Samsung F40 Ultra Zoom Camcorder (Black)
by Samsung
Our Price: $217.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $75.97 (click here)
Category: Digital Camera
See more product details
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: SamsungFormat: CD
Release Date: 2010-02-26
Model: SMX-F40BN/XAA
Color: Black
Product features:
- 65x Intelli-Zoom/52x Optical Zoom
- Long Battery Life (4Hr 20Min)
- Time Lapse recording
- IntelliStudio 2/0 (Built In PC Software)
- Animated Thumbnail
- Pinnacle Studio HD V14 [OLD VERSION]
- Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9 [OLD VERSION]
- Pinnacle Studio Ultimate Collection V14 [OLD VERSION]
- Nero 9 [OLD VERSION]
- Roxio Creator 2010 [OLD VERSION]
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Samsung F40 Ultra Zoom Camcorder (Black)
Customer Review: Great optical zoom quality!
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Samsung F40 Camcorder
Camcorders have evolved a great deal since their initial popularity in the 1980s. I recall when VHS camcorders were the hottest thing and weighed about 10-15 lb, had a lousy NiCd battery, and had horrible standard definition quality. As the camcorder segment evolved, digital cameras and smartphones have adapted with better optics, longer battery lifespans, and larger storage capacities. Even webcams have achieved 2.1 MP resolution, while cellphones/smartphones can have as much as 5 MP.
The Samsung F40 isn't one of the latest and greatest camcorders available. There's no night vision, active image stabilization, long battery life, or high definition resolution. It's only 1.9 MP, has a 4 hour battery life (which is pitiful compared to digital cameras with smaller batteries), clumsy viewfinder, awkward controls, very poor image quality (in video and photo modes), and uses RCA composite jacks to hook up to a television. About the only saving grace for this camcorder is its Schneider Kreuznach 52X optical zoom lens set. I've used cheap spotting scopes that were advertised as 60X and anything greater than 8x with those scopes was a blurry mess. The Samsung F40 at 52X will pick up flies and rust stains on a fence about 100-200m away.
The optical quality is so good that I've been thinking about using the F40 as a spotting scope at the range. It can take still photographs and record video without switching modes, making it perfect to record groupings or 3-gun matches. There is zero to minimal chromatic aberrations at 52X zoom.
The biggest drawback is the low resolution and poor battery life. Since there are no moving parts besides the lens, it seems unusual to have only 4 hours of battery life when digital cameras like the Casio EX-H10 are rated for 1000 photos in the CIPA standard using a small Li-Ion battery.
The Samsung F40 uses SD/SDHC cards, and it requires about 1 GB for every 23 minutes of film time. A 8GB SDHC can hold 191 minutes of recording time or 6025 photos. The F40 does not come with a SDHC card and must be purchased separately! The SDHC card must be formatted via the F40 or else it throws a hissy fit.
The lens motor is very quiet and is barely audible during the recordings. There is a standard tripod threaded insert on the bottom. There is no lens cap, instead there is an old-school shutter like the ones from old 35mm point and shoot cameras. The instruction manual/guide is useless and doesn't explain the backlight and LCD enhancer features or the smart/auto setting. The lack of night vision is a big bummer along with the Standard Definition quality. HD quality with better resolution and 3rd generation night vision would have made the F40 a really awesome camcorder.
Pros: Relatively compact, about the size of a thick digital camera. German optics at 52x is crystal clear, take photographs or videos without switching modes, quiet lens motor, takes SDHC cards
Cons: Short battery life for a modern solid state camcorder (4 hours and change), requires opening the viewfinder to charge the battery (via USB or AC adapter), does not come with SDHC card, no night vision, no HD quality, poor resolution
Overall: 4/5 stars
UPDATE: Here's why I feel the 4 hour battery life is kind of low. This is a 1.9 MP standard definition camcorder. Most cellphones have cameras that would put the F40 to shame in terms of photo/video quality. The webcam on my netbook has about the same quality, and has a 10+ hour battery life. My Casio EX-H10 camera is rated for 1000+ photos on one charge, and has 12.1 MP with HD quality video capability (16:9 aspect ratio as well), and has 10x optical zoom with the ability to fit into my shirt pocket. The only real saving grace for the F40 and other similar camcorders is the optical zoom capability and quality. Unfortunately, the videos and photographs come out very grainy. Had they been able to mate the 52x optics with decent capture quality, it would have been much better. I can't wholeheartedly recommend the F40 especially when there are better digital cameras as the same price.
Description of Samsung F40 Ultra Zoom Camcorder (Black)
With its incredible 65x intelli-Zoom (52x Optical Zoom), the Samsung SMX-F40 series give you the ability to bring distant images into forefront focus, enabling you to zoom closer to the action from further away.
FEATURES:
- Record More - Enhanced energy efficiency and advanced power management coming from Samsung 8th generation DSP Solution combine to create a camcorder that gives you over 4 hours and 10 minutes of battery life, ensuring that you can shoot and share for longer.
- Get Closer - With its incredible 65x intelli-Zoom (52x Optical Zoom), the Samsung SMX-F40 series give you the ability to bring distant images into forefront focus, enabling you to zoom closer to the action from further away.
- Bigger sensor, better video - The Samsung SMX-F40 series use a 1/6" CCD Sensor to enhance image quality. Its extra-large sensor sets it apart from other camcorders in its class and enables you to enjoy higher-quality images.
- Ultimate Companion to your PC - intelli-Studio 2.0 is designed to enhance your sense of freedom. Plug & Play PC Software, intelli-Studio 2.0 is built-into the Samsung SMX-F40 series, you can use any PC to view, edit, and upload your memories to the web without software CD.
- USB Battery charging - The convenient USB charging gives you flexibility and freedom. Simply connect the Samsung SMX-F40 series to any PC via USB cable and the camcorder will begin recharging, allowing you to enjoy a more mobile lifestyle.
- Record the passing of time - The Time-Lapse recording feature captures frames at preset intervals and then arranges them in sequential order to create a video file that condenses an extended period of time into a fraction of the time.
Camcorders
Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
Bestsellers in Camcorders
Panansonic PV-L671 VHS-C Camcorder with 3.0" LCDPanasonic; Digital Camera
Sharp VLWD255U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5'' Viewscreen, Smart Media Slot and Built-in Digital Still ModeSharp; Windows NT; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Panasonic PV-L751 VHS-C Camcorder with 4" LCD and PhotoShot Built-in Digital Still CameraPanasonic; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
JVC GRDVL805U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still ModeJVC; Windows NT; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
RCA CC6373 VHS-C AutoShot CamcorderRCA; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
JVC GR-DVM50U Digital CybercamJVC; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
RCA PRO854 Hi8 CamcorderRCA; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Sony DCRTRV310 Handycam Digital CamcorderSony; Windows NT; Digital Camera
Price in other shops:
Hitachi Hi8 Video CamcorderHitachi; Digital Camera
Hitachi 8mm Camcorder with 2 1/ 2" LCDHitachi; Digital Camera
Similar Digital Cameras & Photo Products
Transcend 8 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6TRANSCEND; CE
Best price: $6.23
Price in other shops:
Kingston 16 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SD4/ 16GBKingston Digital, Inc.; Windows; CE
Best price: $9.90
Price in other shops:
Kingston 4 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SD4/ 4GBETKingston Digital, Inc.; Windows; CE
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
AmazonBasics Camcorder/ Camera Bag with Shoulder Strap (Black)AmazonBasics; Digital Camera
Best price: $14.30
Transcend 16GB Class 10 SDHC Card (TS16GSDHC10)TRANSCEND; CE
Best price: $9.90
Price in other shops:
Kingston 8 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SD4/ 8GBETKingston H. Corporation; CE
Best price: $6.68
Price in other shops:
Kingston 8 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SD4/ 8GBKingston Digital, Inc.; Release date: 2009-11-30; Windows; CE
Price in other shops:
Samsung F40 Ultra Zoom Camcorder (Red)Samsung; Release date: 2010-02-26; Digital Camera
Best price: $210.29
.. Deluxe DB ROTH Accessory STARTER KITFor The Samsung SMX-F33 (F33BN), SMX-F40 (BN), SMX-F43, SMX-F44 Memory CamcorderDB ROTH; Digital Camera
Best price: $17.99
Price in other shops:
Kingston 4 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card SD4/ 4GBKingston Digital, Inc.; Release date: 2012-02-19; Windows; CE
Price in other shops: