Aiptek Media Player and Video Recorder
Price:$189.99
Add-ons range from $8-$75. A 1 gig card runs at 29.99.
The Website says the following:
Aiptek’s MPVR is the first hand held multi-functional Media Player / Video Recorder which allows you to connect to your TV/VCR/DVD player to record your favorite TV shows, Movies, video clips, pictures, audio recordings, and playback on the huge built-in 2.4″ TFT color LCD or on your 60″ TV for under $200! If that wasn’t enough, the MPVR also performs as your MPEG-4 DV Camcorder recording Super VHS quality video (640 x 480 VGA resolution at 30 frames per second), 3 Mega Pixel Digital Camera with 6 Mega Pixel enhancement, Voice Recorder, and SD Card Reader / Removable Hard Disk!
What I say:
It is light, small enough to fit in a purse, and pretty easy to use.
Features:
1. Digital Camera able to take pictures in 1x, 3x, or 6x.
2. Large Screen (2.4″) Full Color.
3. Mp3 Player
4. Voice Recorder with about one hour of recording time with built in storage
5. Video Recorder that shoots at 30 frames per sec.
Pro:
Easy menu mode to make your selection.
Built in storage of 16MB, small, but you can take a couple of songs with you, record some voice notes, or take some pictures. Doing the video might be difficult with this small storage unit.
Easily uploaded with the USB cord provided.
Can watch your recording on your TV or record from the TV to the card
Expandable to 2 gig
Can print pictures standard pictures sizes like 4×6 to 8×10 or large ones like 16×24 in the 6x mode.
Full battery recharge takes 3 hours.
Con:
As for setting it up in terms of the resolution and that kind of thing, you almost have to be very familair with cameras.
If you use Windows Movie Maker, the frame per rate does not sync well when speaking.
Low zoom rate of 4x
Focus is in an obscure place,
Can not use a real microphone to imput sound for better sound. Must be in a totally quiet environment if you are speaking.
It says it has a setting for dark areas, but the images are too dark. Light is a requirement.
Tripod is small mainly for desktop.
I noticed that sometimes the stabilizer seems to turn itself off.
Aiptek has most of its cameras with the webcamera feature. On TV, where I made my purchase, he showed that as a feature, but according to the official use, it is not a webcam.
Though the size is reasonable, it is a little bulky to walk around listening to mp3s. Also, if you start anywhere in your list besides at the beginning it will cut off after a couple of songs.
Overall the camera is great. it is simple to use and economical for the features. The pros outweigh the cons. It seems to be a camera that can be grown into.
