Introduction

The HMX-H106 is part of a series from Samsung that also includes the cheaper HMX-H105 (32GB internal SSD) and HMX-H104 (16GB internal SSD).

Design

Front

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Back

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Left

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Right

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Top

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Bottom

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Size & Weight Comparison

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In the Box

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Performance

Color

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The Samsung HMX-H106 did quite well in our bright light color accuracy test. The camcorder earned a color error of 3.74 with a saturation level of 80.71%. This saturation level may be a bit low for people who like especially vivid colors, but others may enjoy the more subtle color tones produced by the H106. More on how we test color.

Despite its lower saturation level, the HMX-H106 still managed to produce solid colors, and its color accuracy was above average for a camcorder in its class. Looking at the error map above, you can see the camcorder did extremely well with color accuracy on certain reds and blues, although greens, browns, and purples gave the camcorder some trouble.

The Samsung HMX-H106 doesn't have any color settings or image controls. So, if you don't like the way the camcorder renders colors you can't do much to change it. This lack of color controls isn't all too unusual for a mid-range camcorder, however. Of the camcorders we used as comparisons below, only the Canon HF20 offered color modes and a few limited color customization options.

The JVC GZ-HM200 had, by far, the best color accuracy of this bunch, and we must say the colors in its bright light test image looked spectacular. In comparison, the image from the H106 looks a bit bland and washed out, although it is somewhat similar to what the Sony HDR-CX100 produced. The Canon HF20 rendered a bright, colorful image in this test, but its color accuracy was actually slightly worse than that of the HMX-H106. Check out the close-up comparisons below for a better idea of the color rendering differences with these camcorders.

What constitutes 'good color rendering' has a lot to do with personal preference, so we suggest you take a good look at our test images to determine which camcorder you think does the best job with color. What we can say is the JVC GZ-HM200 had the most accurate colors of any camcorder we've tested this year—and its saturation level was a spot-on 102%. Still, the other camcorders in this set weren't bad either, and the Samsung HMX-H106 managed a good color accuracy score compared to most mid-range camcorders.

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Low Light Color

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Not surprisingly, the Samsung HMX-H106 showed a significant drop in color accuracy and saturation level when we brought the lights down to 60 lux for our low light testing. The camcorder earned a color error score of 4.65 with a saturation level of 66.53% in this test, which are fairly average numbers for a camcorder of its class. More on how we test low light color.

The Sony HDR-CX100, JVC GZ-HM200, and Canon HF20 each managed a similar saturation level to the Samsung H106 in low light, although the JVC was the worst with 55.39%. As for color accuracy, the Samsung was actually the best of the bunch, but not by much. See the score chart at the bottom of this section for complete score comparisons with this test.

You can see that the JVC GZ-HM200, the stand-out champ in our bright light color testing, rendered the most washed-out and faded colors of the camcorders in this set. The rest of the models retained a good deal of color depth, although the Canon HF20 produced an image that was a bit too dark. For some of these camcorders, noise becomes a significant detriment in low light, so continue reading to the next section below for further data.

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Noise

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The Samsung HMX-H106 averaged a bit more noise than the Sony CX100 and JVC HM200, but the results of the three camcorders were very close. The Samsung registered 0.695% noise, which is a pretty good score for a camcorder of its class. The Canon HF20 had the worst noise levels of the camcorders in this set, averaging 0.93% noise. More on how we test noise.

Looking at the crops above, you can see the HMX-H106 produced a very sharp image in our bright light testing. Compared to the other mid-range camcorders, only the Canon HF20 showed a sharper video image. You can see quite a bit of blur and discoloration in the vertical trumpet from the GZ-HM200's image, and the Sony CX100 produced a slightly less sharp image than both the Canon and Samsung (notice how the lines blur together at the bottom of its vertical trumpet).

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Low Light Sensitivity

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Our low light sensitivity test has been like kryptonite to many consumer camcorders this year, but the Samsung HMX-H106 actually didn't do that poorly here. The Samsung required 14 lux of light—less than the three camcorders we used as comparisons—to measure 50 IRE on our waveform monitor. This is quite a good performance when you consider most of the camcorders we've tested this year required between 15 and 30 lux of light. Only the high-end models from Panasonic (9 lux), as well as the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 (also 9 lux) required less light than the Samsung HMX-H106. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

Now, the Samsung HMX-H106 doesn't have any alternate frame rates for recording 1920 x 1080 HD video, so we only tested its low light sensitivity using its 60i frame rate setting. The Canon HF20, on the other hand, scored much better in our low light sensitivity test when we shot using its 24p and 30p frame rate options. Still, we use the camcorder's default 60i frame rate for scoring purposes because we feel that is what most users will end up shooting with.

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Low Light Noise

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The Samsung HMX-H106 averaged 1.9025% noise in our low light testing, which is slightly below average for a mid-range model. The Sony HDR-CX100 and JVC GZ-HM200 both had a bit less noise in this test, while the Canon HF20 had more. More on how we test low light noise.

The Samsung's noise performance in low light wasn't terrible, but you can see more splotchy discoloration in its image than, say, the Sony CX100 (see above). The JVC GZ-HM200 produced a very faded image in low light, and you can see a prime example of what we're talking about in the crop above. The Canon HF20, despite having the noisiest image of the bunch, retained a lot of detail and sharpness in its low light image. Still, its did have a fine layer of noise mucking up its image, which may be seriously distracting for some users.

We feel the Sony and Samsung are the best overall low light performers in this set. The HMX-H106 bested the HDR-CX100 when it came to low light color accuracy and sensitivity, while the CX100 had the better noise performance. Some may prefer the sharp image captured by the Canon HF20 in low light, but we felt its high noise levels and poor low light sensitivity weren't up to snuff.

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Low Light Color

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Not surprisingly, the Samsung HMX-H106 showed a significant drop in color accuracy and saturation level when we brought the lights down to 60 lux for our low light testing. The camcorder earned a color error score of 4.65 with a saturation level of 66.53% in this test, which are fairly average numbers for a camcorder of its class. More on how we test low light color.

The Sony HDR-CX100, JVC GZ-HM200, and Canon HF20 each managed a similar saturation level to the Samsung H106 in low light, although the JVC was the worst with 55.39%. As for color accuracy, the Samsung was actually the best of the bunch, but not by much. See the score chart at the bottom of this section for complete score comparisons with this test.

You can see that the JVC GZ-HM200, the stand-out champ in our bright light color testing, rendered the most washed-out and faded colors of the camcorders in this set. The rest of the models retained a good deal of color depth, although the Canon HF20 produced an image that was a bit too dark. For some of these camcorders, noise becomes a significant detriment in low light, so continue reading to the next section below for further data.

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Motion

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The Samsung HMX-H106 rendered good motion in our testing. It had less artifacting than most mid-range models, but a bit more than the average high-end camcorders. There was some noticeable bend to the straight bars in the black and white pinwheel from our test, but the video was smooth and trailing wasn't much of an issue.

The H106 only has one frame rate for recording Full HD video and that is 60i. You can shoot 60p at 1280 x 720, however, or you can shoot SD video at 720 x 480 with a 60p frame rate as well. The video shown above was taken in the camcorder's 1920 x 1080 Full HD mode. When watching these YouTube videos, keep in mind that they have been heavily compressed in the upload process, but they can still be useful comparisons (particularly if you click on the HD links).

The Sony HDR-CX100 managed a similar motion performance to the HMX-H106. It showed slightly more artifacting than the Samsung, but its image was smooth and we didn't see any banding on the lines with our black and white pinwheel. The CX100 only records at one frame rate—60i—but it has both HD (1920 x 1080) and SD (720 x 480) recording options.

The GZ-HM200 is a very good bright light camcorder and its motion test produced strong colors and a sharp image. Its footage was also quite smooth, but it produced a bit more artifacting than we saw on the Samsung HMX-H106 and Sony HDR-CX100. For a mid-range camcorder, the GZ-HM200 managed slightly better than average motion results.

For mid-range camcorders, the Canon HF20 is definitely the champ of our motion test. It offers three frame rates for recording HD video (60i, 24p, and 30p), and it captured a sharp image with very little artifacting. Yes, its motion video did have some blur and trailing, but it still managed to produce the best results of the camcorders in this set. In fact, we couldn't notice any significant difference in our motion test between the HF20 and its high-end big brother, the Canon HF S11. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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For a mid-range camcorder, the HMX-H106 did very well in our video sharpness test. The camcorder managed a horizontal sharpness of 750 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 575 lw/ph. This puts the camcorder slightly ahead of the Sony HDR-CX100 when it comes to video sharpness, although it is still far behind the Canon HF20 in this category. The HF20, along with the high-end models from JVC (the GZ-HM400 and GZ-X900), produced the sharpest video images we saw all year. That being said, the results from the Samsung HMX-H106 are nothing to sneeze at. Most mid-range camcorders earn scores similar to what the JVC GZ-HM200 showed in this test (500 lw/ph horizontal, 600 lw/ph vertical), which means the HMX-H106 did much better than average on this test for a camcorder in its class. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Usability

Ease of Use

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The Samsung HMX-H106 can be very easy to use, particularly if you set the camcorder to its Easy Q mode. Easy Q, which is engaged by pressing a button inside the LCD cavity, puts the H106 into an entirely automated mode. Focus, exposure, shutter speed—everything is controlled automatically. The camcorder even locks you out of certain menu options just to make sure you don't adjust something by accident. As an added bonus, the text and buttons appearing on the LCD become larger and easier to read when Easy Q mode is turned on.

If you're a more experienced user, Easy Q mode may be too simplified for you, but the camcorder is still fairly easy to use in its regular shooting mode. The menu options are organized well (all options are under one menu heading) and the touchscreen is designed specifically with beginners in mind. Still, if you're one of those people who just doesn't like touchscreens, then the HMX-H106 won't be very fun for you to use.

Another benefit of the H106 is the well-designed editing software that comes included on the camcorder. This Intelli-studio software is one of the best programs to ship with a consumer camcorder—it is easy to use and it has a surprising number of useful features and settings. This software, combined with the fact that the camcorder doesn't use the confusing AVCHD compression system, makes the Samsung HMX-H106 one of the simplest mid-range camcorders on the market.

Since the HMX-H106 uses touchscreen technology, the menu system is fairly straightforward. You just click on the menu button (lower right hand corner of the LCD) and a set of options appears on the screen. The only way to navigate through these options is by tapping the small arrows on the screen. The main menu is simple enough to navigate, but its translucent design can make some options difficult to read (depending on what the camcorder is being pointed to in the background).

To access the settings menu on the H106 you press the tab on the main menu that shows an icon of a geared wheel. The settings menu is not transparent like the main menu, which makes the options easier to see and read. Here you'll find things like date/time adjustment, LCD brightness, and other administrative functions (the main menu is where you find things like manual controls).

It is important to note the HMX-H106 does not have a separate mode for still images, so all photo functions are located under the main menu mixed in with video functions. The main menu is different, however, when the camcorder is in playback mode (the settings menu is virtually unchanged though).

Lastly, the HMX-H106 has a small button on the LCD panel labeled as Q Menu, which brings up the camcorder's quick menu. Here, you'll find six quick access options that are different in both shooting mode and playback mode. In shooting mode the options in the quick menu are: Storage, iScene, Resolution, WB, EV, and Focus. So, if you want to quickly adjust focus or change the scene mode being used by the camcorder you don't have to navigate through the main menu—you can simply press the Q Menu button and go right to these options. Unfortunately the Q Menu is not customizable, so you're stuck with the six options that Samsung felt were the most important for quick access.

Auto Mode

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Samsung has a dedicated auto mode on the HMX-H106 called Easy Q and it is activated by pressing a button inside the LCD cavity. For the most part we found the H106 to function well in auto mode. Its autofocus may be a bit slow at times, but it wasn't much different than most camcorders. Auto exposure adjustments were smooth, quick, and transitioned very well between light and dark scenes. For more advanced users, there is a backlight compensation feature that can be turned on to help illuminate subjects that have a strong light behind them. We were also generally impressed by the auto white balance on the H106: it worked well under various light sources.

The HMX-H106 doesn't have face detection, which is becoming such a common feature that we almost didn't notice it was missing. We're not too concerned about this lack of face detection, however, as the feature is really more gimmicky than anything else.

Low Light Modes - There are no low light modes on the HMX-H106. The camcorder doesn't even have an auto slow shutter feature that allows the shutter speed to drop to 1/30 of a second. This is somewhat surprising, considering the Samsung HMX-R10 had a slow shutter feature called C. Nite that could be used effectively.

Scene Modes - The HMX-H106 has a number of scene modes that function for both videos and photos: Sports, Portrait, Spotlight, Beach/Snow, Food, Candle Light, and Indoor. Some of these scene modes make adjustments to shutter speed, while others adjust color and exposure effects.

Other Auto Features

Handling

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The HMX-H106, as with all models from Samsung, offers a very unique handling experience. At first, the camcorder may look like an ordinary consumer model, but you'll quickly notice that the right side portion of the camcorder is rotatable up to 180 degrees. This allows you to hold the H106 in a two very different ways—in the traditional manner with your fingers wrapped around the top of the camcorder, or with the strap rotated back and your thumb on the top of the camcorder (like a flashlight).

Holding the HMX-H106 like a flashlight with the strap rotated back can be rather comfortable, and it does put less pressure on your wrist than the traditional way of holding a camcorder does. Still, it does mean you'll need two hands to work the zoom toggle and to press the start/stop record button (the secondary toggle on the LCD works well in this situation).

Besides its unique strap design—which has been promoted by Samsung since last year's SC-HMX20—the HMX-H106 is a fairly standard camcorder. Its touchscreen system is very similar to what you'll find on Sony or Panasonic models, although Samsung doesn't include any face detection or touch tracking features. We found the touchscreen quite simple to use for the most part and its activation sounds (the little beeps and noises it makes when you select menu options) were significantly less annoying that what is present on many other camcorders (you can turn always turn these off in the camcorder's menu if you don't like them). Keep in mind, however, the touchscreen is the only system for setting manual controls on the HMX-H106. So, if you want the precise control of a dial or lens ring you should stay away from the touchscreen-only HMX-H106.

In using the H106 we found ourselves a bit frustrated by the lack of sensitivity with the camcorder's main start/stop record button. Occasionally the button simply wouldn't respond when we pressed it, which can be a huge problem for people who don't realize the camcorder didn't start recording when they pushed the button. This is a significant issue with the camcorder and we're very disappointed Samsung didn't offer better button construction for arguably the most important button on the entire camcorder.

Portability

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For a mid-range camcorder, the HMX-H106 isn't that portable, but its 64GB of internal memory does help you out quite a bit. The huge solid state drive means you don't have to worry about packing extra memory cards along on your vacation—as long as 64GB is enough for you to store all the video you plan to shoot.

What makes the H106 less portable than other mid-range camcorders is its size and shape. The H106 is stout and round, so you won't have very good luck if you're trying to fit it in your pocket. Thinner, boxy camcorders like the Sony HDR-CX100, JVC GZ-HM200, and the Canon HF20 would do a better job fitting into loose pockets, but even they are likely to cause discomfort when transported in this manner. The Samsung HMX-H106 weighs around 390g including its battery pack, which is roughly the same weight as the Canon HF20 (400g). The JVC GZ-HM200 and the Sony HDR-CX100 are both a bit lighter (310g and 330g respectively).

Battery Life

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For a mid-range camcorder, the HMX-H106 had very good battery life. In our test, the H106 lasted for 121 minutes (2 hours, 58 seconds), which is over 30 minutes longer than the Sony HDR-CX100 lasted and more than 20 minutes longer than the Canon HF20. The JVC GZ-HM200 was also behind the Samsung HMX-H106 in this test, but only by about 10 minutes. More on how we test battery life.

While this is an impressive battery life performance, we are disappointed by the fact that the HMX-H106 has an enclosed battery compartment (on the bottom of the camcorder). If you want to upgrade to a larger battery for longer-lasting performance, you're simply out of luck with the H106. The rest of the camcorders listed in the comparison chart above have open battery compartments—which means they can all handle larger battery packs.

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LCD

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The Samsung HMX-H106 has a fairly standard LCD. It's 2.7-inches in size, has a 230,000-pixel resolution, and uses touchscreen technology. The screen is pressure sensitive, which means it is just like the touchscreens featured on Sony and Panasonic camcorders. We're not crazy about the touchscreen systems on any camcorder, although some features, like Panasonic's iA technologies, make good use of the touchscreen. Samsung's touch focus on the HMX-H106 is also a beneficial feature of the touchscreen (Sony has a similar feature on its cams).

We would have liked to see a larger LCD on the H106, as that would make the touchscreen easier to use (there would be more space for buttons on the screen) and it would offer a better user experience overall. It's not like the HMX-H106 is too small to accommodate a larger LCD—its body is definitely big enough to handle a 3-inch screen.

In the camcorder's settings menu you can adjust the LCD brightness in increments from 0 to 35. When you adjust the brightness theres even a little number, as well as a display bar, to show you exactly how many increments of adjustment you've made to the LCD brightness. On the left side of the LCD panel are a number of secondary operation buttons—one for Quick Menu access, a zoom toggle beneath this, and a start/stop record button at the bottom. These buttons are better than most LCD panel buttons, as they feel good when you press them and they are of a decent size.

As you've probably guessed by now, the HMX-H106 does not include an electronic viewfinder. EVFs are becoming scarce on consumer camcorders these days, but you can still find them on a few high end models from various manufacturers.

Stabilization

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The Samsung HMX-H106 is equipped with an optical image stabilization system (OIS), but the feature didn't work very well in our testing. In our low shake test, Samsung's OIS reduced 9% of the shake. In our high shake test, the camcorder's OIS did even worse, reducing the shake by just 2%. These are unfortunate scores and we expected much better from Samsung's optical stabilization system. More on how we test stabilization.

Generally, we prefer optical stabilization systems to digital ones, but in the case of the HMX-H106 we weren't impressed with its OIS. Digital stabilization features can degrade image quality when used,but we found the DIS system on the Sony HDR-CX100 to be far more effective than the OIS on the HMX-H106. The DIS on the JVC GZ-HM200 also worked quite well, while the Canon HF20, which has OIS, performed just as poorly as the HMX-H106.

So, the question comes down to this: which would you rather have—a stabilization system that works well, or one that works poorly but doesn't result in a loss of image quality? The YouTube video below shows the HMX-H106 with its optical stabilization system in action. You can visit our YouTube channel to view stabilization videos from other camcorders.

Manual Focus

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Manual Exposure

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Miscellaneous Controls

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Guideline

Displays a grid on the screen to assist with framing. There are three choices on the HMX-H106: a four-sector grid, safety zone with center marker, or a 9-sector grid.

Self-Timer

The 10-second self-timer can be used for both photos or videos. A large countdown from 10 appears on the LCD after you press the start/stop record button with self-timer engaged.

Tele Macro

Shifts the effective focal range to 1 - 50 cm. (0.4 - 19.7 inches).

Audio Controls

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If you want lots of audio controls on your camcorder, you shouldn't be looking at the Samsung HMX-H106. The camcorder doesn't offer any audio connectivity features (like an external mic jack), and it only has one manual audio control—wind cut. The wind cut feature is a high-pass filter that limits the amount of rustling noise picked up by the onboard microphone on a windy day. It can be a somewhat useful feature, but it's nothing to write home about.

The built-in mic on the H106 is decently placed, so we give Samsung kudos for that. The mic is located on each side of the lens, much like on Canon's HF S series of camcorders. This puts the microphone out of the way from wandering fingers or noisy controls. The built-in mic records in stereo and the camcorder compresses the audio using the AAC compression system.

So, that's all the H106 has when it comes to audio features. You can't adjust audio levels manually, nor can you connect an external mic to the camcorder. When it comes down to it, the Canon HF20 has the best audio controls of any mid-range camcorder. It offers complete manual audio level adjustment, a hot accessory shoe, a headphone jack, and a 3.5mm external mic input. Panasonic also offers manual audio controls on its mid-range cams, but none of them have external mic inputs (you have to go to the high-end models for that).

Editing

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The Samsung HMX-H106 comes with Intelli-studio software, but instead of providing the software on a disk it comes loaded right on the camcorder. We like this design because it means you never have to worry about losing your software installation disk. This is the same software Samsung included on the HMX-R10, and overall we're pretty satisfied with Intelli-studio. The only big drawback is the fact that the software doesn't work on Macs.

Just because Intelli-studio comes loaded on the HMX-H106 doesn't mean you can simply double click and start the software the first time you plug the camcorder into your computer. You still have to install the software on your computer, which can be a somewhat tedious process (but you only need to do it once). After you install Intelli-studio the software will automatically open whenever you connect the H106 to your computer, but you can turn off this feature in the camcorder's menu.

When you first open the Intelli-studio software a message pops up that prompts you to import all the footage from the H106 to your computer. If you import footage at this point the software will copy everything over to your computer, but you can also wait and import files manually later. If you have lots of footage on the HMX-H106 importing can take a while, but it isn't as time-intensive as importing AVCHD clips.

The editing features on the Intelli-studio software are good and plentiful. There's movie effects, brightness, contrast, and saturation control, transition effects with adjustable duration, and text, image, or sound insertion. You can also trim and splice your clips with the Intelli-studio software.

For the most part, we found the Intelli-studio software to be easy to use. We were a bit disappointed by its YouTube upload feature, which is fairly limited, but we were happy to see the feature included nonetheless. The Samsung HMX-H106 also has the ability to combine or split clips right on the camcorder itself—without requiring the use of Intelli-studio. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

Features

Compression

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Samsung is one of the few manufacturers to not use the AVCHD format on its HD camcorders. Instead, Samsung uses a regular MPEG-4 codec, which is the same codec used with AVCHD, but it doesn't include any of the extra information or standards that AVCHD compression requires. The main difference with using regular MPEG-4 is that the video files from the HMX-H106 can simply be 'dragged and dropped' from a memory card (or the camcorder's internal SSD) onto a computer. Unlike AVCHD files, the MPEG-4 clips don't have to be imported with special software before you can watch them on a computer. With Samsung's MPEG-4 files, you can simply double-click on the files to play them right off the bat.

Things aren't all sunshine and rainbows with Samsung's MPEG-4 clips, however. The files are still extremely large (as most HD videos are), and most editing programs will require you to render the clips before they can be viewed on the editing timeline. This rendering process can be very time consuming, and will often eat up as much time as it takes to import an AVCHD file. Still, if you have no plans to edit your videos, then the MPEG-4 system is much simpler for consumers.

The Samsung HMX-H106 has three formats for recording video. The Full HD setting records at a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 60i frame rate, then there's a 1280 x 720 option that shoots with a 60p frame rate, and rounding things out is a standard definition setting that records at a 720 x 480 resolution and a 60p frame rate. Each of these formats also has three quality settings called Super Fine, Fine, or Normal. Samsung doesn't say what the difference between these quality options are, but we expect it has something to do with bitrate. Super Fine is the highest quality setting, while Normal is the lowest. All of our testing was done in the 1920 x 1080 format with the Super Fine quality setting. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The HMX-H106 is loaded with a huge 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD). SSDs, for all intents and purposes, are the same as internal flash memory. Samsung may say their SSD offers faster write speeds than internal flash memory, but the truth is we noticed no difference when recording video or transferring files from the camcorder. Since the release of the HMX-H106 both Canon (the HF S11) and Sony (the HDR-CX520V) have released models with 64GB of internal flash memory (and Panasonic has the HDC-TM350 available in Japan). Internal flash memory is definitely the trend camcorders are heading in right now, so we expect to see many models in the near future that include large amounts of internal flash memory or SSDs.

For now, however, 64GB is the most internal memory you can get on a consumer camcorder, unless you go for a model that records to an internal hard drive. The thing is, hard drives can be bulky and are easily corruptible, so we tend to recommend camcorders that record to internal flash memory or Solid State Drives—like the HMX-H106—instead. In addition to its 64GB SSD, the H106 can also record to SD/SDHC memory cards that load via a card slot on the bottom of the camcorder.

The HMX-H106 has a bunch of recording options. You can record video in three different resolutions (1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, and 640 x 480) and each of these resolutions has three quality options (Super Fine, Fine, and Normal). The table below shows the approximate record times you can get when recording to various SD/SDHC card sizes or the internal SSD. As might be expected, the lower quality settings enable you to record more video.

Shooting standard definition video instead of HD takes up a lot less space on your memory card or internal SSD. The table below shows the record times when recording with the H106's 720 x 480 standard definition format. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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The HMX-H106 isn't loaded with still features, but it has a few unique settings. The camcorder has no dedicated photo mode, so to take photos you simply press the photo shutter button when you're in regular record mode. You can hold the shutter button down halfway to focus, and then press it fully to take a photo. Since there is no separate mode for photos, all of the camcorder's still image controls are located in the same main menu that houses the rest of the camcorder's controls. You can set aperture, focus, shutter speed, white balance, and use scene modes for photos—just like you can with videos on the HMX-H106.

The HMX-H106 does have a built-in flash located above the lens. This flash is controlled by a small button inside the LCD cavity and can be set to Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, On, or Slow Sync (which is meant to be used in conjunction with slow shutter speeds).

In addition to the built-in flash, there are some other features on the H106 that work with photos only. Among them are a continuous shot function that takes 8 photos in succession when you press the shutter button, and a photo sharpness setting that allows you to choose between Normal, Soft, and Sharp for your still images. There's also a 10-second self-timer, but this feature also works in video mode (it delays the start of recording or taking of a photo for ten seconds after you press the shutter or record button).

The HMX-H106 only has two still image resolution options: 2880 x 1620 (4.6 megapixels) and 1920 x 1080 (2 megapixels). The camcorder's effective pixel count is just over 2 megapixels, which means the larger photo resolution option (2880 x 1620) is interpolated and won't get you any higher-quality images than the 1920 x 1080 setting (the photos will just be a larger size).

The HMX-H106 did very well on our still color test managing slightly more accurate colors than it did in our bright light video test. The camcorder produced a still color error of just 3.17 with a saturation level of 97.97%. These are strong numbers, and the camcorder was pretty accurate across the board with various color tones.

Of the camcorders shown below, only the Sony HDR-CX100 managed better color accuracy than the Samsung HMX-H106 in its still images. The JVC GZ-HM200, which was such a strong performer in our video color testing, produced a supersaturated still image with only average color accuracy. The Canon HF20 was the worst performer in this test, with its colors having a near-fluorescent quality and a 5.36 color error.

The Samsung HMX-H106 did fine in our still noise test with an average of 0.68% noise. This is a better noise performance than any of the camcorders we used as comparison—by a rather significant margin. The Sony HDR-CX100 registered 1.01% noise and the Canon HF20 was right behind it with 1.15% noise. Only the JVC GZ-HM200 came close to matching the HMX-H106, as it measured 0.82% noise in this test.

We consider still sharpness the most important of our still image tests because it gives you an idea of how much detail the camcorder can capture in its still photos. Unfortunately the HMX-H106 flunked this test, which puts a damper on its good results from our still color and still noise tests. The H106 managed a horizontal sharpness of 933 lw/ph with 17.1% undersharpening and a vertical sharpness of 576 lw/ph with 23.7% undersharpening in our still sharpness test.

These numbers aren't great, and the other three mid-range models we compared to the H106 fared better in this test (although the JVC GZ-HM200 wasn't very good either). The thing is, the Samsung HMX-H106 can only take 2-megapixel still images natively (its 4.6 megapixel photo setting is interpolated), which attributes to its poor still sharpness performance. Most digital cameras take upwards of 9-megapixel photos, so you'll definitely be better off using a cheap digital camera to snap photos than the Samsung HMX-H106.

Keep in mind, Samsung does allow for some manual adjustment to photo sharpness on the HMX-H106. These images were captured with the photo sharpness set to Normal, so if you switched this setting to Sharp you may be able to get more detail and a higher still sharpness rating out of the HMX-H106.

Lens & Imaging System

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The Samsung HMX-H106 has a rather large lens on its front and it did better in our wide angle test than most models (54 degrees). The shape of the camcorder is built around the circular lens barrel, which gives the H106 a round, stout design. The lens has a built-in cover that automatically opens when you turn the camcorder on (and closes when you turn it off).

LCD

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The Samsung HMX-H106 has a fairly standard LCD. It's 2.7-inches in size, has a 230,000-pixel resolution, and uses touchscreen technology. The screen is pressure sensitive, which means it is just like the touchscreens featured on Sony and Panasonic camcorders. We're not crazy about the touchscreen systems on any camcorder, although some features, like Panasonic's iA technologies, make good use of the touchscreen. Samsung's touch focus on the HMX-H106 is also a beneficial feature of the touchscreen (Sony has a similar feature on its cams).

We would have liked to see a larger LCD on the H106, as that would make the touchscreen easier to use (there would be more space for buttons on the screen) and it would offer a better user experience overall. It's not like the HMX-H106 is too small to accommodate a larger LCD—its body is definitely big enough to handle a 3-inch screen.

In the camcorder's settings menu you can adjust the LCD brightness in increments from 0 to 35. When you adjust the brightness theres even a little number, as well as a display bar, to show you exactly how many increments of adjustment you've made to the LCD brightness. On the left side of the LCD panel are a number of secondary operation buttons—one for Quick Menu access, a zoom toggle beneath this, and a start/stop record button at the bottom. These buttons are better than most LCD panel buttons, as they feel good when you press them and they are of a decent size.

As you've probably guessed by now, the HMX-H106 does not include an electronic viewfinder. EVFs are becoming scarce on consumer camcorders these days, but you can still find them on a few high end models from various manufacturers.

Connectivity

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The Samsung HMX-H106 keeps its connectivity features very simple. All of the ports and terminals are located on the back side of the camcorder just beneath the mode button and they are protected by a hard-plastic covering that is tethered to the camcorder via a small tab. Stuffed into this small collection of ports are the USB terminal, HDMI-output, DC-input, and the dual AV-out Component-out port.

While we do praise Samsung for keeping all the ports together in one location, things can get a bit crowded when you have multiple cables connected at one time. The fact that the port cover doesn't do a very good job keeping out of the way can also add to the clutter. The camcorder has no external mic input or headphone jack, nor does it offer an accessory shoe.

A switch on the bottom of the H106 can be slid open to reveal the camcorder's battery compartment and SD/SDHC memory card slot. Putting the battery compartment and memory card slot down here does give them good protection, but it also means you'll have trouble swapping out the card or battery if you have the HMX-H106 mounted on a tripod.

The chart below lists all the connectivity features on the HMX-H106 and its comparison models. Notice that the Canon HF20 is the only camcorder in this set to offer an external mic port, headphone jack, and accessory shoe.

Battery

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While this is an impressive battery life performance, we are disappointed by the fact that the HMX-H106 has an enclosed battery compartment (on the bottom of the camcorder). If you want to upgrade to a larger battery for longer-lasting performance, you're simply out of luck with the H106. The rest of the camcorders listed in the comparison chart above have open battery compartments—which means they can all handle larger battery packs. Find out how the performed in our battery life test.

Media

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The HMX-H106 is loaded with a huge 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD). SSDs, for all intents and purposes, are the same as internal flash memory. Samsung may say their SSD offers faster write speeds than internal flash memory, but the truth is we noticed no difference when recording video or transferring files from the camcorder. Since the release of the HMX-H106 both Canon (the HF S11) and Sony (the HDR-CX520V) have released models with 64GB of internal flash memory (and Panasonic has the HDC-TM350 available in Japan). Internal flash memory is definitely the trend camcorders are heading in right now, so we expect to see many models in the near future that include large amounts of internal flash memory or SSDs.

For now, however, 64GB is the most internal memory you can get on a consumer camcorder, unless you go for a model that records to an internal hard drive. The thing is, hard drives can be bulky and are easily corruptible, so we tend to recommend camcorders that record to internal flash memory or Solid State Drives—like the HMX-H106—instead. In addition to its 64GB SSD, the H106 can also record to SD/SDHC memory cards that load via a card slot on the bottom of the camcorder.

The HMX-H106 has a bunch of recording options. You can record video in three different resolutions (1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720, and 640 x 480) and each of these resolutions has three quality options (Super Fine, Fine, and Normal). The table below shows the approximate record times you can get when recording to various SD/SDHC card sizes or the internal SSD. As might be expected, the lower quality settings enable you to record more video.

Shooting standard definition video instead of HD takes up a lot less space on your memory card or internal SSD. The table below shows the record times when recording with the H106's 720 x 480 standard definition format. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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The HMX-H106 isn't loaded with still features, but it has a few unique settings. The camcorder has no dedicated photo mode, so to take photos you simply press the photo shutter button when you're in regular record mode. You can hold the shutter button down halfway to focus, and then press it fully to take a photo. Since there is no separate mode for photos, all of the camcorder's still image controls are located in the same main menu that houses the rest of the camcorder's controls. You can set aperture, focus, shutter speed, white balance, and use scene modes for photos—just like you can with videos on the HMX-H106.

The HMX-H106 does have a built-in flash located above the lens. This flash is controlled by a small button inside the LCD cavity and can be set to Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, On, or Slow Sync (which is meant to be used in conjunction with slow shutter speeds).

In addition to the built-in flash, there are some other features on the H106 that work with photos only. Among them are a continuous shot function that takes 8 photos in succession when you press the shutter button, and a photo sharpness setting that allows you to choose between Normal, Soft, and Sharp for your still images. There's also a 10-second self-timer, but this feature also works in video mode (it delays the start of recording or taking of a photo for ten seconds after you press the shutter or record button).

The HMX-H106 only has two still image resolution options: 2880 x 1620 (4.6 megapixels) and 1920 x 1080 (2 megapixels). The camcorder's effective pixel count is just over 2 megapixels, which means the larger photo resolution option (2880 x 1620) is interpolated and won't get you any higher-quality images than the 1920 x 1080 setting (the photos will just be a larger size).

The HMX-H106 did very well on our still color test managing slightly more accurate colors than it did in our bright light video test. The camcorder produced a still color error of just 3.17 with a saturation level of 97.97%. These are strong numbers, and the camcorder was pretty accurate across the board with various color tones.

Of the camcorders shown below, only the Sony HDR-CX100 managed better color accuracy than the Samsung HMX-H106 in its still images. The JVC GZ-HM200, which was such a strong performer in our video color testing, produced a supersaturated still image with only average color accuracy. The Canon HF20 was the worst performer in this test, with its colors having a near-fluorescent quality and a 5.36 color error.

The Samsung HMX-H106 did fine in our still noise test with an average of 0.68% noise. This is a better noise performance than any of the camcorders we used as comparison—by a rather significant margin. The Sony HDR-CX100 registered 1.01% noise and the Canon HF20 was right behind it with 1.15% noise. Only the JVC GZ-HM200 came close to matching the HMX-H106, as it measured 0.82% noise in this test.

We consider still sharpness the most important of our still image tests because it gives you an idea of how much detail the camcorder can capture in its still photos. Unfortunately the HMX-H106 flunked this test, which puts a damper on its good results from our still color and still noise tests. The H106 managed a horizontal sharpness of 933 lw/ph with 17.1% undersharpening and a vertical sharpness of 576 lw/ph with 23.7% undersharpening in our still sharpness test.

These numbers aren't great, and the other three mid-range models we compared to the H106 fared better in this test (although the JVC GZ-HM200 wasn't very good either). The thing is, the Samsung HMX-H106 can only take 2-megapixel still images natively (its 4.6 megapixel photo setting is interpolated), which attributes to its poor still sharpness performance. Most digital cameras take upwards of 9-megapixel photos, so you'll definitely be better off using a cheap digital camera to snap photos than the Samsung HMX-H106.

Keep in mind, Samsung does allow for some manual adjustment to photo sharpness on the HMX-H106. These images were captured with the photo sharpness set to Normal, so if you switched this setting to Sharp you may be able to get more detail and a higher still sharpness rating out of the HMX-H106.

Other Features

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Time Lapse Record

This nifty little feature is useful for capturing scenes over a long period of time—like a sunrise or a plant growing. You set the interval for recording (options are 1, 3, or 5 seconds) and you can set the maximum time limit the camcorder will record for (options are 24, 48, or 72 hours). One second of video is captured at every interval you selected and since all video is recorded at 720/60p with this mode (no audio is captured during Time Lapse Record).

Quick On Standby

The HMX-H106 can be left in standby mode when you close the LCD but do not power down the device. This allows the camcorder to quickly turn on when you open the LCD panel, although this only saves a few seconds as compared to turning the camcorder on regularly. You can set the H106 to stay in standby mode for 5, 10, or 20 minutes, after which it will shut down completely.

Digital Effect and Faders

The camcorder has a number of digital effects including Black & White, Sepia, Negative, and Art. In addition to these effects, the H106 also has built-in fader settings. You can fade in, fade out, or fade in and out when you press the start/stop record button.

JVC GZ-HM200 Comparison

The Sony HDR-CX100 is significantly cheaper than the Samsung HMX-H106, but this price difference is mainly due to the fact that the H106 comes with 8x more internal memory than the CX100 (64GB vs. 8GB). Both camcorders performed well in our video testing, putting up better-than-average results for mid-range camcorders. They did each have some problems, however: the Samsung struggled in our stabilization and still sharpness test, while the Sony had disappointing color accuracy scores in both bright and low light. Still, for mid-range camcorders these two models are capable of capturing high-quality video.

Price differences aside, these two camcorders are very similar in the amount of features they offer. Both can be very easy to use (each has a dedicated 'easy' mode), while the Samsung offers a few more manual controls than the Sony HDR-CX100. The CX100 is significantly more compact, but it doesn't offer the unique handling system that is possible with the HMX-H106. We'd have to say the Samsung is the easier camcorder to use overall, due to its excellent embedded software and the fact that it doesn't record using the confusing AVCHD compression system.

A more comparable model to the Sony HDR-CX100 is probably the Samsung HMX-H104, which is identical to the H106 except it only has a 16GB internal solid state drive (and costs just $579.99). If you have the extra cash, however, the Samsung HMX-H106 is a very good mid-range camcorder and holds a slight edge over the Sony HDR-CX100 in nearly all of our testing categories.

Canon Vixia HF20 Comparison

The JVC GZ-HM200 won our mid-range camcorder of the year award due to its simple design, easy-to-use functions, and excellent bright light performance. The camcorder includes no internal memory, but it does have two SD/SDHC memory card slots. This means you could have up to 64GB of flash memory loaded into the camcorder at once (with two 32GB SDHC cards). It isn't as convenient as having 64GB of internal memory like the Samsung HMX-H106, but the two card slot idea is definitely a good one.

We like the JVC GZ-HM200 because it has everything a mid-range camcorder should—a decent price, excellent bright light performance, and simple handling. The camcorder does have its faults in low light, however, and the Samsung HMX-H106 is the superior camcorder when it comes to sharpness. There are also some users who may dislike JVC's Laser Touch system that uses a touch sensitive strip for menu navigation and manual control adjustment. Even though it could be frustrating to use at times, we felt the strip offered more precise control than an LCD touchscreen.

While the Samsung HMX-H106 does have the edge in low light and sharpness over the JVC GZ-HM200, we still have to go with the HM200 here. Its design is more compact and its vivid bright light image had the best color accuracy we've ever seen. The GZ-HM200 also did better than the HMX-H106 in our stabilization test, despite the fact that the JVC uses a digital stabilization system (compared to the optical one on the Samsung).

Update: The Everio GZ-HM200 was ultimately selected as our 2009 Mid-Range Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

COMP 3

The Canon HF20 may be the most similar mid-range model to the Samsung HMX-H106. Their prices aren't that much different (the Samsung is $50 bucks more than the Canon), and the performance of the two camcorders was similar in a number of our tests. The main difference to note is the Canon HF20 has only 32GB of internal flash memory, while the Samsung has a 64GB internal solid state drive. Both camcorders can also record to SD/SDHC memory cards.

If you don't like touchscreens, the Canon HF20 is your best choice for a mid-range camcorder as it is the only model to not include some sort of touch-sensitive system (JVC has its Laser Touch strip). It also performed exceptionally well in our video sharpness and motion test and it is one of the few mid-range camcorders to offer alternate frame rates (the HF20 includes a 24p and 30p mode).

The HMX-H106's big advantage is in low light, in which it outperformed the Canon HF20 in every category. The Samsung is also slightly easier to use than the Canon, but the HF20 is smaller and has a more traditional design. This is a tough call here, but we think the HF20 is the better model. It's touchscreen-free controls and exceptional video sharpness results put it over the top.

Update: The Vixia HF20 was ultimately selected as our 2009 runner-up for Mid-Range Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

Conclusion

The Samsung HMX-H106 is a solid mid-range camcorder, there's no doubt about that. Its performance was good in most of our testing categories, and it did better with video sharpness than every mid-range model we've reviewed except for the Canon HF20. Its unique handling setup is both comfortable and intriguing—particularly for people who aren't fans of the traditional method of holding a camcorder.

The $849.99 price tag of the HMX-H106 may seem daunting at first, but remember that it comes with a 64GB internal SSD, which means you will save some cash by having to purchase fewer SD/SDHC memory cards to store your video. If you don't want that much internal memory, you can also check out the step-down models from Samsung, the HMX-H105 (32GB SSD) and HMX-H104 (16GB SSD). Both of these models have the same specs as the HMX-H106, except for internal memory differences, and each is available at a cheaper price.

Despite being one of the better mid-range models we've reviewed this year, the Samsung HMX-H106 still had plenty of faults. The button design on the camcorder was finicky and cheap, the touchscreen interface was often clumsy, and the camcorder doesn't have too many features compared to what many other models offer (no alternate frame rates, no separate photo mode, no color or image controls). That being said, the HMX-H106 is still an excellent choice for a mid-range model and it did very well compared to the JVC GZ-HM200 (our 2009 mid-range camcorder of the year) and the Canon HF20 (our runner-up 2009 mid-range camcorder of the year).

Photo Gallery

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