Seeing Is Believing: Samsung SDP-950DX

Samsung SDP-950DX Digital Presenter

Pros: Sleek design can fit on most lecterns. Impressive focus and zoom. Great color representation. Lots of image-recall and preset options.
Cons: No handle. Side lamps could be brighter and more flexible.
Rated: 5 out of 5.

CCD: 1/3-inch, 850,000 pixels maximum.
Frames per second: 15.
Zoom: 12X optical only.
Inputs: Two RGB (VGA), RS-232, mouse.
Outputs: Two RGB (VGA), component video, S-video, LCD, USB.
Remote included: Yes.
User-programmable presets: Four custom.
Image memory: Up to eight images, with frame display (saved or live), image split, shift.
White balance: Auto, manual.
Weight: 9.9 pounds.
Dimensions: 15 x 16.9 x 19.7 inches (l x w x h).
Price: $3,600.
Contact: Samsung Opto-Electronics America Inc., 201.902.0347, www.samsungpresenter.com.


Conceptually, Samsung's new SDP-950DX Digital Presenter is interesting: It's designed to fit onto a lectern and be portable to boot. At 12 pounds, the document camera is indeed easier to carry than some, as it's essentially a smaller unit with no handle. The Samsung comes with a carrying case, but whether it's truly portable is a matter of opinion. If you're willing to carry it, then yes, it's portable. (Note: The unit we tested was a prototype of a model introduced in June 2002.)

This sleek Samsung document camera has two side lamps with a plastic covering that cuts down on hot spots and glare. However, the lamps are not as flexible as those on some of the larger units. It also features a fairly large stage with a small light box in the center. The camera head and lamp arms fold nicely (the head flips back and folds down onto the stage.)

As on some of the bigger units, the Samsung's IR sensor for the remote is located on the camera head, which makes line-of-sight operation easier from most room positions. The camera head can rotate 90 degrees forward and backward, but there is no slide tray.

The front of the stage has buttons for power, rotate, zoom, freeze, lamp, auto-color, autofocus, iris aperture, and int/ext mode (SVGA, XGA). The remote handles these features along with manual white-balance, focus, preset, freeze and recall options.

The Samsung's images appeared slightly darker