Aiptek Action HD GVS BK 1080P High Definition

OK video “But terrible Audio”
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Well the video quality is good for a $200 HD camcorder, but the audio is terrible, , it’s nice and quiet when no sounds are present , “But” when any sound are being, voice, music etc, there is a very loud and annoying white noise that is also recorded….. Yes, even with the external audio or internal”

CHEAP FEEL TO IT…EVEN AT THIS PRICE. AND HD, SERIOUSLY?
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This camera seemed like a great deal. It had HD and right at $200. But when we plugged in the HD cables from the camera to the TV, the hues were way off. We had to plug in the regular AV cables to get regular colors. This camera doesn’t like anything but bright settings. Even recording in the house, you better open the door, all the windows, turn on all the lights and maybe even knock out a wall! I ordered this camera with high hopes and expectations (for the price), even after reading the reviews. The buttons on the back of the camera were poorly marked and the joystick felt really flimsy. The whole camera had a cheap feel for it. No, I didn’t expect movie quality images, but I expected better than this. And the still images were a was to time. This seemed like a good deal, but do a little more research and find a better camea in this price range. I returned it after a week.

Group of stuck pixels
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I thought I would give this camera a try but every video I took had a large blue circle in the upper left quadrant of the video. It would show in the viewfinder as well as the video. By the size, it couldn’t have been a single stuck pixel, rather a whole group of them in the same area. The rest of the video looked good, but it was impossible to ignore the bad area of the video. I returned it for a refund rather than replacement since other reviews also mentioned similar problems.

Excellent camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera. The 1280X720 60fps is excellent for sporting events. Very lightweight and easy to use.

Difficult to use device
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I did not enjoy using this HD camcorder because of the frequent, and unwarranted, low battery warnings. Also you are forced to use the ArcSoft Media Impression software to download the media files from the camcorder to a computer, instead of simply dragging and dropping the files where you wish.

My biggest complaint was that after filming nearly 90 minutes of a live performance the device turned off due to low battery power. But when I went to retrieve the video I had captured, to my dismay no media files of any kind were found on the expansion SD card.

I will avoid this manufacturer’s products from now and will seek more well known name in HD camcorders for future use.

Good Features, Poor Workmanship and Customer Service
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
The Camera seemed good for the price and it worked ok at first. I put some videos up on you tube and Vimeo. It is really bad in low light situations but with adequate light it is ok. The real problem came in that the camera started slowly coming apart as I used it and finally it came apart so much it wouldn’t work or charge. I got an RMA and they told me after I sent it in that they would not replace it. I would have to pay a $100 for a refurbished model. I felt like this was ridiculous that they would not honor the 1 year manufacturer warranty. Decent camera if you get one that works but if you don’t you are screwed. This is a new camera so this happened just over the course of a few months.

Buyer Beware!

Great Cam
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I use this camcorder mainly for youtube and it has incredible quality. The 60 fps is also great to have for slo-mo. The only downside to it is the battery isnt the greatest and it is no good in low light. Other then that i love it!

Silver GVS with a few additions
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased the silver GVS back in May 2009 so this review in more of a comparison of the two cameras. Both camera’s are essentially identical minus a few points. However, I know the Silver GVS available from Target shares some of the features with this model that my old Silver model does not…

Anyway, key differences…

* Cosmetics – Aside from the black casing, there are a couple other minor changes. Some of the logos have changes slightly (HD/1080 rather than ActionHD/1080). The rear I/O cover has also been improved so it’s easier to pop open. Aside from that, the camera’s identical to the silver model.

* Flash – As can be seen in the photos, the flash is horizontally mounted rather than vertical. This provides a slightly better photo and makes it more difficult to cover the flash with a finger. I’ve also noticed more consistant white-balances (my older GVS had a blue hue in “flashed” photos) (the Target model also has the horizontal flash)

* Microphones – People have confirmed the GVS has two microphones, but the majority of them do not record in stereo. I have confirmed this model DOES record in stereo and not simply encode 1-channel as the old models do. (the Target model shows Stereo in the photos, but the actual model DOES not have stereo written on it or record in stereo)

* LCD – I have noticed the LCD on the black (and Target model) have a much lower viewing angle than my older model. However, when viewed at the correct angle, the screen is much brighter, even on the lowest brightness setting. So, win some lose some…

* AV-IN – I hate to say it, but this model doesn’t have AV-IN. I plan to send a message to Amazon regarding the product description, but I have tested this and found no form of audio/video input.

All in all, the camera is identical. Probably the only real notable addition is stereo. But aside from that, the camera is the same. I’d honestly suggest trying to get the previous model unless you REALLY need stereo or really want a black version of this camera. The better LCD and price difference makes it a better choice in my opinion.

–EDIT–

While comparing these cameras, I realized my newest one (this black one) had this awful high-pitched squeal in the recordings. It appears the LCD makes some noise and is being picked up by the mics. I figured I’d try to upgrade my firmware to the latest version (28xx to 2901 I believe). To my surprise the noise being emitted from the LCD seems to be much lower and there’s very little being recorded now. So, for this and probably any other Action HD GVS, get the latest firmware from Aiptek!

Good HD @ reasonible price
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was very surprised at how nice and convenient this little camera is it shoots good video at 720p 60fps higher res cost you down to 30fps but overall its a nice and more than you should expect from something in this price range. Notes:the aux mic input is stereo so if you want an external mic make sure its stereo or you will need an adapter

A fun toy.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Fun toy. The more I use it, the more I appreciate it. It has some major limitations, such as image noise (speckles in the images), and the image stabilization is not anywhere near what is needed to make a real movie. The .mov files it generates are 10 Mbit/sec whereas higher end cameras with better image quality usually use 24 Mbit/sec.

The manual and supplied software say to use the Quicktime player to watch your videos. That is a bad idea on a PC. Quicktime cannot do this camera justice. Quicktime on any of my PC’s makes the videos extremely jumpy, from what I can tell removing frames during playback making everything look like bad stop motion animation.

I just installed Windows 7 RTM bits to a new PC (a gutless celeron box with Nvidia 7100/630i chipset) and it has a Windows media player that knows how to play the .mov files that this camera generates. The videos are actually surprisingly smooth and lifelike. I am guessing Windows media player is using hardware acceleration as part of the playback.

Just talking in front of the camera, on a tiny little desktop tripod, with good lighting…. the image made my jaw drop. It looks spectacular. You could see the hair inside my nose, and everything looked really organic and real. The colors are really vivid.

When looking at each frame of my talking self in the Quicktime video player, there is a lot of noise in the image. Too much noise to use this camera for professional work.

The image stabilization is strange. I aimed the camera at my desk with the image stabilization on at high zoom, and off with high zoom. When it is “on” the image is less twitchy looking, however the bottom part of the image seems to wiggle more than the top, like the whole image is made out of rubber. It is a noticable improvement over having the image stabilization off. Also, it only works in 720p/60hz and WVGA/60hz modes, not in 1080p mode.

There is a really grating audible whine this camera puts on the audio track. The aiptek home page contains instructions on downloading new firmware which gets rid of this horrible squeal. They require you to supply an SD card between 512MB and 4GB (ie: not SDHC or mini cards etc) to put the firmware onto. There were errors in the instructions for triggering your GVS camera to install the firmware: they said to press the “snapshot” button, but there isn’t one, there is a “shutter” button according to the manual, and you have to press this shutter button ALL the way in and rather hard for a double-click which isn’t mentioned on the instructions.

Someone on amazon had a list (I don’t remember who) that included this camera and suggested the Rode VideoMic Directional Shotgun Mic w/Mount with the Rode DeadCat Windshield for VideoMic, NTG-1 and NTG-2 Microphones as a way to generate great audio with this camera. That mike and fuzzy thing costs as much as the camera… and they are really quite large.

I got a Sima SL-20LX Ultra Bright Video Light (Silver) with this that is kind of cool. It shines a very bright light that not quite coming from the same spot as the camera lens, resulting in visible shadows at the edges of everything – shadows that are very distracting. It made me run out and buy books on video lighting techniques because this $30 toy lamp isn’t going to cut it.

I got the Transcend 16 GB SDHC Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6 with this camera. The SD card is a really tight fit for the slot. It took about 30 insert/remove cycles of the SD card to “loosen” something up so that the card slides in and out. You have to push hard to get it to go in, and then you have to push hard to get the camera to eject the card….

Being Fair…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
1st I want to say THANK YOU Amazon.com for having a really good customer service.

Why I started this review with thanking Amazon, it’s simply for them caring for their customers.

They saved me from my defective product and backed it up with a fast transaction to replace it. All this happened within 4 days.

I know your looking for a review on the product, but I had to give Amazon.com praise 1st, THANK YOU!

For the Aiptek HD GVS1080p, it works as shown on sites with sample videos (be sure to check it out). My first problem with it was low lighting, but after being replaced because of defectiveness, it worked well. Don’t think it does a perfect low light capture, it’s just good enough for what the cam can do. In the other hand, day time filming was EXCELLENT, and I mean clear and perfect for 1080p quality. You won’t find a mini camcorder that uses an SD card that expands to 32GB and has a rechargeable battery. The FLIP and Creative products, were choices for me as well, but the storage lost it for me. If you’d like to see samples of video, check out my You Tube page “Cjaysimag3″.

*** The 3 stars – Because the 1st purchase was a defect, but replacement made up for it.

If that didn’t help with decision making… JUST TAKE THIS WITH YOU… DO NOT ORDER FROM A PLACE WHERE YOU WON’T GET GREAT SERVICE FOR REPLACEMENTS OR REFUNDS. KNOW I told the truth regarding Amazon.com

THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN AMAZON!!!

Good luck All…!

Better Than Flip Mino and Kodak Zi6
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve tried the Flip Mino, Kodak Zi6, and the Sony Webbie MHS-PM1 in the past two months. Let me tell you that the Aiptek GVS beats them all! The Aiptek has an actual flash for taking pictures (unlike any of the aforementioned), optical zoom, removable Li-Ion battery, and support for SD cards.

I cannot remember the last time I’ve been this satisfied and excited about a product (not even my Apple iPhone can overshadow this Aiptek GVS). Fairly confident that you also will feel the same after buying one.

Oh also, the kit comes with a tripod, lens-cover, and carrying case (along with the HD and AV cables, of course).

Good idea, bad quality
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I am all for the new type of flash based camcorders as a big market exists.

A great idea for a few basis features that an average person will use 99.9999% of the time.

Where Aiptek loses out is in Quality Control. The form factor is good, although I’m worired over teh longevity of the unit, feels too delicate.

This particular unit I had ordered had a pronounced bluish tint to the video, even in broad daylight. Seemed like i was using a permanent blue filter over the lens.

Bottom line, I would still pay an extra 300-400 just for the quality control and ruggedness of more established name brabds even though I will not use more than 5% of the available feature set.

Hope this helps.

Camcorder with good still image
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I was looking for one gadget which can be used for both digital camera and camcorder. This works good for both purpose. One thing is that the camera switch needs to be pressed a bit hard. It has 5x optical zoom. It doesn’t have HDMI output so the HD quality of video might not be seen on regular HD TV.

Good for light use only
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
For normal casual short clip use outdoors it works fine, video quality is good in bright light. Battery lasts slightly under 90 minutes continuous use.

The lens is very narrow angle- you have to stand a long way from your subject to get everything in the video. Controls feel a little loose under the fingers, the zoom toggle is imprecise. You don’t want to rely on the camera for anything since it is hard to hold steady and slow to take shots.

The microphone is mounted inside the lcd panel, and it works but if you wanted to record music for example, the sound distorts very early. Conversations, real world noises are fine.

Low light performance is poor. The picture is grainy and grey. What do you expect from a $180 device though? Its good for what it is, but won’t be anywhere near as good as the more expensive HD cameras.

I returned this product because it broke on the 2nd use- the zoom stopped working, the camera no longer powered off without removing the battery entirely, and the lens made a clicking noise constantly.

Since i actually need something for low light shooting, i opted to buy a canon HF11 instead. But if you are on a tight budget or have never had a camcorder before, this might do the trick. I cannot personally recommend it however due to the poor reliability.- i’d recommend going for a more traditional palm-corder style canon/panasonic/sony (the brands i’ve owned before now).

excellent picture quality @ 1080p
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R8JPICH0T4XBP Just tried it in macro mode, and was blown away. Excellent detail, color, and picture quality. Autofocus works well. The camera regains focus quickly when moving between objects.

The tiny Amazon video doesn’t do it justice, so you can check the high-def full-screen version of the video here: [...]

Aiptek Action HD GVS 1080P High Definition Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (Silver)

Not really what I was hoping for.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera hoping to do home videos of the family in HD without laying out a lot of cash. I played around with it for a while and wasn’t too impressed. It’s be fine for youtube videos, but I wanted better. At the 60 fps setting, the actual video quality is marginally better than standard definition when plugged directly into an HDTV. The colors are dull and washed out in sunlight, the zoom is very slow compared to my SD camera and the memory card is a pain to get to unless you have dainty little girly fingers.

The file format is not compatible with the PS3 which would be the easiest way for me to view HD content since I’m too cheap to buy a Bluray burner. The files can be converted, but trust me, its a long and tedious task.

Take it as it is, an opinion, but for me, its not worth the money. I’ll stick with the SD cam for a little while longer until the price drops on the better HD cams. I’ll be shipping this one back to Amazon quick style.

good enough for this price
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
the camera is good, the quality of the video is great

however, it cannot capture a wide enough vision, since the focus point can only be adjusted within a small range.

Bad low light performance and codec support
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Not too impressed with the camera performance. The low light or indoor performance is terrible! Even for the money you pay. With out night shot enable the picture is completely black. When night shot is enable the picture recorded is very grainy! Save your money and upgrade to a better camera like Sanyo hd2000! It is 3 times the money but better than throwing a camera away!

Decent picture, non-existent stabilization
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’ve owned this for about 4 months and have used it for about 3GB total of video.

Pros:

- Easy to carry, easy to use

- High resolution, clear & detailed videos (as long as you hold it completely still)

Con:

- Image stabilization is just about non-exsitent. I can’t tell much (if any) difference between having it on & off. This defeats the purpose of having a small hand-held video camera.

Becasue of the poor stabilization, many of the videos I’ve shot are almost un-watchable. I find myself reaching for my older Panasonic PV-GS14 instead of this.

Great value!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this for a couple of weeks and since I can deal with its limitations, I really like it.

The good: surprisingly good video quality if you have enough light (color noise otherwise); Image Stabilization (although not in 1080p mode – why?)

The bad: sound is mono and overloads easily (it has an external mic input which I haven’t tried yet so I’m not sure if it will overload easily or if it’s just the built-in mic that’s the problem); H.264 file format won’t import sound into Sony Vegas for editing unless you modify the file; swing-out preview screen is poor – you need precisely the right angle to see the image. Vary just a little and you can’t see it right.

Make sure you get a fast SD card. The 8GB card I got a good deal on won’t work. The camera warns about “Low Speed Card” and shuts off recording after a second or two.

Overall, for the price I can’t complain. Nice cheap toy that I don’t have to worry too much about.

Neat Little Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So far so good, nice camera. At $180 shipped plus a free 8gig SD card this simply can’t be beat. 1080P, nice viewscreen, cables to connect HDTV (component) included. Charge from any USB. Amazon and USPS had it to my door 3 days prior to the estimated delivery date (I got it on Sat vice Tues/First business day (Mon was holiday). Real pleased with purchase and delivery.

Not bad for the price
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camcorder for a trip to the Bahamas and just wanted something low end. It did not disappoint. The pictures it takes are not bad for a 5 mp. The video does need a lot of light indoors but does well outdoors. Need to have a steady hand on 1080 mode. I have been happy with it. One problem……it does not go to my imovie for some reason but I download mplayer and it allowed me to see the video.

Aiptek Action HD GVS 1080P
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m just an amateur video person. I looked at Sanyo (too expensive) and the new Sony flash video cameras before deciding on the Aiptek. The videos so far have been quite good. Don’t really care for the Arcsoft Software that came with the camera. It’s as bad as Nero. If I had to make the buying decision again, I would still purchase the Aiptek GVS 1080P.

Okay
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This camera is okay. It does the job. You need a lot of light. Like tons. and the image stabilization doesn’t do much. I bought this camera because it was on of the few that had a stabilization on it and I cant tell a difference. I would just spend the extra money on something a little better. It is also really awkward holding it. The menu is user friendly, really easy to use. And the stabilization only works on the 720p 60 fps. not anything else.

Couldn’t be more pleased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Wow… Has Aiptek come a long way! From crummy little “pen” cameras to video cameras like this. While still quite the budget brand, this camera does not fail to impress.

Video quality is very good. The camera does well in most normal lighting situations. Expect a fair amount of noise indoors, but rarely does this camera yield an unusable video. Plus the night-shot mode gives quite a nice boost in exposure. Just expect a drop to around 25FPS.

The stabilizer…wow, I must say I’m rather impressed with this. Most camera’s around this price range have completely useless stabilizers. While this one isn’t the greatest, I will admit it’s actually useful! Quality isn’t dropped much at all, if any and it does compensate for minor shakes.

Still pictures are pretty fair. As with most CMOS cameras, it’s nearly impossible to get a decent still image without a flash. The built-in flash does its job, but does tend cast a blue tint and over expose. However, with a little positioning and zooming, pictures can look pretty nice from this little guy.

The lens is pretty impressive for such a cheap camera. F3.5-3.7 through the zoom is better than some point and shoot cameras have to offer (at least at the far end of the zoom) However, the leans apparently has no control over the aperture, thus some photos tend to be over-exposed. But for what it is, I really can’t complain. Oh, and for those who want to use filters, I’m afraid your out of luck. There are no threads around the barrel… Also, with regards to the zoom, there’s only one speed to zoom. No smooth zooms, I’m afraid.

Focus speed is actually quite fast. I’d say it’s compatible to most any low-end camcorder. It does tend to hunt from time to time, but typically finds and holds focus pretty well. Plus the AF-lock is yet another welcome feature

The microphone compared to previous Aiptek cameras is in a league of it’s own. While it’s still prone to becoming muffled by too much audio, it’s miles ahead of any other camera I’ve used in this price range. Endcoding quality is much nicer than other cameras too (48kHz, 128bit) Now, I don’t believe the mic is stereo but it is encoded as such. I have yet to test the external mic jack, so I’m unsure if it allows for stereo.

Ergonomics could use some work. Holding the camera without placing a finger over the flash takes some effort with my large hands. Plus the layout is a tad weird. Using the 5-way stick takes a little situating of my hands as well. But, to just press record then aim the camera is easy enough.

Battery life… Well, it’s a lithium battery. Use it for a while, charge it while not in use. I’ve yet to actually run the battery down so I can’t give any exact numbers. However, I did let it record for about 30 minutes in 1080p, using it off and on for the rest of the day and the indicator never got below half. The battery is a standard NP20, exactly like my Jazz HDV-178. The camera uses a special USB-style charger (it wouldn’t charge other USB devices I had around) but the camera will charge off a computer.

A few miscellaneous quirks…

- The remote is a joke (as with other Aiptek’s)

- It’s very difficult to remove the SD card

- The included case places pressure on the 5-way stick (may break over time?)

- No video/night lights

As for the people with the “dreaded white dot” mine seems to have this problem too. However, it seems to be more occasional than anything. Typically shutting the camera off or simply going to playback then back to camera makes this dot disappear.

– 09/07/09 –

I’m in the process of editing a Wedding I recorded using two of these cameras. I must say they performed exceptionally well. Audio is crisp and clear, even picked up more than I expected (which is a good thing). Colors are astonishing and there’s very little chromatic aberration (outdoor wedding). I only had two problems with these cameras that day. Once it became dark outside, the quality diminished a fair bit and the focus began to hunt. The video is still usable after some minor post-editing, but I wish it were better to begin with. Also, the lack of zoom control is a bit annoying. I wish I could do something smoother while recording for a better looking pan. But even with these flaws, I love these cameras and will be recording more weddings with them in the near future!

Briefly, a ground-breaking product
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Stated briefly, the fact that you can get this high quality in a video camera for $200 is just astounding. The image, and yes, even sound quality in the 1080 30fps mode is just top notch, and hard to believe. You don’t even really appreciate it until you see it on a hi-def monitor. Incredible.

Good for the price.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This camcorder is good for those who are on a tight budget. The video quality is excellent when there is plenty of light available and a tripod is used. The video quality really suffers in low light situations. The audio quality is not that great, especially if the ambient sound is very loud.Playback could be quite distorted. On the other hand, if the sound is more than 30 feet away it can become hard to hear upon playback. You really need nerves of steel when holding this camcorder or you will get a jittery immage. Even with the image stabilizer on. On the plus side. The unit is very light and portable, battery life is acceptable, still photographs are pretty good and the unit is ready to use very quickly after powering it on. It comes with a case, battery and mini tripod. The built in memory will not give you too much redcording time so you need to buy a sd memory card for longer recordings. I also bought a backup battery because the recharge time could be quite long. As the old saying goes “you get what you pay for”. In this case it is true.

Camcorder has both faults and qualities
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I know HDTV and have had this model for long enough to know what I’m talking about. Considering its price its amazing, but it can produce stunningly great HDTV videos in a wide variety of lighting situations.

It is, however, and this is generous, a work in progress. Many elements missing make one wonder if a unit at twice the cost (or more) might be a better buy. This unit will start every race, and deliver great video and OK audio, but, it doesn’t look like it can finish event the easiest sprint.

Primary is the lack of depth to operating instructions, a “quick start overview” at best, failing particularly on use of the “external microphone” and the specifics of uploading videos, stills and audio from the flash drive and using the enclosed software.

While the microphone is optional for most, the memory card is fundamental for any earnest recording, and the instructions go into no depth whatsoever about this. But my personal problem is that you cannot trust it to work when you want it to.

I’ve replaced the camera once (swiftly and efficiently through Amazon!) because the unit inexplicably shut down and, without any adequate help from Aiptek (other than to recommend sending the two-week old product in for reepair, after enduring the usual “on hold forever” telephone waits and less than satisfactory e-mail responses.

I will ask Amazon next, likely soon, for a refund, because the replacement unit sent caused my PC to lock up during almost every upload process.

Is my registry gumming up? My misuse of new software freaking it out? My failure to know what to do? Probably all of these. But even a thorough search of Google, (and the silent treatment from Aiptek,) left me in a boat without any paddles.

But, to finish, the Aiptek product is a cheap answer to lovely video, but, sadly, only if the Aiptek support system keeps me and all the other owners ahead of the curve.

Maybe you will find it otherwise, but if you expect just reasonable reliability, you really should look at something else (Canon? Sony?) Amazon has been with me all the way, and I will not forget thier support, but maybe they should hold off selling the Aiptek products until this very innovative company can assure buyers of reliable manufacture and rock solid product support.

p.s. amazon. I’m waiting for a solution to the PC freeze problem. Without one, I’ll have to return the unit and consider something else. BB

A disappointing “WOW”!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Initially I was very impressed with the sharpeness and clarity of the images recorded in 720 and 1080 formats. The Aiptek specs show “30 Frames per second at 1080P and 60 frames per second at 720P with advanced H.264 technology”

However this camera records in Aiptek’s format .mov, which has somehow been modified by Aiptek so it will not play in the standards, mpeg4 or AVI envelopes required to retain the clarity of hi def. The result is that if you wish to edit this .mov format on either a Windows or a Mac computer, you must convert it, resulting in the loss of your Hi-Def video. (What I found somewhat strange was that the .mov files can be played using Apple’s Quick Time, but cannot be dragged/imported into IMovie).

Aiptek does allow some minor editing of scenes on the camera itself, but not to the extent you would want to edit a movie, even for a family presentation. Aiptek Tech Support (when you can contact them) was unable to provide a answer as to why the .mov format does not meet the industry standard for H.264 “envelopes”, or how to convert their .mov files without loss of resolution.

Bottom Line: This camera records in a clarity and one of the most brilliant hi definition recordings of any camera in this price range. If you are only going to attach this camera to your TV and watch the unedited clips of a day’s outing, this camera is for you.

However, if you make your own home videos for your family library or send them to friends and family, this is not the camera you want. Until Aiptek modifies their recording format to accommodate the industry standard, this will remain a beginner/amatuer’s gadget.

A LOT OF BANG FOR LITTLE BUCKS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
AT FIRST I WAS SKEPTICAL, HD CAMCORDER FOR $215 ? YOU MUST REALIZE THAT THIS IS 1/4 THE PRICE OF MOST HD CAMCORDERS. DOES IT HAVE ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES? NO. IS IT A GREAT CAMERA FOR THE PRICE? ABSOLUTELY !! IT DOES SEEM TO WORK MUCH BETTER IN BRIGHTER LIGHT SITUATIONS. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE BUTTONS WERE BIGGER, BUT THEN AGAIN THE CAMERA FITS IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND. IF YOU DON’T EXPECT PERFECTION, YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY AND SURPRISED AT HOW WELL THIS UNIT PERFORMS FOR THE MONEY SPENT. A GREAT VALUE.

Great HD flash memory camcorder for the price!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Looked at everything from Sanyo Xati, Pure Digital Flip HD, Kodak Zx1, Sony Webbie and Creative Vado. What I have found is for a few extra inches in girth and in most cases less cost the Aiptek Action HD GVS offers more. Optical zoom and stabilization is needed and most of the other don’t have it. Also, the Aiptek HD GVS offers 720p@60fps. Yes, it is nearly all plastic, does not do well in the dark and does not play your HD video direct to your TV correctly (hues off). However, if you need something for home video and is portable, this is the way to go. Think of it this way, why pay $500 or more for a great small and portable HD flash camcorder that can fall out of your hands easily due to size or get handled by your kids incorrectly. Spending only $200 makes any damage or replacement a little easier.

Very Happy. For the price…HD quality is excellent
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3QZVCO6BWE5ZT I’m amazed at the quality of the video especially 720p/60fps. At around $180, you really can’t beat it. I was looking to spend a lot more for a HD camcorder, but for now, this works for me. Low light performance is not the best, but I still can’t complain.

Awesome! Very Happy!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I had been thinking about buying an HD camcorder for a few weeks, in anticipation of my daughter’s 1st dance recital. As the event loomed closer, and closer, I determined that buying something online wasn’t going to be feasiable insomuch of delivery time, so sent an email to my brother in-law, who works at a camera store. I asked him about HD camcorders and whether they sold them, and whether there was anything worth while to buy under $200. His answer was “HA..nope!” He then explained that there wasn’t anything worth while to buy under $600.

After reading that, I went on the web, and found this product. Not only did it have the technical specifications I was looking for 1080p@30fps and 720p@60fps, but it was also under $200. Even better, overnight shipping was only $20!! The reviews had me, the price was right, and it would be delivered ontime.

The product, simply works awesome. I couldn’t be happier. Although I am sure there are better products out there, I simply do not need anything more. It records in HD, it is simple to use, it charges quickly, hooks up to my TV with no trouble, and uploads onto YouTube with ease. As a father looking to capture the events in his family’s life, this is the best bang-for-buck around.

Anyone intrested in watching the videos I recorded, go to YouTube and search “2009 YMCA Dance Recital” you should get a least 5 videos by NFJ1978; those are the ones I recorded with this camera. Just remember to click on the “HD” button below the viewing screen when you get to YouTube, as they default you to a non-HD version….

Aiptek camcorder
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Battery lasts for only a few minutes. “Low battey” with less than 5 minutes of use after a full chharge.

Narrow angle

Poor quality in low light

video looks great. much better than mini dv
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Bought this to replace my mini dv camcorder. At first i was a little disappointed with low light performance. but after reviewing video side by side i found out that the mini dv was brighter in low light but it got that way by becoming very grainy with a gain up mode and really slow shutter speed. This camera doesn’t lie to you about how much light you need. if its too dark in the room you’ll see it. however the night mode is quite good even at 60 frames a second.

Other than that small learning curve i found the video to be just incredible. even when you downmix to dvd quality it still looks great.

As for gyroscopic stabilization i don’t know where they got that idea from. There are no gyroscopes in this product. That advertising suggests an optical stabilization. It is not optical its electronic, and its not bad. As for all camcorders there is no substitute for a steady hand.

I highly recommend this product. And its fun to use

great compact camcorder
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was looking for a light small camcorder that still produced quality video. This camera has exceeded my expectations producing top notch video.

Frank Quiles
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
So far I,m happy with the camera, only complain is related to the battery. I got a low battery indication much of the time when I start a video recording, but the battery is fully charged. I need to re-start again and I loose 1-2 sec to re start. Photos of 5M are too poor, grainy.

Great little camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I shopped around for a bit and decided to buy this camera after seeing the reviews (and being mislead by Best Buy). This little guy does not disappoint at all. The only times that I had heard of Aiptek was for their writing tablets. I was a little nervous going into this purchase, even though it was for work, but I am very glad that I did.

This camera is perfect for those who don’t need a lot of fancy features. I used to work with video all the time, and this is definately a $300 camera.

By no means is this camera perfect, the grip and buttons are akward at first, and take some time to get used to.

If you are looking for a cheap camera to mess around with, or throw something together for your family or YouTube, get this camera. If you want something better, you shouldn’t be looking at HD Flash cameras, and should be looking to spend upwards of $2000 or more.

my new gvs again
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
As I again purchased another, and will tell you it’s a newe body style of the back door, and a plastic container

otherwise pleased with the proformance andalways with me on a vacation, with a primary cam.

Pretty Good Cam
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
First of all I am a novice. Though I obviously watch a lot of video, this is my FIRST camcorder.

This camcorder records fairly decent video. It’s not fantastic, but it’s still pretty good. I have no real complaints about the video. See for yourself by checking for Talis29 on Youtube to see my videos, or by checking the Vimeo website for several test videos recorded with this camcorder. There are many such test videos available.

The auto focus feature tends to be a little too sensitive, but you can turn it off.

The audio is pretty bad. I recorded a live performance at my university, and when the guy hits his high notes the audio becomes so distorted that it hurts my ears. This happens with all loud sound. Luckily this camcorder accepts external microphones, so I will definitely be looking into an external solution.

The software that comes with the GVS is pretty much useless. Plan on using something else. Windows XP and Windows Vista Ultimate users can easily use Windows Movie Maker.

The battery’s true life span is about 45 minutes. You may want to pick up a second battery (ASIN B001R29V0A) for good measure.

I see this camcorder as being intended for travel, casual recording at the park, or quick and simple home movies and similar settings. Personally I use it for these purposes as well as for recording video around campus. This camcorder is not intended for amateur movie makers or similar video enthusiasts.

Worst Piece of Junk I’ve Ever Seen!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
For starters, let me clarify something before I proceed. I’ve been using camcorders from the days of 8mm until now and I can say I am more than an average user that has little or no technical knowledge of the product. Before I purchased this camcorder, I read so many reviews (both from experts and previous owners) about this camcorder and overall it was all mixed. What sold me on this camcorder was the external microphone jack feature on it and I must admit that it came in handy cause the audio was really crappy (more on that as you read on).

The tests I ran on this camcorder on all the available modes (720p @ 30fps, 720p @ 60fps, and 1080p @ 30fps) all made little or no difference in low-light situation except outdoors. Outdoor, the video quality was acceptable but still I was disappointed because the outdoor video quality of the SVP T400 (test video here: [...]) was a lot better than this P.O.J (piece of junk). Recording in 1080p mode outdoors produced a little artifacts during playback and the video quality was still not as sharp as I thought it would be.

I also noticed a loud hissing noise coming from the camera as well as the PC during playback. At first I thought maybe it was because the volume level on the camcorder was on high from the factory but turning down the volume level made no difference because you can still hear the loud noise during playback. Not sure if a firmware update could have fixed that but when I went to the Aiptek’s site, I couldn’t for the life of me find any firmware relating to this product. If anyone was able to find it, please let me know; though I resolved the issue by attaching an external mic to the camcorder.

In low-light settings, this camcorder produced the worst videos I’ve ever seen. Even my Panasonic Lumix FZ-28 still camera outperformed this P.O.J. hands down! I tried every single scene mode on the camcorder to compensate for the low-lighting but all to no avail. The videos were so grainy that you’ll think there was no light in the room at all. I understand camcorders don’t fare well under low-light conditions but this P.O.J. was nothing to write home about. The only thing good about this P.O.J. is its portability, other than that, it’s pretty much useless. To the people that got a good result from this camcorder under low-lighting without using an external light, I would like to know how you did it because as at this moment, I’ve put this P.O.J. up for sale.

I wasn’t expecting the quality of a Canon Vixia HF100 or Other HD camcorder in that range but at least a descent HD quality would have been nice. Even the Canon FS200 that’s a standard definition camera beat this P.O.J hands down in the same low-lighting condition I shot the video test. Never will I go near anything that starts with Aiptek! Peace!

It’s ok.. Not what I expected
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I almost returned this camera. If it wasn’t for the large 3″ display it was going back to Amazon. My old Aiptek Go-HD is much better camera than this one. In my opinion, the only 2 things this camera has over the GO-HD is the Image Stablizer (Doesn’t work that well anyways) and the large 3″ display.

If you want an inexpensive camera that shots HD to an SD card, this is it. If you can find yourself an old GO-HD and live with the 1.5″ screen go for it. It takes better video than this one.

Impressed with the East of Use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m not one for writing a lot, so sorry this is so short. When I purchased this camera I was concerned the quality would be lacking because of the price. I must say, I’m pleased with the quality and the software provided to make the movie in a number of formats. However, naturally, in door under low light is not as clear, you need to spend a good buck to get the quality you are looking for, so use good lighting in doors.

This compact camera is working out great for me, I can easily carry it anywhere.

Not bad for an inexpensive camera- but be realistic
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Negative:

*Construction is a bit cheap

*Controls are frustrating

*It doesn’t work well in low light at all. Picture is grainy and dark for inside shooting. Backlit subjects are even worse.

*Even with “image stabilization” it is hard to keep it from shaking

*There is no pause function, so every time you stop, it creates another “clip” file. This turns out to be a huge negative for me.

*The video format (quicktime) isn’t terribly easy to edit or convert under Linux (like other formats are) and throws lots of errors in mplayer for playback (plus audio out of sync with video). Some other container format for the H.264 video would have been better.

*No way to edit the video, in any manner, in the camera

*No way to fast forward or rewind video playback in the camera

*No built-in light for video mode

*Default lens is quite non-wide, so you have to stand way back

*Zoom is not variable speed

Positive:

*Very nice, large screen that also flips around

*Lots of included accessories- tripod, cables, carry case, lens cap, remote, etc

*USB charge option as well as included charger

*Works fine with all my SDHC cards

*Powers up quickly

*5x optical zoom is useful and quiet

*Nice auto-on and auto-off when opening screen

*Non-interlaced recording

*Built-in headphone jack and external mic jack

*Standard tripod mount

*Pretty design, also very compact

*Requires no software for file transfer

*Low price

Neutral:

*Video quality is not terribly great. My old, low-def Sony DVD camcorder has better video quality (sharpness, brightness, smoothness). Yet, it is probably better than one would expect from an inexpensive camera.

Conclusion:

I would have gladly settled for only 720P@30PFS, no flash, and no stills, if it meant better light sensitivity, sharper image, and better file format. As it is, it is not a terrible product, but prepare to be realistic about your “HD” expectations. The technology has certainly improved in inexpensive, hand-held, flash based video cameras.

Great for the price
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Great for $200! I would like a little more control but I would have to spend 5x for what I would really want. I got this as a replacement for a DV tape camera and it is well worth the money. This model is so much better than previous Aiptek cameras too. I played with other models and thought they were decent ordered this one and am very happy. If I could manually focus and adjust the exposure somehow, it would be perfect. I can’t tell a difference when I try the EV controls. Night Shot mode is very clear.

Takes Fuji NP60 battery, NOT Casio NP60!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have only played with this one night, but thus far it seems like a great deal for the price. Generates H.264 video & AAC audio in MOV containers. I need to find a good editor (avidemux, maybe?). Video quality is quite decent at 720p, and it can store a lot of video on a 16G SD card.

Low light capabilities are better than I thought, but not perfect even in Night Shot mode.

Optical zoom is great, digital is bad (but you knew that already). I wish I had a slightly wider angle lens range for indoor use.

AF is slow in low indoor light, but does seem to work. I haven’t tried any outdoor video yet.

Top buttons are hard to press when in use without covering up the LED, I find myself using two hands with this a lot.

Overall, it serves my needs for a cheap, small video cam.

Main reason I’m writing this review is to warn people that not all NP60 format batteries are the same. This one takes Fuji NP60 format, not Casio NP60 format (like I ordered ). So at present I have no spare. But at least I ordered a backup Fuji NP60 charger which works great with the stock battery. Going to try to find another NP60 locally.

Awesome!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
great for the price. Don’t expect the HD quality to be as good as the $500+ camcorders but this one is small and will do the job. Perfect for point and shoot to share on youtube or tv. The audio gain is kind of high so the sound might sound distorted in a loud area. Overall i am very pleased.

Good overall, poor in medium low light
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Excellent, light weight camcorder for outdoor use. Not as good as my Canon compact camera for movies or photos in medium and low light conditions. I bought a separate light unit, which ends up making the unit too big.

The HD is fairly good in well lit situations.

This unit is almost portable enough to put in a pocket, but not quite.

Good bargin
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We needed to replace our camcorder and I wanted HD and record to memory (no tapes and no hard drive). For the $208 we paid (amazon.com now shows $199 and their free shipping), this is a decent unit. My wife wants it for general family stuff with the ability to show here family easily. I like to record my kids hockey. With my old camcorder I had to put the camera on play back and capture via Firewire. The Aiptek is an SD chip and all I need to do is plug it in to my computer and the provided software makes it easy to burn a DVD ready. I haven’t messed with the software much. Although it does not seem too sophisticated, it is easy use and you get a DVD that you can pop in your player. I did notice that when I used my “cheap” SD card, the video had a brief hiccup every 5 seconds or so. I bought a larger chip that was rated at a higher speed and the problem went away. I think the camera will simply throw away some frames if the SD card cannot keep up and you get that hiccup.

The other thing I like about this is it very light and pretty compact. It is almost as small a our compact digital camera. The Aiptek can take stills, but haven’t tried that yet. who knows, this might replace our compact digital camera!

Another plus is the raw video on the card is in .MOV format. This makes it easy to watch on a PC or use other viewers and programs to make DVD’s if you want to by some more sophisticated video editing software.

A friend brought over a Sony HD camera and I estimate it cost $800 to $1000. The Sony took great pictures of a kids hockey game. For $200 this Aiptek is not a sharp, but pretty close.

Because technology changes so fast and prices drop so fast, I figure the Aiptek is a good camera for the price, easy to use, and easy to make DVD’s. I would recommend this camera.

For the roughly $200 I paid for this, this is a really good bargain.

Well Constructed and Great Video
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my second HD camcorder, and I am extremely pleased.

With my first camcorder (not an Aiptek), I made the mistake of not doing adequate research, and I ended-up with a “cheap” (in price and quality) but well marketed store-brand camera from a big box electronics store. That camera saved video in a proprietary .avi format that was a huge pain to access. It also did not have an optical zoom. I may have saved money on that purchase, but I was not satisfied and so I ended up spending more money in the end.

This camera has extremely excellent video quality and color. The anti-shake feature works great, as does the 5x optical zoom. It mounts easily onto a tripod or monopod, and it works well in low light. The video format is accessible by all of my computers (Mac and PC) and a variety of editing software programs. In general, this camera is a breeze to use, and the quality is superb. It may cost a few bucks more than the cheap-end camcorders, but it’s not at the expensive-end either. It’s well worth the money. I couldn’t be more happy with this purchase. I would buy another, and I highly recommend it.

So promising, yet so disappointing
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I had high hopes for this camcorder. It has an external microphone jack, which few consumer models feature. It’s small and convenient and the price is certainly right.

But once I played around with it, I discovered two deal killers:

– Murky video quality indoors. Even in well-lit areas, the video looked dark and dreary.

– High-pitched whining noise in the audio. I noticed this annoying sound when I used the camera’s internal microphone. Although I intend to use an external mic for most shots, there will be times when I’ll have to rely on the internal microphone. If you search YouTube for this model, you’ll notice the noise in some videos, so this must be a fairly common problem.

Also, it should be noted that the stabilization option is not featured for all video formats. For example, in the 1080p mode you can’t use it. Although I wasn’t terribly concerned about this drawback, some people might be.

Overall, I wanted to like this camera. I simply couldn’t.

Best Camera For The Price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This product has it all, compact, good looks, high definition, flash based storage, decent battery life, and price. Aiptek finally came through with GVS, delivering the much needed stabilization that was missing in the previous models. If you are the typical family man, or amateur video enthusiast who’s looking for the perfect camera to shoot family events, take on vacations, or just shoot the next Little Miss Sunshine, I highly recommend this product.

Aiptek hd gvs
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Good camera for the money. Had it for a few months now without problems. You do need a very good computer to do any meaningful editing in HD though – at least core2 quad processor.

Pretty package but not yet convinced about functionality
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I have been using the camera for a few days now and it seems a bit out of focus. I expected a sharper image from sample videos I watched online. The build quality of the device is fantastic — solid looks and a lightweight build with just the right amount of heft.

The menu/interface is decent — no gold stars but certainly functional. I hold my judgement on recommending as a purchase until I do some more testing.

UPDATED: Finally got some good footage out of this unit! I did some more testing outside in both a cloudy day and a bright sunny setting. I expected to see better results from the 720p 60FPS mode, but the 1080P mode actually gave crisper, smoother images. Part of the earlier issue surrounded the autofocus lock (AF) which you can engage accidentally with the joystick.

Video Quality: The color saturation was in an acceptable range and stills taken from the footage look great.

Microphone: In outdoor spaces the internal mic does a decent job. I was able to capture some bird sounds with enough clarity for general viewing. It’s not National Geographic quality, but it’s good for sub-$200.00. Indoors the mic was less of a performer, returning non-normalized sound with a hissy background.

Stabilization: Stabilization is okay but not very usable in a daily setting. If you’re planning on doing lots of handheld shots this may not be the camera for you. I do a lot of tripod work, and that allows good video capture.

Zoom: The zoom lever is quite nice. I’m used to a top mounted ring instead of a rear-mounted linear slide, but the friction of the slide is good and it doesn’t wobble at all. The zoom is medium speed — not super fast but not painfully slow. At 5X it’s a little limited for shooting a soccer field or other “far-away” subjects if you want the screen filled. Look for 20x+ optical zoom if that’s your target subject.

Pictures: Don’t buy this camera expecting to take pictures as well. I didn’t get any shots that weren’t blurry or too dark. The picture function is also very slow. I use a Panasonic Lumix TZ series camera for pictures.

Editing: The movie format comes out as a .MOV file that plays back in quicktime. I successfully edited several clips in Corel VideoStudio 12 with no hassles. 720P 60FPS mode is recognized correctly, so you can slow down the video by 2X and still export at 30FPS for a smooth video.

Conclusions: This is a solid, lightweight camera that shoots passable 1080P video. It’s not a stellar performer, but with a little effort you can capture some nice footage. I would recommend this to someone with some technical experience who has time and patience. If you’re looking to shoot things once (like a sporting event) try a more expensive machine. For $180 this camera gives what you’d expect and a little more with the high-quality build.

Exceptional (It was a surprise)
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I like the quality of the videos in every mode. It provide much variety depending on what you want to do. The Macro capability is very good. My only complaint is I believe it is a little clumsy to operate. My dexterity is not great anyway, so it might take getting used to. Other cameras do not even have 1080P and most are 720P at 30fps. This is 1080P at 30fps and 720P at 60fps or 30fps if you choose. It also has excellent quality in WVGA at 60fps. This was so worth the price. It is excellent!

Great Camera Second Time Around
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Great camera for the money. The second one that is. The first one came with the dreaded white spot (dead pixel) and had to be returned. Apparently it’s a common problem with inexpensive cameras, and some other brands are more prone than this one.

Great Camera! Just dont use their editing software!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera has a good lens for 200 bucks I love this thing. Videos look great on you tube and Vimeo!! I would recommend this product but be sure to get an extra battery I got mine for 3 bucks shipped, they are cheap but search by battery model not camera model to buy it.

Don’t listen to any good reviews here! This is plastic garbage
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I have been waiting for the new Sanyo Xacti series to be released (announced at CES 2009); however, I saw some excellent reviews and a low price point for this Aiptek 1080 HD camcorder, so I jumped at it. I will say after only a day of use, and comparing the different settings of resolutions, I can’t believe they can sell this as an HD camcorder. I am really astonished that any of the previous EXCELLENT reviews are authored by anyone who has ever had a point and shoot still camera that takes 30fps video; or perhaps, anyone who doesn’t stand to gain from the sale of this camera.

Lets start with the stability of the camera, there is none, it’s slow to focus, the quality is grainy indoors, and doesn’t capture color very well outside. Worse than that, the choppiness and artifcating gets worse as you put the camera setting up to 1080. the slot that holds the SD card barely pops out the media, and feels as it won’t last long. This is also true for the casing of the camera. I ran over to frys to compare it with all the other sanyo’s and other camcorders, and let me say, this camera has plastics on it, comparable to a toy.

I’m thrilled Amazon stands behind what they sell, because I can’t return it fast enough, and spend the extra money for a decent camcorder. In this case I’d say you get what you pay for, but then this camera is still 3 times the cost of what it should be at $219!!!

So far so good, been shooting for seven months now and love it!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Tested three low cost HD camcorders:

1st: Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD100

2nd: DXG 569V Silver Ultra-Slim HD

3rd: Aiptek Action HD GVS 1080P

To give you some background for reference. My primary objects for video are family and pets. I use iMovie and Studio8 for video editing. I have experience with other consumer HD cams such as the Canon HF100 and Panasonic SD100 both in a higher price class. For Photos I use a Canon G9 and have therefore not evaluated photo ability of those tested. My main reasons for considering the three cams are price, convenience, and most important the ease of the file-format. As for now I say no thanks to the AVCHD video format.

For my review I used the following criteria:

Video clip format

Quality of the videos

Quality of sound

Field of view

Focus speed

Feel and quality of the product

Ease of use

Battery live

First up was the…

Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD100:

Video clip format: – MP4- very convenient- played right away on Mac & PC provided you have QT and a strong graphics card. Also played right away on PS3

Quality of the videos: – good picture clarity but light/dark transitions produced too high contrasts & whites were overblown. Unfortunately the auto-focus was a disaster loosing focus for no apparent reason and without change in the scene. Oftentimes it took several camera swings and zooms to re-gain focus.

Quality of sound: – acceptable with the standard low background hissing.

Field of view: – very narrow (very zoomed in like 40-45mm in the 35mm equiv.)

Focus speed: – a disaster, could not stay focused even when on tripod facing a still scene

Feel and quality of the product: – okay feel, somewhat flimsy as evidenced by the port cover overall the camera is not a stellar design.

Ease of use: – buttons in a very inconvenient layout (without being picky here) I oftentimes found myself in the menu trying to start recording with small hands.

Battery life: – too little time with camera to truly evaluate.

Verdict: camera went back mainly due to focus issue and field of view.

Next in line…

DXG 569V Silver Ultra-Slim HD

Video clip format: – .MOV – played right away on Mac & PC provided you have QT and a strong graphics card. Unfortunately required conversion for PS3 use.

Quality of the videos: – fairly acceptable for this price class, not as crisp as the above Sanyo but better low light characteristics and better transitions between lights and darks over the Sanyo. Overall slightly lower quality then Sanyo.

Quality of sound: – no hissing but to faint and distant. In short, barely acceptable

Field of view: – acceptable estim. Around 35-38mm (35mm equiv.& about even with many digital picture cameras)

Focus speed: – this camera did not have autofocus but the fixed focus was very acceptable as long as objects were at least 3′ away. The macro mode worked great and the switch was conveniently placed for a quick switch while panning around a room to move in for a close analysis of an object.

Feel and quality of the product: – I was very drawn to this camera for its form-factor, and overall feel. Ergonomically it felt best of the three cameras, it had a quality feel and finish for its price class and a very nice 3″ display that was viewable from most angles. Buttons were very conveniently placed alleviating mishaps. The LED light in the front was amazingly bright; it would have been a great little interviewing camera for dim lighting situations if it were not for the poor sound.

Ease of use: – very easy to use, good menu layout but at times the menu items required a second push to accept a setting.

Battery live: – too little time with camera to truly evaluate but it appeared too short.

Verdict: I would have likely kept this model, however after three days of use the SD card spring mechanism failed rendering the camera useless.

I contemplated to re-order the same model but eventually let it go due to poor sound and weak battery live.

And last…

Aiptek Action HD GVS 1080P:

Video clip format: – .MOV- very convenient- played right away on Mac & PC provided you have QT and a strong graphics card., unfortunately required conversion for PS3 use

Quality of the videos: – best of the three models tested, clear, good contrast, truest colors of the three models, good transitions form light to dark areas when compared to the others.

Quality of sound: good, slightly over-modulated but acceptable.

Field of view: – best of the three, guessing 32mm-35mm (35mm equiv. make sure you are using the 720P mode for widest angle)

Focus speed: – no complaints here, quick and precise for this price class

Feel and quality of the product: – somewhat flimsy feel and finish, the 3″ display does not have as nice viewing angle as the DXG camera. Aiptek could also have chosen a nicer plastic for the case giving it a modern feel.

Ease of use: – the menu layout is could use a workover but workable.

Battery live: – too little time with camera to truly evaluate but it appears Okay.

Verdict: – So far so good. Should this one not work out for a valid reason then I will consider stepping up to the Sanyo Xacti HD1010.

It’s the end of April 2009 now and I love this little camcorder. The results are fantastic; this has been a great companion for me throughout my daughter’s first year. Battery life is great. I charge here and there via USB cable after transferring clips to my Mac. You get a good 1.5hr or longer with a continuous clip. I can manage to charge only once per week while shooting multiple 1-4 min clips and occasional pictures every day. Since my original write-up I have managed to shoot hundreds of still images and am impressed with the quality (make sure the lighting is plentiful and keep a steady hand in dimmer situations). Beware this is not a Canon still camera and is not intended to take its spot but I managed to get good results on a continuous basis.[...]

you might have to copy and paste the links into your browser, I am not sure what youtube does after video is uploaded. Oh, don’t forget to click on the HD button when viewing the clips. The videos generally play smooth so if there are hang-ups of jagged lines while panning then it is likely your computer. The clips run smooth on my home Mac but get a little jerky on my work PC which does not have a dedicated video card.

July17th update:

Still love the camera and carry it by my side on daily excursions with my daughter. I would like to request the following from you Aiptek engineers: Please consider a different solution for lens protection then the 1980′s lens cover, and please work in variable zoom speed rather then the single speed.

Disappointed…it looked so promising
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I was so excited about this camcorder, but after two returns it became apparent that Aiptek is having quality issues while producing this model. The first camcorder had three white dots and one red spot show up in the viewfinder while recording. I also noticed what I would call “streaking” in the viewfinder (think very light vertical lined burned into the lens…much like tv burn in). I thought it might just be the viewfinder, but when I viewed the movies on my TV or computer, they were actually more pronounced since the viewing area was bigger. I returned the camcorder (amazon was great about the return) and had them send me another one. The new one had no white dots in the viewfinder and the streaking burn in was less pronounced. I was very pleased until I again viewed the recorded video on my TV and on my computer. Both showed a single white dot near the middle of the screen. If you’re buying a camera for the great picture, a little white dot that is always there is pretty darn annoying.

I’d actually read about one other person having the white dots problem with this camera (in a forum on the web) but I’d read so many great reviews and seen so many great video examples that I figured it was one bad camcorder. I have no doubt some people are getting camcorders with no defects, but after two bad units I’m moving to a different brand. Unfortunately any other cameras with these features are a bit more expensive. I hate when people say you get what you pay for…so I guess I’ll just not say it.

Priced Right
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For the price you simply can’t go wrong with Aiptek Action HD GVS. Some people complain that with indoor conditions this camera is lacking. But honestly, name a video camera that performs well indoors without supplemental lighting. Like any camera this one performs best when used outdoors with sunny conditions – no surprise there. The auto white balance works well enough but in low light conditions you’ll have trouble producing realistic sharp images. The camera allows for manual adjustment of the white balance but it really won’t perform well until you get it outdoors or set-up lots of extra light. I’ve shot about 50 hrs of video with this camera and in my opinion the results have been fantastic. The optical zoom is smooth although a little difficult to operate since the camera is so compact. The zoom will stop short of going into digital mode which is a feature I really appreciate. It moves up an increment at a time and has a line indicating when you have reached the limit of optical zoom and the beginning of digital zoom mode. The mode GUI is easy to use, as well as the menu/settings. No problem there – it is all very intuitive.

Review for the average Joe.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I strongly recommend this camera if you are looking for an inexpensive camera for family use.

My only experience with a camcorder is the $800.00 Panasonic VHS-c camcorder I purchased 10 years ago just before my first child was born.

10 years later, I found that I did not use my original camera too often. The old camera is big and bulky and about 5 to 6 times the size and weight of the Aiptek. The other reason is, I don’t even have a VCR anymore. (I know, I could hook the camera up to my TV)

The biggest reason for me to get something new was for editing. VHS-c is a long and slow process to put on the computer for editing and I wanted better video quality.

I began looking at high definition camcorders and the Aiptek Action HD GVS 1080P High Definition Camcorder

was recommended to me because of good reviews. After reading the reviews on line, looking at videos posted on youtube, and the price of the camcorder, I decided to buy it.

I admit I have not used the Aiptek Action HD GVS 1080P High Definition Camcorder very much but here is what I can tell you:

1) It is inexpensive…My first camcorder cost me $800.00 with accessories. This one cost me around $400.00 with accessories. (Camera, external charger, extra battery, 16 Gig SD card and the Sima bracket. There was tax and some shipping as well.)

2) The camera is small, easy to use and very portable.

3) I bought a 16 Gig SD card for it and for the moment I don’t think I need more. The camera says I have 4 hours of available video at the 1080p setting.

4) The camera likes a lot of light. The more light the better. In rooms with just one light on…the video is very dark. I thought I had purchased the Sima SL-20LX Ultra Bright Video Light when I made my purchase. I just discovered I didn’t. Due to the lighting issues I have seen in my own home, I am going to buy the Sima Light. Just a note, My VHS-c camcorder was horrible inside the house when I did not use the built in light.

5) I bought the Sima SLB-M Video Bracket. Just used it for the first time and really like it. The camcorder is small. Holding it in one hand is not recommended because it is too hard to keep steady with one hand. You can hold the camera with one hand and the video screen with the other but the Sima is a metal bracket and is sturdier than the movable plastic video screen. You will also want it for you Sima LED light. You will want to hold the camera steady for the best video.

6) The camera did not come with a wrist strap. I purchased one and recommend it.

7) Another review was negative for the the choppy video at 1080p. It is choppy when everyone is moving a lot but with good lighting the picture looks great. With this camera it is a trade off. Slightly choppy video for great picture quality. For sports, you will probably want to use the 720p at 60fps setting.

The *only* setting that uses the cameras stabilization is the 720p at 60fps mode.

I review all my electronics on line and I hope this review helps you make your decision easier. I am happy with the camera and it works for my needs.

Nope!!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Had it for one week and sent it back. I advise anyone who purchases the Aiptek Action HD GVS (the GVS by the way is a joke) to record in a silent room with the lens cap on and then listen to the recording. It took me a while to notice, but all my recordings had a noticeable high pitched tone. The view finder door (which houses the internal mic) emits this hum. If you do a search online, you will find others have the same problem. Sorry, but for a price tag almost over 200 dollars, this was a deal killer.

Mixed feelings…
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera for my daughter for Christmas. First off – she loves the camera. The box comes with everything including a small tripod and a case. We charged the batteries before xmas so when she opened it she was recording in less than 5 minutes.

The big issue is sound quality. As others have noted in other reviews, the microphone picks up the sound of the camera’s motor. It comes through loud & clear on playback. I went to the Aiptek site, went to their tech help area and sent an email. Within an hour I had a response. We followed the directions and uploaded new firmware. For those like me that are not tech-savvy, your camera acts as an SD card reader (if your pc does not have an SD slot). Uploading the firmware (once I realized I could use the camera as the SD drive), was simple.

My daughter then tested out the camera and she was happy. You can still hear the motor in the background but it’s not pronounced enough for her to want to return it. I’m glad I didn’t get the flip – this camera does really well inside and outside, but I do wish I had had a bigger budget so that I could’ve bought her something that’s better made and would have better sound. We also purchased a large tripod and she uses that more often than the tiny tripod.

I didnt know what to expect
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So your maybe like me, is this camera worth 249.00? The answer is yes, this little camera is amazing . I just took a small video of my little girl and the results are amazing. I really thought this little camera would just be for casual videos , but since i got in the mail , its stuck to my hand and i plan to do alot of filming with this small giant. My advice is BUY IT , before the price goes up.

Just the facts…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is not a bad camera for the price. It does not work very well in 1080 mode, lots of compression on anything moving, or panning shots, and no stabilization. However, if you run it in 720 60fps mode it looks great. And the image stab only works in the 720/60 mode and the WVGA mode. Battery life is about 60-70 minutes, buy a spare when you order, I got some cheapos on here for about $5 that work ok. Also note that the battery recharges in the camera, there is no supplied external charger, and recharge time is about 3 hours. On the upside, you can recharge it on the USB cable or some USB style adaptor. Buy a high speed SD card as well, class 6. I got a 16GB class 6 card on here for $30. 16GB will give you 4.5 hours at 720/60fps. The still frame camera on this thing is OK for the “opps, I forgot my real camera” moments, but the quality is less than the $50 Fuji I have, passable but not good. Low light response is poor all around, this camera likes light. Anything weaker than a very bright room will not look good. Outside during the day, in or out of shade, that’s where it works best. For indoors or studio type shots you really need to pump up the lumens to get good quality, or it will get noisy.

The lens is tight, great for longer shots, but you will find that if you shoot indoors at events you will need to get way back, it’s def not wide angle. The 5x optical is very good, and the digital zoom is remarkable in my opinion. I hardly ever use DZ, but this thing can resolve much better than you would expect even at max DZ (if you can hold it still!) The controls are a bit awkward, but you get used to them. I recommend a little tabletop tripod or a “gun” style grip to mount it on so you can use both hands to hold it, it makes a world of difference in the smoothness of the shots and one hand can work the controls while the other steadies the shot.

***Most important: go to [...] and update the firmware! High pitched whine in audio and a few other problems are fixed…read the FAQ first. And the 16gb card I used works fine for the update, contrary to the website FAQ.

Promises much, but doesn’t quite deliver
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I looked around for quite some time, looking for a video camera with this kind of feature set in this price range – kudos go to Aiptek for being the only company offering great features like image stabilization, HD video at 60 fps, and a mike input for this price.

The problem is the Action HD GVS didn’t quite deliver the goods. This has been mentioned before, but the feel of the camera itself is VERY light and rather flimsy. It was also somewhat uncomfortable to hold as the pistol-like grip is too wide to easily wrap your fingers around.

I could have gotten past that, though, except there was a significant problem with several discolored dots appearing in the video I shot with this camera. If you’ve read through most of the reviews here about this product, you’ll have come across similar problems by other customers. Quality control is an issue here, so be forewarned.

Aiptek’s email support was reasonably quick, and they suggested returning the unit to Amazon, as that would be faster than sending it for repair. I did so, electing for a refund rather than taking a risk of getting another defective unit.

From the features side of things, the image stabilization was…poor, but the quality of the video itself (and the audio, surprisingly) was rather good, especially for this price point. If you’re fortunate enough to get a working unity that doesn’t have any problems I think you’ll be happy with it…but you may need to return a unit or two before getting a “good” one.

Not so good.
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
This camera has a blue tinted lense which makes everything come out with a blue tint in the recordings.

It has a mic input, but it’s rubbish. You hear a high pitch shrill in both the external mic, and internal mic modes.

It’s iris settings are useless at certain resolutions.

They took away the ability to use external audio. Doesen’t really matter since the other cameras have it, but you have to run an external video into them as well to get it to work. (poorly, I might add.)

This camera lacks even the ext a/v. A trade of to get the ext mic, I suppose.

The SD card slot is difficult to get the card in, and out of. There’s a cover plate for the jacks that’s hard to open.

At least this camera doeen’t do that swimmy zoomy thing all their other cameras do whenever your talent moves their hand in front of their face, or something goes by the camera.

I was really let down by this camera.

I wish these manufacturers would get the message that we need cameras that provide true external audio input, xlr mic inputs, and we need to be able to do that without having to run ext video as well to get it to work. We need to be able to use the camera’s onboard video with external a/v so we don’t have to use the crummy built in mic, which by the way is so hissy it’s pethetic.

Awesome HD camcorder
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It takes amazing footage in good light, and is OK in low light.

See also http://www.vimeo.com/2807027 Please see plenty of test footage and video reviews of this camcorder on vimeo.com

I also own the GVS’ predecessor, the Aiptek Action HD, and the GVS is a reasonable upgrade. Both are great, but the image stabilization, much better LCD screen, and modest optical zoom enhancement are worth the extra $$$. On the other hand the GVS does NOT have an LED video light, which was helpful, though weak. (thank God Amazon has a good deal on Sima SL-20LX)

Very poor video and picture quality
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I have owned various DV video cameras since 1998.

The Aiptek GVS HD is a VERY poor performing device. The image stabilization works only with low-resolution recording, not with HD recording (online info is not clear about this!).

When recordingin HD (without the stabilization) the images is unimaginably shaky.

60 FPS recorings makes no sense if the video editing software provided can only output a video production with 30 FPS.

The worse of everything is that the zoom button is not touch-sensitive enough. Let me explain : whenever you try too zoom in you need to pull or push the button always hard enough to make the camera shake and thus make the zoom unusable. All other cameras I have seen have a very soft touch zoom button to prevent this from happening, als does the Aiptec not have a gradual zoom depending on the force you put on the zoom button, so just 1 zoom speed ?.

Next : the picture (photo) quality is very poor, also under sunny circumstances, of alost 240 photos i have shot , hardly 10 were worth keeping.

The video quality is very poor to due to cheap optics. (believe me !)

I would not recommend this camera. I have seen and owned 5 othere cameras but this camera is just a toy nothing more. I sold it on ebay immediately.

Thanks for reading this very accurate revies.

A weekend with the HD GVS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I received this camcorder from Amazon on Friday and spent the weekend playing around with it. Here are my initial impressions of this product. My unit was loaded with firmware revision 2302, so newer firmware may correct some of the problems I’ll mention. When I can get ahold of newer firmware (I believe 2503 is the latest stable version) I’ll update the review.

This camera is pretty small, about the size of a Walkman (if you’re old enough to remember what those were…). I have normal sized hands and I felt it was a little on the small size but tolerable. If you have big hands you might want something bigger. The door to access the USB and AV connectors can be a pain to get open is annoying once you finally do get it open. The SD card slot can be difficult to deal with as well if you don’t have tiny fingers since it’s recessed pretty far into the unit. Also, the mini tripod that comes with the unit is useless since it toppled over frequently when I tried to use it. Longer legs would have helped it be more stable. It’s a “freebie” though so I won’t count it against the camera.

When I first received the camera, I plugged it into the charger and immediately turned it on and was annoyed to see a flickering white pixel in the center of the LCD screen. I was afraid I had gotten one of the bad units many people here have complained about. I decided to go ahead and let it charge for a few hours and then try out the camcorder to see if I wanted stick with the same model and get a replacement or get a refund. After let it charge completely, the dead pixel disappeared completely. I don’t see any signs of it on the LCD or in the recorded videos.

The camera doesn’t do great in low light but in outdoor situations, the video quality is great. I took some videos of my dogs playing outside and you can make out fine details like the individual hairs flying off my husky when she shakes around. The image stabilization could be better though as the videos are still fairly shaky even with it turned on. It does help though as the videos with it on were definitely better than with it turned off.

The camera mode is useless. All of the pictures I took ended up blurry. You need a tripod to get this to work ok. I didn’t buy this thing to use it as a camera so it’s not a big deal to me but if you were hoping for something that could pull double duty, try something else.

Annoyances – First of all, many of the features don’t work in 1080P mode, most importantly the image stabilization. If you get video editing software that do stabilization in software it may be worth shooting in 1080P and use 720P as the output format but otherwise, aside from on a tripod I don’t see using 1080P very often because of this. The other major one I’ve encountered is that you plug the camcorder into your camcorder and turn it on (basically putting it into SD card reader mode), it never wants to turn off again. I have to pop open the battery cover and flip the battery out and back in the power it off. Not a huge deal since using a separate SD card reader is more convenient anyway but it still a bit annoying.

All in all, for $180 dollars, I think this is a good deal. It does have its problems but I think it’ll be a great camera for beginners or for occasional use.

Great camcorder, but had 3 bad pixels
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I like the camcorder a lot, however mine had 3 stuck pixels. All three were stuck white. They were visible on the lcd, and when played back on a monitor/TV. I would have lived with the bad pixels on the lcd, but couldn’t stand having 3 white pixels near the middle of the screen when watching the video files on my computer or TV. However other than the pixels, i enjoyed the camcorder a lot. My other gripe was the locaiton of the Zoom control. I found it hard to use the zoom without causing excess shaking and movement. Hopefully in the upcoming models they can relocate the zoom controls.

1080p mov files must have Windows PC speed of 2.8GHz
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
1080p mov files must have a minimum Windows PC speed of 2.8GHz – it was explained in product packaging. When I video record in 1080 mode, the mov file plays back fine on Apitek camcorder. However, when I download it to play in Quicktime on my 4 year old DELL notebook PC with 1.6Ghz, the mov file played back “choppy” – i.e. the frames freezes for a split second, then plays for a split second, then freezes, then plays. Also, HD mov video clips are best played on 24″ monitors.

[...]

Learning the quirks of this camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera about two months ago and really like it. What I have found though is it takes some experimenting to get the most out of this camera. Here is some helpfull items:

1) You might feel that the video quality is not up to par if you watch your movies using Quicktime. I found out that videos using Quicktime are not as crisp and much more choppy than using the included software. Even windows works better.

2) It’s going to take some serious computer power to edit these movies. I attempted to edit using Corel Video Pro X2 and an Intel dual-core 1.6 and it just won’t do it. I upgraded to a Quad-Core processor and what took 8 hours to render before now takes 16 minutes.

3) Be careful what memory cards you use. PNY 8gig class 4′s don’t work. The camera gives a low speed card notice in HD mode. I currently use a Dane electric class 4 with no problem. Also while Aiptek says a micro sd card in an adapter won’t work, I have used a Sandisk premier in micro form with no problem.

4) I have found that I have been able to improve sound with an Azden powered shotgun mic even though again Aiptek says powered mics don’t work. I have ordered a Vericorder mini mic, but it hasn’t arrived to see if it will also work.

5) It takes a good bit of light indoors to get decent video. I have used a Sunpack Readylight 20, but anything lower than what f4 at 60th of a second at ASA 400 on a light meter is not enough light for this camera. The Readylight is not enough at any farther than 8 ft from the subject.

I hope this helps. I do enjoy this video camera, and enjoy it more after figuring these things out, just remember it’s limitations.

Compact and handy but FOV is too limited
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I used this camera on a recent trip to Europe. The HD video is really very nice, but even at zero zoom, the field of view is very limited. One has to stand quite far away from one’s subject in order to capture a reasonable image size, way further than would be needed when using a standard digital camera or SLR with a 50mm lens, for instance. This made taking good video next to impossible. The low-light performance, as others have noted and one might expect, is fairly poor, but the daylight video and pictures are very nice. I would personally look for something with more flexibility in the way of field of view, this one is just too limited in that regard.

Great camera for the money…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have had this camera for a week now and I have to say the 720p at 60 f/sec video is very good. The goesyncronis stablizer does help but it is not shake free. You still need to keep still. Clarity is improved with the 1080p resolution but as others suggested, use a tripod otherwise you will not be happy with the video. Still pictures are pretty decent on the camera. I have been happy with daytime video and picture both outside and indoors. As expected night video and pictures not in a bright setting such as a downtown scene are not great. So do not expect much if you take out camping or other very low light situations. So, for the money the camera takes great video to share and display on your HDTV or youtube. I have burned the video to DVD and it still looks pretty good. So happy with the product that I am going to sell my mini-DVD camcorder…

Aiptek HD GVS is hot stuff.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camcorder works perfectly for me. The 60fps is very good. However, if your hands are pretty steady the 30fps isn’t bad either. Quick note, the image stabilization only applies to 720p 60fps and wvga 60fps. Low lighting isn’t half bad. There is a night mode option that does help a bit but to be honest, I didn’t purchase this cam to do low light situations. Still images are really nice once you get the hang of taking them. The 1080p resolution is at 1440×1080. This is actually at 1.33 which is full frame, but the pixels aren’t square. If you have K-Lite Codec Pack, you should have something called XVid MP4 which can export this as a widescreen avi file. You’ll have to play around with the settings on it to get it just right though. Didn’t have any trouble doing this with AVS Video Editor 4. The other video resolutions shouldn’t give you any trouble. And mind you, it has nothing to do with the camcorder itself. Codecs aren’t truly specifically designed for 1080p so you have to work around it. Format for vids is .mov The software I got with it was ArcSoft. If nothing else, take advantage of the Digital Theatre that comes with that package. It’s awesome for viewing the .MOV files as well as any dvd you own. Plus it lets you take still pictures from whatever video is playing. Make no mistake, the HD on this baby is nice. I would suggest testing it out on an actual HD screen though before you start bashing it. I was hanging with one of my old buddies and he thought it was garbage until we looked at the vids on the computer. An LCD is never a good indicator of how the full video looks. That’s not even an lcd’s purpose. It’s so you can see what you’re shooting in the first place. And he claimed to be so HD savvy! Ha!

I seriously would recommend this camcorder for anyone that plans to do a lot of daytime shooting. I’d even recommend it for Youtube vids although honestly if all you’re doing is shooting for Youtube ONLY, you could actually go after a flip that records in hd. Plan to become a videography hobbyist like myself? Go after the Aiptek.

One more thing. This camcorder has an external mic jack. This was the deal maker for me to be honest. I plan to be pretty busy this fall recording marching bands ever saturday and an external mic is a godsend for this price range. It works very very well and that’s after numerous tests at different volume ranges. Using the internal mic only? It has nice frequency response and is in stereo. It’s located on the lcd flap so no internal motor noise is picked up. Hope this helped you guys.

Special Secret
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is one of those best kept secret deals you rarely find in life. 1080i, 720p @ 60fps, weighs less than my old 3G iPod and is only slightly larger… and is less than $250? Even the 5M stills aren’t bad.

Sure, the color could be richer and the image stabilization isn’t very stable. The camera is a bit shakey but that’s because it’s so light. Try fitting any other HD cam in your pants pocket! It looks really good in daylight. Indoors, turn on every light you can find! It doesn’t like the dark. It does, however, have a somewhat effective night shot mode.

It’s shipped with a cute little desktop tripod and the remote is very intuitive and functional. But, less than 250? Shhh, keep it a secret or they might figure out they could double the price and it would still be a great deal!

Excellent HD quality
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Paid $179. In daylight HD quality is awesome for the price range. However, indoor situations is less than desired. A video light should be something to consider when shooting indoors or at night. Still quality is subpar with lots of noise and artifacts. But, if you are looking for a cheap good quality HD videocam for daylight situations look no further.

Great Camera For The Price!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have to say, I’m incredibly stunned at the performance of this little camera. I film and edit for a hobby and was looking for a real deal camera to step up my game, but my budget was small. I had it in my head that I wanted a Canon GL2 MiniDv, until I did some research and found out that first off, minidv tapes are slowly on the out (replaced by Flash Memory), and that its picture quality was not as high as some of the newer cameras which shoot in full HD 1080i (don’t get me wrong, I would be grateful to have a GL2, it’s just too expensive) I started to search for comparable cameras only to find out I would have to drop $3000-$4000.. Which some day in the future I may, but for now, I was looking for cheap & effective solution. I researched about 20 different affordable HD cameras only to find that each one would have a key element missing that I would need, That being expandable memory or tape (Flip MinoHD), external mic line input (almost all), full 1080i hd (Kodak g7), and something very important for MY needs…easy to travel with!

I travel all over the world and like to film and edit my adventures. I wasn’t thinking about the fact that if I bought a GL2 I would be carrying a 1′ x 8″ camera all over the place and would have to carry additional tapes as well.

After weeks of research I found this little guy and I don’t regret a thing! It uses flash memory, it has an 1/8″ external mic input, a large flip display, and best of all, it fit right in my pocket while I trek’d all over Asia! Upon my return I dumped all the footage down to Final Cut to find that the footage looked stunning!

Now, It isn’t a miracle camera for $200, it has flaws, but for $200? come on!

Here are the flaws:

-it tries to focus alot, causing some blurry moments

-shooting with “night shot” produces a very pixelated image

-the battery is not the greatest

Here’s how I fixed that:

-I bought a small SIMA LED light (worked great)

-after a few days I learned how to counter the focus issues

-i bought a back-up battery and loved life!

Even if you are experienced with film making, and have really nice cameras, this little guy will be your best buddy for on the go and travel shooting. And with the “open source” timeline in FCP 6…the sky’s your limit with mix and match video types.

I hope this helps anyone who is having trouble like I did.

Good for the price, but limited
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R24YA5OJYA8S8V This is a video review of the camera after 2 weeks of ownership.