There are two things that stand out immediately about the about the StyleCam DV100--size and price. A digital still camera, digital camcorder, and audio recorder in one, the DV100 is about the size of a bar of soap and is priced at a fraction of the cost of next cheapest digital camcorder. Too good to be true? Not at all. The camera is everything it claims to be, is easy enough to be used right out of the box, and overall makes a decent entry-level digital camcorder.
So what’s the catch? The big one is that without a memory card (and it does have a slot for either a MMC or SD card), the camera will be maxed out before you’ve even really started. How many photos and how much video the camera can hold depends on the level of quality you choose. At the lowest resolution (640x480), you can take a respectable 80 still shots, but at a more standard resolution level (1280x1024) that number is less than half, and if you take even two minutes of video, you won’t get more than ten or so shots off before the dreaded "Memory Full" message. Purely as a camcorder, it is not very useful without external memory since you won’t get much more than about ten minutes of footage. And the fidelity of the video, at 8-15 frames per second, is not exactly HDTV-ready (although we are actually kind of fond of the low-budget indie film look).
Another minor drawback that should be mentioned is that the shutter button is awkwardly positioned just to the right of the viewfinder so your index finger must bend nearly in half in order to reach it. A quick word about the software that comes with in the package, PhotoImpression and VideoImpression: It’s not junk (call us cynical, but we’ve come to expect this). The software’s big, friendly graphic interface let you do quickly and easily do all the basics: crop, adjust contrast, re-size, etc. Unlikely to be mistaken for Adobe PhotoShop, but perfectly usable nevertheless.
Sure, this camera has its limitations, but these must be weighed against its combination of price and size, which is nothing less than astonishing. --David Stoesz
Pros
- Easy to use
- Ultra compact
- Great value
Cons
- You are liable to get a cramp in your finger trying to reach the shutter
- Limited built-in memory
- Video fidelity likely to remind you of The Blair Witch Project
Product Description:
The SiPix StyleCam DV100 is a multi-functional pocket-sized DV camera that captures motion pictures, still images and voice annotation. The StyleCam DV100 is comparable to the size of a soap bar, so that you can take it anywhere, anytime to capture clean, crisp digital video with sound. The StyleCam DV100 also performs as a point-and-shoot digital camera. Take outstanding still images at 1.3 Mega Pixel resolution and playback both digital video and pictures using the 1.6" color LCD monitor. The StyleCam DV100 comes with 8 MB built-in flash memory that stores up to 80 photos or 180 seconds of digital video. To expand storage capacity, the StyleCam DV100 accepts a Secure Digital or a MultiMedia Card memory card up to 256MB. Featuring 2X smooth digital zoom, you can zoom in on your subject at the precise magnification and get the perfect picture. The StyleCam DV100 has TV output feature that allows you to playback your video clips, pictures, and audio recordings on a TV screen with the supplied A/V cable. Sit back, relax, and share your fun moments with friends and family.
SiPix StyleCam DV100 Digital Video Camera