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Samsung HMX-P300, HMX-P100 minicamcorders announced

Samsung offers up high-end and low-end versions of the same pocket video camera. But the low-end still looks good.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials
  • More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.
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Joshua Goldman

Samsung HMX-P300 Samsung

LAS VEGAS--It looks like Samsung is creating a nice little family of minicamcorders. The HMX-P300 and HMX-P100 are pretty much higher- and lower-end versions of the same model, but the P100 isn't so crippled that it's not worth checking out.

The P100 has a backside-illuminated 5-megapixel CMOS sensor for better low-light recording, a fixed focal length f2.2 lens, and a 2.3-inch LCD with an 80-degree viewing angle so you have more shooting and viewing flexibility.

The P300 gets a backside-illuminated 8-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3x f2.8 zoom lens, and a 3-inch touch screen.

Both can capture at 1080/30p, 720/60p, and 720/30p. They also have autofocus, digital image stabilization, flip-out USB connectors for sharing and charging, built-in sharing software, and the capability to record to microSD cards.

The P300 will be available in March in black, silver, white, and pink versions for $199. The P100 will sell for $149 in February in black, silver, blue, and pink.

Editors' take: These look like decent pocket video cameras. While the P100 has fewer features, none of the changes from the P300 are really deal-breakers unless you want the 3x optical zoom.