Digital "Flash" Camera

[KG]

I'm in the market for a lightweight, small digital camera, preferably HD.

I've narrowed my search down to 2 proudcts:

1) Aiptek A-HD 720P 5MP CMOS High Definition Camcorder
<!--aoeui-->http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8775943&productCategoryId=abcat0 403004&type=product&tab=1&id=1204332008907#product detail

or

2) DXG - 5.0MP High-Definition Digital Camcorder with 3.0" LCD Monitor
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8781589&st=DXG&type=product&id=1 205026863118

Does anyone have either or these or know anything about them. Specifically I want something with good video quality that plays with little or no choppiness.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Also, if there are any products out there besides these 2 that you would recommend (not including the FLip Ultra), I'd be happy to check it out too.

[The Chef]

Re: Digital &quot;Flash&quot; Camera

They are both poor cameras/camcorders, and make sure you are aware that there is zero optical zoom on both meaning there is only digital zoom and thats going to give you nothing but a fuzzy picture. Secondly, not only does it not offer optical zoom but the digital zoom it does have is nothing, the old saying holds true, you will get what you pay for. I worked at Best Buy for about a year in the camera department and we got a ton of those Aiptek cameras back, they are cheap and are barely above a disposable camera.

[mgoblue]

Re: Digital &quot;Flash&quot; Camera

They are both poor cameras/camcorders, and make sure you are aware that there is zero optical zoom on both meaning there is only digital zoom and thats going to give you nothing but a fuzzy picture. Secondly, not only does it not offer optical zoom but the digital zoom it does have is nothing, the old saying holds true, you will get what you pay for. I worked at Best Buy for about a year in the camera department and we got a ton of those Aiptek cameras back, they are cheap and are barely above a disposable camera.

I'm just looking into camcorders (my grandpa wants one and my mom's wondering if there's something under 400 bucks that he'd be able to use)...Any hints? I see there's DVD, mini-DVD, flash memory, etc...I've been busier at work so haven't had much time to search and learn the ins and outs of a digital camcorder....

[The Chef]

Re: Digital &quot;Flash&quot; Camera

Whats the most important thing to you? Mini-DV, or mini tape will give you the best picture quality but is generally limited to 60-90 minute tapes and it burns in real time so an hour will take nearly an hour to burn to disc. Mini-DVD is still limited to 60-90 minutes and in some rare instances its only 30 minutes but its much easier for nearly anyone to play it since its already in a DVD format and can be played in virtually any DVD player. HDD will allow the most storage but it isnt much quicker when burning and of course there is the problem when it fills up there is normally nothing else you can do other then delete chunks of footage, burn to disc or in some rare cases they also have a SD card that can be put in for additional storage, now of course this is all about SD not HD. Price wise, Mini-DV is the cheapest because its the oldest technology, you can get a mid-level Mini-DV Sony camcorder for 350.00 last I checked where as HDD and Mini-DVD will run you around 500.00, so the price point is a major difference as well.

If you are the type of person who goes on long trips and doesnt want to lug around extra items then go with a nice big HDD camcorder, 60GB should do the trick. If you want the best quality you can get and dont care about having to carry around extra mini tapes then go Mini-DV. If you dont care about extra luggage but dont want to be bothered with burning it after recording it then go with Mini-DVD.

EDIT- This is the best DV camcorder I can think of, its a Panasonic and it has three CCD sensors built in which will provide the best clarity you are going to find in a SD Mini-DV camcorder, here is the link....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8216389&type=product&id=1166236106283

[mgoblue]

Re: Digital &quot;Flash&quot; Camera

Whats the most important thing to you? Mini-DV, or mini tape will give you the best picture quality but is generally limited to 60-90 minute tapes and it burns in real time so an hour will take nearly an hour to burn to disc. Mini-DVD is still limited to 60-90 minutes and in some rare instances its only 30 minutes but its much easier for nearly anyone to play it since its already in a DVD format and can be played in virtually any DVD player. HDD will allow the most storage but it isnt much quicker when burning and of course there is the problem when it fills up there is normally nothing else you can do other then delete chunks of footage, burn to disc or in some rare cases they also have a SD card that can be put in for additional storage, now of course this is all about SD not HD. Price wise, Mini-DV is the cheapest because its the oldest technology, you can get a mid-level Mini-DV Sony camcorder for 350.00 last I checked where as HDD and Mini-DVD will run you around 500.00, so the price point is a major difference as well.

If you are the type of person who goes on long trips and doesnt want to lug around extra items then go with a nice big HDD camcorder, 60GB should do the trick. If you want the best quality you can get and dont care about having to carry around extra mini tapes then go Mini-DV. If you dont care about extra luggage but dont want to be bothered with burning it after recording it then go with Mini-DVD.

EDIT- This is the best DV camcorder I can think of, its a Panasonic and it has three CCD sensors built in which will provide the best clarity you are going to find in a SD Mini-DV camcorder, here is the link....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1166236106283

Yeah, hmmm, i'm not thinking it's possible to get a decent digital camcorder as cheap as they want...Thanks for the heads up, but I know they won't want to drop the good cash on something he'll barely use but thinks he wants...

[The Chef]

Re: Digital &quot;Flash&quot; Camera

Yeah, hmmm, i'm not thinking it's possible to get a decent digital camcorder as cheap as they want...Thanks for the heads up, but I know they won't want to drop the good cash on something he'll barely use but thinks he wants...

Not true really, the Sony I will link to in a moment was our hottest seller and it was durable with solid picture quality and all the bells and whistles you would come to expect from Sony, here is the link....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8718694&type=product&id=1200703056029

Here is a link to a DVD version in your price range that is a solid candidate....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8661968&type=product&id=1196470790929

Of course, always check Amazon and other online retailers since Best Buy isnt always known to have the greatest prices, here is Amazon pricing....

Here is the Panasonic I mentioned earlier, has a hot shoe to attach external lights or microphones as well...

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-PV-G...1347618&sr=8-1

Like I said, Best Buy should only be used to get ideas, their prices are terrible in pretty much every circumstance.

[mgoblue]

Re: Digital &quot;Flash&quot; Camera

Not true really, the Sony I will link to in a moment was our hottest seller and it was durable with solid picture quality and all the bells and whistles you would come to expect from Sony, here is the link....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8718694&type=product&id=1200703056029

Here is a link to a DVD version in your price range that is a solid candidate....

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8661968&type=product&id=1196470790929

Of course, always check Amazon and other online retailers since Best Buy isnt always known to have the greatest prices, here is Amazon pricing....

Here is the Panasonic I mentioned earlier, has a hot shoe to attach external lights or microphones as well...

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-PV-G...1347618&sr=8-1

Like I said, Best Buy should only be used to get ideas, their prices are terrible in pretty much every circumstance.

Awesome, thanks...It may be doable, I've just got to see if he can deal with the tapes (he's not very computer friendly and I'm so glad I'm not living nearby to do his tech support....drove me batty lol)...On the side I've got to look for me, it might be cool to get one!

[KG]

Re: Digital &quot;Flash&quot; Camera

pimping,

thanks for all the info. i bought the aiptek and it sucks in terms of picture quality. its going back tomorow morning. im looking for something that is relatively compact with easy transfer of files onto mylaptop in avi,mpeg, or wmv file. do any of the cameras u linked do this?.

[The Chef]

Re: Digital &quot;Flash&quot; Camera

pimping,

thanks for all the info. i bought the aiptek and it sucks in terms of picture quality. its going back tomorow morning. im looking for something that is relatively compact with easy transfer of files onto mylaptop in avi,mpeg, or wmv file. do any of the cameras u linked do this?.

The Panasonic I linked to through Amazon does MPEG and thats all it shoots video in, but its not as compact as the Aiptek. Is size the big selling point for you? There was a Samsung that wasnt completely terrible and was designed as a helmet cam but also was a full on camcorder but similar in size to that Aiptek you picked up, let me look for it and I will post the link if I can find it.

EDIT- Here it is..

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SC-X20...578519&sr=1-11

Here is a link to the search I did on Amazon, you will notice that there are a lot of Samsung camcorders that are small in stature. Make sure that you pay attention to whether or not it has optical zoom or not, without that you are going to get the same garbage you got with that Aiptek. Here is the search I did..

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_p?...corder&x=0&y=0

Lastly, check out reviews all over the internet as well since Im not 100% familiar with with Samsung line of camcorders, Im more inclined to be able to give more detailed info about Sony, Panasonic, Canon but Samsuns we didnt even carry for the longest time at my store. Use cnet, Amazon, Circuit City, Best Buy for reviews if need be. Like I said, if you can sacrafice size then go with either the Panasonic or one of the many Sony camcorders out there. Keep in mind, Sony uses an infra-red technology for its night vision, which means everything will have that green tint to it when using this, it doesnt rely on a light, so while you will get better clarity at night you will also be looking at everything through that green tint. If you still want Sony but want to avoid this then you have to find one that has a hot shoe on top so you can then attach a light and use that instead of the built in technology. If going Panasonic then make sure you go with one that has a 3CCD chip built in, otherwise go Sony. Sony camcorders use the Zeiss lens which is top of the line, its glass and gives better clarity, the only thing that can compare, other then HD of course, would be a Panasonic with a 3CCD chip in it. Those are your best options so let me know if you have any other questions.