Digital Stills and MPEG Video
The scd23 can cpature videos in MPEG4 format at a resolution of QVGA 10fps. In addition to high-quality video, the SCD23 also captures digital still photos that are stored on a memory card as JPEGs in your choice of three image qualities.

Inputs and Outputs
The SCD23 comes with an IEEE1394(In/Out), USB interface, Audio/Video Ports, and an S-Video Cable port.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20-percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

What's included
Camcorder, AC Adapter/Charger, Battery Pack, Hand Grip, Remote Control, S-Video Cable, and Memory Stick.

Product Description
Samsung introduces the SC-D23 with its 2.5 in LCD and enhanced night recording capability. The user will be able to shoot in low light luminance with the enhanced LSS feature.PRODUCT FEATURES:Lens: Optical 10x, Digital 400x;CCD: 680K pixels;Built-in DSC (Memory-Stick Slot);Image Stabilizer: DIS;TFT LCD: 2.5in.;Color Slow Shutter;0 Lux Night Pix, Power Nite Pix;PC Link: USB, IEEE1394 In/Out;MPEG 4 Video Clip Recording;Color OSD, Beep sound;Easy-Q, Easy-Navigator;Built In Light.

Here are a few things any prospective buyer should know: Regardless of what the folks at the Samsung spare parts store may tell you, the SC-D23 absolutely DOES accept a memory stick for use as a digital still camera (640 X 480 pixels max resolution); but no stick is included with the camera AND the maximum-capacity memory stick the camera will accept is 16 megs. Also, the USB photo-download capability works only with PCs; therefore, Macintosh computer users will need to purchase a USB memory-stick reader to download their still photos.

Overall the controls are easy to use and fall readily to hand. The LCD display is bright; and the camera's "night pix" capability is lots of fun--it uses infrared light emitted by the camera itself to illuminate objects up to about 10-15 feet away; so you can shoot close-up video in total darkness. The "night pix" video function may not be very practical for the average casual user, but it's a lot of fun to play with and looks very cool green and "Desert-Stormish." The video color quality overall is good, and the sound picked up by the built-in external stereo microphone is also good; although the mic does pick up a bit of the camera's own operational sounds (whirring and such). There is also an external microphone jack.

Pros with this unit: Low price, strong feature set (including built-in light, digital still camera capability, FireWire and USB interfaces, and several video-outs including S-video), good manufacturing quality, nice picture and sound. Cons: No memory stick included, memory stick capacity limited to 16 megabytes; no USB video download capability; no FireWire or S-video cables included, no USB photo download capability for Mac users.

My wife and I plan to use this camera for taking casual video -- mostly of our grandchildren; overall, we are extremely pleased with the Samsung SC-D23.


Terrific Value for your dollar   March 17, 2004
 30 out of 32 found this review helpful

For the price that you're being asked to pay for a digital video camera, this is a great buy! The camera itself works great and I'm very happy with it. There are however, a few details you really need to know before making a purchase.

1. The included battery's life, I found, is really short. If I got two hours out of it, I was doing hand-springs. I ordered an extended-life battery and have been more then OK since. It was very easy to find and didn't cost too much.

2. If you REALLY want to take full-advantage of having a camera that uses DV, you HAVE TO HAVE a computer that has a 1394 Fire-wire connection and the horsepower to operate it properly. I didn't have that at the time and spent about another hundred dollars in extra RAM and a fire-wire card. Just a word of caution too, transferring DV is a BEAST on system resources; make ABSOLUTELY SURE to check your system specs to make sure you can cover the workload.

2a. ... there really is no reason Samsung couldn't have included a fire-wire cable.

3. The camera's quality in low-light (ex. - a candle-lit wedding dinner ... grrrr) is really suspect. It's astoundingly good when the lighting is good, but the video quality is really grainy when it isn't. The built-in light certainly helps, but only to a degree.

4. The camera won't recognize more then a 16 Mg memory stick for pictures. I went out and bought a 64 mg card and had to return it.

All that said though, this REALLY IS a great machine. Just realize before you purchase it that there are DEFINETLY extras that you're going to need to pick up to go with it. I didn't do my homework and had to do a ton of running around I could have saved mself. I'd hate to see someone make the same mistake.


Excellence Camcorder   June 24, 2003
 27 out of 27 found this review helpful

This is an excellence camcorder for video pictures for out or indoor, with normal light. This comparision with others well known brand-name (even double price).

BUT ... I can not transfer (capture) video picture from mini-DV tape to Computer through 1394 port. I have read some posts at some forums; they are having same problem like mine. If someone know how to please let me know. Thank you.

PS. I have no problem to capture video picture from mini-DV tape to Computer through 1394 port on Canon Optura 20, Panasonic DV102, and Panasonic GS70. I like the SCD23 because the video picture is the best among of the above camcorders (perhaps because it has 1.4 apperature??).

In-order to transfer Mini-DV tape recorded from the Samsung SCD23 I have to put the mini-DV tape to the Panasonic GS70 then using 1394 port to transfer to computer!!!!!

Edit July 07, 2003
Good News .....
Finally, I found the way how to Capture (transfer) video from MiniDV to Computer. The trick is I have to buy a brand name Adaptec FireWire Card!!! I bought Adaptec FireConnect 4300 AFW-4300 1394/FireWire Card, and it work flawlessly (not bad $41.00 card it came with some good software for transfer video image).

I am very happy with SCD23 and I will buy the SCD27 because the SCD27 is almost the same as the SCD23 with more feature + accessories for example it came with 16Mb Memory Stick, Remote Control, 3.5" LCD, have S-Video (in/out).

Only some minor complains are:
-I have to open LCD screen in order to access The DV 4 pin Firewire port.
-No Smart Shoe for Flash however, the Camcorder came with Video Light.

I am going to give 5 stars instead of 4.


Great Camera / Terrible Tech Support   June 13, 2003
 9 out of 11 found this review helpful

PROS: The camera takes great video quality and is easily hooked to a tv/vcr for larger viewing. Very easy to use and I love the night vision.

CONS: Unable to download video to computer... Windows XP won't recognize camera...

So if you just want to transfer your video to VHS, it's a great camera to buy...


OK, but Mediocre Video   July 4, 2003
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

A really nice unit functionally, easy to use, lots of features, large battery, inexpensive, but.. Video quality leaves something to be desired. There seems to be a cross hatching, especially at low light levels. Color is relatively drab. I compared it to a Panasonic PV-DV102 pretty closely, with the same scenes, location, lighting. The Panasonic colors are much more vibrant and realistic-it was easy to see(wife, daughter readily agreed). Also, the SCD23 field of view is pretty small, so you can't take good movies in a small room. Its too bad, because it beats the Panasonic otherwise.