Samsung Korea has recently announced the newest addition to its camcorder line – the Samsung VM-X300, billed as a camcorder for sports enthusiasts. Aside from its size and design which allows its operation to be done with one hand, the camera features an accelerated start up time to capture those moments that happen without any warning such as spur of the moment shots during sports events. Imagine this, you have your camera turned off and you need it to take a picture then and there. How long would you have to wait? According to Samsung, 3 seconds is all there is. Pretty handy, if it delivers on that promise.

The camera has a flash based SD card which also functions to resist shocks. It takes videos at DVD-size – 720 x 480 widescreen resolution in MPEG-4 format. If you are into playing tunes, you can also play MP3 on this thing. The screen can be swiveled for easy previewing and comes in at 2 inches. What more, the Samsung VM-X300 has a 10x optical zoom lens. This is further supported by an electronic image stabilize. This means that unwanted movement and vibration can be compensated to get better shots.

What is the catch? Well as of now, the Samsung VM-X300 is only to be released in South Korea. The price is not that bad, though. At about $322, this handy camera is at the same price level as most other cameras in its category. It is expected to be released in other areas in the ensuing months