Exemode rolls out cheapo DV580HD camcorder
It looks like the budget-minded folks at Exemode are back for one more go 'round, and they're now bumping things up into HD territory with their new DV580HD camcorder. While we obviously can't vouch for its overall quality, the camera will apparently let you record 720p video onto SDHC cards up to 8GB (or 32MB of internal memory in a pinch), or capture still images at up to 8 megapixels, although it seems you'll have to make do without an optical zoom of any sort. On the upside, it does only cost €155 (or about $220), and it says "HD" in big shiny letters, so it can't be all bad.
[Via Akihabara News]
[Via Akihabara News]
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LondonConsultant @ Dec 20th 2007 4:19PM
It may output video at 1280×720 but, at that price, I suspect the resolution of the chip sensor is much less and it upscales in firmware... But at least it records in H.264 format.
Oleg @ Dec 20th 2007 9:57PM
The resolution of the sensor is 8MP. The question is - how fast is the processor, and whether it can handle real 720p stream.
LondonConsultant @ Dec 21st 2007 5:19AM
@Oleg: Good point. I meant to say that the video stream probably only samples from a resolution under 1280x720 and then upscales it. For example, an 8MP sensor, a 640x360 internal video stream, and 1280x720 upscaled output...
It's a pity so many digital video hide their upscaling trickery. There would be rioting in the streets if digital still cameras did that...
Todd @ Dec 20th 2007 4:29PM
Leaked celebrity sex tapes will look better than evah!
DarkLightConnection @ Dec 20th 2007 4:31PM
32MB internal memory? WTF?
I take it they were only thinking of it as a photo camera when they deceided to include such a huge memory
couchpundit @ Dec 20th 2007 4:37PM
There are 2 important features for video cameras that make them worth anything: the censor and the optics. If the lens is crappy, any quality found in the CMOS or CCD chips are is lost. Likewise, if the lens is nice, the smoothness of the bokeh, focus, and clarity are negated by a sensor that fails to capture the discreet differences.
It appears that this camera has a fixed lens and a limited digital sensor. It would seem that Exemode puts little value in one or the other.
Eddie @ Dec 20th 2007 4:38PM
It's $220. Buy it to forever remember the unboxing of your real camera.
apw76006 @ Dec 20th 2007 4:51PM
I feel the same way about this product as I feel about the Eee PC; just add $200 more and get something fully functional and worthwhile. Well, maybe I don't really feel the same way, because the Eee PC is not poo and I would not use it to throw at Time Warner Cable rep that just came to my door with his poorly crafted lies about the digital broadcast conversion.
wiedzmin @ Dec 20th 2007 4:57PM
I already have my Aiptek A-HD that can do all that and it only costs about $150. Unless this thing has image stabilization of some sort, I don't see it as competition to Aiptek (unless of course you prefer bulky-but-shiny things).
Jared @ Dec 20th 2007 6:15PM
That's what she said!
Simon @ Dec 20th 2007 6:11PM
If this produces video anything like the aiptek GO-HD (amazingly horiffic wave type effect would appear whenever the camera was moved, because it was processing so slowly), then its a complete waste of time, imo. Buy a proper video camera, and get the results you actually want!
maryland157 @ Dec 20th 2007 11:29PM
I happy with my Aiptek 720P :)
LondonConsultant @ Dec 21st 2007 5:22AM
What kind of filming are you doing if the censor is the most important thing?...
Charbax @ Dec 21st 2007 9:09PM
So now we have Exemode, Aitptek and Kodak selling 720p camcorders at around $200.
This is getting to be REALLY awesome. I just hope one of these camcorders does have satisfactory optics, so the video made on these $200 camcorders looks like real cinema quality. 720p video is going to be huge in the future on the Internet, all computer screens can show the full beauty of 720p.