I order this camera based on its features, some reviews and doing some research on the net. After a week of exploring its capabilities i found out that its 4 in 1 features are in med level in terms of quality and here it is:1. as a Digital video(camcorder) support only up to 10fps as a result the video is not smooth and zoom features are not available.
2. as a Digital camera 2MP ok, the pictures are fine as long as you pay attention on the lens when taking pictures. no flash, no optical zoom only 2X digital zoom.
3. as a Voice recorder its a fix sampling rate i don't know what it is. the quality of sound recording is low but you can save more space.
4. as a Web camera capable only up 20 fps, just good enough for me.
Bonus features: as a removable drive, nice 1.5" LCD display, small in size, can be preview on TV, 2 AA batteries, plus its accesories and software package.
TAKE NOTE: use this camera only during the day or where there is sufficient light coz it has a very poor results in low light condition.
Anyway, who can expect professional results on a less than $150 camera? It's still recommended for enthusiast who's fun of capturing moments. Don't forget to include at least 256MB CF card.
However, approach this product with eyes wide open, and don't expect it to be the greatest performer in each of its distinct capabilities. For example, as a digital still camera it isn't very tolerant of low light situations. Adequately-lit photos come out fine, but indoor lighting or overcast outdoor shots tend to produce muddy, red-tinged tones. A built-in flash would have overcome this problem, but alas, there is none. So take your shots in well-lit areas and situations, and you'll be fine. Also, the fact that its native image format is lossy JPEG rather than a lossless format such as TIFF is of concern, but probably only to gearheads like me. Most casual digital auteurs won't really care. You can shoot and store roughly 60 digital photos at full quality (2048x1536, Fine Quality) on a 64Mb CompactFlash card (not included, purchased separately. On-board storage is 16Mb.)
Next, as a digital video camera: don't expect it to fulfill all of your home movie needs. At 10 frames-per-second and 320x240 video resolution, it's hardly broadcast quality. However, I find this limited quality just right for shooting, editing, and posting quickie, low-bandwidth web movies. The camera saves movies natively in .AVI format, so usually no conversion or extra steps are required to get your movies out of camera and on the web. As a Mac user, I prefer QuickTime to .AVI, but I found that conversion to .MOV format was quick and easy. You can shoot about 20 minutes of compressed video on a 64Mb CompactFlash card (not included, purchased separately -internal storage is 16Mb only). The length of your videos is limited only by your available storage space and supply of batteries.
As a digital voice recorder, it features no Cue or Review buttons, so going back and forth over the day's notes can be a pain. The workaround is to keep your notes short; the camera creates a new audio file for each new note you record.
As a webcam, it works quite as most low-end USB webcams do. No real complaints in that department.
The 1.5-inch LCD screen does its job well enough. The fact that it's present at all in a product this low-end is a pleasant surprise. However, it does drain the two AA batteries rather quickly. You can sidestep this issue by using rechargeables, as I do.
PROS: Small, light, handy, packs an amazing amount of features and value for an unbelievably low price.
CONS: Picture quality suffers in low-light situations, no flash, digital video is web-quality only, digital voice recorder has no Cue/Review buttons.
BOTTOM LINE: This nifty litttle gadget is a jack-of-all-digital trades, but master of none. However, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts -having one device that does all these things makes it a great little toy for the big boys in your family. It won't replace your main digital still camera or digital camcorder, but it makes a great backup unit to either, in situations that don't warrant lugging around the first team. Buy it -you know you want it.
Buy Aiptek DV3100 3.1MP AVI Digital Camcorder Now
I am completely satisfied with the purchase of this camera. The videos may not be top notch, but I've had a great time capturing spontaneous moments with the camera handy in my purse. The quality of the stills really surprised me though, in natural light, the images came out crisp and clear. The only fault I would find with this camera is the lack of flash, which could have been very useful in the low light situations. Therefore, I advise to those that are interested in this camera to just wait another month or so for the pocket DV4, which is already out in Europe. It is Aiptek's new camera in the pocket DV line and IT HAS A FLASH! (they finally took their customer's advice, or complaints rather).... I hope this has been helpful!P.S.: If you're interested in learning more about the new aiptek camera or seeing some sample pics and videos for this one go to fireboxdotcom, it's a really helpful site
Read Best Reviews of Aiptek DV3100 3.1MP AVI Digital Camcorder Here
I got it as a gift about a year ago and have overall really enjoyed it. I would rate it 4.5 if I could.Though a lot of people may say it doesn't take good still photos, I have gotten some exceptional near professional results.
The quality of the photo depends on the light. Low light and indoor settings can result in grainy or semi grainy photos, but that is mainly because it doesn't have a flash. It is best used outdoors in partially sunny to cloudy days or times that are not blindingly bright such as noon time with full sun. Taking photos in full sunny days in the sunlight can sometimes be overexposed, but that happens to any camera I think.
Macro shotsit doesn't zoom in very far, but if you are clever, you can compensate by using a magnifying lens. I have taken a number of excellent photos of flowers, butterflies, and other insects and plants that way.
Some drawbacks are with it having an auto white balence. Yellow and orange seems to get dulled a little and white can sometimes end up being 255 brightness. Sunsets tend to loose intensity because of this feature. Though I think these can happen with any camera with an auto white balence.
But then again for it being a cheap camera, am quite amazed with the quality.
I've found it to take better pictures than the newer PocketDV 5700. The shutter speed is ok. It is faster than the PocketDV 5700 which made me able to take better shots of moving objects such as my cat than the newer model.
The video and audio feature on this camera are not its main features. Battery life is varryable. Can be very short to fairly long. I've found it helpful to turn off the lcd switch and close the camera door between shots. Sometimes I can prolong the battery life over a week.
If you want something cheap that can take good photos along with some patience and a good editing program such as paintshop pro or photoshop, then this is a good deal.
Eventually though you may want to save up for a higher end camera. But this will do in the mean time.
Want Aiptek DV3100 3.1MP AVI Digital Camcorder Discount?
If you wish to introduce yourself to digital video (or, for that matter, digital still photography) and have budget considerations then this is the camera for you. Or, if you wish to have a small / light weight DV/still shot camera to use (sometimes) in place of your larger camera then this is an ideal choice.The "native" still shot resolution is 2 mega-pixels (also with a 3.1 Mega pixel setting, interpolated) and produces quite pleasing and satisfactory images taken in natural (outdoor) light (no flash).
The video quality (10 frames per second) is good (all things considered), however, it is unfair to compare this camera's video quality with the excellent results produced by cameras priced hundreds of dollars higher. You can use this camera in places and situations where you would not dare to endanger your high-end camera.
The recorded sound (mono) is fine (satisfactory) when played through your computer's sound system (one microphone no input jacks for external mic).
The internal memory only allows for about 3 to 4 minutes of video so a 256 MB (or higher) compact flash card (slot on camera) is highly recommended.
The camera may feel flimsy but this is because of its small size and also because it records on ram instead of digital tape so the camera has no weighty mechanical devices inside of it.
The still shots are best taken at a distance of 5 to 7 feet away from your subject. Distances greater than 7 feet are not as crisp.
Rechargeable ("AA" type) batteries are recommended and armed with a 256 Meg Compact Flash you will be prepared to have a great deal of fun with this amazing device.
Downloading the images is easy using the included proprietary USB cable, or use a compact flash card reader if you have one and have an optional CF card.
This camera, just like every other camera, has its limitations. Nevertheless, it is a great value and is an inexpensive way to introduce yourself to digital video/photography. The included software package (check for software updates and patches on the internet) gives you everything you need to start, right out of the box. It is, in my opinion, the best in its class (under $250 ).
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