Aiptek A-HD 720P 5MP CMOS High Definition Camcorder

Great... for people that can use hd   December 2, 2008
I bought this camera about a year ago with the intent of making home videos. Actually I had done some research on camcorders, and since I didn't want to spend a boat-load of cash, I decided on the flip video camcorder. So I went to Best Buy to purchase one, but when I got there, the employee insisted that I get the aiptek a-hd camcorder. I was pumped, I had a new camera, and I was going to go shoot some footage. I captured the stuff I wanted, and plugged in the camera, after several moments the software included popped up , as soon as I opened the software, my monitor became pixelated and unable to read. After several attempts I realized that I had been sold a Hi-def camcorder, and I am not in possession of a hi-def computer monitor. So now here I am 10 months later with a camcorder that I can't use. Buyer Beware, only buy if you think your computer can handle it

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Great buy   November 25, 2008
The headline pretty much says it all. I originally bought the camera, along with a 4 GB memory card, for $160. It turns out it was well-spent cash.

For non-professional and personal use, the camera does pretty much everything you could ask for. It shoots quality video in three different size versions. All files are digitally recorded on the memory card and there is no tape.

The "Web" mode shoots video designed for upload to YouTube and is a smaller format, allowing you to easily e-mail the file. The "DVD" version is pretty comparable to that quality, but is a bit larger. The third format is High Definition, which is designed for viewing on HD TVs. When looking at this video on the computer, there isn't too much of a difference from the DVD quality, but the file is huge.

The camera boots up quickly and holds a battery charge for roughly an hour when in video mode. The flip-out LCD screen rotates so you can actually shoot video of yourself. I've actually self-produced several news standups in DVD mode that were usable for television, although the audio was not very good because the camera lacks a microphone input.
Perhaps the best thing about this camera is its ease of use. The camera has several different modes: Video camera, still camera, my files and an options menu. All video and photos shot are available in the "my files" mode. The auto white balance works well, but I still prefer to do so manually (it only takes a second).

This is not to say the camera doesn't have limitations. As mentioned, though audio quality with the built-in microphone is good, it does not have a port to plug in an external mic. Another complaint is that there is no manual focus. Users must rely on the automatic focus, which is often poor in low light conditions. On that note, the camera tends to have trouble adjusting its iris and overexposes when there is a mostly dark shot with one or two hot spots (ex: sunlight coming in through a window). The camera shoots its best video in moderate lighting conditions.

Overall, I enthusiastically recommend the device. It's inexpensive, but functional for the casual user. It would also make a great gift for a younger person. He or she could actually use the camera, and you won't be spending a fortune on it.

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garbage   November 16, 2008
this piece of junk dosent pick up sounds very well,then ater 2 months it didnt pick up sounds at all,and it dosen't zoom in that good,then the joy stick broke,then the speaker cover fell off,no wonder this cam corder was only $100

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Hd for pennies   November 2, 2008
Great hd picture and when used with lab studios its possible to get 1080i film quality videos with some filtering. A defenite must buy.

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Good Camcorder, but has faults   October 31, 2008
This is a decent camcorder for the price. I like the way you can hold it and the fact that it uses SD cards, the quality is certainly NOT HD though. Its a little grainy. The mic on it is meant for indoors, don't expect good quality if you're outside even if it's quiet. The other problem is the battery (btw Amazon does not stand behind their products, they refer you to the manufacturer). The battery quit holding a charge after 3 or 4 months, now it dies immediately after being charged. I hope a REAL company makes a similar camcorder as a similar price.

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