Aiptek DV3100 3.1MP AVI Digital Camcorder
By: Aiptek Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 85
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 On: 2007-11-21
Batteries run out FAST and it basicly has no memory. Wish I would have looked around somemore before getting this for my stepson.
 On: 2007-03-18
I recieved this camera three years ago for my trip to New York.
-I bought it for $100 from Target and was amazed by its qaulity. Granted you only can take pictures in the sunlight, (it doesnt have flash and inside it turns grainy) but nonetheless its very detailed photos and ability to capture color (and with a little photoshop brings it out more) made me love this camera.
-You also need to understand that its built in lens are there to be used other wise your photos will be blurry. Its also very durable. I must have droppen it a million times and its taken several beatings and it still worked wonderfully.
-Also you might want to buy a memory card as well.
But overall this camera has been cheap, reliable (except for the no flash thing) and has also gotten me backstage to see my favorite band when a manager confiscated it from me. Naturally I got it back. I highly recommend this if your interested in photography and cheap deals.
 On: 2007-03-09
I returned this camcorder. sound quailty was poor and picture lighting was very poor. Camera body itself is made cheaply (all plastic).
You would be better off spending a little more.
 On: 2007-01-24
La cámara me conquistó. El precio, las especificaciones, su forma, lo compacta, ligera, sus accesorios y sus funciones, me dije Guauuuu!.... Cuando la preferà ante otras opciones de su mismo precio lo único que me molestaba eran las pilas desechables, pero se trata de un aparato realmente coqueto. Nunca me percaté que no dice nada por ninguna parte sobre el FLASH, me di cuenta ya tarde. ¿A QUIÃN SE LE OCURRE PONER EN EL MERCADO UNA CÃMARA DIGITAL SIN FLASH? Fue realmente una gran decepción, porque la compré para regalo y ahora su dueña no puede tomar fotos de sus reuniones bajo techo a menos que sean debajo de un bombillo. Triste, me sentà como estafada, tiene mil funciones pero no trae flash!
 On: 2007-01-09
Great price. It is a camera size & my daughter loves it.
On: 2006-08-20
This is one of the most easy to use cameras I have ever been able to get my hands on! I take it every where! If you are in a dark area, you need to open up the windows, and it is great quality! For all those people that say their pictures are fuzzy, they need to figure out how to use the focus on the lens. It is as simple as that. I have even played the videos made with this camera on a home theater system that is about 10 by 10 feet big and it looks fantastic. If you want a great, conveniant camera, I highly recommend this!!!
On: 2006-07-05
This camera is a lot of fun. Must be really close to target to get good shots. Good starter camera.
by: Anonymous On: 2006-01-24
I got this camera for Christmas 2005, and I absolutely loved it, mostly because I had always wanted a camera. I am a bit disturbed that it doesnt have flash, but its a pocket-sized video camera, and video cameras dont need flash. It also doesnt have autofocus, but you really only have to focus it a little bit for close-up or far away. In low light the camera is colorblind and does not detect green, but I just avoid night pictures. I would find a Canon or similar for flash, but this will do well for videos. The microphone is quite good with a good pickup range, but the built-in speaker is terrible. I stuck Lithium AAs into it to create cheaper maintenance, and I reccomend an extra memory card in addition to the built-in memory. It comes with a computer cable, tripod, TV cable, software, camera, and instruction manual. No batteries or CompactFlash card.
On: 2006-01-19
I bought this camera for my wife this Christmas, hoping, with fingers crossed, that the good reviews about it were accurate. Well, they were! It works even better than expected! It does need added memory if you want to record for more than just 5-10 minutes, but you can get an Edge 250mb memory card for under $30 on Amazon! The people who say that it cant be used indoors must not open their windows - or they live in a place where the sun doesnt ever come into their home. During daylight hours it records just fine inside! We recorded hours of holiday activity with no problem! It has even worked at night, as long as we have enough lights on in the room! It hooks up really easy to our t.v. set, and we have transferred several hours worth of video to tape. It works great on our computer too. We had no problems with the software! We have been able to download several videos to our hard drive. The next step is burning those to a disk! The camera is so small - easy to take anywhere! It seems durable enough too - just treat it like you should any camera or electronic devise! I heartily recommend this camera to all of you who want to have video of your kids and family, but always thought youd have to pay hundreds of dollars to do so! It just isnt so - with the Aiptek you can do it all for under $100!
On: 2005-12-22
My 8 year old son has taken beautiful still shots and videos. This is a daytime camera exclusively. Indoor low light just doesnt work. OK crybabies, so it doesnt have a flash and it doesnt work with 1 meg compact flash cards - what do you want for $80? Keep your expectations tiny and you wont go through life being so whiny.
On: 2005-09-22
The camera works fine, but I cannot get the software to work. I have contacted tech support by e-mail twice to help with this, but have not received anything back. I have needed to send some pictures to friends since Labor Day weekend, but have been unable to. The website is good, but the tech support apparantly is non-existent. Glad it did not cost me much for the camera since it does not work with the computer!
On: 2005-09-20
When I got this camera I didnt read that it didnt have a flash, BIG MISTAKE. When you take pictures inside they always turn out to dark and are really grainy. We took a trip to Florida and ALL of the pictures turned out blurry! Im 100% I was not moving to. It actually takes pretty good vidos but thats about it. I would not recommend this camera/video camera.
On: 2005-09-19
When I got this camera I didnt read that it didnt have a flash, BIG MISTAKE. When you take pictures inside they always turn out to dark and are really grainy. We took a trip to Florida and ALL of the pictures turned out blurry! Im 100% I was not moving to. It actually takes pretty good vidos but thats about it. I would not recommend this camera/video camera.
On: 2005-06-29
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 doesnt 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 doesnt 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 shots- it doesnt 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.
Ive 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. Ive 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.
On: 2005-06-20
I love it!, I love it!, I love it!, I bought this camera a year ago. I lost it not to long ago and my heart is broken. But its so cool. My 15 daughter used it for her online teenage magazine. She records her interview, take photos and feature live shows with it. Plus she also uses it for school. She records her class with it. I had to buy another one. I purchased an upgraded one with the MP3 Player. Talk about alien technology. It has arrived!!!!
On: 2005-04-27
When you accept this lil DV camcorder for what it is, just above being a toy, its excellent. It wont give you award winning pics, but... so what?<br />
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I already have a Sony D8 camcorder and a Minolta Dimage7 5MP digicam, but I wanted something that I could easily put in my pocket. This lil gadget did the trick and I keep it with me all the time now.<br />
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For most digicam novices, this is what you need. It also makes for a nice 2nd digicam for the bigshot photographers. Its highly recommended by mois!
On: 2005-03-28
I have this camera. It is fine, for the $89 I paid for it, I didnt expect anything else. How can any reasonable person pay $89 for something like this and then complain about it? Give me a break. You gotta be a serious idiot to think that you are getting anything more than what you paid for. Either an idiot or someone who has never spent more than $50 at a time in their whole life thinking that at $89 they would be getting a top of the line camera comparable to an XL-1 or something. If you complain, or have complained about this camera, you are most likely a cheap, miserly, greedy, foolish and simple person. Bottom line: If you want a nice piece of equipment, then SPEND MORE MONEY. Then go to this curious place where everything is sick and red and black and wrong and you can discuss satanism and christianity without capitalizing the words god or satan.
On: 2005-03-25
This little camera is great!it video tapes (if thats what you want to call it since its tapless)it take medium quality digital pics and sorta voice records. its not to good at that so if that is the only reason youd buy it then dont.it feels kinda cheap and you feel like your gonna break it but ive dropped a ton and its still going steady.Also it only has a 2x zoom so dont get used to 20ft close-ups.you will need to buy a cf card if you want to film more than 5 minutes i recommend a 256 mb card so you can film a little longer than 30 minutes.so if you want a reliable little camera/camcorder or just cam this is the one for you.By the way its really tiny.
On: 2005-03-17
If you are looking to not spend a lot of money for an entry-level digital camera, this wouldnt be a bad choice. My mom has this model and Ive used it on several occasions without any problems. Much better than the Aiptek DV4500 which is supposed to have more bells & whistles, but just doesnt have the same level of quality as this model.
On: 2005-03-05
I dont know what the others complained about but this is just about the best little camera money can buy. I bought it straight from Aiptek and got a free battery charger and 4 extra AA batteries. I started filming right out of the box. Any one can use this. Even inside with the lights on (and my house is pretty dark) the picture was great!! The sound is kinda grainy but who cares for $99!! I plan to take it everywhere. I filmed outside and the picture is outstanding!! I plan to buy another one maybe the MPEG format next!! You can just throw it in your purse or pocket and you are ready to go!! Dont beleive all the naysayers. Get your $100 and order this little gem today!!
The only thing I didnt like is that the cable for the TV output seems to be out of order b/c I cant see the picture clearly on the TV. But on my PC it is great. I plan on emailing Aiptek for a new cable. BEST CAMERA INVENTION!!
On: 2005-01-31
I think this camera is very nice. You can store up to 12 pictures without the CF card, but I still love it. If you buy this camera dont expect to be filming a lot of things, that doesnt work very well unless you buy a CF card. I dont enjoy the voice recorder because it makes your voice very crackly, so if you want to voice record dont stand right next to it. It is GREAT!!
On: 2005-01-27
First of all many people complain about the memory and the batteries first of all its your fault that you didnt get a bigger memory card in the first place! Bad memory card quality also is not aipteks problem! The batteries can be replaced with Ni-mh If needed and the camera is quite good with 3.1 megapixels playback on that small of a package is nice for the price. Now if you were planning on video taping something important than definetly wait and buy a better Sony camera that uses the mini dv tape. But this is fantastic for what I plan to use it for which is taping my friends and i snowboard so we dont need great quality or sound But want to be able to watch it on the tv which Is the simplest camera to tv I have used Yet! Have not tried the computer software but dont plan to. This is a fantastic Device for the price. I recommend for outdoor use with friends for sports that youll be close as there is no Zoom with the video recording.Four Stars ****
On: 2005-01-06
I got it as a birthday preante and i love it. the only bad thing is that the tripode breaks easly<br />
On: 2005-01-03
We are quite unsatisfied with this cameras performance. It runs on 2 double A batteries and so therefore dies after about 8-15 minutes or so on new batteries. This includes playback, where the batteries seem to die even quicker. Installation of software for playback on a PC or playback on a TV is difficult, frustrating, and requires a lot of patience. This camera is not good at taking digital still photos (turn out blury, lighting bad indoors), and can only hold a few on the 128 MB card. This card also holds about 15 minutes of video and nothing else. The camera is low quality and the cards are also lacking. Please, Please do not do what we did. We are stuck with this camera because it passed the 90 day return policy. Dont put yourself in that situation, do NOT buy this camera. (How can you use it if it wont run for more than 15 minutes tops!!)
On: 2004-12-26
This camera is awesome!!! I bought it just to fool around with making little movies. I doubted it at first because the low price and I had never heard of the brand before but I decided to try it. And boy am I glad I did! Sure the zooms not that great and theres no flash but other than that its great. My advice is if you want a little camera with BIG things this is the one to buy. Or even if you dont want a little camera this one still is cool. All my friends are jelous and cant believe the price! So if youre taking time to read this take 5 minutes to buy it!!!!!
On: 2004-12-09
the Aiptek DV3100 is astounding for the price.
I love it. Will probably get a second one or get the Aiptek 4500.
On: 2004-11-28
I got this Cam. to take With me to see WWE Live In Bossier City,LA then to Dallas and All My Videos and pics. Came out GREAT So If you Have Someone On your Christmas List that you have NO Iead what to get them Get Them One of These Cams. They will LOVE It and They are REALLY Easy to use!
On: 2004-11-13
I just got this. Its awesome! Its very easy to use and it looks pretty good. I have a nicer one that cost $400 and this is only a little less quality. A good tip is use alot of lighting. Get a big flash light. You could spend a lot more for only a little bit better...!!! Great Value!!!! Great Price!!!!
On: 2004-11-10
Love this little camera. Its so easy to use and loads of fun. Cant beat the price either. I get great still shots using the fine setting, and be sure I have lots of light for my subject. It uses the 3.1 megapixel setting for still shots. I already have an Olympus digital camera so this comes in handy for a second one and my wife can use it. In addition, after I load the pictures onto my computer I can then enhance them with software. The camera come bundled with nice software. Dont hesitate to purchase this camera if you dont expect to get a hi-end camcorder. And if you do want an easy to use 3.1 still camera.
On: 2004-11-09
WHo would ever thought that i would get such a HORRIBLE camera! i cant belive i forgot the basics that whenever i get ANY camera, always get one with a flash w/good clear pictures. This camera gives u one of the most horrible pictures if ur in a lighted room, and it Still seems dark. Also as a webcam its EXTREMLY dark like im not ever there, its OK when taking pictures outside when its sunny, but outside and no sun means no good decent photos. PLZ dont make the same mistake i made and get this most horrible camera ever
On: 2004-11-08
WHo would ever thought that i would get such a HORRIBLE camera! i cant belive i forgot the basics that whenever i get ANY camera, always get one with a flash w/good clear pictures. This camera gives u one of the most horrible pictures if ur in a lighted room, and it Still seems dark. Also as a webcam its EXTREMLY dark like im not ever there, its OK when taking pictures outside when its sunny, but outside and no sun means no good decent photos. PLZ dont make the same mistake i made and get this most horrible camera ever
On: 2004-11-03
I was excided about this item. At first it was ok because I was outside, but once you got inside it took forever to get the lighting right and even then it was to dark. Its ok for maybe young kids that want to explore but not for professional use.<br /><br />
thanx
On: 2004-11-02
This is a great camera. It takes excellent pictures and video. I gave this only 4 stars because it does not have a flash. This camera can only be used outdoors or in good indoor lighting. It is about the size of your hand and easy to use. I do recommend though that you not buy this camera from Target. That is where I bought mine and when I tried to exchange it for the 4500 model which has a flash, I was told that I could not return or exchange the camera because it was opened. The store was very rude and now I am stuck with this camera and can not get the one that I really want. I do like the camera and I will keep it but I will not ever buy anything from Target again!!! I should have bought it from Best Buy or Circuit City which both carry the camera and have much better return and exchange policies. I do recommend that if you purchase this camera you go through Best Buy or Circuit City. If you want this camera with a flash I suggest purchasing the DV4500 model.
On: 2004-11-01
This is a great camera. It takes excellent pictures and video. I gave this only 4 stars because it does not have a flash. This camera can only be used outdoors or in good indoor lighting. It is about the size of your hand and easy to use. I do recommend though that you not buy this camera from Target. That is where I bought mine and when I tried to exchange it for the 4500 model which has a flash, I was told that I could not return or exchange the camera because it was opened. The store was very rude and now I am stuck with this camera and can not get the one that I really want. I do like the camera and I will keep it but I will not ever buy anything from Target again!!! I should have bought it from Best Buy or Circuit City which both carry the camera and have much better return and exchange policies. I do recommend that if you purchase this camera you go through Best Buy or Circuit City. If you want this camera with a flash I suggest purchasing the DV4500 model.
On: 2004-10-19
For the money, this tiny camcorder is a bargain! It has so many features packed into its little frame it amazes me, frankly.
I purchased this camera solely for experimentation in shooting video from a moving radio control (R/C) model. So far I have captured several videos and the quality is definitely acceptable at 10 FPS. The sound quality is rather harsh, however. But adding music to the audio, it tones down the harshness.
This camcorder will take a lickin and keep on tickin as the famous saying goes. By being attached to my r/c cars, this thing has been beaten, scraped, had the lens hood knocked off, jarred while doing jumps, splashed through water, and various other insults while flipping over at 30 mph! It has never failed. It still works great!
If you are considering this camcorder for the same reasons, using it in r/c models here is a little tip I discovered: the camera is turned off whenever the LCD screen is closed. It has a plunger attached to the LCD door. By snipping off the plunger, you can then close the LCD door and contine to have the video recording. The camera provides several methods for booting up.
I rated the camcorder 5 stars. Not for its video quality so much but more for its use in my desired application. R/C modeling video. For that, it is perfect! It is the size of a pack of Camel cigs and weighs almost nothing. For under $100 bucks you cant go wrong!
On: 2004-10-11
I bought this with anxiety in using the movie maker software on my computer, only to be disappointed. Installed all the software, read the book, and still cant figure it out. When the camera was operational, it would not connect to the computer and I only ever got error messages. Then, after some use, it would only stay on for about 10 secs, then would shut off. Changed the batteries, not the problem (the first set had only been in the camera for about 1/2 hour of use, which is useless if they only last for that long but youre wanting to shot an hour of continuous footage). I choose this camera mainly because I dont have $500 to spend on a more expensive one, yet I would be better off to spend $500 and go broke with a camera that works as opposed to spending $100 on one that doesnt work. When the camera did work, it took OK pictures and I did manage to get about one 4 min video to shoot and was OK. Overall, I took this camera back within 24hrs because I was soooo mad.
On: 2004-10-01
This camera takes the worst pictures, it takes really bad videos, and dont even bother trying to use it as a webcam. If you are looking for a much better product that does all of the same things, and does them well, check out the line of Mustek cameras available on Targets website. Mustek cameras have gotten rave reviews on numerous digital camera review sites. But be advised, NONE of them are available in their stores. Which baffles me to no end. Why would they have this cheap camera in the store, and not any of the superior Mustek brand? Unless they are worried that customers would buy the Mustek cameras, and not the other much more expensive digital cameras that Target sells. Just my 2 cents.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-30
Everybody says wow when he or she sees how much it can offer and how tiny this is. The only down side of this one is: no build in flash.
On: 2004-07-28
This camera is definatley worth $100. the zoom may not be that good and it has no flash but on a nice good sunny day you can get really nice footage. i already made 5 movies from this camera! If you want to see them you can e-mail me about them. Kyle11757@yahoo.com . It has easy delete, nice effects, and is really small and perfect for traveling. I recommend this camera to everyone!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-23
This camera is perhaps one of the best investments Ive ever made. Born to a society of instant gratification, it gives me just that and more, showing me what pictures I took, and allowing me to easily delete bad shots and keep only the ones i want. I never really was much of a shutter bug, but when I bought this (along with a 256mb CF memory card), Ive suddenly found myself just that, bringing it with me everywhere from boating on the Hudson River, to trips to fairs and those god awful family occations where its handy to have the excuse of being "camera guy" to keep from socializing with inebriated relations.
Dont get me wrong, its not a technological miracle in itself, but like others have said, if youre in good lighting and have a semi-steady arm it can work wonders. The pictures it takes are phenominal, and though the initial memory it comes with isnt that much, for a mere fifty dollars more you can boost it up dramatically (and the same goes for its speed). The only real drawbacks are the light levels required and the battery life, which while it isnt long, can be readily rectified with either a good set of energizer rechargables or a nifty 12 pack of AAs from the dollar store.
As far as the service from Target goes, I went with the standard free shipping package, and not only did they deliver on time, UPS managed to get it to me a day early. The US Post office that handled my CF Card on the other hand...Well, lets just say my post man will not be getting a fruit basket this holiday season, but thats really beside the point eh? I really loved that to order it you didnt even need to give out your credit card number, but could merely pick up a nifty little gift card from one of their stores. (Good for those of us who fear identity theft, or perhaps even our own credit rating.)
On: 2004-07-18
i am a skateboarder that bought this camera thinking i could go videotape me and my friends skating, but its such a piece of crap, the still photos are splochy and video recording is really sketchy and u have to get in just the perfect light for it to work at all. the features are pretty cool though, just not of the best quality.the voice recorder on it is the worst part of the whole thing, its just worthless.but, overall, the camera isnt worth the money at all. its probably worth about 20 bucks tops...so dont get this camera and get ripped off like i did!!!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-16
Ease of use, portability, 3 MP image output, 10fps video w/ sound (which is fine over USB & most email), decent close-up mode, pouch, straps, cables & batteries included. Add the shirt pocket size, point and shoot (image or video) and higher quality video through the pc, and youve got something with broad utility and broad market base at less than $150 w/ shipping. Realtors, Assesors, clients, students, kids on vacation, and guys who want a picture of their dog will find this camera very valuble, more so w/ a 128M+ memory card.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-11
Although the Aiptek Pocket DV Digital Video Camcorder - 3100
size is appealing, the picture quality is very poor and grainy. Both the still shots and videos were not even worth keeping. There was nothing that was even useable. Above all, the sound was the worst. It was so distorted, I could barely make out what was said. After one day with this camera/camcorder, its going back.
On: 2004-07-11
i think i forgot this part
its a great camera! if u dont want to spend a lot of money or if u dont have a lot of money (like me)
On: 2004-07-11
ok first of all i think everyone reading these reviews now knows that the DV3100 doesnt take good still pics and video w/ limited or no light (its in about every review ive read). but isnt it obvious that if there isnt any light that pictures wouldnt show up anyway?? i mean if u were in a room w/ no light would you be able to see much? no, you wouldnt, neither would the camera second, i have no idea why u people are complaining about not having a flash, it never said it came w/ one so why is it so surprizing that it doesnt have one?? and whos complaining about haveing to go through more menu options to get to the voice recording. wut r u to lazy to press 4 more buttons then the usual 1 button for video and pics? lets see, step 1. turn on the camera 2. press menu 3. scroll down twice 4 press the ok button and start taking away. but anyway. now that thats out of the way.
i bought this camera while i was on vacation about 2 weeks ago. i have to say it is the best camera/camcorder i have ever bought. i originally bought it for the video recording option cuz i wanted to make clips of my friends and me skateing. but i also found out that it is a great still picture camera also. here are the things i found out and liked about the camera:
- easy to use
- mostly self explainitory
- small so you can take it anywhere
- records 10fps (frames per second) which is just perfect 4 me
- takes still pictures @ 3.1 mp
- and you can change the resolution
- the 2x digital zoom works well when taking still pics
- comes w/ everything you need, software, connections to USB to show on your computer and a cord to connect to your tv, it even comes w/ batteries and a little carring case.
some drawbacks (yes everything has drawbacks)are:
- the zoom doesnt work while recording .avi videos
- makes a wierd screeching noise when u cover up the mic while recording eather videos or voice (solution - make sure your fingers aret touchin the mic)
- the internal memory of only 16MB isnt enough (also said in to many reviews)
i bought a 128MB CF card and it works just fine, but after you copy all the pics and movies to your computer (or burn to cd) you can erase what u have on your memory card.
oh, and some poiters for writing reviews, dont write in all capital letters IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE YOUR YELLING! see what i mean?
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-05
I really wanted a digital video camera. I already had a digital camera, but it was only 1MP. The Aiptek gave me both and upgraded my stills! I also always wanted a digital voice recorder. Its not the best quality, but its good enough for me. A few drawbacks are no flash, the video playback is choppy, and you cant zoom while recording. I like that it is small and light and its simple to use. Ive had a lot of fun with it!!
On: 2004-07-05
i am a citizen of india. i wanna know do you ship this product here. and i want it in five days. what about the warranty. please mail me back soon
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-04
If you are looking for a professional video camera, this is not the the one you should get,however, if you just want a small fast liitle camera then this is the one for you. It works well in the day time, but it does not work good in dark places, probably because it doesnt have a flash. You are ready to start taking pictures when you buy it, but the internal memory does not hold a lot of pictures/videos, but you can always buy a cf card to take care of that issue. So if you just want to have a nice small camcorder, then this is the one 4 u
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-02
IT is a very awesome camera with several features. The only downside to it is that it has a very bad microphone and speaker
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-19
HELLO
THE AD ON THIS SITE SAID FREE SHIPPING. WHY IS IT THAT THE CAMCORDER IN THE SUNDAYS PAPER ONLY COST $92.77 THATS WITH OUT SHIPPING. IF YOU TAKE NORMAL SHIPPING COSTS AND ADD TO THIS AD YOU WOULD GET $99.99. CHECK YOUR LOCAL PAPER FOR GREAT DEALS.
On: 2004-06-18
I have to agree with the fellow from PA; it feels cheap and , it is. I got it as a fathers day present from my son. I was very excited at first, but after trying it, I got discouraged and dissatisfied. But, I have to bite the bullet. Otherwise, it would be back on the store. In my opinion, to high of a price for what you are getting. I think the manufacturers could have done better.
On: 2004-06-18
i need a disk to download the dv 3100,i broke my disk
can any one please help me????
if so please send it to (bemug@aol.com)
thank you
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-14
This camera is horrible and didnt work, the movies are very choppy and its not all that it says it is i reccomend not to buy this camera, the clips wouldnt even download onto my computer.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-12
This camera is definantly worth the 92.99(I got it on sale). It has all the features I needed except for it doesnt have a flash, but I use it mainly outside anyways and it works great
On: 2004-06-10
All I can say is WOW! I saw this little camera in the Fathers Day circular from Target. I bought it with the intent of giving it to my husband who needed a small digital camera for work. When I got it home and started using the camera, I couldnt believe how simple it was to operate, how great the software that comes with it is, how easy it was to download still digital pictures and video and what great pictures the camera takes. 3 mp pictures and decent video for $92.00, what a bargain!!! Immediately, I started taking pictures and video of my kids. My only problem now is I have to find a new present for my husband for Fathers Day because Im keeping the camera :)
On: 2004-06-08
Very good quality pictures although it could really use a flash or light. I was never able to get the web cam driver to work properly but it was a good camera for regular pictures.
Battery life could be better but just get rechargeable AA batteries always carrying a spare and youll be set.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-06
My seven year old was bugging me to buy him a video camera when I discovered the Aiptek. It couldnt be more perfect for him...easy to use, small and compact. Highly recommend for low end camera needs. Now I just have to watch what Im doing around the house cause Im constantly being filmed :)
On: 2004-05-26
I would put 5 stars but you half to buy film. I think kids and adults could have fun.
On: 2004-05-22
When I was going to buy this camera my thoughts were " Wow, a $100 camera." But the only problem is is that it doesnt have flash. When I read this I thought " Man, still for $100!" So I bought it and the first thing I tried was it in the dark. The pictures are dark but its not like it cannot take any pictures at all in the dark. What I found to my great intrest is that it takes great pictures and movies outside and that the microphone can take in alot of sound. What I noticed is not alot of people talked about the things that come with it. A tripod and USB cord is included so those are some nice things. A problem with them is that the USB cord tends to fall out very easy and that the tripod is very fragile. I recommend this camera for first time movie makes and I suggest "Windows Movie Maker" as a program that is very easy to use and should come along with your computer. I forgot to say that also a TV plug is included but it is horrible quailty on the TV. Another thing is the camera is small than it looks. Its about the size of an average adults palm. I hope this was usefull to you all =). HAPPY SHOPPING!!!
On: 2004-05-09
I saw this one in the store. It looks good, but I have a limited budget. I just dont know if I should even bother. My family goes on trips every weekend, and it would be nice to catch some of those memories. Maybe theres a better one somewhere?
On: 2004-04-17
This is the best Camera Ive ever held in my hands. You have to buy it with a 128 MB Card. The picture quality is increadably great in good lighting conditions. The picture quality for the camcorder is not the best, but perfect if your not going to view it on the TV. If you looked at just the camcorder part, the Item deserves 4 stars. But since the camera is a four-in-one (really a 3 in 1 cause the voice recorder is useless)It really deserves all five stars.
On: 2004-04-15
I bought this product for its portability. I was hoping that I could use this as a substitute for both a digital camera and a camcorder. However, I was very disappointed at the quality of both. The pictures are very grainy and hardly resemble that of a 3MP camera. The videos are a bit choppy and the 320x240 view screen is much to small. If portability is all that matters, this camera will manage. However, if you are looking for both size and quality, you best look elsewhere. After all, its only $100. You get what you pay for.
On: 2004-03-29
this is an awesome camera i use it to mess around with my friends and it is the best it isnt a profesional camera but it is definatly worth the money buy this camera now!!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-29
in my opinion i think anybody with 100 bucks should instanly buy this camra its the best thing ive ever seen because its 4 in 1 and only 100$$$$ i consider anybody that buys it lucky
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-27
It is a pretty good camera and all but there isnt that many features as i though there would be no flash, zoom but not when were taping not too much of memory DO NOT USE WHEN IT IS DARK IT NO GOOD even it the house it sucks but hey for a hundred its good
On: 2004-03-15
I got this on Thursday and it is a great camcorder/digital camera/web cam/ voice recorder,but if you dont have enough lighting, than itll be crap. I mean if you try to make a scary movie in the dark, you cant , because than you would need alot of lighting, and if you have alot of lighting than it wont be a scary movie, DUH! And another thing, be careful when you are voice recording because the camera is very sinsitive( dont know how to spell this word) to any sound around it.
The web camera is alllllll right, and so is the digital camera and the zoom. Just one more thing,make sure to buy alot of batreies if you are planning to use the LCD screen alot.
To sum it all up, this is a great camera to make short home movies(I made alot of those) and what not, and to do alot of other things too, and that is why I gave this 5*s(5 stars)!
Hope you enjoy this as much as I do.!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-13
If you are looking at getting into a digital camcorder this little guy will give you a good taste before spending the big bucks. It is a lot of fun to use and very easy to use. My five year old has figured it out. The video quality is good as you can get for around $100.00. I have had a blast editing and making "movies" with titles, credits ect. You cant go wrong with this camcorder for the price, but dont expect it to preplace a "big" camcorder. If you want that plane on spending 5x the $$$.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-10
Other reviews have stated pretty much the same thing... this will not be a good replacement for a real digital camera or camcorder. This is mostly due to its poor performance in less than perfect lighting. The 10fps video is also a bit lacking if you try to capture video with lots of motion. I was amazed, however, by the quality of the pictures it takes outdoors, and its great fun to shoot short video clips with it. I find myself often throwing it in my pocket and capturing moments that I wouldnt have otherwise since you cant carry a normal camcorder and digital camera in your pocket. If you buy it expecting a high quality toy instead of a camcorder/camera combo you will likely not be disappointed.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-03-10
Other reviews have stated pretty much the same thing... this will not be a good replacement for a real digital camera or camcorder. This is mostly due to its poor performance in less than perfect lighting. The 10fps video is also a bit lacking if you try to capture video with lots of motion. I was amazed, however, by the quality of the pictures it takes outdoors, and its great fun to shoot short video clips with it. I find myself often throwing it in my pocket and capturing moments that I wouldnt have otherwise since you cant carry a normal camcorder and digital camera in your pocket. If you buy it expecting a high quality toy instead of a camcorder/camera combo you will likely not be disappointed.
On: 2004-02-28
This camera is by far the best camera Ive ever spent around $100 on. I use it as a webcam (which can have very high quality -- 30fps at 640x480 [but it hurts harddrive space], a microphone which picks up every sound in my room very well, and an all around camcorder. The quality when its not hooked up to your computer isnt very good, but what can you expect for something that fits in your hand and costs $100? There is nothing on the market quite like this, and I would recommend it for anyone that wants to make movies, but not professionally. I would reccomend buying a bigger compact flash card, because you dont get very many still photos (for still photos, get good lighting or a nice editing program to make it brigter... no flash) or movie with the internal memory.
Pros:
Price
Size
Overall handyness
Cons:
Little internal memory
No flashMy verdict -- if youre an amateur movie maker, buy this camera.
On: 2004-02-28
i was pleased to find this is a good product except of course the poor pictures in the dark.That is the only thing wrong with it and believe me im good at looking at faults in people and things! if you only take pictures or record stuff at night then dont get this. if you dont then do its awesome!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-01-13
I like it because four functions are crammed into this small DV Camcorder. In addition to capturing AVI video and photos, this mini cam works as a Webcam and a voice recorder. Easy to load the pics, sounds, and videos onto your computer. You can even erase easily. The flip display is easy to use. Battery life was o.k., Its not a battery drainer. Ive never recommended a product online before. I think it was a very smart purchase. I actually think this camera is underpriced. If your expectations are not too high and your wallet is low. This is the product for you. You cant get all of this in one product for less than $250. Not good for indoor use though. With proper lighting, this camera is satisfactory. No lighting, no good.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-01-09
Wonderful but is horrible in the dark, so make sure there is good lighting. I have ordered one and its coming on wednesday. My friends is great quality.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-01-06
This camera is soooo great! I owned the Fujifilm Finepix 3800, but found the quality of this one is even better! It can record video minimum 8 minutes depending on your memory. With voice recorder too! Overall, i am very satisfied! Highly recommend it to every nonprofessional!
On: 2003-12-31
THIS UNIT IS GOOD FOR THE PRICE, HOWEVER THE DV3300 (DV4) AND DV3500 (DV5) ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE IN EUROPE (DV5 ONLY IN GERMANY)AND ARE MORE ROBUST DEVICES- THE NEXT TWO GENERATIONS OF THE AIPTEK POCKETDV LINE ADD SEVERAL NEEDED FEATURES. THEY BOTH HAVE FLASH AND LIGHT FUNCTIONALITY, AND THE DV5 OFFERS RECORDING IN THE MPEG4 FORMAT. WHILE THE RECORDING FUNCTIONS ONLY OFFER 10FPS WITH 640X480 RES. THEY OFFER 10-30FPS WITH THE LOWER RES VIDEO. THEY BOTH HAVE A TRUE 2 MEGAPIXEL RES. SENSOR WITH INTERPOLATION (SOFTWARE WIZADRY THAT ADDS PIXELS BUT DOESNT REALLY ADD QUALITY)THEY CAN OUTPUT AT 3 MEGAPIXELS. THEY BOTH ALSO OFFER BUILT IN MP3 PLAYERS, AND USE SD CARDS AS OPPOSED TO COMPACT FLASH. FOR SOME REASON THOUGH AIPTEK (GERMAN COMPANY) STILL HASNT RELEASED THESE HERE IN THE STATES. HOWEVER YOU CAN OCCASIONALLY FIND THEM @ AUCTION SITES FOR AROUND TWO BENJAMIN FRANKLINS BUT EXPECT TO PAY INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING RATES. HOPEFULLY AIPTEK WILL SOON REALIZE THE AMERICAN MARKET CAN BOOST THIER PROFITS AND WILL START RELEASING THEIR PRODUCTS HERE FIRST. YOU CAN SEE DETAILS OF THE DV3300 (DV4) AT THE GERMAN SITE FOR AIPTEK WWW.AIPTEK.DE HOWEVER THEY DONT HAVE THE DV5 ON THEIR YET AS THEY ARE JUST NOW LAUNCHING THAT PRODUCT.
On: 2003-12-31
I bought a Gateway for more than twice the price-it lasted less than a month before the problems gateway refused to return or repair began (pictures are awful, cant view them in the software, and it wont hold a charge for 5 seconds). Started over again with Target. My order arrived by mail quickly and worked beautifully! The pixels are higher, the options better, and it worked! For half the price to boot you can be sure my corporation will be shopping at Target before I invest one red cent in another Gateway product! Great buy!
On: 2003-12-23
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 dont 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? Its still recommended for enthusiast whos fun of capturing moments. Dont forget to include at least 256MB CF card.
On: 2003-12-22
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 dont 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? Its still recommended for enthusiast whos fun of capturing moments. Dont forget to include at least 256MB CF card.
On: 2003-11-30
I bought this for myself about a week ago and im very pleazed with it. Its great. BUY ONE NOW!!!
On: 2003-11-29
I bought this for myself about a week ago and im very pleazed with it. Its great. BUY ONE NOW!!!
On: 2003-10-13
Convenient, practical, and provides very good quality pictures (and short videos). Dont be tempted by the cheaper versions from Logitech and others, which have poor sensor resolution (watch out for claims of 1.3 Mpixel when it is not true sensor resolution -- for VGA this is a mere 0.3 Mpixel). This cam has a 2 Mpixel sensor (and ok, they claim 3.1 Mpixel via software interpolation), which gives truly good pictures. Careful with the manual focus: it works well if you follow the directions, basically keep it always on the far setting except for extreme close-up. You do need adequate lighting, outdoors or via careful adjustment of intensity and shadows indoors. Poor light compensation is beyond the price range of this product. All-in-all an outstanding value if you want something relatively inexpensive and reliable.
On: 2003-10-07
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 cameras 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 computers 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 ).
On: 2003-09-22
For the amount of money this camera costs it really is a great buy. You get fairly nice quality stills(3megapixel 2048x1540) and reasonable quality video(640x480 10 fps) it also has 2x digital zoom. With a good 128 mb you can get 30 minutes of video and about 120 high quality pictures. The weight/size are perfect for carrying this around every where. The only complaints I have are that the up and down buttons for the zoom seem to not respond that well when zooming back out and that the plastic is not all that durable, it seems cheap.
On: 2003-09-02
I am completely satisfied with the purchase of this camera. The videos may not be top notch, but Ive 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 Aipteks new camera in the pocket DV line and IT HAS A FLASH! (they finally took their customers advice, or complaints rather).... I hope this has been helpful!P.S.: If youre interested in learning more about the new aiptek camera or seeing some sample pics and videos for this one go to fireboxdotcom, its a really helpful site
On: 2003-08-05
Im a sucker for cost-effective gadgets, and by those standards, this nifty little 4-in-1 camera is up there with the best of them. First and foremost, you get a 3.1 megapixel digital still camera for a third of the cost of most other products in that category. If it stopped right there, this would still be an amazing deal. However, you also get a palm-sized digital video camera, a digital voice recorder, a USB webcam, and a removable USB storage device. All for $$$ . Now thats a deal I just couldnt pass up.However, approach this product with eyes wide open, and dont expect it to be the greatest performer in each of its distinct capabilities. For example, as a digital still camera it isnt 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 youll 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 wont 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: dont expect it to fulfill all of your home movie needs. At 10 frames-per-second and 320x240 video resolution, its 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 days 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 its 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 wont replace your main digital still camera or digital camcorder, but it makes a great backup unit to either, in situations that dont warrant lugging around the first team. Buy it -- you know you want it.
On: 2003-07-30
All my friends cant believe when I tell the price for this tiny small camera. But I do record my church Sundays service and able very quickly to update church website. ... I cutch up movies with pictures every week and update website during my weekend. The only inconvenient this is that this camera does not have zoom. I should seat before object to cutch up the video. Also I cant find AC Adapter power Supply. During church service (2 hours) I need to change battery two times. I have been look other cameras, but they have high price and many options Im really dont need and for which (options) I dont need pay for. Im really enjoy this toy!
On: 2003-07-29
Ok, so I was walking in a Best Buy store and saw this cool toy. I picked it up, read the package, put it down, continued shopping, went back, read the package again and bought it. It has its good and bad points. Good points:
cheap ...; cool (small, pocket sized); expandable (has a compact flash card socket); photos can be set to 1.3, 2 or 3.1 megapixels; can connect via USB, hook up to your TV or if you use CF, just pull the chip and plug it into your CF reader. Bad points:
It feels cheap, all plastic; 1t only has 16MB of memory built in, so youll need to use that CF card (BTW, the CF card REPLACES the internal memory, not suplements it, so if you add a 16MB card, you still only have 16MB); no zoom (the book talks about 2x digital but I cant figure out how to activate it); NO FLASH (indoor pictures and videos are grainy and red tinted); pictures and video are easy to shoot, just open it up and press one button for stills or another for video; voice recording requires you to open it and select voice recording from a menu (guess they couldnt afford another button). Misc:
It comes with all needed cables, a cheap tripod and they even throw in the batteries.
Files are stored as jpeg, avi and wav.
with just internal memory, figure 5-15 pictures, 2 to 4 minutes of video or 1 hour of audio. (256MB CF is now about $50.00, buy one).
I still think its a neat toy, but next years will be better.
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