Like the SC-X105L before it, the Samsung SC-X210L ultra-compact sports camcorder is aimed squarely at sports enthusiasts and gadget lovers. The main appeal of the SC-X210L is its external lens that can be clipped to a jacket or strapped to a helmet while skateboarding, snowboarding or mountain biking, capturing your first-person view of the action. The external lens won't get in the way, and since it is waterproof, you don't have to worry about crashing face-first into the snow. In fact, if anything, that would probably make for some great action footage. The only area where this tiny digital camcorder is likely to disappoint is in its video quality.

The SC-X210L's primary lens has a 1/6-inch, 680,000-pixel CCD with a 10X optical/100X digital zoom function and digital image stabilization, while the external lens offers a 1/4-inch CMOS sensor with 320,000 gross pixels. The SC-X210L records MPEG4 video to its 1GB built-in memory or to the SD/MMC memory card slot. Unfortunately, the SC-X210L's versatility and portability require a trade-off in video quality, and images lack detail and deliver poor contrast. Of course, if you are looking for a way to capture yourself parasailing or hanging from the side of a mountain, then video quality may not be your biggest concern.

The SC-X210L is billed as a multifunctional device rather than just a camcorder, and it can certainly play many roles. In addition to capturing video and stills, the unit can be used as a webcam, a data storage device, a voice recorder and, with the addition of an optional 2GB internal memory expansion, an MP3 player capable of storing up to 500 songs. Audio, video and stills can be quickly transferred to (or from) a computer via the SC-X210L's USB 2.0 connection.

The included battery offers about 70 minutes of continuous recording, while the 2-inch foldout LCD monitor is large enough to comfortably frame shots and review footage. The Samsung SC-X210L may not capture the high-quality images you would expect from a digital camcorder in this price range, but in the right hands (or attached to the right helmet), it can produce some exciting video clips.

Pros:  Ultra-compact, multifunctional, waterproof external lens enables hands-free shooting
Cons:  Poor video and stills quality

Warranty
1 year parts and labor