SiPix StyleCam DV100 Digital Video Camera

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Manufacturer: SIPIX
Price at amazon.com: New from $120.00

List price $129.99



Product Features:

• A versatile pocket-sized DV camera about the size of a bar of soap
• Combines in one unit a digital video recorder, digital still camera, and audio recorder
• 1.3 Mega Pixel resolution for crisp details and vibrant colors
• Built-in 8 MB flash memory with SD/MMC card slot
• TV output feature for easy playback

Product Description:

The SiPix DV100 is a multi-functional pocket-sized DV camera that captures motion pictures, still images and voice annotation.



See all product description...

Description from Manufacturer:There are two things that stand out immediately about the about the StyleCam DV100--size and price. A digital still camera, digital camcorder, and audio recorder in one, the DV100 is about the size of a bar of soap and is priced at a fraction of the cost of next cheapest digital camcorder. Too good to be true? Not at all. The camera is everything it claims to be, is easy enough to be used right out of the box, and overall makes a decent entry-level digital camcorder.

So what’s the catch? The big one is that without a memory card (and it does have a slot for either a MMC or SD card), the camera will be maxed out before you’ve even really started. How many photos and how much video the camera can hold depends on the level of quality you choose. At the lowest resolution (640x480), you can take a respectable 80 still shots, but at a more standard resolution level (1280x1024) that number is less than half, and if you take even two minutes of video, you won’t get more than ten or so shots off before the dreaded "Memory Full" message. Purely as a camcorder, it is not very useful without external memory since you won’t get much more than about ten minutes of footage. And the fidelity of the video, at 8-15 frames per second, is not exactly HDTV-ready (although we are actually kind of fond of the low-budget indie film look).

Another minor drawback that should be mentioned is that the shutter button is awkwardly positioned just to the right of the viewfinder so your index finger must bend nearly in half in order to reach it. A quick word about the software that comes with in the package, PhotoImpression and VideoImpression: It’s not junk (call us cynical, but we’ve come to expect this). The software’s big, friendly graphic interface let you do quickly and easily do all the basics: crop, adjust contrast, re-size, etc. Unlikely to be mistaken for Adobe PhotoShop, but perfectly usable nevertheless.

Sure, this camera has its limitations, but these must be weighed against its combination of price and size, which is nothing less than astonishing. --David Stoesz

Pros

• Easy to use
• Ultra compact
• Great value

Cons

• You are liable to get a cramp in your finger trying to reach the shutter
• Limited built-in memory
• Video fidelity likely to remind you of The Blair Witch Project

Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Very low recording time? Rating:
is it true that this camera only records for not even 5 minutes? i like it so far, but im not going to but it if it only records for about 3 minutes. i was thinking atleast 30 minutes.

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Comment: SiPix dv100 Rating:
This is a great camera it's small, light, and has great audio .The one thing i have a problem with is the video. i dont know if you bought this for the camera or to make video but the video runs on only 15 fps.Im not too happy with this after waiting 2 weeks for it to come. I bought it only for video so it is a bit of a dissappointment. Im not saying it is bad.. just read the other reviews, this is a great camera and an ok video device.

Overall im satisfied

P.S. this thing is tiny!!!

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Comment: not a review but... Rating:
...anyone know where to find sample vids from the camera

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)