Gateway DVS20 MPEG4 Pocket Multi-Cam
By: Gateway Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 27
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 On: 2006-12-12
when i bought this Camera i read other Reviews about it and i saw almost every one agree about the Quilty of the Video that it was not Good and i would agree witht hem too Ecery thing is looks good and Smoooth but if u plain to Shoot Video , Do not try that indoor it has to be Outdoor where is ligh and it has less than 20 feet for Good zoom .
if you buy this Camera be sure you not looking for very Good Quilty Video , Do not write back and say this Camera has Bad Quilty of Video every one here telling you its not agood Camera if u plan to Record your Wedding or Birthday Party .
i just Bought it and i thought to Return it back becose the bad Quilty of the Video but i thought to keep it and give it to one of my Family Kids.
 On: 2005-11-07
I think that this is the best buy on the net, great video, excellent controls. Recommended.
 On: 2005-10-18
While the DVS20 doesnt provide high-quality video, its very adequate, especially considering the price. I am a college tennis player and use it to tape my tennis matches. The quality is just fine. The DVS20 takes decent pictures as well. Im happy with this product and would recommend it to those who dont need serious, high-quality video.
On: 2005-10-14
I read the reviews before I bought this little multi-cam, so I knew what I was getting. I also knew that for the price, this was not going to be some high-end piece of equipment. That said, it was exactly what I wanted. Something easy to carry and that takes decent short videos and still pictures. We recently took it camping with us and took several videos of ourselves and our dog. And, you cannot beat the price.
 On: 2005-10-11
Well, at first it was a nifty little camera, but after a week, it something started to go wrong with it. I dont exactly know what it was, but now it wont turn on anymore, I tried new batteries and still nothing. The quality of the pictures is pretty good for being a 2.1 Mp, and its a nice little camera if you want to take pictures once in a while, but be carefull because they are defective.
On: 2005-08-14
First off, this camera is FAR from professional quality. If thats what youre after, then this really isnt the camera you want. However, if you want a fun little toy thats relatively inexpensive to take some decent quality videos, then I definitely recommend purchasing. Its best suited for very well-lit settings, such as outdoors. Medium-lit indoor settings are usually pretty crappy. At 2 MP, it doesnt offer top of the line megapixel resolution. There are a lot of similar pocket dv devices out there that offer up to 4 MP resolution! However, where those products fall short is in the speed of recording frames per second, mostly offering between 5-15 frames per second. Talk about jerky, web-cam quality videos! This little toy, however, offers a nice 22-25 fps recording. Its not perfect, but the videos Ive taken so far arent total web-cam quality crap! [...]
On: 2005-08-02
Definitely not a quality video recorder, but its alright to play around with. I have problems with it freezing up and skipping around while recording. But if you just want a cheap little video camera, its easy to hook up to a tv.
On: 2005-05-23
well, to start off with the good stuff. This camera is small. itll fit in your pocket with a little bulge. having a flip out screen is awesome. itll play back sound through the speaker and its decently loud. holds a good amount of pictures on the onboard memory. the screen swivles nicely and flips the image for you when needed. when reviewing a picture, it lets you zoom in and pan the photo.
now onto the bad stuff. it takes terrible pictures with the flash. i have yet to take a picture with the flash and have it not come out either washed out or darkened mostly. secondly, it always says "low light" on the screen, unless you take it outside. you can only use the digital zoom for video, itll zoom for pictures, but when you go to take a pic, it resets to how it was without the zoom and takes the pic. the digital zoom sucks too. the photo button has two stages to it. press it lightly and it takes a pic, press it hard and it doesnt do anything. seems backwards to me. the video files are saved as .ASF files, the included software - pinnacle studio doesnt work with .ASF files. i cant find a program to convert .ASF files to .AVI or .WMV to use with the video editing software.
i dont have trouble with battery consumption, i have recharable batteries.
On: 2005-01-28
A must buy if you want a 2-megapixel camera.
Amazons review of this camera is very accurate.
I have had this camera for 4 months now, and it goes everywhere with me. I Just keep it in my jacket or backpack. I love it. For the cost, it has paid for itself in pure ease of use and convience, and the video, although mpeg-4, helps capture those moments hard to get with a single picture.
I found that using rechargable Ni-mh batteries last much longer per use than Alkalines, especially when using the flash. Outdoor picture are remarkably crisp, but indoor pictures in average or less light are a little less desireable.
The other plus, and deal sealer for me, was the 64mb internal memory. That is alot of pictures, 350+ at a more than decent medium quality, and 100+/- at high quality.
 On: 2004-11-07
I got this camera last year for Christmas. At first, it worked great and took great pictures. I took it with me to Thailand and the pictures were fabulous. Unfortunately, as soon as I got back (a month after I was given the camera), the buttons started jamming and I had to send it back to Gateway. They sent me a brand-new one. However, the new ones pictures show up with lines and multi-colored streaks through all the pictures (they display normal the first time you take the picture, then it surprises you later with a bunch of ruined pictures). Its also useless for taking video, since it only takes about 20 minutes of poor-quality video, and dont bother using the flash, because it washes everything out. DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA!!!
On: 2004-09-01
Its useful on trips the movies it makes are cool and if it were cheaper I would buy a million of them
On: 2004-06-17
I purchased a DV-S20 last week. Well, I have to agree with what the people who give this product one and two stars have to say. I really cannot add much more to whats been said about it, but I can confirm that it performs poorly in pretty much all aspects of operations. The one thing that I truly did not care for, is that the camera insists on taking pictures at 1/30 of a second, no matter how much light is available. I adjusted the ISO by bumping it up to 400, but to no avail. In some cases, the shutter operated at 1/6 of a second! With shutter speeds that slow, its no wonder that most of the pictures were fuzzy. Once in a great while, I was able to get a good, clear picture. But that was only achieved by holding the camera perfectly still with two hands and leaning up against something solid. Unfortunarely, this method isnt very practical in the real world. I used up the batteries very quickly because I spent so much time deleting a lot of bad pics. The video I took of my normally graceful gray tabby made her look as if she was in an earthquake. It was very jerky.
On: 2004-03-13
This is a great little gadget for capturing spontaneous stuff. It is so small I take it everywhere and its not obnoxious when you start shooting. You know how people freeze up or start "acting" whenever the camcorder starts recording. The DVS20 is less intimidating so you end up getting unbelievable bits.
Dont be confused, it is not a camcorder, but then its a fraction of the price too.
On: 2004-02-13
Great for Moblogs.
I want to make it clear that this is NOT a precision high tech video camera. The DV-S20 is a TOY that you can take anywhere and have fun with. That being said, on with the review...I am a television video producer; I edit video for a living. I am always updating my "goings on" via my moblog and the DV-S20 Multi-Cam continues to be perfect for taking video of an event and quickly uploading the video onto the web. The small cameras appealing design (about the size of a deck of cards, only a little thicker) attracts attention whenever I use it. Even my peers in the "television world" take note. I carry it around with me everywhere I go because it is so small and at such a low price I am not afraid that something may happen to it. The camera can be held and controlled with one hand. The A/V out is great for watching the photos and videos on TV or recording to VCR, if that is your type of thing. I would suggest getting an SD media card for heavy use. The stock 64mb memory has plenty of room for photos, but video will quickly eat up that space. Having separated "video record" and "photo" buttons makes it nice to take a mix of video and photos on the fly. Sound quality is about par with the average consumer camcorder. I want to make it clear, the Multi-Cam is a toy. If you are looking to replace even the lowest end camcorder, you will be VERY unhappy with this product. Dont use it to document "Babies first steps" or "Julies Second Wedding". The DV-S20 Multi-Cam is not made for these events... the price should clue you into that! The DV-S20 Multi-Cam is made for Bloggers, Young people just getting interested in video production, and the "Gadget Freak" that loves to show off. I love my Multi-Cam, I use it everyday. It fits my mobile technology life and I recommend it. PRO: Cheap price for a well made product, small package, attracts attention, fast and easy uploading to the computer, easy memory upgrade. Very easy to learn and operate. Quality consumer software included. CONS: Lackluster video quality if used for TV viewing, .asf files do not agree with some computers and editing programs. No zoom in photo mode, 2.5x digital zoom in video mode.
On: 2004-02-12
Great for Moblogs.
I want to make it clear that this is NOT a precision high tech video camera. The DV-S20 is a TOY that you can take anywhere and have fun with. That being said, on with the review...I am a television video producer; I edit video for a living. I am always updating my "goings on" via my moblog and the DV-S20 Multi-Cam continues to be perfect for taking video of an event and quickly uploading the video onto the web. The small cameras appealing design (about the size of a deck of cards, only a little thicker) attracts attention whenever I use it. Even my peers in the "television world" take note. I carry it around with me everywhere I go because it is so small and at such a low price I am not afraid that something may happen to it. The camera can be held and controlled with one hand. The A/V out is great for watching the photos and videos on TV or recording to VCR, if that is your type of thing. I would suggest getting an SD media card for heavy use. The stock 64mb memory has plenty of room for photos, but video will quickly eat up that space. Having separated "video record" and "photo" buttons makes it nice to take a mix of video and photos on the fly. Sound quality is about par with the average consumer camcorder. I want to make it clear, the Multi-Cam is a toy. If you are looking to replace even the lowest end camcorder, you will be VERY unhappy with this product. Dont use it to document "Babies first steps" or "Julies Second Wedding". The DV-S20 Multi-Cam is not made for these events... the price should clue you into that! The DV-S20 Multi-Cam is made for Bloggers, Young people just getting interested in video production, and the "Gadget Freak" that loves to show off. I love my Multi-Cam, I use it everyday. It fits my mobile technology life and I recommend it. PRO: Cheap price for a well made product, small package, attracts attention, fast and easy uploading to the computer, easy memory upgrade. Very easy to learn and operate. Quality consumer software included. CONS: Lackluster video quality if used for TV viewing, .asf files do not agree with some computers and editing programs. No zoom in photo mode, 2.5x digital zoom in video mode.
On: 2004-02-01
OK, first off, I read the reviews here, and it seems people were mislead by Gateway calling this a camcorder and are upset when it doesnt do as well as a real camcorder costing a lot more, all this is is a 2 MP digital camera (lower end at that) with video and audio.. I sell cameras as part of my job (I work for Staples) and am my store Digital Camera person, I see all of the ones we get in and test all of them, yes some cameras that do video will do better job, but they also cost more, and yes they have optical zoom, but it either doesnt work in video, or can only be zoomed *before* the video is started, anyway, the Gateway DV-S20 isnt a camcorder replacement, what it is is a very handy, easy to carry, camera with an adjustable viewscreen, flash, and a much smoother vdeo mode than most of the other cameras on the market (most only do 15 fps, this does 22-25)with audio (most others have audio, but not all), I bought mine for use when I dont wanna carry my regular digital 8 camcorder, or places where a camcorder isnt allowed, since this is a digital camera it is usually allowed in, and then I get to have videos of the things I am watching, not perfect, but still, I have something *smiles*
there are some things I wish this had, a focusable lens for one, so it could get closer than the 1.2 meters it is rated for (there is a way around this, if you have close up lenses from another camera, you can hold them in front of the lens, and then you get closer focus). People complaining about Battery life, what brand batteries are you using? I have used Rechargeable NiMH, Duracell Ultra AA, and CRV3 batteries, and Everready Titainium, and Photo Lithium AA batteries, I have yet to get less than the rated ammount of time on any of them, you cant use cheaper batteries in this camera or it wont last the rated time. (Kodak CX and DX line of cameras have this problem also, which is why Kodak tells you NOT to use Alkaline AA batteries, only AA Lithium, NiMH, or CRV3 batteries).
anyway, as for the DV-S20, I am VERy happy with it overall, once you learn the limits of what it can do, it will do well, just dont expect miracles lol
On: 2004-01-31
If your only other option is to flush your money down a toilet, then maybe buy this, otherwise, dont even bother. It is a terrible camera and a worse camcorder.Here is a list of my complaints:
1) Unacceptable exposure AND color control. The exposure is close to correct only on a small percentage of pictures. If I were to carry this camera around, I would also have to Cary another camera, because it takes poor pictures.
2) Battery life is unacceptably short. 26 minutes for fresh alkaline batteries, not the 45 they advertise.
3) I do not believe the door over the battery/card slot would last over a month. It is very flimsy, and pops into the wrong place from spring-load from the battery. Extreme care has to be used to close the thing. I would open the thing constantly, because I prefer transferring via the memory card, and Im sure that door will not last.
4) Too much pressure is required for the video record button. This would not be an issue on a three-pound video camera, but this camera is so little, one cannot press the button without jerking the camera, and that messes up the video.
5) Everybody turns yellow when you use the flash.
6) The screw inset for tripod is too shallow. I cannot tighten the camera onto a standard tripod and make it tight because the screw cannot be turned into the camera far enough.
7) The only thing I do like about the camera is the Pinicle Video software, but I cant make it even see the camera, and downloaded video clips have to be changed to another format, and thats just too many steps for anything useful.
8) The low light warning is always on except in bright sunlight.
9) Costomer service is ridiculous. Heres an unedited clip written from GATEWAY Customer Service Department: "I am sorry that you had to go through all of this just to receive a product that you could not use. Therefore, there is nothing further that my supervisor can assist you further in this regard." --In other words, they dont even try to defend their product or to deny that its a piece of crap, they are just sorry for me because I was unfortunate enough to be stuck with it!
On: 2004-01-30
The Gateway Mini-DV series camcorder has been a great medium for taking quick photos. I have absolutely loved it for taking photos at parties or events where the lighting is decent, but otherwise... IT SUCKS (lol). I cannot take any type of videos at night or photos that do not have very bad blemishes alll over. The photo software that comes with it is probably the best thing about this Cam.... SORRY!.
On: 2004-01-16
My digital still camera (a Toshiba MD700) takes better video. My daughters toy video camera (the digital blue) takes better video. The quality on this is just utterly unacceptable. I dont know how much of that is the MPEG4, but I think part of it is the lens -- theres very noticeable distortion and light falloff around the edges. Its bad. I think Gateway tried too hard to pursue the pricepoint.Id love to have a product like this one, if it produced decent video.
On: 2004-01-11
This is a good idea, but the finished product is not ready for prime-time...
First on the video side of things, video quality is low resolution & low frame rate. You can only shoot videos in absolutely perfect lighting conditions. So forget shooting anything usable indoors, because it is not possible. There are some camera settings for light type & levels, but the difference when using these settings is undetectable. My digital camera takes much, much better video, so I know Im not being too harsh on this camera.
As for the digital camera side of things, the camera is the worst Ive seen. Again, perfect light is an absolute neccessity. All of the flash pictures that Ive taken come out with terrible color. Even in the best light, pictures are low quality with poor color. Many of the flash pictures come out overexposed.
The speed of this camera is another real issue. It takes forever between pictures & videos. I find myself pushing on the button frequently with nothing happening. Forget about any action shots.
I bought this on special so it was inexpensive, but this camera is just frustrating. Watch out for Gateways customer service, they wont take this paperweight back after 15 days, even if it was a gift.Update: Its been two months and I still have not received the form to claim the $100 rebate (Ive called 3-times). Once I get the form, they claim it will be another 6-8 weeks (Probably more). This is criminal!
On: 2004-01-08
Gateway calls the DV-S20 a "multi-cam". I think it is a brilliant idea to combine digital camcorder and camera into one unit -- that is, if Gateway could only deliver it. It turned out that the DV-S20 is not suitable for either role.The biggest flaw -- and a fatal one -- with this DV-S20 is lack of picture quality. The video is recorded in MPEG4 at 320x240 resolution, similar to digital cameras with movie mode, albeit at a higher speed of 25 frame per second. Video is blur at best, even with the super-fine mode. The picture is nowhere near a regular camcorder quality, but also has severe color shifting problem. At super-fine mode, a 512MB secure digital card, which costs about $150, will only yield 40 minutes of video. The quality of still image is the worst I have ever seen. Clarity was poor and the colors came out unnatural and weird all the time. About 1/3 of pictures were out of focus. When using the flash, the object was often washed out. My son¡¦s HP 1MP digital camera takes much better pictures. There are also weaknesses in design. Because of its boxy shape, it is hard to hold steady with only one hand while shooting video. To prevent blocking flash, sensor, and microphone in the front panel, you need to hold the unit at its lower half; however, that make using those control buttons (located at the upper half of the unit in the back) inconvenient. Beware of the 2.5X digital zoom, it only works for video, but not for still image. Worse, the image in the LCD depends on the zoom setting, so if you forget to set zoom back to 1X after shooting video, what you see is not what you get when taking still images. The time lag is about 1 second. It is hard to catch the moment you want. The power consumption is way too high. Using 2 AA alkaline batteries, I had to change batteries every 30 minutes. Rechargeable NiMH battery is a must. To be fair, the DV-S20 does have some good points. Its size is small enough to fit into a pocket or purse easily. The flip-open LCD provides decent quality. The menu is easy to maneuver. And it comes with a generous 64MB internal memory, as compared with the 16MB comes with most digital cameras in the market. However, all these become irrelevant when the picture quality is so poor. After all, what you want it for is to take at least acceptable quality picture and video. Gateway had a brilliant idea but came up with a terrible product. In my opinion, Gateway shouldn¡¦t even have released it to the market with this kind of quality. Needless to say, I returned this junk to Gateway, even though it would have cost me only $99 after rebate, and even though Gateway charged $36 restocking fee (based on its regular price plus accessory kit). There are plenty of choices for quality 2MP digital camera with 3X optical zoom and movie function for less than $150, such as Kodak CX6230, FujiFilm A205, HP PS-635, to name just a few. You will be much better off with any of these than Gateway¡¦s so called multi-cam.
On: 2004-01-05
I bought this for my wife for the holidays, and was really disappointed. Under perfect lighting conditions, it gives decent still pictures - but for anything less, the camera is lousy. Flash pictures completely wash out the subject unless youre standing far away, and pictures in moderate-light conditions can get blurred easily if you dont hold the camera real steady. And the movie mode is average, at best. Even though I only paid $140 after rebates at Gateway, Im still underwhelmed. Going to take it back for a refund.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-27
This product is advertised as an MPEG 4 camcorder on the gateway website, but the video capabilties are pathetic when compared to my sisters digital camera. The photos are mediocre at best and the software provided doesnt even support the video cameras format. If you want a digtal camera this might be ok, but it IS NOT a camcorder
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-20
This camera is just great. The quality of the videos and pics arent perfect like you would see from an 1000 dollar camera but I love them because I just want a camera that I can have fun with and not get real serious about it. First of all its inexpensive so if it breaks, it isnt the end of the world and since its so small you can take it anywhere. It includes software that you can use to edit and create your own movie masterpiece. Its zoom is a little weak but having a great zoom is too high above the price range of this product. Its battery life is about one hour but if you get the accessory pack it will turn into 90 minutes if you use the batterys included in it. The vidoes do include sound since the camera has a microphone. Another great quality it has is the fact that it can record up to 18 minutes and 700 pictures with its 64 MB internal memory. I would recommend this to someone who doesnt want the top of the line camera (if you do than spend more money) but wnats something that will be easy and fun to use. Really, anyone who wants to make movies should buy this. Thats what my intention was and I love it.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-13
The small camcorder is great. You can take it anywhere. I recommend getting the accessories--to have 90min of [rechargable] battery power. You should also get the 512mb sd--2 hours of recording time with it. If not the five twelve, get 256, but nothing less, for you wont have enough recording time. The zoom is not powerful, but it gets the job done just fine. The size, 2 megapixels, and extremely low price are the best reasons to purchase this product. The camcorder is a fine product and is great for anyone who wants small size, good clarity, and low price. ..........
On: 2003-12-12
For the size and price its not a bad deal, but it didnt have the video quality i wouldve liked. The stills arent bad but good lighting is needed. The video is very choppy and jumps around when recording. If youre looking for a cheap, small camera with video and dont need good quality, go for it. Overall I wouldnt recommend this to anyone.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-01
This versitlile and very handy camera gives people an easy way to film everything from backyard football games to family reunions. I am definatly going to look into actually buying one for the holidays with my family. Hope this helps you!
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