down the line, the H200, H203, H204, and H205 also record 1080i video at 60 frames per second and have solid-state drives (up to 32GB in this category). However, their screens are 2.7 inches and their optical zoom factor is 20X.

The F40, F43, and F44 boast a whopping optical zoom factor of 52X, but they record at 720 x 480 (60i), not full HD.

Finally, the stylish C20 and C24 have the most stylish design of the bunch, but also record at the lowest resolution: 720 x 480. The M20, meanwhile (not one of the stylish cameras) records at 1920 x 1080 at 60 progressive frames per second.

Samsung has not yet announced pricing for these camcorders. Look for them in the February/March timeframe.