Nady 151VRHT Professional Wireless Handheld Microphone Systems For Camcorders Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered this unit with a lapel mic to use with my video camera. When it arrived, it came with the handheld mic, not suitable for my application. So I contacted the seller to correct the problem and they informed me that they didn't carry the lapel version. They quickly gave me and RMA so there was no problem getting my money back, but I was dissapointed that I didn't get what I had ordered. It looks like they have fixed the listing on Amazon, so as long as you want the hand-held version, go for it. To be fair, I never even plugged the mic in so I don't know how it sounded or what range it had but I will say again that the customer service was good.

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Looxcie Wearable Bluetooth Camcorder System, Android Compatible (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a gadget nut, I ordered this the day it became available on Amazon and had it shipped next day (ok, so an impatient gadget nut). The concept is awesome - capture and share those expected or unexpected moments in life as I see them, how I see them. The videos you see on youtube were promising and I was in need of a new bluetooth headset, so I bought it.
First thing that I noticed was how nicely everything was packaged. I took the Looxcie out of the box and set it to charge via the wall outlet adapter - Don't want to run out of batteries on my day out! I love the design of this thing, looks so slick! After it was fully charged, pairing to my Android phone is a breeze. With the Looxcie software downloaded, it was time to put this thing on my ear and see what it can do!
...And that's where things started going downhill! First of all, the Looxcie does NOT fit on my ear correctly. I tried all 3 sizes of ear buds and on both ears (in case I had a deformity in one ear of which I wasn't aware) and with my glasses on and off. I read the instructions and my Looxcie did look bent as shown in their images anfter several attempts. Perhaps its the weight of the camera boom, but the Looxcie just droops down such that the camera is not eye level (aiming more at my jaw line). I would have to walk around with my head tilted up in order for the camera boom to be level with the ground. I had my wife try it as well, maybe its the size and shape of my head and she experienced the same issues, no matter how we shaped the flexible ear-piece.
After much fiddling to the point where my outer-ear was a bit sore, I managed to get the Looxcie on at an acceptable viewing angle. Any quick head jolts and I risk having the camera boom shift slightly downward again. Now comes the other fitment issue - Being that the Looxcie was on my right ear, anything that was happening to my left would not be picked up. If I held my hand out in front of me, the camera eye would not see it until my hand was about to cross my nose. They really should have included some sort of curvature to the camera boom to contour to the face because as of now when it is at eye level, it points to the right (on my right ear).
I love the fact that I can use my phone's screen as a viewfinder! Going into it, I knew the Looxcie's recording specs and frame rate so my expectations were low but the resulting videos I took were even worse than expected. I tried several activities from driving, to walking to just standing and panning my head back and forth. The video I get from the Looxcie is very choppy, I would say even worse than the 15fps they claim. I was walking through the mall in one video clip. I turned to look at a dog that was there and turned my head back (more than a 1 second look) and in the captured video, I don't even see the dog because of the choppiness of the video (although I can clearly hear myself talking about it).
The other thing is battery life - the Looxcie is rated for 4 hours but after a full charge and playing with the unit, I would say its more like 2-3 hours of video use tops. This should definitely be improved.
I do have to say that I like the ability of reviewing and editing video clips on my phone, then e-mailing or posting to Youtube, Facebook, etc without having to be at a PC. That is a key feature of this device!
I would have to say my expectations have not been met with the Looxcie. The concept and idea is there, but due to the lacking design, ergonomics and quality of video I am fairly disappointed. The price-point is good if they can deliver a quality product that will actually fit, stay on my ear(aimed properly) and take video where I don't miss any of the action (true 30 fps PLEASE!). I honestly wouldn't mind the low-resolution of the video if the frame rate was there and I could record for an actual 4-5 hours as claimed.
Once these issues are resolved, perhaps they can look into adding features such as retaining the last 10-30 seconds of video before the record or instant-clip button was pressed. :D
Likes:
-Concept of sharing the every-day
-Visually pleasing design
-Mobile editing/emailing of video thru an Android phone
Dislikes
-Device Fitment/Aiming of camera boom
-Recorded video quality lower than expected
-Battery life


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Never miss a moment again with the revolutionary Looxcie. When paired with an Android smartphone (2.0 or higher), this innovative hands-free camcorder lets you continuously record real-time video without needing to press a record button. Looxcie connects with your Android smartphone via Bluetooth, so you can monitor your video, create clips, and share them instantly with friends via Facebook, YouTube, email, and more. With its lightweight, over-ear design, Looxcie gives you the freedom to be both director and participant. Looxcie records everything you see, so you can join the action.

NOTE: Looxcie is not currently compatible with the iPhone. Please see below for a list of supported smartphones.

Looxcie Hands-Free Camcorder
Wearable camcorder continuously videos everything you see
Instant Clip button lets you retroactively save 30-second clips
Review and edit video using your compatible Android smartphone
Share video instantly via Facebook, YouTube, or email
Automatically stores up to five hours of footage
Backed by a one-year warranty

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Sony HDR-XR500V 120GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)1. Still capture at 12 megapixels is probably a waste of disk space (and the extra processing time that it takes to deal with the larger pictures). Unless there is something revolutionary about the way that the camcorder would interpolate the native 6.2-megapixel still capture up to 12 megapixels, I would use the interpolation capabilities of, say, Photoshop back at home and set the camcorder to grab stills at 6.2 megapixels (native). The trailing question is whether that 6.2-megapixel mode at 4:3 is actually native, without any scaling or interpolation; there is a 9-megapixel mode at 16:9 that is probably not native, but Sony does not clarify anywhere.
2. I cannot perceive any degradation in AVCHD image quality between (a) Steadymove ON; and (b) Steadymove Active ON. Is there any good reason to turn off Active mode (or Steadymove altogether)?
3. SonyStyle.com is notorious for sloppily recommending accessories. They do not associate the correct case with this camcorder. You will be very happy with the LCS-DAB model, which has a slot for the hand grip which allows for easy and safe removal. Unlike the almost-identical other versions, the LCS-DAB's slot is offset from center in a way that works with the location of the hand grip on the HDR-XR500V/520V.
4. Another ridiculous error on the SonyStyle.com site is the retail price on its newest compatible 37mm wide-angle lens. The VCL-HGE07A retails for $99 rather than $229, and is inferior to the VCL-HGA07 at $199. The newer model also doesn't come with a lens cap, which is ridiculous.
5. The NAVTEC maps are largely disappointing. Most consumer GPS devices only reserve 1gb or so for map data, thus Sony really cheaped out with the NAVTEC maps. Don't expect any more detail than city names and the very occasional major route number, even when zoomed in to the max.
6. Low-light sensitivity is extraordinarily good. I am anxious to read professional testing on this, but it is poised to beat professional cameras. This backlit CMOS invention might really be a no-brainer for all future camcorders. It is a simple re-shuffling of the layers in the CMOS sensor.
7. The flash works surprisingly well. I know that this comment could elicit grumbles, but I am quite seriously prepared to say that this device is a full-blown replacement for my non-SLR digital camera -- and, with geotagging to boot.
8. I cannot find any time-lapse feature. Not sure if manufacturers generally don't bother anymore, but this is a big disappointment. As for the slow-motion feature, which is locked into 3 seconds of footage slowed down to 12, it works okay but Sony is not forthcoming about the extent to which the signal degrades. It is certainly not equivalent to 1080/60i, though. What actually is it?
9. The camcorder comes with a "demonstration" video. It is stunningly corny -- and if it doesn't make you laugh, God help you! At least by the looks of the video, Sony created this camera for clean-cut, pudgy boomers who want to shoot videos of their children with "Hollywood production values." My favorite moment is when the daddy in the peach-colored cashmere sweater jumps up and down like a schoolgirl. He is one cheesecake slice away from some serious gut-bobbage.
10. As if the camera weren't already overpriced, it has inspired pricey new wish-list items for me: (a) that new Bluetooth microphone set which plugs into the proprietary Active Interface Shoe; (b) a wide-angle lens, maybe not the VCL-HGA07 if there is a better one for 37mm that's easy to use; (c) a Sony tripod with a remote-controlling handle which plugs into the A/V Control port; and (d) a Steadicam Merlin, of course!
11. It's confirmed: The only difference between this model and the HDR-XR520V is $200 less cost and half the hard disk space. However, with 120gb giving you many hours and the additional option of using removable flash memory, I don't see much reason to step up.

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Sony DCRTRV50 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/ 3.5" Touch Panel LCD, Mega Pixel Video/ Still, Memory Stick & Network Capability Review

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(More customer reviews)Sony's MiniDV DCR-TRV50 is their upgrade to the popular DCR-TRV30. The camcorder is a standard form factor, with many neat features and good still quality. The DCR-TRV50 carries a street price around [$$$].
The Sony DCR-TRV50 has a 1/4 in. 1.5 Mega Pixel HAD CCD. The effective video pixels used is 970K while the still is 1,390K, but more about the still performance later. The DCR-TRV50 has a 10x optical, 120x digital zoom while the horizontal resolution is rated at 530 lines, the top for the MiniDV format.
An upgrade of the DCR-TRV50 over the DCR-TRV30 is the addition of a touch panel LCD screen. The LCD is 3.5 in. and 246K pixels. The camcorder also has a color viewfinder. When you first hear of the touch screen feature you?re likely to think it?s frivolous, but it?s actually quite useful. Using the touch screen LCD you can adjust the focus and the exposure. If you have an area that is under or over exposed or an area that you want to put in focus all you have to do is touch on it an the camcorder adjusts automatically. This is a great intermediate between automatic and manual control. It gives the inexperienced user a way of tackling the camcorder controls which can be very daunting. Sharp was the first company to add a touch screen LCD but I think Sony has really taken this option and flown with it. It?s a really great feature, especially for those less experienced camcorder users.

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From its professional Carl Zeiss lens to the 3.5-inch LCD, and everything in between, the DCR-TRV50 screams quality. It is unequivocally Sony's top consumer model, and well worth the expense.
Imaging System The foundation of any camcorder is the imaging system: the lens and CCD. The lens is a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar. While less expensive models may have a larger zoom, the truth is that the larger the optical zoom, the larger the chance that any lens defects will show up in the video you are shooting. A 10x zoom is a good tradeoff in terms of image quality and zoom length. Additionally, Super SteadyShot technology helps keep your video from suffering from the common malady known as handshake, an unavoidable consequence of high zoom levels. Super SteadyShot essentially means image stabilization. There are varying types of image stabilization, but the Super SteadyShot variety moves the internal mechanisms of the camcorder to compensate for any camera movements. Finally, the lens on the TRV50 also has a manual focus ring--a step better and more immediate than the clunky interface most often used in digital camcorders with a manual focus.
The CCD in the TRV50 is of enough resolution to capture 1,360 x 1,020 digital stills onto the included 8 MB Memory Stick--about a 1.38-megapixel image. That resolution is currently tops in the digital-camcorder world (the digital still resolution of camcorders hasn't risen nearly as fast as that of digital cameras), and is good for prints up to about 6 by 9 inches. As far as video is concerned, Sony claims the high-resolution CCD translates into a video resolution of around 530 horizontal lines.
LCD LCDs are probably the best way to frame your shots on a camcorder, and that usually means the larger the screen the better. At 3.5 inches, the argument could be made that the TRV50 offers the best, just based on size. The only downside? The larger the screen the larger the battery drain. This isn't that serious an issue, as there are many other factors in battery life besides LCD size.
Inputs/Outputs Two items jump out as features that should be included on all camcorders: a headphone jack and a mic input. Not only do most camcorders have poor built-in microphones, but also they are often situated too near the tape mechanism, meaning you get the annoying throbbing sound of the tape pulled through the heads. Additionally, a headphone jack takes some of the guesswork out of your audio sources. For example, if you're recording a child's presentation, you'd most likely want to make sure you can hear the child.
Of course, the TRV50 also has a slew of other ports, including the standard IEEE 1394, which is used to transfer footage to a computer digitally. Other important ports include S-video, a special AV port, and USB for transferring stills and use with the USB-streaming mode. Additionally, the analog ports (S-video, special AV), allow you to archive your analog footage. Sony has taken the extra step of making the ports pass-through, which means you can plug an IEEE 1394 cable into your computer and archive directly to that without going through the extra step of recording to a tape first.
Special Features USB streaming essentially allows you to use your camcorder as a Webcam, broadcasting 320 x 240 video at 30 fps. It's a fun feature that should allow you to get even more use from an already loaded machine.
Finally, Sony also added an MPEG movie mode; essentially, this allows you to record movie clips onto a Memory Stick. While the quality won't replace MiniDV anytime soon, it's easier to shoot short MPEG movies and e-mail them than it is to edit your DV footage to a manageable length, render it into a format that's easy on the bandwidth, and send it off.
Included with the DCR-TRV50 are a power adapter, InfoLithium battery, remote control, stereo AV cable, lens cap, shoulder strap, 8 MB Memory Stick, USB cable, and a software CD-ROM.

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Sony DCRTRV950 MiniDV Digital Camcorder Review

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(More customer reviews)great camcorder. the 3CCDs really make a difference in video quality in my opinion. unfortunately, you pay for this quality!
pros:
- as expected from a 3CCD camcorder, the trv-950 delivers excellent video quality - colors are reproduced accurately.
- 1 megapixel still capability.
- miniDV media is widely supported.
- 12X optical zoom!
- steady shot optical stabilization system works well.
- ability to record mpeg videos directly to memory stick.
- progressive shutter system.
- offers color bars and zebra striping.
- the 3.5" LCD screen is great.
- built-in flash for stills.
- built-in mic does a good job picking up sound from the target, not the operator.
- great connectivity options: firewire, USB, S-video, headphone, mic input, etc.
- buttons along the left side and back of the camera body control essential camera functions (manual settings for focus, white balance, audio level, shutter speed, and special lighting situations) so you won't need to dive into menus for these commonly used capabilities.
- side-mounted cassette means you can change tapes while the camcorder is mounted on a tripod.
- low motor noise.
- intelligent accessory shoe - very useful if you use the appropriate accessories.
- allows a great deal of manual control.
cons:
- no built in video light but you can get a video light for less about fifty bucks.
- you could do better on the still photo department. for example, sony's trv80 and trv70 have 2 megapixel capability while panasonic's pv-dv953 delivers 3 megapixel stills.
- as with most sony products, you pay a premium, pushing up the price.
- don't expect miracles from 1 megapixel stills.
- not as compact as i would like. dimensions are 4"H x 3-3/4"W x 8"D, weighing 2.4 lbs.
- the included 8MB memory stick is unacceptable. be prepared to shell out more money for at least a 32MB or bigger memory stick.
- does not have a NightShot mode (although i'm not a big fan of this feature).
- MPEG movies saved to Memory Stick are much darker than the same scene recorded to a miniDV tape.
- noticeable shutter lag for still captures.
- bluetooth communication requires optional purchases = more $$.
- touchscreen menu system is not intuitive.
this is great camcorder if you are looking for a 3CCD system. it sits atop sony's prosumer line. the competition is catching up though so make sure you also consider the panasonic pv-dv953. peace.

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Near the top of Sony's line of MiniDV camcorders stands the DCR-TRV950, the successor to the wildly popular TRV900. Packed with features such as the CCDs, 12x optical zoom, pop-up flash, manual and automatic controls, and a large 3.5-inch LCD screen, aspiring moviemakers find a true performance camcorder at an agreeable price.
Lens The lens boasts three separate CCD sensors, with each one dedicated to capturing a certain hue of the image. That means sharper imaging, 530 lines of resolution, with colors that are true to life. The SteadyShot function stabilizes the picture and reduces camera shake. The TRV950's optical zoom magnifies up to 12 times, which is enough for most purposes. Turn on the digital zoom, which electronically magnifies the optical image, and reach up to 150x.
Digital Stills Digital stills can be stored on a Memory Stick that works independently from the DV tape system. The camera performs with 1-megapixel resolution, making it capable of sharp images that are up to 1,152 x 864 pixels in size. When you need more light for your photos there is a built-in flash unit that can pop up. The camera can also shoot in MPEG movie mode, storing 320 x 240 videos onto the memory stick.
Inputs and Outputs The TRV950 is equipped with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. The USB connection is used to transfer digital photos and MPEG movies, while the innovative wireless Bluetooth capability adds network connectivity. The traditional S-video and RCA connections are also provided for direct viewing on a television or VHS dubbing.
The DCR-TRV950 comes with one 8 MB Memory Stick. Memory Sticks are reusable, but if you tend to take a lot of digital images, then you'll want a bigger card.
MiniDV Format MiniDV digital technology delivers clear, sharp video with over 500 lines of horizontal resolution--far superior to the 240 lines of resolution offered by 8mm camcorders. You'll also get minimal color noise interference for a more stable picture.
You'll also get excellent sound quality, recorded in either 12-bit or 16-bit audio recording modes.

16-bit audio includes on set of stereo audio tracks to produce CD-quality sound.
12-bit audio utilizes two sets of audio tracks so you can easily add background music or commentary into your videos while maintaining the existing soundtrack.

This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of two full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

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JVC GZ-HM550 High Definition Camcorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had this camcorder for about a week now and so far I am pretty happy with it. The one thing that really strikes me as odd is selling a HD camcorder, but not including a HDMI cable in the bundle...? Playback of the footage recorded on a full HD tv via RCA or even component cables isn't going to result in good picture quality. My mini-HDMI cable should be delivered in the next day or so and then I'll be able to really evaluate the video. So far the video looks much better on my computer monitor than it does on my 52" 1080P LCD TV.
Also, the camcorder ships with the video quality set to XP, instead of the highest quality UXP. When setting quality to UXP it gives a warning that UXP video files can only be written to Blu-Ray, which of course makes sense. However, the bundled software will automatically downgrade the UXP video files to XP quality if you want to write to DVD, and then you'll still have the higher quality UXP for future use. Seems odd to not record in the highest quality as you can always downgrade the footage, but you'll never upconvert to true full HD quality if recording at lower quality.
So far, I am not impressed with the photo quality of still images, but I haven't played around with the settings much yet. The handful of stills that I've taken have turned out grainy and dark. In dedicated image mode, you can take 9MP stills, while when taking snapshots in video mode you are limited to 5MP. So far I think all of my stills were taken in video mode.
The camera has some great features that I've not yet played with nor am I sure I ever will. The time lapse is a great feature, but unless there's a spectacular sunset or something I'm not sure I'll have much use for it. Same for the auto record feature, interesting to have, but what are the practical applications? I suppose I could set it up and see how often my dog moves around during the day when we're not home. One thing with both of these modes is that the LCD must remain open, if you close the LCD, the camera shuts off completely.
The battery that comes with the unit doesn't last very long - roughly 45 minutes. the built in memory can hold about 2.5 hours worth of video at UXP quality so the battery is by far the limiting factor in your usage. If the video via HDMI turns out to be as good as I hope, I'll be investing in a higher capacity battery and a stand alone charger. Out of the box, the battery only charges when the power cord is plugged into the camcorder itself.
The software included is very easy to use and has some neat organization methods of displaying video files in a calendar layout by month, day and hour which it makes it easy to locate your files.
The software has options for converting the video to a number of different media and file types. You can write the files to Blu-Ray, DVD and AVCHD disc (DVD media). It also has the ability to convert video for upload to You Tube, iTunes and can also convert to .wmv for use on computers and upload to other sites, such as Facebook. The conversion process lets you choose the video size you want and at least on my PC was pretty quick to process.
I'll try to update this review after I am able to test the video via HDMI and use more of the features.
UPDATE 3/24/2010: Recorded a school concert last night and the battery lasted for 1.5 hours of nearly constant recording. This was much better than the capacity I noticed earlier when recording 5 or 10 minute segments spread out over a couple of days.
UPDATE 3/28/2010: Video quality via a Category 2, mini-HDMI cable is much better than via the cables included with the camcorder. My TV indicates a full 1920x1080 video resolution although it doesn't indicate if it is 1080i or 1080p. The box indicates that the camcorder has full 1080p output, but I can't verify that for sure.
I've had a chance to take some more still images both in video and in the dedicated photo mode. Given the right lighting images in both modes are usable. Images taken in dedicated photo mode are of higher quality, which is to be expected since they are 9MP images instead of the ~5MP images you get in video mode.
All in all, I'm more satisfied with camcorder now then I was when I initially posted this review. I'd rate it at 4 1/2 stars if possible.

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The Everio GZ-HM550BUS is an elegant Full HD memory Everio with dual memory of 32GB internal Flash memory/SD card featuring 10.62M Back-illuminated CMOS, Real 9.3 Megapixel Stills with no interpolation, recording up to 3520x2640 digital still images. Pick up your JVC Everio GZ-HM550BUS Flash Memory Camcorder today!

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Wireless Lapel Microphone Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I teach a weekly non-denominational adult Bible study, and as the group grew larger it became difficult for some to hear me speak. I purchased an AmpliVox Buddy amplifier but found the hand held microphone to be quite cumbersome. My wife then ordered the AmpliVox S1600 wireless microphone system (with lapel mic)for me. It is an excellent product and picks up the sound easily. Even persons sitting at the opposite end of the large room (some of whom are "hard of hearing") report that they can hear and understand every word. I would highly recommend this product.
Dr. Don Shockey

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Sony DCRIP7BT MicroMV Digital Camcorder w/ 2.5" Hybrid LCD, 8MB Memory Stick, MPEG Movie, & Network Capability Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The size of the DCRIP7 is fantastic. Great to
hold, really slides into your pocket, and all the knobs
are quite functional given the size of the camcorder.
However, no matter what the form factor, the bottom line
on any camcorder is the color and picture quality. If
it were not for the form factor, I would give this a
rating of zero!
The color, focus, and clarity [stink] big time. Make sure you
project the output of the camera directly onto a computer
or TV set, and not make a judgement based on the image
on the LCD screen. I took my unit back and demonstrated
what I was talking about with the unit on the floor.
Same thing. Red objects look different, focus is terrible,
(so much for the CZ lens), and the image is grainy.
Very disappointed!!

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The newest digital format on the market, MicroMV records video and audio encoded as MPEG-2, which is the format used for DVD video. While this is a unique and intriguing feature, it's buttressed by the incredibly small size of the camera itself. While MicroMV might be the wave of the future, there are some unanswered questions in the present, but those concern the camcorder's interoperability with computers (most video-editing programs are made to work with the DV standard, not MPEG-2) rather than its shooting abilities.
All that said, your biggest question is probably, just how small is the DCR-IP7BT? It measures less than 2 inches wide, 4 inches high, and just over 3 inches deep. In other words, it's the smallest digital camcorder we've seen. Amazingly, Sony crammed a 10x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD onto this thing, which means they didn't sacrifice anything in their quest for smallness. Plus, they've included a digital still mode (and MPEG movie mode) that records onto Memory Stick. With the Bluetooth adapter, you can e-mail pictures and short movie clips right from the camcorder, but you need to be near a computer that is equipped with Bluetooth as well.
The DCR-IP7BT uses Super SteadyShot image stabilization to avoid the shakes normally associated with high zoom levels. Image stabilization will likely be your best friend when using the IP5, as its small size and weight lend themselves to the small camera movements likely to result in shaky footage. The camera comes with S-video, composite video, and IEEE 1394 ports.

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Sony DCRIP55 MicroMV 1.0-MegaPixel CCD Bluetooth Camcorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had this camcorder for about 3 weeks now and have had numerous occasions to use it including downloading video to the PC.
The bottom line: The DCRIP55 is all it's cracked up to be.
I've taken stills and movies, both interior and exterior shots and found the quality of the video to be exceptional and the sound to be crisp and clear. That being said, here are the pros and cons based on 10 or so filming sessions including full use of MovieShaker to download and edit films:
Pros:
- Way smaller than the web pics make it appear
- High quality video and sound
- Very solid construction, everything is quite sturdy
- The touch screen makes using most features a breeze
- Incredibly convenient handle and good access to key controls near handle
- Virtually no compromise on standard camcorder features (steadyshot, nightshot, megapixel, etc.)
- LCD is very crisp and clear even in bright light
- Taking still pictures and making videos is easy and straightforward
Cons:
- No FireWire cable included so you have to spend [money] if you want that
- MovieShaker and one commercial product from Pinnacle are your only options for actually downloading. And no editing in other products *until* you convert the MMV files to something standard.
- Native MMV tape format is not in actual DVD MPEG format (it's actually higher quality!) but it's still MPEG. My QuickTime player had no problem playing the files directly downloaded from the camcorder.
- Conversion to regular MPEG files had minor quality and artifact issues, I was NOT pleased with this but it was acceptable.
- Bluetooth capabilities appear only to work with Sony Bluetooth hardware, could not find my laptop using two different Bluetooth transceivers
- LCD seems small, but what can you expect when the whole camcorder will fit in your pocket (pants pocket not shirt pocket).
- Sony put no money into the remote control, it's huge, bulky, and... . But so are they on all Sony models is what I find.
The bottom line is that this camcorder works as advertised. The biggest problem for most folks will be that the Firewire/i.Link port does not put out the standard Sony MiniDV format, it is a new proprietary format but I had no problems getting it to work.

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Sony's FireWire-equipped DCR-IP55 MicroMV Handycam camcorder features a 1-megapixel CCD sensor and offers 520 lines of horizontal video resolution and still image resolution of 1,152 x 864. It also offers a foldout handle for use in shooting video on an angle, above a crowd, or when following fast-paced sports.
The DCR-IP55 boasts Carl Zeiss optics with an advanced multilayer coating. It features a 10x optical and 120x precision digital zoom, SteadyShot picture stabilization, and a super NightShot infrared system for recording in total darkness--new to MicroMV Handycam camcorders.
In addition to video, the DCR-IP55 offers enhanced digital still photo features, including intelligent pop-up flash and hologram AF--an autofocus feature designed to achieve accurate subject focus with minimal contrast in dark conditions. Through an MPEG movie AD mode, the DCR-IP55 also allows you to capture MPEG1 compressed video and audio for up to 60 seconds directly to Memory Stick media in four different quality modes: light, standard, fine, and super fine.
The MicroMV tape is 70 percent smaller than a MiniDV tape and provides up to 60 minutes of digital video footage. It has a 64K memory chip that allows for a multisearch function to access different recorded sections of the tape as one would a DVD, creating a thumbnail image of each recorded scene on the tape. Additionally, whenever a MicroMV cassette is inserted into the camcorder or the VCR mode is used, cassette information is automatically displayed on the LCD showing the first and last date of use, how much recording space remains, and titling capability so the user can title the videotape.
Connect to your PC or Mac via a superfast IEEE 1394 port (also called FireWire). You can also connect wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled PC.

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Sony DCRIP220 MicroMV 2.11-MegaPixel CCD Bluetooth Camcorder Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought my IP220 two weeks ago. The unit is fairly compact and light which I carry to places with ease.
The pros:
1. Video quality is excellent, same for the recorded sound qulity which is crystal clear
2. Swivel LCD panel is very easy to use and innovative
3. Touch screen feature works well and is pretty user-friendly
4. The set sits perfectly in the palm and the finger position also fits very nicely with the zoom lever, photo button and record button
The cons:
1. Even with 2.1 Mega pixels CCD, IP220 does not provide the kind of picture quality as other Sony digital cameras (like DSC-70), especially at 1600x1200 resolution
2. The MicroMV to MPEG2 conversion through movie shaker 3.1 (MPEG2-TS)is incompatible with the regular DVD standard (MPEG2-PS), therefore, it is impossible to burn DVD for regular DVD player use without converting it through a third-party software (e.g. pinnacle studio 8)
I would recomment this unit to those who care more about the video quality than photo quality.

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MD) U) SONY DCR-IP220 MICRO MV CAM

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ContourHD Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a video of a couple of laps around the John Rose Oval shot at 10 PM under artificial lighting. I thought that the images were good with expected wide angle distortion.
I purchased this camera to record my speed skating at the John Rose Oval in Roseville, Minnesota. Most of my skating sessions are from 9:20 to 10:25 PM. The lighting is similar to a baseball or football field. I had some concerns about reviews that said that this camera was not that good in low light conditions but the images looked good to me.
In terms of ease of use, I don't think you can really beat this camera. The instruction manual is microscopic and you are up to speed on the available controls within a very short period of time. One of the frequent criticisms of the camera is wind noise coming through in the video. It turns out that you can preset the sound level with the software that comes with the camera as a download off the MicroSD card.
I had the most trouble figuring out the mounting system because it was not obvious that it was stuck together with velcro and I did not know how much pressure to exert to pull it apart. I also did not have any goggles that seemed to work, but used an old belt that I cut down and strapped outside of my cap.
After shooting the first video, the playback on the editing software did not go as smoothly as using other software that I had on my computer. The downloads to Facebook and YouTube went very well.
All things considered this is a high value camera that produces quality video. In my case I am using it at night in cold weather and it performs flawlessly.


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Contour 1500 Contour Plus Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)Contour 1500 Contour Plus CameraJust got my 2cd camera from Contour.I have had NO connectivity issues, every thing worked flawlessly on a Macbook Pro and a Gen 4 Iphone. I had the Contour gps unit, and was a good camera, but I had problems with the on/off switch and returned it. Today when I got this new camera, the seem to have fix that problem. In 15 minutes out of the box I was up and running, and everything connected together.What I have found out with this unit is that the preview time is unlimited. It has been running through my phone for 20+ minutes now. This is a must have if your into any type of activity. I use it for riding, and my business as a Drilling contractor. I can record this entire drilling day from a safe distance.

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Contour Plus 1080P HD Helmet Camera - Contour 1500.

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GoPro HD Helmet HERO Camera Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have used this camera a couple of times since receiving it for Christmas. I have used both the strap mount for my vented bicycle helmet as well as the permanent stick on mount for my dual sport motorcycle helmet. In both cases, the mounts work as well as the camera. I still have the previous generation GoPro HERO in standard definition, but not in the wide field of view lens configuration like the current HD version. I like the wide field of view of this HD model. It is great at giving a very good view of both the trail as will as your handlebar movements while riding both my mountain bike or motorcycle. The quality of the video is fantastic. The files do get large, but that is to be expected with the high resolution of this camera. I have been using a 16GB SDHC card and have filed up about half of it on one battery charge. I would recommend a high speed card reader to improve the download times from the card. A 12 min video was nearly a gigabyte. The battery last I think longer than the previous standard definition camera which ran on AAA batteries. I think that I will buy an additional battery someday for long rides with lots of action.
The only reason I have not given it a full 5 stars is the difficulty in reading the small status screen with all the various modes it has. The same issue I have with the standard definition HERO. The icons that tell you if you are in burst, still, timed, or video mode are very small across the top of the display. The numbers to tell you the number of pictures or videos taken are much larger. It is just difficult if you have the camera mounted on top of your helmet and you try and look in the mirror on your bike to see if the camera is on and what mode it is. You have to use the select button on the front to both turn the camera on and select the right mode. The shutter button is on top and is easy to operator even with gloves. It is not difficult to read the display if you are holding the camera in front of you, but much more difficult when mounted on top of your helmet. You can unclip the camera from the mount, but that can be difficult when it is on top of your helmet.
I am looking forward to the expansion port options being available, like the LCD screen to view the videos in the field. I am also thinking of investing in the chest strap mount so I can get different view over the handle bars as will as making it easier to see the small status display. Other than the small icons telling you which mode, this is a very nice camera that takes very high quality action videos. It is very small and light and easy to use when you have it in the right mode. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone wanting action videos of their bicycling, motorcycle, or skiing activities.

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The world's first true 1080p HD wearable camera!Full frame 960p 4:3 resolution and a massive 170 degrees ofwide angle perspective; as well as 720p 60 frames per secondcamera-ready slow-motion video. Comes with 3 helmet mounts,headstrap, and 2 gear mounts.Runs on 1100 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeablebatteries.

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Contour GPS Helmet Camera + FREE Connect View - Wireless Bluetooth Viewfinder for iPhone Review

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(More customer reviews)
A finished Android app that allows your cell phone (Android) act as a viewfinder like the iphone does. I like this camera a lot. Another thing I'd like to see is to be able to view GPS coordinates without specialized software. I recommend this camera to everyone.

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