Let's get down to the nitty-gritty stuff. The Samsung SC-DC164 works with DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD+R single layer formats. It also works with dual-layer +R discs. So you've got most of the popular formats covered. Inside, it's got a

• 1/6 inch 680k 1.1 Megapixel CCD
• 2.7-inch widescreen LCD (260K pixel)
• 33x Optical / 1200x Digital Zoom
• 4-in-1 multi-memory card slot

The 33x optical zoom is what I am most attracted to. It's phenomenal! I can't wait to see this feature in action. Plus the 16:9 recording and viewing capability should provide a great movie experience. On the connectivity side, you have USB 2.0 support. PictBridge, an ubiquitous feature on today's photographic devices, is also supported. You can use the DC164 as a web-cam or to capture still images. Did I forget to mention that there's a remote control bundled as well?

The Samsung SC-DC164 will be available in February 2006, around about now at a price of US$449.99. I am not too sure about the future for DVD camcorders, especially in the face of competition from the hard-disk based ones.

Manufacturer Website: Samsung