A Long-Awaited Merger

By Wilson Rothman

For gadgets, mergers can be a risky proposition. The union of the MP3 player and the cell phone didn't work out, though later the cell phone did hit it off with a low-resolution still camera. This month Samsung presides over the long-awaited combination of the digital camcorder and the high-resolution digital camera. The two make a handsome couple. As obvious as the merger sounds, it's difficult to couple the two because they use different types of lenses and image sensors. The SC-D5000 "Duo-cam" ($1,399) allows the user to select video or still images by swiveling the appropriate lens into place. The device is cumbersome, but for the most part the combination doesn't cut into quality. Though there is an annoying delay during and after taking each still picture, shots are deep and color-rich. Camcorder options include image stabilization and the popular Gulf War II--style infrared mode. --By Wilson Rothman