Samsung DuoCam SC-D6550

Even in this third generation, the DuoCam's camera and camcorder designs each lack the consistency you'd expect from a dual function device. While the menus are attractive and well laid out for both modes, they look and feel very different. The camcorder uses a colorful text based, vertically scrolling menu, while the camera's menus are icon based and scroll horizontally.

The still camera lens has an automatic, built in cover, while the camera lens uses a separate, tethered lens cap. Most of the options for both still and video shooting are controlled using the menus and a small joystick mounted on the left side of the camera. There are a few additional buttons for functions such as activating the color slow shutter mode, deleting stills, and controlling tape playback.

A still camera style mode dial for selecting shooting modes when using the still camera functions sits at the top rear of the camera.

The zoom, start or stop, and still photo buttons are well placed for one handed operation, though those with large fingers may find that the mode dial makes pressing the still button somewhat difficult.

The LCD boasts a Manual Focus button, as well as a small rocker switch for adjusting focus. This works well and offers reasonably good precision, though fine adjustments are more difficult than they'd be with a focus wheel.

Both the memory card slot and the tape door are on the bottom of the SC-D6550, so you'll need to remove the camera from the tripod to swap recording media.

The Samsung DuoCam SC-D6550's resolution lies in the middle of the range for similarly priced competitors. Behind the 10X optical zoom lens used for video is a 1/6 inch, 680.000 pixel CCD. The still camera lens features a 3X zoom (with a focal range equivalent to 38mm to 114mm on a 35mm camera) and is paired with a 5 megapixel sensor. The SC-D6550 offers a wide range of shooting modes for both video and still photos, from the one touch EasyQ button that puts all the camera's settings on automatic to completely manual control.

In camcorder mode, you can set both shutter speed and exposure. When shooting stills, you can choose aperture priority, shutter priority, or full manual control. Still aperture range is now f/2.8 through f/11, a marked improvement over the still camera in the SC-D6040. Manual focus is available in both modes as well.